General Notes for all SOXperience students:

This suite of classes is designed for Carodan Farm SoXperience 2018.

Homework, if given, is minimal. In some cases you can skip homework by just bringing your swatch made in the previous class.

Note to students: All classes use worsted weight yarn so students can build from one class to the next on the same bit of knitting, if you choose. Please pack the following class materials for the SoXperience weekend and just keep them with you for all classes:

Yarn.
-Two balls, each about 50 grams, of a smooth, worsted weight wool or wool blend in a color that is easy for you to see, in fibers that are not hairy, and in a yarn that has a 3-5 plies to it (not single-ply). Bring two different colors. Something similar to Cascade 220 works well, and teacher will have some supplies in case what you bring is not serving you well. The ball band gauge will say 18-22 stitches to four inches.
-(Teacher will provide lots of contrast colors for the Saturday morning class.)

Needles. To work worsted weight yarn at a snug 5 stitches per inch, bring needles that are appropriate. Gauge will not be critical for learning, so don’t fret. Something in a range of sizes US 5 to 7 (3.75 - 4.5 mm) will be fine.
-For Friday class and Sunday class only students must bring one circular needle 32 inches long US 5 to 7 (3.75 - 4.5 mm) even if you prefer to work socks on DPNs.
-For all classes, bring US 5 to 7 (3.75 - 4.5 mm) in your choice of DPNs, two circulars, or one 32-inch circular for magic loop knitting so you can use your preferred method for knitting in the round.
-All students should additionally pack one 32 inch circular needle in a small size such as US 1 to 3 (2.5 - 3.25 mm)
-Blunt-tip needle for darning ends.
-Scissors

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“Early Bird” offering. Friday afternoon, 1 - 4, April 13.
Beautiful, Useful, and Underused Cuff Cast Ons For Socks
3 Hours

Picot hemmed cuff (top in oatmeal). Plain hemmed cuff (bottom in oatmeal). Estonian Cast on (left in green). Channel Islands Cast On above a 1 x 1 rib (brown in middle).  Multi-color Channel Islands Cast On above garter stitch (gold at right).

DESCRIPTION
Of course the tops of our socks need to be stretchy and non-binding, but as knitters don’t we also want something that is beautiful and fun to execute? These options are not common, but they are some of the teacher’s favorites for gorgeous socks that operate as they should.

We will learn these options:

1. Estonian Cast On (green sock in photo) is pretty above 1 x 1 and 2 x 2 ribbing. It is sturdy, stretchy, and handsome.
2. Channel Islands Cast On (brown sock in photo) as a start for 1 x 1 ribbing is extremely stretchy and tidy-looking. It looks a bit like tubular cast on, but is more functional in a sock because of its stretch.
3. Channel Islands Cast On can also be done in contrasting colors either for rib or for garter stitch (gold sock in photo).
4. Then we will learn the magic cast on and use it for hems that are entirely stretchy. No sewing dow here! Work a plain version and...
5. A decorative picot hem (pictured in the photo in plain below and picot above).

After class, choose you favorite and work some cuff before Saturday’s class.

Please note: Although this class has been tailored specifically for Carodan Farm SoXperience students, the techniques learned can be applied far beyond sock knitting for hats, sweaters, mittens, cowls, and more.

Required skills:
Students must be comfortable working in the round on a small circumference of about six inches, without assistance, using either DPNs, two circulars, or one long circular for magic loop knitting.

Materials provided: Class Handout

Materials Students Need to Bring:
See General Notes above.

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Saturday Morning Class, 9-12

Colors That Climb
3 Hours

Photo: Samples from Colors That Climb Class applied to many different fabrics.

DESCRIPTION
Stranding color vertically in your knitting offers new possibilities. So many colors can be worked at once! We will learn how to introduce the strands to our work, how to manage them so they are friendly to work with, and how to anchor the stitches in the fabric adequately without overdoing it. Once you learn the tricks in class, the technique is easy to execute. Everyone can do it.

The beauty happens in creative applications. In class we work one simple stockinette motif to learn the rules. Then we work together on a lace and purled version as pictured. Lastly knitters will work their choice of the many motifs remaining in the handout. Any of the motifs can be applied directly to existing plain patterns without ruining the gauge nor the elasticity of the fabric. This is especially valuable applied to socks. I’ll show you how and inspire you with stacks of samples. Class demonstrations are done in both in English and Continental styles.

Required skills:
Students must be comfortable working in the round on a small circumference of about six inches, without assistance, using either DPNs, two circulars, or one long circular for magic loop knitting.

Materials provided: Class Handout, contrasting colored strands.

Materials Students Need to Bring:
See General Notes above.

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Saturday Afternoon Class, 1-4

For the Best Afterthought Heel, Plan Ahead
3 Hours


Photo: An afterthought heel, one of several options offered in class.

DESCRIPTION
You probably know the concept of an afterthought heel. You make a cut in a stockinette tube, open it up, recover stitches onto needles, and shape a heel. It can be scary. Our results can be less than pleasing if we land it in the wrong place, shape it poorly, or have holes at the corners. We will learn strategies for conquering these issues and practice some options. You’ll have standard wedge shaped and rounded options.

Learn how to plan ahead when you have something more complicated that stockinette stitch going on.

The concepts you practice in class can also be applied to afterthought thumbs in mittens and afterthought pockets in sweaters.

Required skills:
Students must be comfortable working in the round on a small circumference of about six inches, without assistance, using either DPNs, two circulars, or one long circular for magic loop knitting.

Materials provided: Class Handout.

Materials Students Need to Bring:
See General Notes above.

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SUNDAY MORNING, 9-12

Top-Down and Toe-Up Toesies
3 Hours


Photo: Various toes.

DESCRIPTION
Knitting class is a safe place to explore and try things that are new to you. In this class we get adventurous with sock toes. Continuing with the top-down theme we’ve worked on over the weekend, class will start with shapes other that the standard wedge-shaped toe. We will also learn some tips for strengthening those spots that tend to get holes, tricks to make your ssk look nicer, and customized shaping.

Next we’ll try some fun options for starting toe-up socks of various shapes, and how to space your increases to fit your specific foot shape since we are all so different. Paired, lifted increases will be taught in this class and may become your new favorite.

What we learn in class can also be applied to mitten-knitting. Some sample will be available in class.

Required skills:
Students must be comfortable working in the round on a small circumference of about six inches, without assistance, using either DPNs, two circulars, or one long circular for magic loop knitting.

Materials provided: Class Handout.

Materials Students Need to Bring:
See General Notes above.