Piedmont Yarn & Apparel

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CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

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To sign up for these classes, please come into the shop or call us at (510) 595-9595.

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For All Handcrafters

 

Kira K Designs Extravaganza – Two/Three/Four 2-hour classes
Kira is a local knitting and crochet pattern designer and in this class you can make any of her 100+ patterns with personal help at every step of the way! We’ve scheduled the class so that people can make a whole sweater or skirt, but you could also choose to make multiple smaller projects.
Materials: The Kira K Designs pattern(s) of your choice and everything in the materials list for your pattern(s).
Skill level required: Advanced Beginner
Mondays, February 13 &27, March 13 & 27, 6-8 p.m. Teacher: Kira Dulaney, Fee: $70/2 classes (minimum), $105/3 classes,

$140/4 classes (patterns of choice sold separately)

 

Mending Workshop – One 2-hour class

Don’t get rid of that treasured sweater with snags, moth holes, or worn- out areas. This class will help you resuscitate your favorite garments so you can wear them for a few more years. Bring items that need mending, and we will help you work through them step by step.

Materials: Items to mend, plus sewing needles and/or crochet hook and tapestry needle, suited to the gauge of the item, sharp scissors, matching thread/yarn.

Skill level required: No prior experience

Wednesday, February 15, 6-8 p.m.
Teacher: Celia McCarthy, Fee: $35

 

Visible Mending – One 2-hour class

Visible Mending is a creative way to extend the life of your clothing and household items while embellishing them for a unique look. We will cover basic patches with running stitch as well as more decorative embroidery and woven darns.

Materials: embroidery hoop, embroidery needles, embroidery floss, scissors. Optional: Speedweve style mending loom. We will provide fabric for practicing and/or patching, but you can also bring your own items to mend. Optional: Mending kits (hoops, muslin, needles, floss) will be available for purchase from the teacher for $10 OR all of that plus a Speedweve loom and yarn for $25.

Saturday, March 25, 11-1 p.m.

Teacher: Kira Dulaney, Fee: $30

 

Knitting

 

English/American-Style Knitting – One 1½-hour class

This is the beginner knitting class for those who prefer to learn the English style of knitting. Learn cast-on, knit, purl, and bind-off. Take as many or as few classes as you need.

Materials: Bring size US 7 or US 8 needles and light-colored, smooth, worsted-weight yarn. All your supplies can be purchased at the shop. 

Skill level: No prior experience required. Children 12 and over are welcome.

Saturdays, February 4 & 18, March 18, 10-11:30 a.m.

Sunday, March 5, 10-11:30 a.m.

Teacher: Carol Schwamberger, Fee: $22.50/class

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Introduction to Continental-style Knitting – One 1½-hour class

This class is for those who would like to learn to knit Continental style (holding the yarn in the left hand). Whether you are new to knitting or are a seasoned American-style knitter, Continental knitting is a useful skill to have in your toolbox. It is less prone to repetitive stress injuries, makes stranded knitting easier, and many people find it faster than English/American-style knitting. We will focus on the knit and purl stitches in this class, since cast-on and bind-off techniques are the same for both styles of knitting. Already took the class?  You're welcome to return for continued instruction and support!

Materials: Light-colored, smooth worsted weight yarn and size 7 or 8 needles

Skill level: No prior experience required

Saturday, April 1, 2:30-4 p.m.

Teacher Maggie Jacobs, Fee $22.50

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Skill-Building Squares – One 2-hour class

You know the basic cast-on, knit, purl, and bind-off ... but how do you go from there to becoming an intermediate knitter? These classes help you get there step by step, working with a book designed for just that purpose. In each class, you will work on a new square with a set pattern that touches on pattern reading, lace, and cable stitches. As the classes progress, so will your skills. In the end, you will have enough squares for a nice-size blanket. Take as few or as many classes as you like to build your skills and confidence

Note: Discuss materials with Carol before first class.

Skill level: Advanced Beginner (must know CO, K, P, BO)

Saturdays, February 4 & 18, March 18,

Sunday, March 5, 12-2 p.m.

Teacher: Carol Schwamberger, Fee: $35/class +$19.95 book

 

Introduction to Brioche Stitch (in the round) – Two 1 ½-hour classes

Brioche stitch creates a soft, squishy, reversible fabric, that’s great for warm clothing! Start your brioche journey with a simple two-color cowl. In the first class you will learn how brioche is constructed, how to work brioche in the round, and how to always know where you are in the pattern. In the second class, you will receive continued support for brioche and will learn to identify and correct mistakes.

Materials: 100 yards each of two colors of worsted yarn (wool, wool blend, or any smooth elastic yarn); 24-inch size 9 circular needles; stitch markers.
Preparation: With MC, cast on 80 stitches, join in the round, and work one round K1 P1 ribbing. It will be tight, but don't worry; things will loosen up after a couple of rounds of brioche. If you prefer, you may start the cowl on 16-inch number 9 needles and work onto the 24-inch needles in the class.
Skill level: Advanced beginner (must know CO, K, P, BO)

Saturdays, February 25 & March 4, 3-4:30 p.m.
Teacher: Maggie Jacobs, Fee $ 52.50

 

Correcting (or Avoiding) Knitting Mistakes – One 2-hour class 

Take the fear and worry out of knitting with this incredibly useful class. You’ll learn how common mistakes are made as well as how to correct them on the following row, when possible. We’ll also practice picking up dropped stitches (gulp!) and methods for taking out your knitting stitch-by-stitch and many rows at once. 

Materials: 30 yards smooth, easy to see worsted or aran-weight yarn, knitting needles in a size appropriate for your yarn, circular knitting needles size US 0-US 2, crochet hook size G or H, darning needle. 

Skill level: Advanced Beginner (must know CO, K, P, BO)

Saturday, March 11. 11-1 p.m.

Teacher: Kira Dulaney, Fee: $35

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Knitting With Beads – One 2-hour class

Beads can add incredible texture to your knitting, and there are many different methods to explore. Learn a simple beaded cast-on then four different ways of placing the beads on your knitting (and making sure they show on the correct side). Come explore this fascinating technique and get inspired to add beads to your future projects.

Materials: knitting needles in size 4-6 and $10 materials fee (paid directly to the teacher - kit includes yarn, beads, beading needle, and steel crochet hook).

Skill level: Advanced Beginner (must know CO, K, P, BO)

Saturday, March 11, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Teacher: Kira Dulaney, Fee: $35

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Intro to Socks – Three 2-hour classes

Knitting Socks isn’t difficult, but it’s sometimes hard to understand. This class will introduce you to sock architecture, knitting with double-pointed needles, and the Kitchener stitch.  Working with DK-weight yarn, we’ll cast on fewer stitches on small, but not teeny tiny, needles. You should be able to complete one top-down anklet within the class time (there will be homework!) and feel prepared to complete the pair on your own.

Materials:  Two 50-gram balls of Nymph, a set of US 2 or 3 double-pointed needles, a tapestry needle, and a pair of sharp scissors.

Skill level required: Advanced beginner (must know CO, K, P, BO and knitting in the round).

Tuesdays, March 14, 21, & 28, 6-8 p.m.

Teacher: Celia McCarthy, Fee: $105

 

Crochet

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Beginning Crochet – One 2-hour class

Crochet is fast and fun, especially with thicker yarn. You’ll learn a few basic stitches while starting to make a cowl (also known as an infinity scarf) worked flat and seamed together at the end.

Materials: 130-260 yards smooth chunky weight yarn (we recommend Malabrigo Mecha and sample was made with one skein), size K or L crochet hook, darning needle, three removable stitch markers.

Skill level: No prior experience required

Wednesday, February 1, 6-8 p.m. OR

Saturday, February 25, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. OR

Wednesday, March 29, 6-8 p.m.

Teacher: Kira Dulaney, Fee: $30

 

Swatch-Free Crocheted Hats – One 2-hour class

Hats are fast and fun to crochet, and there are endless possibilities. You’ll start crocheting a simple hat using Kira’s easy swatch-free formula which works with any yarn. You’ll learn to work in the round, read a pattern, increase, and measure gauge.

Materials: 100 grams of bulky yarn and an appropriate hook for that yarn  (we recommend Malabrigo Mecha and a size K hook), removable stitch markers, yarn needle.

Wednesday, February 8, 6-8 p.m. OR

Saturday, March 25, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Teacher: Kira Dulaney, Fee: $35

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Crocheted Amigurumi Owl – One 2-hour class

Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals. Learn the basics of amigurumi by making a cute Baby Owl Ornament designed by Josephine Wu. This is a great skill building class for newer crocheters to learn how to work in the round, increase, decrease, and read a pattern, plus you get to have a fun friend to take home!

Materials: 20 yards smooth worsted weight yarn, size F crochet hook, darning needle, 6mm safety eyes, removable stitch marker Note: you can use thicker yarn and

larger hook to make a larger owl, but smaller yarn isn’t recommended for learning new skills.

Saturday, February 25, 12:30-2:30 p.m.

Teacher: Kira Dulaney, Fee $35

 

Tips & Tricks for Crocheters– One 2-hour class

Kira has been crocheting since she was three years old and has picked up lots of tips and tricks for the fastest, easiest, neatest projects. Learn her favorite shortcuts and uncommon but useful techniques in this fun class.

Materials: bring your crochet toolkit, some easy-to-see yarn and appropriately sized crochet hook. Parts of the class are demonstration only, so feel free to bring an easy project to work on as well.

Wednesday, March 8, 6-8 p.m.

Teacher: Kira Dulaney, Fee $35

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Crocheted Granny Squares & Flowers  – Two 2-hour classes

Take your crochet to the next level! We’ll go over the basics of crocheting in the round while making three different granny squares and two flowers.
Materials: 75 yards of smooth yarn (small amounts of different colors is okay), crochet hook in appropriate size for your yarn, removable stitch markers.

Skill level required: Advanced beginner (must know chain stitch, single

crochet, and double crochet)

Wednesdays, March 15 & 22, 6-8 p.m.

Teacher: Kira Dulaney, Fee: $70

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To sign up for these classes, please come into the shop or call us at (510) 595-9595.

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Piedmont Yarn Class Policies

• Students & instructors must be fully vaccinated. Masks are required.

• Please note the skill level required for each class. Keep in mind that project-oriented classes are not intended for beginners. To learn how to knit or crochet, please sign up for a beginning class that does not require previous experience.

• Sign up in advance!  Enrollment is limited

• Class fees must be paid in full at the time of registration.

• Please come to class prepared: purchase all supplies before the start time of the first class. A 10% discount is offered to students purchasing materials for class.

• Cancellations must be made at least three days prior to the start of the class, to receive store credit for the amount paid.

• Classes with fewer than three students enrolled three days before the first class meeting will be cancelled and fees will be refunded.

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