2010 Maiwa Textile Workshops
Vintage Techniques: Modern Knits
Christa Giles
$155 (Includes $55 Lab Fee) Two full days

October 12, 13 (Tue, Wed) 10am - 4pm
Maiwa Loft, Granville Island, Vancouver, Canada
Class Limit 16
Registration Opens June 21, 2010

Shape your knitting on the needles. Move away from flat fabric and create beautiful special effects. These advanced techniques duplicate many details found in vintage and modern designer clothing. Students will leave this workshop with the ability to follow knitting patterns that use these techniques or add them to their own knitted designs.

Knitting is all about form. Often the form can be made through variations in technique while the piece is being made. In this delightful workshop students will learn to switch from one mode to another without changing needles. Techniques taught include: complex cables, pleats, folds, gathers, smocking, piping, ruching, short rows, darts, interlacement, planned or afterthought openings, and Cat Bordhi's mobius cast-on.

In this class students will create a number of sample swatches using 100% wool. These swatches will provide inspiration for years to come. On the second day students will be shown how these techniques may be used in garments or accessories.

CHRISTA GILES

Christa Giles began to focus on knitting in college: though she was studying American Sign Language at the time, needles and yarn were in her hands for most of the lecture sessions, and knitted hats festooned with cables and colourwork would appear on a weekly basis. Spinning came into Christa's life while she was visiting the vendors' market at the Convergence Conference 2002. Christa's collection of drop spindles includes a prized top whorl with changeable shafts turned on her father's lathe, and she has recently acquired her first spinning wheel. In addition, Christa's self-guided explorations in craft have included pottery, quilting, and dyeing. Her beads and jewelry have been on display in several national exhibitions as part of the Canadian Glass Beadmakers Association. www.christaknits.com

Student Supply List

The Maiwa studio is stocked with knitting needles for students use in the classroom. If you have your own needles it is advisable to bring them so you may take unfinished work home on the needles to complete. The needles used in this class are:

5mm (US 8) straight needles
set of 5 - 5mm double pointed needles
60cm (24Ó) 7mm (US 11) Addi Turbo circular needles
100cm (40Ó) 5mm (US 8) Addi Turbo circular needles
Cable needles - Set of 3
Package of stitch markers
All other materials provided.


Look for the full course calendar on the web in Mid May. A print version will be available in June. Registration opens June 21, 2010.