Over the 4 days of Sock Club, we'll knit a sock together, maybe even a pair! Sock Club days are held one day per month to give you time to complete each section before the next session.

Day 1: Getting Started
Day 2: Heel Flap
Day 3: Turning the Heel
Day 4: Grafting the Toe

Assumed knowledge: casting on; knit and purl stitches

Please bring:

• 100g ball (or 2x 50g balls) 4ply sock yarn
• Sock yarn swatch
• Either double-pointed needles (DPNs), 100cm circular needle, or 23cm circular needle in a size that gives you 30sts/10cm on your swatch. This is going to be between 2mm-2.75mm, but everyone's tension is different. Accurate tension is vital for the sock to fit.
• Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Instructions for swatches to bring to class Sock yarn swatch: Using 2.5mm needles (or whichever size you think you'll get closest with), cast on 40sts. Work in stocking stitch for 5cm and cast off loosely. Gently steam swatch to lay flat, then measure 10cm across the centre of the swatch. If more than 30sts in 10cm, repeat swatch with larger needles. If fewer than 30sts in 10cm, repeat swatch with smaller needles.

For the real beginner!
We'll talk about matching yarn and needles, how to cast on, how to work the knit stitch, how to work the purl stitch and where to find resources to learn more.

Please bring:

• Any wool yarn you might have already
• Any needles you might have already
• Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Learn how to do the Cable, Longtail, Knitted and Backward loop cast ons, and where they're best used. If there's time and interest, I'll show you how to do a Tubular Cast On (also known as the Italian Cast On) and a Provisional Cast On.

Assumed knowledge: making a slip knot; basic knitting skills

Please bring:

• 4mm needles (either circular or straights)
• Pale coloured 8ply yarn with a smooth texture - Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable scraps are fine
• Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Learn how to do the Simple, Stretchy, Decreasing and Tubular Cast Offs, and where they're best used. If there's time and interest, I'll show you how to do a Picot Cast Off.

Assumed knowledge: making a slip knot; casting on; basic knitting skills

Please bring:

• 4 swatches – garter stitch, stocking stitch, 1x1 ribbing x2, with 1m yarn still attached
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors
• Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

 

Instructions for swatches to bring to class Garter Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable scraps are fine), cast on 20sts. Work in garter stitch for 5cm, then leaving 1m yarn attached, cut yarn. Slip stitches onto a holder or circular needle. Stocking Stitch Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable scraps are fine), cast on 20sts. Work in stocking stitch for 5cm, then leaving 1m yarn attached, cut yarn. Slip stitches onto a holder or circular needle. Rib Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable scraps are fine), cast on 20sts. [K1, P1] repeat to end of row. Continue in 1x1 rib for 5cm, then leaving 1m yarn attached, cut yarn. Slip stitches onto a holder or circular needle. Make 2.

Learn what to do when something has gone wrong.

Assumed knowledge: basic knitting skills

Please bring:

• Pale-coloured DK/8ply yarn with a smooth texture (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable yarn is fine)
• Stocking stitch swatch on 4mm needles
• 3mm-4mm crochet hook (exact size doesn't matter)
• Tapestry needle
• 2.5mm-3.5mm double pointed needles (exact size doesn't matter)
• Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Instructions for swatches to bring to class Stocking stitch swatch: Using 4mm needles and pale 8ply yarn, cast on 20sts. Work 4 rows stocking stitch. R5: K10, yo, K10 - 21sts Work a further 10 rows stocking stitch and leave on the needles.

Improve the look of your garments with professional sewing up techniques

Assumed knowledge: casting on; casting off; stocking stitch; garter stitch

Please bring:

• Stocking stitch swatch x 2 (See instructions below)
• Stripe swatch x 2 (See instructions below)
• Garter swatch x 2 (See instructions below)
• Sleeve cap swatch x 1 (See instructions below)
• Tapestry needle
• Pale-coloured DK/8ply yarn with a smooth texture (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable yarn is fine)
• Stitchmarker pins
• Scissors
• Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Instructions for swatches to bring to class Stocking Stitch Swatch with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable yarn is fine), cast on 21sts. R1: K2, [P1, K1] repeat to last stitch, K1. R2: P2, [K1, P1] repeat to last stitch, P1. Repeat last two rows 3 times, 8 rows rib in total. Work 22 rows stocking stitch. Cast off. Make 2. Stripe Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable yarn is fine), cast on 20sts. Work 6 rows stocking stitch in Colour A, then 6 rows stocking stitch in Colour B. Repeat previous 12 rows, then work 6 rows more in Colour A (30 rows total). Cast off. Make 2. Garter Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable yarn is fine), cast on 20sts. Work 40 rows garter stitch. Cast off. Make 2. Sleeve Cap Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn, cast on 40sts. Work 2 rows stocking stitch. R3: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1 – 38sts R4: Purl. Repeat last 2 rows until 24sts remain. R19: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1 R20: P1, p2tog, purl to last 3 sts, p2togtbl, P1 – 20sts Repeat last 2 rows until 12sts remain. Cast off 3sts at beginning of next 2 rows – 6sts Cast off remaining 6sts.

Improve the look of your garments by learning how to pick up stitches for neckbands and button bands

Assumed knowledge: casting on; casting off; stocking stitch; garter stitch; mattress stitch. Open to those who have completed Finishing Techniques Part 1, or who are confident with mattress stitch.

Please bring:

• Swatches from Finishing Techniques Part 1
• Neckline swatch
• Tapestry needle
• Sharp needle
• Contrasting pale coloured DK/8ply yarn with a smooth texture
• Stitchmarker pins
• Scissors
• Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Instructions for swatches to bring to class Neckline Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn, cast on 30sts. Work 7 rows stocking stitch. R8 (WS): Cast off 6sts, purl to end – 24sts R9: Knit to last 3sts, K2tog, K1 R10: P1, P2tog, purl to end. Repeat last 2 rows once – 20sts R13: Knit to last 3sts, K2tog, K1 R14: Purl. Repeat last 2 rows 3 times – 16sts Work 10 rows stocking stitch. Cast off.

How to use a long circular needle to knit a small tube.

We will start to make hand-warmers, but this technique can be used for socks and sleeves and anything with a small circumference.

Assumed knowledge: confident with knitting in the round

Please bring:

• 4mm circular needle, 100cm long
• Pale/medium coloured 8ply yarn with a smooth texture (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable yarn is fine) - two 50g balls
• Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Learn how to decipher charts and to start your journey to knit lace.

Assumed knowledge: casting on; knit, purl, yarn over, k2tog

Please bring:

• 4mm needles (either circular or straights)
• Pale-coloured DK/8ply yarn with a smooth texture
• Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Introduction to stranded knitting techniques and reading charts.

Assumed knowledge: confident with knitting in the round

Please bring:

• Two balls of contrasting pale/medium coloured 8ply yarns with a smooth texture (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal but any suitable yarns are fine). One 50g ball of main colour, approx 20g feature colour.
• Beanie ribbing on 4mm 40cm circular needle in main colour.
• Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Instructions for swatches to bring to class Beanie sizes: Teen (Adult, Large Adult), to fit head 52 (55, 60)cm Beanie ribbing: Using main colour and 3.25mm or 3.5mm 40cm circular needles, loosely cast on 96 (104, 112) sts. Being careful not to twist, join in the round and place marker to indicate the start of the round. R1: [k1, p1] repeat to end of round Work a further 11 rounds in ribbing pattern as set, for a total of 12 rounds. Change to 4mm 40cm circular needles, and knit one round.