Description ~ Nordic Sweater or Shetland Vest

n this class students will focus on the colorwork traditions of Norway and on the Shetland Islands. Both Norway and the Shetland Isle knit all-over colorwork garments. The designs are related but have their own look. Both traditions use steeks, but with their own methods for securing and concealing the steek. The wool in Norway and in the Shetland Islands is sticky and is the perfect wool for knitting with steeks. In Norway, steeks are secured by sewing a seam with a sewing machine or my hand on each side of the cutting line (whether the line is straight of curved). In the Shetland Islands, the yarn is so sticky that it doesn't have to be secured, but Kristin likes to secure the stitches with a row of crochet. This class will cover both methods.

This is a six-hour crash course on all-over colorwork garments and you will come out of it with the skills, confidence, and knowledge to finish on your own. This class is the first class on the cruise so that you can work your sweater or vest throughout the cruise. It will make a beautiful souvenir.

Students will start the sweaters by working on the sleeves. The sleeve will let us move quickly through the colorwork pattern and then learn how to increase stitches in colorwork. This is an important skill that is tricky at first, but once you get how to do it, it's not really hard at all. We will also get you started on the body and how to work the buttonholes in the fabric. You are going to love my method for buttonholes! I hope that the skills that you will learn in this class will take you to the next level in Nordic knitting. After six hours, you will be ready to proceed on your own as needed.

The vests will start with the body, and depending on your speed, you could finish the body and cut the steek on the last day of class.

Refer to the attachment for more information and pictures. We will host a a Zoom call closer to sailing to show project samples and answer questions.

Materials Needed ~ Nordic Sweater or Shetland Vest

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Homework ~ Nordic Sweater or Shetland Vest

Refer to attachment for pictures of projec