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If you were teaching a knitting class...
...where would you start?
I am going to be teaching a beginner knitting class for the community use program in my town, and I have no idea where to even begin. Would you pick a simple project like a scarf, so that they have something to work toward completing, or just teach techniques?
I think it will be 6 weeks long for 1-2 hours each week...I was thinking of breaking up the 6 weeks into something like - week one: cast on; week two: knit; week three: purl; week four: bind off; week five: cable; week six: lace or round knitting or magic loop?
My other thought was to tell them all to sign up for Ravelry and look for a pattern they like on there, and show me ahead of time to make sure it is not too advanced for them.
If you have recently taken a beginner knitting class, what did you do?
Any and all input is greatly appreciated!
Re: If you were teaching a knitting class...
I have never knitted, but I crochet. I like your teaching ideas, breaking it up into sections. but maybe the first week, I would teach cast on and then a stitch, so they have something to practice?
The ravelry idea is good, but you could have like 20 different patterns and that might get hard for you if everyone needs help. Maybe pick 2 or 3 and then let them choose which one they want to do?
TTC #1 Since 11/07
BFP: 5/20/11 Ectopic:5/31/11
I like this idea...maybe something that includes basic features. I also want to incorporate a discussion on gauge/needle sizes/yarn weights into the first class I would think...
I like the way you break things up. I'd do the work for them and find a simple pattern for each technique: for example, a garter stitch washcloth for knit, something in stockinette for purl (they could do both on one piece), a cabled napkin ring for cable, etc.
For my beginner class (only one day for an hour or so) we were given a pattern for a hat (knit flat) and a scarf, and were taught the basic techniques.
IMO a few things to keep in mind are teaching Continental vs English style, and left-handed knitters (teach them to knit right-handed or they'll have a hard time finding help)
Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
Don't drink the water.
Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
I've taught at my house before. I always set up my video camera over my shoulder connected directly to my TV. I don't know if that is an option for you, but it is very helpful for people to watch from your perspective.
I usually use dishcloths as a project because it doesn't take long to get a finished object. I have people bring needles and a cotton yarn and I cast-on for them while I discuss some knitting basics. We then start with knitting for several rows and if people want, we go to purling. We do some knit/purl patterns.
I think cables and lace knitting are way too advanced for beginners. But I always teach how to pick up a dropped stitch and frog early on. The ability to correct mistakes is wonderful for creating confidence. Maybe weeks 5 and 6 could be increases and decreases?
I didn't even consider these - great thought!
Good thought - so question about that - I knit English and hate hate hate continental (I cannot do it at all!)...do you think an explanation of the difference would suffice? Maybe show a video or something?
Agreed. Practicing is great, but there's a certain satisfaction to finishing a project, however simple it may be. Dishcloths are a really good starting point for knitting.
I also agree that lace and cables should wait for a more "intermediate audience," but trouble-shooting and shaping are essential for beginners.
Also, maybe include the knit stitch in your first lesson. They'll get the hang of the cast-on and say "now what?" Have them knit garter swatches and maybe start a dishcloth pattern in class 2.
Knitting Blog
Updated 3-12
I would try to put cast on and knit into the first week. I would probably have gotten bored doing nothing but cast on for an entire week.
At least with knit, I have something to work on during the week that will produce something.
I would also start the first few weeks with different cast on techniques (and review the one you learned last week) so everyone can pick what makes the most sense to them. You could do the same with increases/decreases if the class is learning quickly.
So maybe I would do 6 weeks:
1) Cast on "A" and knit
2) Cast on "B" (review "A"), review knit, introduce purl
3) Cast on "C" (review "B"), review purl, introduce cast off
4) Review all cast on's, review cast off, introduce picking up dropped stitches
5) Review cast on/off, Review dropped stitches, introduce increases (maybe kfb and yo).
6) Review increases, introduce decreases (k2tog, ssk)
Sorry that got really long!
I think that would be fine. Or even just give them a link to knittinghelp.com or something of the sort so they can see how other people do it. It might just be more comfortable for them to knit continental.
And I'm with ya. I knit at perfect gauge English, and I'm not about to mess it up by learning Continental.
Our little Irish rose came to us on March 5, 2010
Don't drink the water.
Disclaimer: I am not an MD. Please don't PM me with pregnancy-related questions. Ask your doctor.
I don't know if this has been said yet, but it was super helpful for me to learn what a knit stitch looks like vs. a purl. That way I can look at my work and know where I am in the pattern. Especially doing ribbing, my mind wanders and I forget if I'm on a k or a p, so I look for the little bumps.
Also knowing how to do simple fixes like picking up a dropped stitch or putting in a lifeline and ripping out back to a certain spot are great for beginners.
I took a beginner's knitting class at my local yarn store. The first week we learned casting on and knit stitch. We basically just knit a square swatch. The next week we learned purl stitch. We also learned how to tell the different stitches apart - knits are V-neck sweaters and Purls are wearing turtlenecks. I think we might have learned binding off this week too. They had us buy "Stitch 'n B**ch" by Deborah Stoller. There were good illustrations in there about the difference between knits and purls and how the legs on a stitch should face. The next week we did some more practice in class with the teacher watching to make sure we had the two stitches down and then we worked on correcting mistakes. We learned how to knit and purl backwards to correct things and how to pick up a dropped stitch. The next week I think we learned some shaping with increases and decreases. After that we started working on a hat that we knit flat, so that we could practice mattress stitch to seam it up at the end of class. HTH!
ETA: We also learned to read a pattern in those practice weeks. We learned abbreviations so that we could read a pattern when the class was done. In the Stitch 'n B**ch book there was a section on charts too. So we learned to read a chart and the chart in the book had us knitting a small square where our purl stitches made a heart. That was impressive for a newbie and I think really showed what the different stitches could do
When I taught my classes i gave them a "bussiness card" laminated with the common acronyms, and links to knittinghelp.com and ravelry.com