FIBER FRIDAY Knit Your First Sweater with Sarah Solomon via ZOOM!
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454 Main St., Longmont, CO 80501

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Tuesday - Thursday 10- 5 pm
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Saturday 10 - 5 
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FIBER FRIDAY Knit Your First Sweater with Sarah Solomon via ZOOM!



There are few things as satisfying as being able to knit your very own sweater.  But even if you’ve knit many other types of projects, knitting sweaters can involve many techniques and concepts that might still be unfamiliar to you.   This two session class will serve as a firm foundation for your first sweater and teach you all of the techniques you will encounter along the way.

Students will come to class with a specific sweater pattern (see Supplies List below and pictures in description) and several blocked swatches which will help us to learn how to make a gauge swatch and measure accurately; we will then continue to work on the swatches as we go through the pattern, using them to try out the various techniques that will be needed throughout the sweater-knitting process and ensuring that you will be familiar with everything you need to know before you embark on your sweater, including methods of casting on and binding off, increases and decreases, selvedge stitches, keeping track of lengths and stitch patterns, blocking, seaming, and neckline treatments. We will also discuss general topics relating to sweater knitting including choosing a size, ease guidelines, how gauge affects the size you will get and how yarn choice determines the fabric you will get.  Your class materials include an extensive handout to support all of the techniques covered.  You will leave ready to begin your first sweater with confidence.

This class is limited to 15 students to ensure a personalized class experience. Your zoom link will be sent the day before.  If you do not see it, check your spam filter.  Each session will be recorded for students to refer to for 1 week after the class is held. 

Student Testimonials:

This was a great class. I learned invaluable tips on garment design and fashion finishing. Sarah is very thorough and helps students consider how to adjust their sweater so it suits their body type.  Jennifer M. 

Materials needed for class: 

Pattern:  KOBOLT on Ravelry

Suggested Yarn: Ultra Alpaca Chunky by Berroco or Beatrix by Juniper Moon

1055 (1110, 1185, 1305, 1375, 1475, 1575, 1695, 1800, 1935, 2045) yards

You will be knitting 3 swatches in the class to learn all the steps and techniques so you can apply that to your sweater.  It's important that you use the same yarn for your sweater and gauge swatch. While it's not required, it's suggested that you use the same yarn for your 3 swatches as you do for your sweater as it will help you get to know the yarn. 

Sarah says it's OK to pull out a swatch and re-use it if you need it, but said usually students DON'T rip out swatches as they refer to them as they are working.  Consider purchasing and extra ball or skein of yarn for your swatches beyond what the yardage calls for for the sweater.  

Needles: Main Fabric needle US 10.5 (6.5 mm) 32" circular needle

Ribbing needle: US 10 (6 mm) 32" circular needle (see Notes)

Notions & Tools:  You will also need: a notebook, pencil, clear plastic ruler or tape measure, a few locking stitch markers, a darning/yarn needle, scissors and a calculator (the one on your phone is fine).

Yarn must be purchased from Longmont Yarn Shoppe to participate in this class. Students enjoy a 10% materials discount. Use Code STUDENT10 at checkout to save 10% on all supplies. 

HOMEWORK before 1st class:   

SWATCHES: You will knit three swatches with your chosen yarn before coming to 
class (see instructions below); a larger gauge swatch and two smaller swatches. 
During class we will continue working on each of these swatches to practice all 
of the techniques involved in the sweater pattern. Please bring your blocked 
swatches (No. 1 and 2), Swatch No. 3 attached to the needles and remainder of 
the skein you used, along with the yarn care label. 
 
NEEDLES: Bring the needles you used for your swatch as well as needles a size 
smaller than the gauge needle.  Please bring circular needles though we will be 
knitting flat; if you have an interchangeable set this is an ideal time to use them. 
NOTES: Before class, count the number of stitches and rows in 4” of fabric, record 
those numbers and bring them to class.  Don’t be concerned if you are entirely 
accurate, it’s just important that you have tried on your own before class as this 
will help identify what you find challenging about the measuring process so we 
can discuss as a group.  
Homework:  
Print your pattern and read it through.  Don’t worry if you don’t understand 
everything you read but it’s vital to have a general sense of what the pattern 
includes in order to use our class time efficiently.  Make note of any terms or 
concepts that are unfamiliar to you so we can cover them in class. 
 
Make 3 swatches (see Abbreviations below) 
 
Swatch Instructions:  
Swatch 1: Following the needle sizes given in the Kobolt sweater pattern (see 
Supplies List), cast on 40 sts with Size 10 needle and the Longtail Method and 
work in K1, P1 rib for 1” as follows: 
Rib row 1 (WS): *K1, p1; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k1, sl 1 pwise wyif.  
Rib row 2 (RS): *K1, p1; repeat from * to last 2 sts, k1, sl 1 pwise wyif.  
 
Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures 1", ending after a WS row.   
Change to US 10.5 (6.5 mm) needles.  
Next row (RS): Knit to last stsl 1 pwise wyif.  
Next row (WS): K1, purl to last stsl 1 pwise wyif.  
Continue in stockinette stitch, always knitting the first st and slipping the last st of 
each row pwise wyif. Work until swatch measures 6" from cast-on edge.  Bind off 
loosely.   
Swatch 2: Cast on 14 sts with Size 10 needle and work in K1, P1 rib as for Swatch 
1. 
Change to US 10.5 (6.5 mm) needles and work in stockinette stitch as for Swatch 
1.  Work until swatch measures 6" from cast-on edge.  Bind off loosely.   
 
Swatch 3:  
Cast on 14 sts with Size 10 needle and work in K1, P1 rib as for Swatch 1. 
Change to US 10.5 (6.5 mm) needles and work 4 rows of stockinette.  You will 
have just completed a WS row.  Leave sts on the needle and yarn attached to 
continue with in class. 
 
Block swatches No. 1 and 2 as follows: Fill a basin with cool water and a small 
amount of rinseless wool wash or mild soap/shampoo. Immerse swatches and 
allow to soak for at least 20 minutes. Rinse in fresh water, then squeeze as much 
excess water from the swatches as possible. Wrap in a towel and press on them 
firmly to remove remaining water. Reshape and lay flat to dry.  If you have them, 
you may use blocking wires and/or T-pins to pin the edges flat. 
 
Abbreviations 
K: Knit 
P: Purl 
sl 1 pwise wyif: slip 1 stitch as if to purl with yarn in front.  This creates a slipped 
chain selvedge at either edge of the swatch (there will be a full explanation of 
selvedges in class). Slipping a stitch as if to purl simply moves the stitch from the 
left needle to the right needle, without twisting it. 
St(s): stitch)es) 
RS: right side 
WS: wrong side 





Skill Level: Intermediate
Skill Details: This class is geared to the knitter who has made several types of accessories and is ready to embark on a larger-scale project. Who doesn't want to make their first sweater?
Instructor: Sarah Solomon
Instructor Bio: Sarah is a knitwear designer, writer and teacher based in New York City. She started knitting as an adult, fueled by a passion to knit sweaters. A self-styled ?sweater evangelist? she now works to bring more knitters into the sweater-knitting fold through her patterns and teaching. With a background in woven construction and dressmaking, Sarah brings a love of details and fine finishing to her hand knitting designs and enjoys creating and teaching techniques that are simple to master but yield beautiful, long-lasting results. Her interests range from all aspects of traditional hand knitting to re-imagining ready-to-wear and machine-knit details for hand knitters. Sarah?s patterns and articles have appeared in Interweave Knits, Knitscene, knit.wear, Pom Pom Quarterly, and Vogue Knitting, and in collections by yarn companies large and small. In addition to her self-published work, Sarah is the Director of Knitwear Design for Harrisville Designs, a historic woolen mill in Harrisville, NH. In her design work, she enjoys creating garments and accessories from exceptional yarns that are knittable, wearable and designed to last. Sarah is also an avid sewer and spinner and loves handwork in many forms. Find her patterns on Ravelry and follow her work on Instagram as @intothewool or at www.intothewool.wordpress.com.
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This class cannot be purchased online. Please contact the store for more information.