When I arrived, the fire was being lit and lunch prepared, as well as scones being popped into the oven. I set up the folders I had pre-prepared for my students, as well as a selection of yarns, needles and swatches of various stitches for them to look at. After the other two arrived, the table was cleared again, to make space for the delicious warm scones and warming pot of tea.
Then, enclosed in the lovely warmth of low ceiling light, the smell of the woodsmoke and cats curling around our legs, the lesson proper began. Their folders contained the lesson plan of twenty or so terms and processes we would be looking at and explaining throughout the day; a notebook and pencil; a couple of patterns - one for an easy scarf and the other for a dishcloth; a laminated sheet, showing how to cast on, knit, purl and cast off; and the most important piece of equipment, on which I based today's lesson - a gauge/tension measure.
Now, I had a surprise to expose to my petit enfant pupils! Upon receiving my copy of the new knitting magazines this month, I had espied an ad by First 4 Yarns and their scrumptious Peaches and Creme cotton yarn - to be used for dishcloths - Perfect! So, I'd bought several colourways (which almost arrived before I'd placed my order, thank you) and the girlies were able to choose their favourite colour. After some oohs, aahs, and ouches, cast on their 26 stitches.
With tongues sticking out we chose a (my) way of casting on - the cable method of poking the needle between the next two stitches, etc and so we were, until some were able to move onto purl stitches. We even got to drop some, too! Which was exactly what I wanted to happen, so they could learn what to do next. Brilliant.
They were the most clever of students, all three of them really put in a hundred percent effort and, I feel, got the very most out of their day. I really enjoyed employing my previous teaching experience into two things which give me great pleasure - being with friends, and Knitting!And, we all went home with either a completed, colourful dishcloth, or a nearly one.
9 comments:
I want to come take lessons from you! I learned how to knit and purl, but if I drop a stitch, I may as well start the whole project over because I can't figure out how to pick it up again. You sound like a wonderful teacher, Karen!
Sounds like a lovely day. Thanks for the link - I think that peaches and creme stuff might be just what I need for knitting eco string bags (rather than the expensive debbie bliss stuff I ended up with at my lys)
You sound like a fantastic teacher. I wish i could be in your class, my tension is always lousy when I knit. I was just looking at a wee shrug in the wool shop window and wishing I could knit it.
Well done you! What a lovely and productive way to spend some time... oooh and think of the gossip ;-) xx
Sounds great! Wish I was close enough to join in. I'm OK until I drop a stitch. I've started to knit quite a few things in the past, but not finished many!
Gosh, I would have liked to have been there - even just for the scones!
I got my sock blockers on EBay from someone in America whose seller name is Chappy
It all sounds so homely and welcoming and a wonderful day.
I just dropped by from Primrose Hill to read more about the course and to share the tea and cake.
Marie x
Sorry people, for not answering sooner, doh. For some reason I put 'comment moderation' on my blog and then forgot to look at the dashboard to collect them!
Thank you so much for your kind comments, and perhaps we'll have some more knitting workshops - could be by web-link?!
Was a great day, thank you!
I'm looking forward to all those knitting sessions were going to have cosied up in January and Feb when the studio is closed and I have some me time!
See you Friday at the Whist!
L xx
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