October Minnesota Knitters’ Guild Meeting

Estonian Inlay/Roosimine with Tanis Gray

Join Tanis Gray virtually hosted by the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild and learn the art of Estonian Inlay, or Roosimine, in this hat workshop! Originating from the western Estonian island Muhu, this stranding technique has been used for centuries to embellish knitting. Sharing similar characteristics of stranded colorwork, intarsia, and embroidery, this beautiful technique adds texture and color to your knits. We’ll be making the 2-colored version without the braids, but 3 colors may also be used for the Roosimine technique if desired. We will also cover blocking and finishing techniques, and get a great foundation started on a hat pattern in DK weight yarn!

Level: Advanced Beginner – no previous colorwork experience necessary

This meeting is a workshop and will use a hat pattern to demonstrate the technique. The materials needed and homework are listed below. You are welcome to sit-in and learn about Roosimine without doing the hands-on portion.

Materials needed to participate:
• MC: 1 Hank Emma’s Yarn Simply Spectacular DK (3.5oz/100g ea approx. 255yds/233m, 100% superwash merino, 25% nylon) OR equivalent DK weight yarn
• CC1 (and optional CC2): 1 or 2 Minis Emma’s Yarn Simply Spectacular Smalls (.7oz/20g ea approx. 50yds/46m, 100% superwash merino, 25% nylon) OR OR equivalent DK weight yarn (NOTE: The CCs will be held doubled, so please wind accordingly)
• Size US 6 (4mm) 16” Circular Knitting Needle
• Size US 7 (4.5mm) 16” Circular Knitting Needle
• Size US 7 (4.5mm) DPNs
• Tapestry Needle
• Stitch Markers
• Post-It Notes
• Copy of A Short Reprise Hat Pattern found on Ravelry or TanisKnits.com

Homework:
(NOTE: Some Guild Members have learned the Estonian Braid technique previously. Feel free to add that in as written if desired, but it will not be taught during this workshop. See pattern for details.)

• With smaller circular needle using the Longtail CO technique, CO 100 sts in MC. Join into round being careful not to twist, pm for bor.
• Rnds 1-10: [k1tbl, p1] to end of rnd.
• Switch to larger circular needles.
• Next Rnd: [K10, M1L] to end of rnd – 110 sts.
• Insert optional 2-Colored Estonian Braid here if desired.
• Knit 1 rnd in MC.
• Next Rnd: K45, pm, k19, pm, k46.
• Next Rnd: knit to first marker.

Tanis Gray believes that we are stronger together. When we respect each other, listen, learn, and educate, we can lift each other up and thrive as humans. All are welcome here, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, age, religion, or crafting style.

A graduate of RISD, Tanis lives in Northern VA with her Mechanical Engineer husband and two children. She has been in the creative field for many years, including roles at Martha Stewart, HBO, Focus Features, Hungryman Productions, and as the Yarn Editor at Vogue Knitting/Sixth & Spring and co-editor of Knit.1. She has worked on projects with Warner Brothers, Lucasfilm, and Disney.

With over 600 published knitting designs in her portfolio, her work has been featured in many major publications and books worldwide. Tanis had her own regularly-featured TV spot on PBS’ Knitting Daily TV with Vickie Howell and has taught multiple online Fair Isle classes for Craftsy. It is her goal to help anyone who wants to learn how to knit accomplish their fiber goals. She is also a firm believer in using bright colors in knitting and wholeheartedly agrees with Ru Paul, who said, “Life is about using the whole box of crayons.”

She is the author of Knit Local: Celebrating America’s Homegrown Yarns,  Capitol Knits,  Knitting Architecture, Cozy Knits,  From Mama, with Love,  3 Skeins or Less – Fresh Knitted Accessories,  Wanderlust – 47 Modern Knits for Bohemian Style,  Modern Baby Knits, Gradient Knits, Knitting Magic: The Official Harry Potter Knitting Pattern Book,  Knitting the Galaxy: The Official Star Wars Knitting Pattern Book, Knitting Magic: More Patterns from Hogwarts & Beyond, and Knitting with Disney

Tanis is a proud member and volunteer webmaster of the Creative Knitter’s Guild, Martha Washington Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and the Washington DC Chapter of the Mayflower Society. She volunteers at Sanctuary for Families, Project Knitwell, and local Scouts troops teaching crafts and knitting. Certain pattern proceeds are donated to The National Center for Transgender Equality, The Trevor Project, NAACP, The Union of Concerned Scientists, Doctors Without Borders, Friends of Notre Dame, and Project Semicolon.

Tanis is an avid quilter, cross stitcher, photographer, enjoys Sashiko, hiking, Sudoku, cycling, jigsaw puzzles, baking, crewel work, and spoon carving.

She has won first place nationally for the American Heritage Award and the National Women in the Arts Award numerous times for Fiber Arts.