Simone Kereit Classes

Instructor: Simone Kereit

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner +

Skills required are basic knit, purl, cast on, and bind off. Also requires the ability to pick up stitches. While you can take this class with just the basic skills, most projects that require a steek will be knit in colorwork in the round.

Description:

Steek your knitting for button bands or zippers! 

Try yourself at cutting up your knitting! No colorwork experience necessary!  

Traditionally, steeking is an age-old traditional method of knitting a colorwork piece in the round so you have only right side rows to  deal with while juggling two colors of yarn and then turning your  circular knitting into something open like a cardigan or other flat piece such as a colorwork blanket. Traditionally the edges are secured using a variety of methods and then the knitting is cut, after which the ‘raw’ edges are cleaned up and secured, and an edging or button band (and nowadays a zipper) is added to finish off the piece. 

In this class we will work with a simple flat swatch done in just one color, so you don’t have to spend  a lot of time on homework! No need to spend hours on a pretty and elaborate colorwork pattern just  to learn! On our basic swatch, Simone will teach you an easy manual way to add a steek. We’ll look at where the steek goes, learn the basics of a crochet steek, where to cut, how to clean up or cover the edges and where and how to pick up stitches for a button band, or even add a zipper! We will also discuss how to set up and outline a steek in colorwork, (even though we are just working on a one  color sample in this class). 

Supplies: 

• Swatch (Homework) 
• Crochet hook a couple sizes smaller than needle used to knit swatch (i.e. if you used a US8 (5mm) needle for your swatch, use a US6/G or 5/F (4 or 3.75mm) hook) 
• Same weight yarn used for swatch, if possible in a contrast color or same color, up to you. You could also use a sturdy sock yarn in a contrast color, for aran and worsted weight 
• 2 Scrap pieces of smooth contrast color yarn (this can be anything, sock yarn, etc)
• Darning needle 
• Sharp scissors 
• Extra yarn from swatch for picking up button band stitches 
• Needles used for swatch 
• Removable stitch markers 
• Optional: short zipper to practice how to sew it into the steeked opening (you can re-use this  for something else later). To practice pretty much any zipper will do, but ideally you want a zipper labeled Sweater, Jacket or Sport zipper (for your actual cardigan you need a zipper that separates, i.e. comes apart so you can put your cardi on!) 
• Sewing needle and thread, to sew in zipper 

Homework:

Using a NON SUPERWASH WOOL yarn (Anything that feels ‘wooly’ and a bit grabby, Lettlopi, Woolen spun yarns such as Harrisville Designs, Shetland yarns etc.) 

For worsted weight/Aran weight yarn:

Cast on 30 sts.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: K3, p 24, k3
Repeat these 2 rows for about 6” to 7”. Bind off 

You are welcome to use lighter weights of yarn, if that’s what you have on hand. 
If you want to use finer yarn such as a traditional Shetland wool (closer to fingering weight), work a  swatch about 6” to 7” wide and long. 

You will have to use non- superwash, (aka natural) WOOL, this will NOT work with cotton, acrylic, bamboo, silk or shiny superwash treated yarns!