Love knitting socks but not always happy with the fit? Let sock expert Clare Devine take you through how to create socks that really fit your feet.

Teacher: Clare Devine

Workshop Duration: Full Day

Description: This class is the perfect introduction to some of the more technical aspects of sock knitting, allowing you to knit “off piste” a little and adjust sock patterns to suit your foot shape, rather than knitting something you love the look of and hoping that it fits. This is a sock knitting technique class focusing on understanding the relationship between foot shape and various sock construction methods.

The class contains a lovely mix of technical information sessions, practical hands on measuring and plenty of time for knitting, making sure you can put the technical information into practice on the day and in the future. The session will end with a practical hands on exercise where you can adjust some of your favourite patterns to suit you by inserting different heel and toe options that suit your foot shape.

During the class you will have the time and support needed to examine your foot, resulting in a set of measurements and a framework of heel and toe styles that would suit you. You will also be provided with a comprehensive handout that contains many heel and toe options that you can use to adjust patterns to suit your foot shape. There will be time to knit a sample heel and / or toe, depending on knitting speed, experimenting with various techniques to better understand the mechanics behind each construction.

Finally we will discuss adjustments to patterns of your choosing that would make the sock design more suitable for your foot. Participants will need to provide patterns of their choosing for this part of the session.  

Materials:

Participants need to bring;

- About 50g of DK wool to knit samples. Clare would recommend selecting something that has a high wool content, is light in colour, tightly spun and smooth. This makes it easiest to read your knitting and see what is happening. This is a great opportunity to use some scraps so feel free to bring along bits from the bottom of your stash box. As long as the yarn knits to roughly the same gauge your samples will be fine. It is more about the process than the finished product.
- 3.5mm needles suitable for knitting in the round. Clare is happy for students to use DPNs or a long circular needle for magic loop. I would advise against the small 9in circular needles for this class.
- Stitch markers. I would recommend lockable stitch markers in a few different colours.
- Darning needle / tapestry needle for Kitchener Stitch.
- Tape Measure

Optional: A few of your favourite sock patterns.
These can be paid for or free, downloaded from Ravelry or taken from sock knitting books. You can bring paper copies or digital versions are fine – just remember you will need to be able to annotate the pattern with your adjustments.

Takeaway: You will takeaway the ability to knit socks that truly fit!

Level: Beginner / Advanced Beginner / Intermediate.

To get the most from this class you should be able to knit in the round (either DPNS or magic loop) and have a basic understanding of sock knitting. If you have knitted at least one pair of socks (toe up or top down) you should be fine – this class is about learning and experimenting!

Spend the day learning embroidery with the wonderful Elizabeth Barnett! Elizabeth has created a unique sampler design especially for the Craft Sessions 2016.

Teacher: Elizabeth Barnett

Workshop Duration: Full Day

Description: Embroidery has long played an important role in interpreting the world around us by way of interesting, beautiful and sometimes complicated interlocking designs, made up of a series of simple embroidery stitches. Many of these stitches have stood the test of time as tried and true methods in achieving different patterns and designs. You’ll probably know a few of them by name already: French knots, back stitch and running stitch, but can you do a chain stitch, a bullion or a blanket stitch? And, most of the simple embroidery stitches can be linked with other stitches. For instance, you can create an embroidered rose using just interlocking bullions and chain stitch....

This class is aimed at teaching you some essential embroidery stitches that will introduce you to the world of embroidery or build your knowledge further. We will showcase these stitches and designs in a embroidery sampler on linen, using your own colour palettes of embroidery threads.

Samplers are traditionally a way of showing off different stitch techniques, designs and patterns. Because some people like to follow a pattern strictly, and others like to use it as a touchstone to build their own pattern from, I have designed a pattern that can be followed or altered to suit each student. I will bring a reference library of more complicated embroidery stitches and will be happy to guide students in trying different things out if the time allows.

Materials: Students will be provided with a piece of linen and a needle for their sampler but will need to bring 3-5 cotton or silk threads to work with. Elizabeth used a combination of DMC cottons, pearl cotton and Silk threads for the sample. There are many brands of embroidery threads out there so have a look around and see which ones you like the look of. Try and choose at least one dark, one light and one mid-tone colour. For example, Elizabeth used a midnight blue, copper, yellow ochre, denim blue, mushroom brown, cream and gold for mine and a few of my threads were variegated silks which is also fun to try.
Some suppliers of embroidery thread include;
- L’ucello, The Nicholas Building, Melbourne
- Treehouse Textiles, Mornington
- Mill Rose, Ballan
- Amitie, East Brighton
- Spotlight or Lincraft.
(For those of you who are unable to get to a store to get threads I will bring a few packs of thread that can be purchased from me in the class).

Takeaway: Students will come away with a finished sampler on a piece of beautiful off-white linen fabric in their own colours that they can frame, turn into a wall hanging or make into a cushion.

Level: This class is aimed at beginners who want to broaden their range of embroidery stitches. A general knowledge of embroidery will help but is not essential.

During this workshop Alichia will step you through some simple ceramic hand building techniques to create some great pieces to use in your own home, such as spoons, vases, mugs, planters, plates and more.

Teacher: Alichia van Rhijn

Workshop Duration: Full Day

Description: Handbuilding with clay offers endless opportunities for creating a variety of wares and forms. You will be introduced to the basic techniques of pinching, coiling and slab building to enable you to create various functional and sculptural forms.

During the workshop you will also explore and experiment with various techniques to achieve texture and surface decoration. Being heavily inspired by nature in her own work, Alichia often uses found flora such as leaves, twigs, seeds and banksia pods to scratch or press into her ceramic pieces. She will take you through some of her favourites to use and you will go for a quick forage to collect some flora of your own.
This workshop is perfect for beginners, and is an ideal introduction to experimenting with various hand building techniques to create small functional and sculptural forms. You are more than welcome to bring some sketches, ideas or a project you have in mind and Alichia can help guide you with your design.

As this is a full day workshop, Alichia will start with a hand building demonstration followed by a few hours of making, you will then have a little break in the middle to enable the pieces you’ve made to dry a bit. After this Alichia will demonstrate various surface decoration techniques followed by a quick forage and then you will spend the afternoon exploring these techniques. At the end of the workshop your pieces will be taken and fired after which they can either be picked up or posted back to you.

Materials: All materials including clay, tools, aprons and underglazes will be supplied. There will be a materials cost of $35 to cover materials, glazing, firing and postage of pieces.

Takeaway: You'll take away your own handbuilt ceramic pieces!

Level: Beginner

Spend the day with designer Anna Maltz aka sweaterspotter, learning how to freestyle a colourwork sweater for yourself from the top down.

Teacher: Anna Maltz

Workshop Duration: Full Day

Description: In this workshop you’ll start knitting an improvised colourwork sweater for yourself from the top down. The beauty of top down knitting is that you can try it on and tailor it to your specific body shape as you go along. It is the perfect system for those who like to take matters into their own hands and don’t like to be bound by row-by-row instructions.

On top of the simple construction, we’ll layer our own experiments in colourwork, from basic geometric shapes to more elaborate designs drawn on squared paper to use up oddments and stray balls of yarn left over from previous projects. With just a little theory, a couple of measurements we’ll take together and handful of basic numbers, you can set yourself up for a knitting adventure that will end in a sweater designed to fit you in a pallette all your own.

Materials and Preparation: Bring ALL your woollen DK oddments left over from previous projects and lonely single balls! We will build our palettes together from what we have. Swapping encouraged – the colour you have lost the love for may be exactly someone else’s cup of tea and in colourwork you never know what strange (and sometimes revolting) colours will make it sing. If you are starting from scratch and need to buy yarn, bring at least 7 different colours.

Know your average tension over a colourworked swatch (don’t forget to knit it in the round) to we can start our calculating from there and bring suitably sized 40cm and 80cm long circular needles.

Bring a pen, squared notepad (or paper) - go to http://www.theknittingsite.com/knitting-graph-paper/ to download some knitters graph paper.

If you have a favourite sweater – bought, borrowed, handmade or not, wear it to the workshop (or simply bring it along) so you can take some measurements from it as reference.

Takeaway: You'll head off with the start of a sweater yoke designed to fit you and the notes you need to finish it and start another.

Level: This class is suitable for confident knitters who are comfortable with knitting in the round and colourwork. No previous experience of garment design necessary, but experience of knitting a sweater is essential.

A note from Anna - For some pre-class reading: If you’d like to have a peek at or even purchase a copy of Barbara Walkers Knitting from the Top Down,  that will set you in good stead. It’s a book I highly recommend – it gives enough hard and fast rules to hold onto while truly encouraging you to dive in and make it up as you go along. A few newer takes on the system exist, but somehow they lack the 1970s DIY vigour. If you want to get your pattern drawing juices flowing, a little internet research on Hønsestrikk will inspire you, as will the books of Mary Jane Mucklestone.

Work with patchwork and artist Anna Farago to play with this beautiful Korean form of patchwork.

Teacher: Anna Farago

Workshop Duration: Half Day

Description: Pojagi patchwork creates seam allowances which are totally enclosed, so either side can be displayed. Pogagi can be used to create leadlight effects for curtains, table runners or simply beautiful non-functional work.

Traditionally pojagi patchwork is done by hand. A couple of the traditional methods will be demonstrated during the workshop, as well as a non-traditional method using a sewing machine. Workshop participants can choose to have a go at a few methods or pick one and stitch away during the workshop.

Materials: 

Participant to bring:
- Scrap sheer fabric such as linen, lightweight cotton, hankies
- Rotary cutter (if you have one)
- Cutting matt (if you have one)
- Neutral cotton thread or colours to match your fabric
- Greylead pencil, ruler
- Needles
- Sewing machine (optional, you may just want to hand stitch)

Supplied: Some fabric scraps, cutting matts and rotary cutters, samples and examples of pojagi patchwork made using the techniques and methods to be used during the workshop.

Takeaway: You'll takeaway a small piece of your own Pojagi patchwork along with the knowledge of how to use this technique to stunning effect.

Level: Beginner/Advanced Beginner/Intermediate

Please note that the work and the photos on this page are by Siri Hayes.

Botanical printing: print your own linen scarf with Australian native plants with the talented and knowledgable Belinda Evans. Learn how to print on linen scarves with flowers, leaves and seed pods that you can find in your garden to create subtle, abstract patterns and natural colours.

Teacher: Belinda Evans

Workshop Duration: Full Day

Description: In this full day workshop you'll learn how to prepare cotton and linen textiles for natural dyeing, choose plant materials, and use those materials to print and dye with.

You'll learn how to prepare and mordant cotton and linen textiles for botanical printing to get the best colours from your printing and help make them colourfast, how to collect and prepare plant materials for printing, and how to use those materials to print on plant-based textiles.

We'll use Australian native plants that you can find in your garden, in parks and on nature strips to create subtle, unique patterns and natural colours on your own natural linen scarf. You'll be able to use the skills you learn at this workshop to print clothing, household linens, cotton and linen fabric for quilting, cushion covers and more. You can use these techniques to create new pieces or bring new life into faded textiles.

Materials: There will be a materials cost of $30 for your prepared and mordanted linen scarf and other printing materials.

Bring a pen, notepad and apron and wear warm clothing as we will be working outdoors for some of this workshop. Please note that natural dyes can stain clothing so make sure that you wear something that you wouldn't mind getting a few splashes of colour on.

OPTIONAL: Plant materials to print with will be provided, but if you have any flowers, leaves or seed pods that you'd like to use please bring them along (they don't have to be Australian natives!).

Takeaway: You'll take home your own scarf that you've printed at the workshop and notes on the preparation, mordanting and printing/dyeing process for linen and cotton textiles.

Level: This class is suitable for beginners and those with some natural dyeing or printing experience who want to learn more.

Working with patchworker and quilter Anna Farago, you will learn the basics of beautiful handquilting.

Teacher: Anna Farago

Workshop Duration: Half Day

Description: The workshop will start at the very beginning, with the essentials of how to prepare and secure the layers of a quilt. Once the layers are prepared, options for marking where to stitch will be shown and explained. Finally the hand stitching will be the focus. Participants will have plenty of time to get their hand quilting technique worked out, practiced and applied. Binding will also be on the agenda.

Materials:

Please bring:

A. Your quilt top fabric:
For cushion: 21 x 21inches
Cot sized quilt: 1metre of fabric which is at least 115cm wide

B. Your backing fabric:
For cushion: 21 x 21inches for backing – something plain and simple like calico or cotton.
Cot sized quilt: 1metre of fabric which is at least 115cm wide. Eg. flannelette or cotton fabric, brushed cotton or wool for back of the quilt.

C. Batting: 

For cushion: At least 23 x 23 inches of wool, cotton or bamboo batting  (or you buy from Anna Organic Cotton Batting $5)

Cot sized quilt: At least 120cm x 135cm of wool, cotton or bamboo batting  (or you buy from Anna Organic Cotton Batting $15)

D. Notions:
- Rotary cutter (if you have one)
- Cutting matt (if you have one)
- Water soluble fabric marker
- Greylead pencil
- Hera marker
- Ruler
- Perle 8 or sashiko thread
- Sturdy long needle with large eye – Sashiko or Straws
- Masking tape

Anna will bring:
- Some cutting matts and rotary cutter
- Samples and examples of quilts and cushions made using the techniques and methods to be used during the workshop.
- Quilting pins and clips.

Takeaway: Depending on designs and stitching time, participants will leave with a near finished handquilted cushion top, wall hanging, or cot sized whole cloth quilt with the knowledge and instructions on how to finish it off.

Level: Beginner/Advanced Beginner/Intermediate

Under the tutelage of Anna Maltz aka sweaterspotter, get introduced to a new approach to colourwork knitting.

Teacher: Anna Maltz

Workshop Duration: Full Day

Description: In this full day workshop, you’ll be introduced to the technique of Marlisle and learn how, by understanding the method, you can come up with your own knitted fabric designs using it. Marlisle is a system of creating decorative texture and colour shifts in handknitted fabric with a particular focus on seamless knitting in the round. By separating out two yarns generally being held together to form a marl base, Marlisle allows patches of stranded colourwork to be scattered around a garment or accessory without the use of intarsia while avoiding unworkably long floats.

You’ll work a circular swatch from your own stitch pattern created on stitch related graph paper and we’ll even squeeze in a little steek (that way, if you’ve never done one before, it will be way less scary when you cut into a garment)!

Materials: Please bring at least 25g each of 4ply weight yarn in 2 clearly different, but harmonious colours. A woollen yarn with a good amount of stickiness (not so super smooth and ideally not superwash treated) is preferable.

3.5mm circular needles long enough for magic loop or DPNs, depending on your preference. Students can bring a range of sizes from 2.5 mm to 4.5mm, if they wish to adjust for their personal tension on the day.

Bring 2 different coloured pencils, a notepad and a pair of scissors

Takeaway: You'll take home a swatch of your own design, ready for blocking and plenty of notes on how the technique works, so you can apply it to future plans. The aim is to send you off inspired.

Level: This class is suitable for a range of skill levels, but perhaps most exciting for confident and adventurous knitters who understand the limitations of standard circular knitting and colourwork techniques. You must have experience of colourwork and knitting in the round.

How your knitting is finished is the difference between a beautiful result and one that is a little meh! Spend half the day with a true master of finishing, knitwear designer (and architect) Kirsten Johnstone.

Teacher: Kirsten Johnstone

Workshop Duration: Half Day

Description: 

This workshop will elevate your knitting projects from finished to fabulous! Spend the day with Kirsten as she presents and discusses the following knitting techniques:
- Folded Hem (also known as a Knitted Hem)
- Incorporated I-Cord
- Kitchener Stitch (also known as Grafting)
- I-Cord Edging

And if there is time Kirsten will also demonstrate;
- Seaming - Mattress Stitch
- Picking Up + Knitting Stitches

Each participant will gain an understanding of these essential techniques and will complete their own swatches of each technique in class with Kirsten’s assistance and guidance.

Materials: 

This class has homework :) :

Participants to prepare the following swatches, using your choice of yarn and needle as recommended on the ball band (for the purposes of simplicity, I would recommend using an 8ply or 10 ply yarn):
- 2 x 5cm length of 30 sts of Stocking Stitch (RS: knit; WS: purl) on your needles ready to perform the Kitchener Stitch
- 1 x 5cm length of 30 sts of Stocking Stitch (RS: knit; WS: purl) on your needles ready to perform an I-Cord Bind Off/Edging

Please bring the following;
- Project Yarn - 8 ply or 10 ply
- Working Needles to suit your project yarn, (I would suggest at least 2 pairs of straight and circular needles in addition to those used on your prepared swatches)
- Stitch Markers
- Tapestry Needle

Takeaway: You will take away some swatches, detailed notes and confidence!

Level: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate Knitter – must be able to confidently cast on, knit, purl, slip stitches and bind off.

Come and learn how to fit a commercial top pattern to your shape with Nita-Jane from Pattern Fantastique. Spend a full day learning about pattern preparations and alterations that will enhance your sewing experience and give you garments that really fit!

Teacher: Nita-Jane McMahon

Workshop Duration: Full Day

Description: Fit is something that we don't talk about much but that affects us all. To spend hours making a garment that gapes or doesn't have enough room in the bust can be heart breaking. Patterns are made for a standard size and shape - which our wonderful unique bodies very rarely match. This class will take you through how to get a commercial top pattern to fit your body.

Starting with taking your own measurements accurately and assessing pattern information. Learn how to map your numbers onto pre-existing pattern. How to choose the best size for you and any pre-cut tweaks you can make.

Then using a pattern toile (that you bring to class with you!), we will look at common fit issues and how fix them. The class will cover shoulders, full and petite bust adjustment, and a comprehensive sleeve adjustments. You will also learn how to pivot darts and true a pattern.

Materials: More information will be sent to you closer to the event but you will need to do some homework! You will need to arrive at class with a pre-made top - we will send you the pattern details - ready to get stuck into learning about fit.

Please also bring:
- Paper scissors
- Pencils and sharpener
- Eraser
- Tape measure
- French curve
- Straight ruler or a pattern making grade ruler
- Calculator/ phone
- Masking tape and preferably a dispenser.
- Tracing wheel.

Takeaway: Take home a de-constructed toile, manipulated pattern and the confidence to adjust bodices from neck to hem.

Level: Intermediate. You must know how to sew and have some experience sewing garments.

Under the tutelage of Belinda Evans of Alchemy, learn how to prepare wool and silk yarn and fabric for natural dyeing, choose plant materials, and use those materials to dye with. 

Teacher: Belinda Evans

Workshop Duration: Full Day

Description: In this full day workshop, you'll learn how to prepare and mordant wool and silk textiles for natural dyeing to get the best colours from your natural dyes and help make them colourfast, how to collect and prepare native plant materials for yarn dyeing, and how to use those materials to dye wool and silk textiles.

We'll use foraged native Australian flora and simple equipment and ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen to dye wool yarn. You'll be able to use the skills you learn at this workshop to dye wool and silk yarn in small or larger quantities to knit, crochet and weave with. The techniques you learn will work on any new or vintage wool or silk textiles so you will be able to create something new or bring new life to an old piece.

Materials: Prepared wool yarn, natural dyeing equipment and locally foraged native Australian plant materials for you to dye with. There will be a materials cost of $30 per person

Please Bring: A pen, notepad and apron and wear warm clothing as we will be working outdoors for some of this workshop. Please note that natural dyes can stain clothing so make sure that you wear something that you wouldn't mind getting a few splashes of colour on.

Takeaway: You'll take home a collection of mini skeins of yarn that you have dyed in the workshop that will be ready to use in a weaving, knitting or crochet project. You also have a booklet with detailed notes on the preparation, mordanting and dyeing process for wool and silk yarn.

Level: No prior knowledge is required for this class.

During this workshop Alichia will take you through the basics of carving your very own wooden spoon.

Teacher: Alichia van Rhijn

Workshop Duration: Full Day

Description: Over this full day workshop you will be instructed in the basics of this ancient and satisfying craft with Alichia taking you through use and care of carving tools, selecting and preparing timber, shaping and carving techniques and lastly timber finishing.

This workshop is perfect for beginners, and is an ideal introduction to carving. Feel free to come along with some sketches and ideas for the spoon you would like to make and Alichia can help guide you through your chosen design.

Alichia is a strong believer in working organically and likes to work intuitively with the wood. She will aid you in letting your spoon reveal itself by embracing the wabi-sabi nature of spoon carving and not to get too hung up if it doesn’t turn out exactly as you wanted it to.

Materials: All materials including timber, carving tools, files, clamps, band saw, sandpaper and beeswax will be supplied.

There will be a materials cost of $50 to cover materials and tools. You will get to keep your hook knife and carving knife (retail cost of over $140!) so you can continue making spoons at home.

Takeaway: By the end of the day you can expect to have made a simple spoon of your own to take home, and also to have mastered the basic skills, to sufficiently practice on your own.

Level: Beginner

Getting your cast on and bind off right can make the difference between a garment that is wearable and durable, and something that is not. Spend half the day with designer Kirsten Johnstone learning cast ons and bind offs to give you a professional finish.

Teacher: Kirsten Johnstone

Workshop Duration: Half Day

Description: This technique focused class will provide supported assistance to elevate your knitting skills to the next level. Kirsten will explain the benefits and application of different cast on and bind off methods before working with you on four of her favourites:
- Twisted German
- Tubular Cast On
- Tubular Bind Off; and
- Sewn Bind Off.

Participants will develop an understanding and application of each technique and with Kirsten’s guidance will create four finished sample swatches. Developing confidence in these essential knitting techniques will give a professional finish to your next knitting project.

Materials: Participants need to bring along their own yarn, tools and some swatches as detailed below.

Homework!:
Participants to prepare the following swatches, using your choice of yarn and needle as recommended on the ball band (for the purposes of simplicity, I would recommend using an 8ply or 10ply yarn):
- 5cm length of 30 sts of 1x1 Ribbing (k1, p1) on your needles ready to cast off
- 5cm length of 30 sts of Stocking Stitch (RS: knit; WS: purl) on your needles ready to cast off

Please also bring the following equipment;
- Project Yarn - 8 ply or 10 ply
- Working Needles to suit your project yarn, (I would suggest at least 2 pairs of straight and circular needles in addition to those used on your prepared swatches)
- Stitch Markers
- Tapestry Needle

Takeaway: Detailed workshop notes will be provided. And confidence!

Level: Intermediate Knitter – must be able to confidently perform Long Tail Cast On, Cable Cast On, Knit, Purl, Rib and seam using a tapestry needle.

Dropped stitch, decrease in the wrong place? About to rip the needles out and “frog” the lot … stop, your mistake might be easy to fix on the needles. Stockinette, garter, simple cables and lace, Clare will show you how!

Teacher: Clare Devine

Workshop Duration: Half Day

Description: This class aims to equip you with the skills you need to fix some of the most common mistakes we make as knitters. Not all errors need to prove fatal to your lovely knitting project, many mistakes are easy and simple to fix “on the needles”, meaning you can be back on track in no time.

This practical class will leave you with a fresh perspective on your knitting and equip you with the skills and confidence to shimmy that decrease into the correct direction, catch that dropped stitch before it runs off or switch that miss-crossed cable before it drives you to “knitterly” despair.

You will learn to:
- “Read” your knitting. Learn to identify your knit from your purl, the k2tog from an ssk and quickly orientate yourself in a simple lace or cable pattern.
- Fix dropped stitches easily in stocking stitch and garter stitch.
- Drop down and add / remove / change the direction of various increases and decreases.
- Correct simple cable and lace patterns.
- How, when and why to use lifelines in your knitting.

Materials: Please provide
- Yarn: Clare would recommend selecting something that has a high wool content, is light in colour, tightly spun and smooth. This makes it easiest to read your knitting and see what is happening when fixing mistakes.
This is a great opportunity to use some scraps so feel free to bring along bits from the bottom of your stash box. The most important thing about the yarn is that it is light and not too fluffy. It is more about the process than the finished product.
- 4mm needles of your choice, or the size you would normally use when knitting when knitting double knit yarn, if you are a particularly loose or tight knitter.  
- Stitch markers. I would recommend lockable stitch markers in a few different colours.
- 3.5mm / 3.75mm crochet hook.
- Waste yarn – a smooth cotton yarn works well.
- Tapestry or Darning needle.
- 4mm cable needle or 4mm DPN.

Takeaway: Confidence in how to save your stitches!

Level: Beginner / Advanced Beginner / Intermediate. This class is suitable for a wide range of knitters; we all make mistakes in our knitting.

To get the most from this class you should have completed a few knitting projects – none of them need to be overly complicated but it would be helpful if you have had experience of simple decreases (ssk and k2tog), simple increases (yarn over, kfb, M1R and M1L) and basic cables (2/2RC and 2/2LC / C4B and C4F).
 

Pattern Fantastique’s best selling Aeolian Tee Shirt Dress fits and flatters a variety of body shapes and sizes.  The box-shape sleeves and deep hems are a pleasure to sew and create a modern and easy to wear silhouette, suitable for all ages and body shapes.

Teacher: Anna Ng

Workshop Duration: Full Day

Description: Pattern Fantastique’s Aeolian Tee Shirt Dress is designed for knits but with a couple of minor modifications can be sewn in woven fabric too.  This class steps you through the changes required to sew this garment in linen, voile, double gauze, seersucker, chambray or light-medium weight cotton.

The Aeolian pattern comes with five different hem lengths, but in when sewn in a woven, it’s best in a top, tunic, knee-length dress or midi-length dress. 

In this class you will step through cutting out your pattern and make bias binding. Anna will take you through raglan construction and applying a bias binding facing to the neckline so that sits flat against your body - such a useful sewing skill! You will also learn to sew a deep hem.

Materials:

Please bring
- Fabric for your dress ( more details below).
- A copy of the Aeolian pattern which can be found on Pattern Fantastique's website.
- All purpose polyester thread to match your fabric
- Sewing machine
- Your sewing kit including fabric scissors, pins, tailors chalk, measuring tape, quick unpick, hand and sewing needle

If your material in 140cm wide you will need;
- Top = 1.2 m
- Tunic = 1.4m
- Knee-Length Dress – 1.6m
- Midi Dress – 1.7m

If you material is narrower than 140cm, you will need at least two times the finished garment length.

Takeaway: At the end of the class you will have made your very own Aeolian Top, Tunic or Dress.

Level: This class is aimed at beginners who want to learn how to sew garments. You will need familiarity with a sewing machine and simple straight-stitching experience.

Using Leslie's free-form patchwork technique will have you creating improvisational patchwork with joy. And you get to walk away with a cushion!!

Teacher: Leslie Keating

Workshop Duration: Full Day

Description: This full-day workshop will teach you three invaluable skills - a quick, easy way to achieve freeform style patchwork, a simple cushion cover technique and machine quilting basics - and you’ll leave with a gorgeous, completed cushion cover.

We’ll start with a discussion on the principles of freeform patchwork, it’s uses and possibilities and then get into creating our patchwork cushion cover front. Next we’ll move on to machine quilting basics, with examples shown of different styles that can be achieved with a standard sewing machine and explaining different options for batting and basting.

Once our tops are quilted, we’ll move onto the cushion cover construction with the option of finishing with a simple, envelope style closure or a zipper closure (both will be demonstrated).

Materials: 

You will need to provide your own sewing machine and basic sewing supplies (scissors, thread, seam ripper, etc). Cutting matts and rotary cutters will be provided

Please also bring a variety of fabric scraps (or larger fabric pieces that we will cut down) for the cushion top and 50cm x 75cm piece of cotton canvas or heavier weight linen for the backing. Organic cotton batting for the machine quilting will be provided.

Optionally Naturally Dyed Freeform Patchwork Kits (as shown in the photo) will be available from the instructor for a special Craft Sessions price of $48 (normally $60).

Takeaway: You'll take away your finished patchwork cushion cover.

Level: Advanced Beginner.

Develop confidence with top down knitting and seamless construction alongside designer Kirsten Johnstone. Using Kirsten's pattern Raiun as a base you will start to create a beautiful top down cardigan that fits and is beautifully finished.

Teacher: Kirsten Johnstone

Workshop Duration: Full Day

Description: Spend the day with Kirsten creating your own Raiun top down cardigan, learning the key elements of top down construction, and in particular, the design features of the Raiun cardigan. This cardigan is seamless, versatile and flattering. And with Kirsten's help you will start at the very beginning - taking your measurements, choosing an appropriate size, positive/negative ease and swatching. This class will take you through all you need to create a beautiful top down sweater.

Knitting techniques include provisional crochet cast-on, ribbing, picking up stitches, raglan shaping, separating the body + sleeves in top down construction, backward loop cast-on, picking up underarm stitches for a sleeve, knitting sleeves in the round, bind off, weaving in ends.

Materials: Participants need to bring along their own yarn and tools.

Equipment/Tools:
Project Yarn - Pattern suggests Shibui Knits Staccato or 4 ply/Fingering yarn. Depending on size selected to knit, yardage varies from 5 to 8 skeins or 800 – 1330m.
You will also need:
- Tape Measure
- 4.0mm (US6) Circular Needles, length to suit work (60-100cm suggested), or needle to obtain gauge
- Stitch Markers
- 2 Large Stitch Holders
- Tapestry Needle

Participants to obtain their own copy of Raiun Cardigan Pattern from Ravelry and bring to class.

And then there is some homework - please bring the following (washed!) swatches:
- Using your preferred yarn and needle as recommended in the pattern, a 20cm x 20cm knitted square worked in Stocking Stitch (ie 48sts x 60rows)*
- Using your preferred yarn and needle as recommended in the pattern, a 20cm x 20cm knitted square worked in 2x1 Ribbing (ie 66sts x 64rows)

Takeaway: You will takeaway confidence in understanding top down raglan construction, positive and negative ease, gauge, yarn choice and size selection, crochet provisional cast on technique and utilizing the ensuing live stitches, seamless knitting.

Level: Advanced Beginner / Intermediate Knitter – must be able to cast on + bind off, perform knit and purl stitches and 2x1 rib competently in a piece of knitting.

Helpful skills to understand prior to class include knitting with circular needles (we use them here because of the large number of live stitches being worked at once).

In this class you will sew your own fully lined denim tote bag with internal zippered pocket and key clip, while gaining some confidence working with leather.

Teacher: Anna Ng

Workshop Duration: Half Day

Description: A denim tote bag with leather handles will be a well-used and loved addition to your bag collection.  To give the bag some structure, choose both a medium-weight denim and lining material.  It’s always great to choose a lining that matches your colour preferences and/or personality!

The lined tote bag includes a zippered pocket, key clip and leather handles.  Learn how to sneakily attached the lining to the base of the bag, how to insert a zip, and gain some experience with working with leather. 

The handles will be pre-cut and supplied, but you’ll be shown how they are made.  During the class you will have hands-on experience of punching the holes in the straps and attaching them to the tote with double capped rivets (hammers supplied!).  Practice leather and rivets will be available for participants to hone their skills. 

Materials: Please Bring;

- 60cm Medium-weight denim
- 50cm Medium-weight lining material (cotton/linen blends work well)
- 35cm Contrast medium-weight material for pocket and key fob
- All purpose polyester thread to match your fabrics
- 18cm (7”) Metal trouser zip (to match your denim or pocket fabric)
- Denim needle
- Sewing machine
- Your sewing kit including fabric scissors, pins, tailors chalk, measuring tape, quick unpick, hand and sewing needle

There will be a materials fee of $10 for this class which includes;
- a copy of the Tote bag pattern
- 2 x Leather handles (2cm x 75cm)
- 4 x Leather handle support pieces (2cm x 4cm)
- 10 x Double capped rivets (two for practicing & eight for the bag!)
- 1 x Alloy swivel clip
- Leather scraps (for practicing)

Takeaway: At the end of the class you will have made your very own lined denim tote bag with leather handles.

Level: Beginner/Advanced Beginner/Intermediate

Does the thought of sewing knits on your sewing machine send you into a mild or severe panic?  In this class you’ll overcome any of your knits fears while sewing a custom-fit pair of leggings for yourself. 

Teacher: Anna Ng

Workshop Duration: Half Day

Description: We ran this class two years ago and were floored by how quickly it sold out!! Obviously leggings are a great wardrobe staple and this workshop is the perfect introduction to sewing knits on a domestic sewing machine.

Anna will be sharing all she knows about sewing with and finishing knits. She will also help you to create a pair of leggings that fit your body.

In this hands on class you will learn how to:
Locate the grain on knit fabric, how to cut out knit fabric, sew knits on a domestic sewing machine. You will also learn how to finish your knits - you will add elastic to the waist and top-stitch in place with a twin needle. Finally you will hem your leggings (two different methods will be demonstrated).

Materials:

There is a materials fee of $10 which is for a paper copy of Megan Nielsen's Virginnia leggings pattern. After extensive testing this pattern was the best Anna found and Megan is kindly offering it to us at a discounted price!

Please bring;
- 1.3m cotton/lycra. You can purchase the perfect black cotton Lycra that is not see-through from Anna for $22.
- A length of 1 inch (25mm) elastic that matches your waist measurement
- All purpose polyester thread to match your fabric
- Jersey (ball point) needle
- Stretch twin needle
- Sewing machine
- An empty bobbin (for woolly nylon thread)
- Sewing kit including fabric scissors, pins, tailors chalk, measuring tape and a quick unpick

Woolly nylon thread will be supplied by the teacher at no charge.

Takeaway: At the end of the class you will have a pair of custom-fit leggings.

Level: This class is aimed at beginners. Familiarity with a sewing machine - threading a machine, winding a bobbin, replacing a bobbin and changing a sewing needle.

Designed to give knitters an introduction to the thrills of stranded colourwork, this three-hour session combines a bit of theory and lots of hands-on and uses a warm winter hat as a focus to learn the fundamental techniques.

Teacher: Ophelie Lechat

Workshop Duration: Half Day

Description: We’ll get straight to work with needles and yarn, learning the tricks to knitting with two colours at once- the various ways to hold the two yarns, carrying the unused yarn neatly at the back, working in the round, colour dominance and more. At the same time, we’ll take a brief look into the traditions of colourwork knitting and discuss the basics of colour theory and working with colour charts.

We will be using a pattern Jules Billings made especially for this class.

Materials: Participants will be required to work the band of the hat before the class. Instructions for this, as well as the required yarn quantities and needle sizes, will be provided before the event. Knitting the band before the class means we can get straight into the colourwork!

Woolly, non-superwash, 10ply yarn in 2-5 shades. Details of how to choose the yarn colours will be sent via email.

Takeaway: The beginnings of our colourwork hat and the confidence to take on more complex colourwork designs.

Level: Adventurous beginner/intermediate. Participants should be comfortable with casting on and off and knit and purl prior to this class. Some experience knitting in the round would be helpful.