Knitting - Top-down Raglan In A Day
Spend the day with Georgie Nicolson exploring the fundamentals of both knitting a top-down raglan and experimenting with this well-loved construction.
Teacher: Georgie Nicolson
Workshop Duration: Full Day
Description: Using a pattern designed specifically for this class, we will explore how a traditional top-down raglan is created. Georgie will explain her design process and how she calculates the essentials for each section as we spend the morning knitting a baby-sized raglan yoke.
In the afternoon session, we will explore how this traditional structure can be deconstructed and experimented with to create interesting variations. Find out what the term hybrid-raglan means. In preparation for finishing our wee cardigan, we will also look at a number of finishing techniques that will take your raglan knitting to the next level. Create button-bands that sit neatly, underarms that don’t need darning and sleeves that please even the fussiest wearer.
Materials to bring:
Approximately 250 yards/230 metres of DK/8ply weight yarn. A woollen based yarn is recommended. You may wish to bring multiple colours for experimenting.
An 80cm circular in the size required to achieve stocking stitch tension (22 sts and 30 rows = 4”). Recommended needle size: 4mm/US6
An 80cm circular two sizes smaller than that required to achieve tension. Recommended needle size: 3.5mm/US 4.
Preferred option for small circumference knitting in the needle size you achieved tension with; one long circular for magic looping, two circulars, double pointed needles, or even a teeny 20cm circular
4 stitch markers
Waste yarn, darning needle, measuring tape and scissors.
Takeaway: At the end of the class you will walk away with an increased understanding of the nuances of raglan construction as well as the confidence to experiment with this traditional construction. You will also have a partially completed sweet wee cardigan.
Level: Beginner - Intermediate
Prerequisites: Ability to cast on, knit, purl and work basic increasing and decreasing stitches.
Homework: It is recommended that knitters swatch prior to this class. You will be looking to knit this garment at a tension of 22 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches.
To swatch: cast on about 35 stitches. After working a few rows of garter stitch, continue to knit in stocking stitch until your piece is about square. Block, measure and adjust your needles as required to achieve correct tension.
So I wrote last week a post asking “Is my making fast fashion?”. And then I did a video on Instagram discussing similar topics in a slightly different way. And as always, you lovely humans have helped me clarify some of my thinking with your thoughtful, clever commentary.
And while I think there is so much more to discuss, here are four key possibly-more-meta ideas that have come up for me out of those conversations.
In using the quote last week that suggested that there was no single answer, and suggesting that this was freeing, I really did mean that we should sit in the grey. Not that the lack of “an” answer to this question should mean we get to ignore the question but rather that the lack of “an” answer means that we need to keep asking bigger more beautiful questions. And keep asking them.
Is my making fast fashion?
Am I living my values or merely thinking them?
And how can I make those two things a little more aligned in this moment?
These are my big beautiful questions.
Yours might be different.
And importantly this leads to point 2.