Classes

Private Classes from October 2022 onward
Knitting & Crochet, Beginner to Advanced
10:15 - 11:45am, Saturday - Wednesday by appointment only
60min class - $65/person
90min class - $90/person

Book in-store or by calling 9645 1477 during opening hours
Classes are held at Wool Baa - 350 Bay Street, Port Melbourne.

Group Classes
In 2023 we will return to scheduled group classes. Some of these are outlined below.

Finishing Techniques Part 1: Mattress Stitch - Improve the look of your garments with professional sewing up techniques
Assumed knowledge: casting on; casting off; stocking stitch; garter stitch
Please bring:
- Stocking stitch swatch x 2
- Stripe swatch x 2
- Garter swatch x 2
- Sleeve cap swatch x 1
- Tapestry needle
- Pale-coloured DK/8ply yarn with a smooth texture (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable yarn is fine)
- Stitchmarker pins
- Scissors
- Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.
Stocking Stitch Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable yarn is fine), cast on 21sts.
R1: K2, [P1, K1] repeat to last stitch, K1.
R2: P2, [K1, P1] repeat to last stitch, P1.
Repeat last two rows 3 times, 8 rows rib in total. Work 22 rows stocking stitch. Cast off. Make 2.
Stripe Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable yarn is fine), cast on 20sts. Work 6 rows stocking stitch in Colour A, then 6 rows stocking stitch in Colour B. Repeat previous 12 rows, then work 6 rows more in Colour A (30 rows total). Cast off. Make 2.
Garter Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable yarn is fine), cast on 20sts. Work 40 rows garter stitch. Cast off. Make 2.
Sleeve Cap Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn, cast on 40sts. Work 2 rows stocking stitch.
R3: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1 – 38sts
R4: Purl.
Repeat last 2 rows until 24sts remain.
R19: K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, K1
R20: P1, p2tog, purl to last 3 sts, p2togtbl, P1 – 20sts
Repeat last 2 rows until 12sts remain.
Cast off 3sts at beginning of next 2 rows – 6sts
Cast off remaining 6sts.

Finishing Techniques Part 2: Picking Up Stitches - Improve the look of your garments by learning how to pick up stitches for neckbands and button bands
Open to those who have completed Finishing Techniques Part 1, or who are confident with mattress stitch.
Assumed knowledge: casting on; casting off; stocking stitch; garter stitch; mattress stitch.
Please bring:
- Swatches from Finishing Techniques Part 1
- Neckline swatch
- Tapestry needle
- Sharp needle
- Contrasting pale coloured DK/8ply yarn with a smooth texture
- Stitchmarker pins
- Scissors
- Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.
Neckline Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn, cast on 30sts. Work 7 rows stocking stitch.
R8 (WS): Cast off 6sts, purl to end – 24sts
R9: Knit to last 3sts, K2tog, K1
R10: P1, P2tog, purl to end. Repeat last 2 rows once – 20sts
R13: Knit to last 3sts, K2tog, K1
R14: Purl.
Repeat last 2 rows 3 times – 16sts
Work 10 rows stocking stitch. Cast off.

Sock Club Day 1: Getting Started - Over the 4 days of Sock Club, we'll knit a sock together, maybe even a pair! Sock Club days are held on the third Saturday of the month to give you time to complete each section before the next session.
Assumed knowledge: casting on; knit and purl stitches
Please bring:
- 100g ball (or 2x 50g balls) 4ply sock yarn
- Sock yarn swatch
- Either double-pointed needles (DPNs), 100cm circular needle, or 23cm circular needle in a size that gives you 30sts/10cm on your swatch. This is going to be between 2mm-2.75mm, but everyone's tension is different. Accurate tension is vital for the sock to fit.
- Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.
Sock yarn swatch: Using 2.5mm needles (or whichever size you think you'll get closest with), cast on 40sts. Work in stocking stitch for 5cm and cast off loosely. Gently steam swatch to lay flat, then measure 10cm across the centre of the swatch. If more than 30sts in 10cm, repeat swatch with larger needles. If fewer than 30sts in 10cm, repeat swatch with smaller needles.

Beginner Knitting - For the real beginner!
We'll talk about matching yarn and needles, how to cast on, how to work the knit stitch, how to work the purl stitch and where to find resources to learn more.
Assumed knowledge: how to make a slip-knot
Please bring:
- Any wool yarn you might have already
- Any needles you might have already
- Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Casting On: Different methods and when to use them - Learn how to do the Cable, Longtail, Knitted and Backward loop cast ons, and where they're best used. If there's time and interest, I'll show you how to do a Tubular Cast On (also known as the Italian Cast On) and a Provisional Cast On.
Assumed knowledge: making a slip knot; basic knitting skills
Please bring:
- 4mm needles (either circular or straights)
- Pale coloured 8ply yarn with a smooth texture - Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable scraps are fine
- Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Casting Off: Different methods and when to use them - Learn how to do the Simple, Stretchy, Decreasing and Tubular Cast Offs, and where they're best used. If there's time and interest, I'll show you how to do a Picot Cast Off.
Assumed knowledge: making a slip knot; casting on; basic knitting skills
Please bring:
- 4 swatches – garter stitch, stocking stitch, 1x1 ribbing x2, with 1m yarn still attached
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.
Garter Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable scraps are fine), cast on 20sts. Work in garter stitch for 5cm, then leaving 1m yarn attached, cut yarn. Slip stitches onto a holder or circular needle.
Stocking Stitch Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable scraps are fine), cast on 20sts. Work in stocking stitch for 5cm, then leaving 1m yarn attached, cut yarn. Slip stitches onto a holder or circular needle.
Rib Swatch: with 4mm needles and pale smooth 8ply yarn (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable scraps are fine), cast on 20sts. [K1, P1] repeat to end of row. Continue in 1x1 rib for 5cm, then leaving 1m yarn attached, cut yarn. Slip stitches onto a holder or circular needle. Make 2.

Sock Club Day 2: Heel Flap - Over the 4 days of Sock Club, we'll knit a sock together, maybe even a pair! Sock Club days are held on the third Saturday of the month to give you time to complete each section before the next session.
Assumed knowledge: casting on; knit and purl stitches
Please bring:
- Completed ribbing and leg of sock from Day 1
- Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.
The heel flap won't take too long to work so you might like to start your second sock this month.

Fixing Mistakes - Learn what to do when something has gone wrong.
Assumed knowledge: basic knitting skills
Please bring:
- Pale-coloured DK/8ply yarn with a smooth texture (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable yarn is fine)
- Stocking stitch swatch on 4mm needles
- 3mm-4mm crochet hook (exact size doesn't matter)
- Tapestry needle
- 2.5mm-3.5mm double pointed needles (exact size doesn't matter)
- Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.
Stocking stitch swatch: Using 4mm needles and pale 8ply yarn, cast on 20sts. Work 4 rows stocking stitch.
R5: K10, yo, K10 - 21sts
Work a further 10 rows stocking stitch and leave on the needles.

Sock Club Day 3: Turning the Heel - Over the 4 days of Sock Club, we'll knit a sock together, maybe even a pair! Sock Club days are held on the third Saturday of the month to give you time to complete each section before the next session.
Assumed knowledge: casting on; knit and purl stitches
Please bring:
- Completed leg and heel flap of sock from Days 1&2
- Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Magic Loop - How to use a long circular needle to knit a small tube
Assumed knowledge: confident with knitting in the round
Please bring:
- 4mm circular needle, 100cm long
- Pale/medium coloured 8ply yarn with a smooth texture (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal, but any suitable yarn is fine) - two 50g balls
- Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.
We will start to make hand-warmers, but this technique can be used for socks and sleeves and anything with a small circumference.

 

Sock Club Day 4: Grafting the Toe - Over the 4 days of Sock Club, we'll knit a sock together, maybe even a pair! Sock Club days are held on the third Saturday of the month to give you time to complete each section before the next session.
Assumed knowledge: casting on; knit and purl stitches
Please bring:
- Completed leg, heel, gusset and foot of sock from Days 1, 2 & 3
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Introduction to Lace and Charts - Learn how to decipher charts and to start your journey to knit lace.
Assumed knowledge: casting on; knit, purl, yarn over, k2tog
Please bring:
- 4mm needles (either circular or straights)
- Pale-coloured DK/8ply yarn with a smooth texture
- Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.

Project Completion - Bring in a project you're having trouble with and I'll help you get it sorted out.
Only two tickets available.

Introduction to Colourwork and Charts - Introduction to stranded knitting techniques and reading charts.
Assumed knowledge: confident with knitting in the round
Please bring:
- Two balls of contrasting pale/medium coloured 8ply yarns with a smooth texture (Adorn Silky Merino DK is ideal but any suitable yarns are fine). One 50g ball of main colour, approx 20g feature colour.
- Beanie ribbing on 4mm 40cm circular needle in main colour.
- Notebook and pen for taking notes. You are welcome to video my demonstrations on your phone for personal use.
Beanie sizes: Teen (Adult, Large Adult), to fit head 52 (55, 60)cm
Beanie ribbing: Using main colour and 3.25mm or 3.5mm 40cm circular needles, loosely cast on 96 (104, 112) sts. Being careful not to twist, join in the round and place marker to indicate the start of the round.
R1: [k1, p1] repeat to end of round
Work a further 11 rounds in ribbing pattern as set, for a total of 12 rounds. Change to 4mm 40cm circular needles, and knit one round.