Member Update // Become a Lace Knitter + New Tiny Tutorials!
Despite the winter that is still lingering outside, we’re definitely celebrating a warmer, brighter season indoors! With the recent launch of new Spring + Summer 2020 colourways and Party of Five sets on our SweetGeorgia Yarns website, we’ve happily switched up our moods to fresh and light instead. Among these spring releases is a luxuriously soft new yarn base, SeaSilk Lace, which happens to pair quite well with what’s new on the School of SweetGeorgia too!
New Course Available // Become a Lace Knitter!
Lace has a special appeal, a certain charm that just compels us to become “that” kind of knitter. A lace knitter. It’s easy to be intimidated. From leaf and flowers, to nupps and motifs, to giant charts and all-over patterns, there’s a distinct sense of complexity that makes us hesitate. We imagine lace as a hard thing. In reality, the only skill necessary to become a lace knitter is concentration. That, and perhaps a willingness to give the old lace chart a solid try. Everything else is already in your repertoire! Knits, purls, increases, and decreases.
In this course, Tabetha Hedrick brings you right to the basics of lace so that it’s not overwhelming. With learning about the differences between lace knitting and knitted lace, how different fibres will affect your finished lace project, or recommended tools for knitting lace, this course helps show that lace is really approachable. And when we’re done, you’re going to have a whole new world of light and beautiful fabrics to explore!
Click here to join in and become a lace knitter today! We hope you’ll enjoy knitting along with Tabetha, and we can’t wait to chat with you about your progress in the SweetGeorgia community forums!
Also, be sure to read Tabetha’s blog post HERE which includes four stitch marker tips that will make your next lace project a breeze!
New Tiny Tutorials // How to Wet and Steam Block!
Recently released on the SOS site are two new tiny tutorials about the all important task of finishing your hand knit pieces by blocking. Blocking helps your knitted stitches settle into place and can improve the overall appearance of your finished piece.
In the first tutorial, Felicia shows you how to wet block using the pieces of her recently completed Sailing Sweater (designed by Beckie Paul, knit in SweetGeorgia Mohair Silk DK in Arbutus). Then in the second tutorial, Tabetha shows you her favourite method of blocking: steam blocking. Steam blocking is a good alternative to wet blocking if you don’t have the time to wait for a piece to dry or are short on space. Tabetha is blocking her Christel Stole (pattern available in March, made with SweetGeorgia SeaSilk Lace in Flamingo and Rosé Day).
Wet Blocking Tutorial: www.schoolofsweetgeorgia.com/how-to-wet-block/
Steam Blocking Tutorial: www.schoolofsweetgeorgia.com/how-to-steam-block/
Live Office Hours // February 2020
Our next Live Office Hours will take place on Thursday, February 27 at 10am PST. Please join us for a chat, updates from the school, and to get your fibre arts questions answered by Felicia. If you can’t make it, no worries as we always post the video on the SOS online library afterwards for all members to enjoy!
The easiest way to WATCH is to go to this permanent page on our website: https://www.schoolofsweetgeorgia.com/live/. If you would like to join the CHAT, you can catch us on YouTube when we are live OR visit us on Twitch. Either chat rooms should work!
Questions for Live Office Hours can be sent to Felicia at: felicia@sweetgeorgiayarns.com. Thank you for sending in your questions!
Recent Student Works
See what SOS students have been making recently…
- Deborah’s stunning new graphic weaving project, with warp tied directly to her previous warp strings to help save time. So glad this tip helped!
- So many excellent Make Nine 2020 project plans shared by Linda, Felicia, Tabetha, Leah, and Charlotte! We can’t wait to follow along with your progress throughout the year!
- Weaving has begun on Marilee’s colour gamp shawl! We still can’t get enough of those colours – beautiful!
- Kyle’s hand-dyed colour library! Thank you for the shout out – we’re so glad the videos and guides helped!
- Plus join in the fun forum discussion about our #sweetgeorgiabriochealong! There have been so many excellent brioche pattern suggestions shared, and we love hearing from those who are braving brioche knitting for the first time!
We’d love to see what you’re working on! Don’t forget to check out the forums to ask any questions and post your current WIPs, or tag us on Instagram at @sweetgeorgia or #schoolofsweetgeorgia!
Wishing you a cosy, fibre-filled weekend!
Brigid + School of SweetGeorgia
