Workshop Offerings

Suzanne has been teaching workshops at various festivals and retreats for  years across the country.  This is a selection of workshops she can offer offsite, or in some circumstances on site.  More will be added as they are updated and created.  If you have an idea for a workshop, feel free to contact Suzanne and let's see what we can come up with!
 
It is suggested that a minimum number of participants be set at 3 and a maximum number be set at 12 or 15 (12 preferred) - depending on the class and whether it it for half day or full day.  Fewer students means more individual attention and Suzanne likes to give that to her students.

There is generally a set workshop fee for teaching (middle of the road/reasonable).  Assistance in either lodging or travel is appreciated - this can be flexible.  Workshop organizers may set whatever student registration fee they chose.  Generally the materials charge is separate and collected by Suzanne at the workshop and is kept reasonable but fair for the materials.  There is always an excellent handout!

KNITTING

Spiffy Socks – Sassy Socks and Stockings, Suzanne Style

Skill Level:  Advanced Beginner – must know how to cast on, cast off, increase & decrease
Class Length:      This class works best as a Full Day (minimum 6 hours) workshop although it can be structured as a BASICS for a Half Day          

Socks are something that everybody needs but nobody seems to really respect.  And such a fun project to knit – fast and portable too.  Get as fancy as you like, or as subtle.  Hand knit socks are just wonderful and fit SO well.  Learn to make your first pair of socks and you’ll never be able to stop.  OR if you already make socks, learn how to make knee socks that fit – as in Kilt Hose that stay up – for that Scottish gentleman of yours.  Fit your sock to YOUR foot.  We’ll cover basic shaping, a heel or two, and tips on what stitch patterns work best if you want to do a pair of kilt hose or other fancy socks.


Toe Up on Two for your Tootsies

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner – must know how to cast on, cast off, increase & decrease
Class Length:  Works best as a Full Day Workshop as we cover a lot of material and finish a sample sock or two.  Can be a Half Day, but with less material covered.

Tired of boring basic socks?  Ready to be adventurous and try the Flip Side?  Learn to start your sock from the Toe and work UP!  Socks do work both ways and while Top Down has been the most popular way of making them for a long time, there have always been those who have started at the other end.  This is a GREAT way to work a pair of socks when you're not sure how much sock you can get out of your yarn or if you're not sure of the sizing - try them on as you go!  And using the two circular needles just makes keeping track of everything much easier.  We will two different beginnings, two heels and a wonderful bind off, plus other techniques.


Shoulders that Sing

Skill Level:  Advanced Beginner - must know how to cast on, cast off, increase & decrease
Class Length:  Half Day (3 hour) class WITH HOMEWORK BEFORE or can be a Full Day Class

There are shoulders and then there are SHOULDERS.  They work well in the round, they work well flat – and they all keep the sweater from falling off your body!  All sorts of styles, all sorts of ways of working them.   Some of them are easy to do and some are harder, but can be MADE easier.  They can be plain or decorative.  Sewing can be involved or NOT.  Some styles work for some people and look awful on other people.  Come learn a bit about the different shoulder styles and several ways of working and finishing them.  We will practice on a few types and learn how to put it all together! 


Patchwork or Domino Knitting 

Skill Level:  Advanced Beginner - must know how to cast on, cast off, increase & decrease
Class Length:  Works best as a Full Day (6 hour) class

Patchwork Knitting is a very neat way to design sweaters and accessories.  You get very striking, designer effects with very little effort. You'll learn and/or refresh your skills in increasing and decreasing, picking up along edges, and joining pieces as you work.  You will be able to practice weaving in ends.  You'll learn new ways to look at color and texture and how to design garments and accessories using this fun technique that looks so much harder than it really is!  This is a great technique for using up all those odds and ends or special yarns we make or buy on impulse!

SPINNING

Making Lumpy-Bumpy and Glamor Yarns

Skill Level:  Must be able to spin on a wheel but any skill level after that
Class Length:  Full Day or Half Day

There are two basic ways of making lumpy-bumpy yarn deliberately:  Creating Texture in the Singles and Texture in the Plying.  We'll learn how to do both, including making slubbed and garneted yarns, knot yarns, tufted yarns, snarl yarns, etc.  We'll take you through some quick tricks with mohair and other curly fibers, to get quick Designer Yarn results and some easy plying tricks too.  We'll also cover ways to spice up your otherwise smooth yarns by experimenting with adding other fibers.

Spinning with Beads and Knitting with Beaded Yarns

Skill Level:  Advanced Beginner - should be able to spin on a WHEEL and basics of knitting (cast on, cast off, knit/purl, etc)
Class Length:  Full Day Class for BOTH sections (Spinning in the AM and Knitting in the PM) - the basics of it work as a half day class

Love those beaded yarns but some are just TOO glitzy?  Or maybe not glitzy enough?  Want to make your own?  Come learn how to spin with beads.  We are NOT talking about just stringing the beads along the yarn as you play, but spinning them ONTO the singles, as well as the other methods to add them to your yarns.  We will also learn about which beads work best, what projects you can do and how to handle the beaded yarns in your knitting for the best effect for your individual projects and tastes.

WEAVING & BRAIDING

A Good Beginning: Card Weaving

Skill Level:  Beginner (or as a refresher) - No experience necessary
Class Length:  Full Day Class recommended although it can be a Half Day

You can weave with cards?  With holes in them?  Yes indeed!  Cards, Tablets, Beer Coasters, anything that is somewhat stiff, comfortable to hold in the hand, and generally square, although other shapes can be used.  This is a simple, easy-resource method that can produce very complex weaves, or not, as you choose.
Work to a pattern, or create your own.  And oh so portable!  You are only tied down to the weaving when you are actually weaving, or not at all with a frame.   
Think of this as a Beginner or Refresher class in the ancient tradition of Tablet Weaving – a multicultural, warp-faced weave generally used for narrow goods.

EVERYTHING ELSE!

Rope Making, Cord Making, Lead Ropes and Leashes - REALLY FAT YARN!

Skill Level:  No experience necessary
Class Length:  Works great as a half day class

Come discover or re-discover the fun of making rope al la Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts, with a bit of refinement.  We will learn how to make ouri own cordage using a strong WOOL, (yes, wool) yarn, and everybody will go home with SOME sort of rope, generally a leash for the family dog.  We will learn about the beginnings (the raw materials), the middles (the twisting) and the ends (finishing touches).  There will be lots of laughing and teamwork is a key!


Knitted/Crocheted/Woven or Cut & Sew Cocoon

Skill Level:  Any level of fiber worker in any discipline - simple hand sewing skills needed
Class Length:  Good Half Day (3 hr) Class

Make a glamorous yet so easy garment that is flattering to just about every female shape.  Gauge it for your own yarn, needles & style of knitting, crocheting or weaving.  Or go through that stash of fabulous drapeable fabric you couldn't resist buying!  This is another great idea for those odds & ends that you wouldn't necessarily want to use in a Patchwork Knitting garment or accessorie.  Take some of those older rectangular shawls and wide scarves you played around with and turn them into a dramatic garment.


Inlaid Felting - a Hot Pad Project

Skill Level:  Any - no experience necessary
Class Length:  Good Half Day (3 hr) Class or can be a Full Day Class (6 hr) with more finished felting

This is exactly what it sounds like:  Putting one piece of felt into another.  Learned from Alexander Pilin, a noted Russian felter, this method is light on the use of water or soap, until the final hardening stage.  We will use felting needles and threads and yarns not so much as design elements, but for beginning construction of the pieces.  In a Pilin workshop, you would most likely be making a rug - here we will make a hot pad or two.

In the Works or being Revamped

Kumihimo (Japanese Braiding) - reworking it with new braid ideas & tools
Make your own Fiber Tools - an old favorite that is getting a makeover
Using Weaving (Sewing) Patterns for Knitting - more ideas like the Cocoon