Janel Laidman

Janel Laidman is the author of two sock books, The Enchanted Sole; Legendary Socks for Adventurous Knitters, and a new stitch dictionary, The Encyclopedia Knitannica.  Janel is also the owner of the online spinning blogazine Spindlicity, and has contributed articles and patterns for Spin-Off and Twist Collective.  She has designed for the Rockin’ Sock Club, the Dyedreams mitten club and runs two designer sock clubs, the Illuminations club for those who love stranded colorwork, and the Art & Sole club for those who love everything else.  Janel is lucky enough to teach both knitting and spinning nationally, and occasionally internationally.  She lives in a fiber-filled modern cottage in Eugene, Oregon, where she apparently takes every opportunity to feed the deer her precious tulips.  When she’s not shooing away nibbling deer, Janel enjoys making clothing for feet out of little loops of yarn, hiking, bread baking and yarn making.  She was amazed when she recently discovered that she has written over 58 sock patterns!  You can usually find her blogging at The Beebonnet Report or working away at her books and clubs at Rustling Leaf Press.

It’s always nice to have socks that fit really well, and heel construction is a big part of fit.  We will explore 3 different heel constructions for toe up socks that each have different properties.  If you love knitting your socks toe-up, add these heels to your bag of tricks!

Knitting stranded colorwork for socks (Fair Isle technique) can be tricky, because it is a less elastic fabric than a regular knit.  In this class, we will discuss strategies for compensating for this lack of elasticity and how to keep your tension even.  In addition, we will discuss how to design your own colorwork sock, shaping considerations, color choices, and color effects.  Each participant will receive an original design pattern.  Students will begin the pattern in class and will be able to finish the sock on their own.  We will look at various techniques for knitting with two colors, including carrying both yarns in the same hand, carrying the yarns with both hands, knitting inside out and others.

Spin a rainbow of color for your feet!  Socks are hard wearing garments that benefit from durable yarns.  Explore the best fibers, blends, and yarn structures to make these wonderful foot coverings, while at the same time learning how to get handsome color effects from that hand-painted roving in your stash.  Topics we will explore include superwash, blends, carry-along thread, twist, plies, and (of course) color!  This class is suitable for anyone who can spin a continuous thread and may be accomplished by wheel or drop spindle.