Knitting with Beth Brown-Reinsel

Knitting Traditions at Spring Retreat

The Retreat Knitting Session will feature two classes with Beth Brown-Reinsel:

Saturday morning:

Traditional Beginnings – Cast-ons from Long Ago

Traditional Beginnings - knitting class with Beth Brown-Reinsel

Learn eight of the most beautiful, and practical, cast-ons in our knitting history. From the UK, we will cover the Channel Island Cast-on, the Knotted Cast-on, and the Multi- Strand Cast-on. Included are two basic go –to cast-ons, the LongTail and Old Norwegian
cast-ons, that are the basis for two decorative cast-ons from the Twined Knitting tradition in Sweden. Last, the wonderful Braided Cast-on from Finland will be taught in 3 colors! In addition, a couple bind-offs will be covered as well for you to practice on as
you bind off your swatches. If you have paper tags, bring them to label your swatches so you can remember which one is which!

Level: All

Materials List:

  • Yarn–Three colors of worsted weight yarn, about 2 oz. each.
  • Needles–US Size 7 or 8 (4.5 or 5.0 mm) needles (can be dpns, or circular), scissors, tapestry needle. We will be knitting flat.

Homework: None

Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning:

Twined Mittens

Twined Mittens knitting class with Beth Brown-Reinsel

Learn the Swedish technique of tvåändsstickning, or twined knitting, by knitting an adult mitten using worsted weight yarn. The mitten is worked circularly on double-pointed needles and includes many techniques: a twined knitting cast-on, reading and working from a chart, the “O” stitch, Chain Path, Purl Deep Stitch, increasing in Twined Knitting, an asymmetrical thumb gusset, traditional motifs, and two options for shaping the tip.

Level: Intermediate – Must be comfortable with double pointed needles or working with two circulars. Ability to knit English style is very helpful, but not required.

Supply List :

  • Yarn: No single ply yarns! Yarn MUST be wound into a center pull ball. Heathers and fuzzy yarns obscure the patterns. Four ply yarns show the textures best.
  • Adult: 1 skein 3.5 oz (100g/130 yards) of light-colored worsted weight yarn for two mittens. A few yards of contrasting yarn of the same weight for the cast-on.
  • Needles: One set of 7″ long (or shorter) double pointed needles, US size 6/ 4.0 mm. (If you prefer working with the Magic Loop or two circulars, bring the appropriate needles.)
  • Extras: Tapestry needle and st markers, waste yarn for holding stitches, magnetic board or sticky notes notes for keeping one’s place on the chart.

Homework: Main color yarn MUST be wound into a center pull ball.

About Beth Brown-Reisel

Beth Brown Reinsel - knitting instructor

Beth Brown-Reinsel has been teaching knitting workshops nationally, as well as internationally, for over 30 years.  Her book Knitting Ganseys has been deemed a classic, and a new revised, expanded edition was released in 2018.  She has completed three DVDs and a Craftsy Class.  She holds retreats in Vermont twice a year as well as teaching on land tours to Europe and cruises on Holland America ships. Beth continues to design for her own pattern line Knitting Traditions. She writes her newsletter on Substack (https://bethbrownreinsel.substack.com/) and produces a more in-depth study of knitting on Patreon (patreon.com/BethBrownReinsel).  Beth’s website can be found at www.knittingtraditions.com.