3 hour class: Pocket Visser & Halvis

Get your head around the clever construction and (mostly) simple techniques used in the Visser and Halvis sweaters. These patterns use the same clever construction principal, but use different weights of yarn and vary slightly in dimensions. Visser uses DK, while Halvis uses 4ply. Worked largely in comforting stocking stitch with the joyous incentive of ‘just one more stripe’, they offer plenty of knitterly surprises and details. The body is worked sideways, in one piece, so that the vertical stripes can be worked without stranded colourwork (and allow inset sleeves, which are generally missing in sideways-knit sweaters). Both the sleeves, bottom edge and neckline are picked-up-and-knitted on, to be worked in the round. The neckline and bottom edge are worked in corrugated rib, to maintain the vertical stripes, while finishing things off nicely.

The swatch we work in class can be used as a little pocket on your Visser or Halvis sweater-to-be (or any other sweater for that matter). It will familiarise you with the construction of the sweaters and techniques needed. And it counts as a souped-up gauge square!

MINIMUM SKILL LEVEL
Intermediate/advanced beginner

EXISTING KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
– You must be totally comfortable knitting in the round and understand the terminology.
– Experience of following knitting patterns.
– Experience of working stranded colourwork

SKILLS COVERED
– long-tail style provisional cast on
– swatching in the round and flat in combination
– corrugated rib (2-colour stranded colourwork with columns of knit and purl stitches)
– increases and decreases used in the Visser and Halvis sweaters
– successful pick-up-and-knit using two colours
– changing between colours to minimise ends to weave in
– choosing colours

STUDENTS TO BRING
– pencil
– small sharp scissors
– ruler or tape measure
– darning needle
– copy of Visser or Halvis available on Ravelry (can be provided in class, by arrangement)
– The yarn you intend to knit your Visser (DK/light worsted) or Halvis (4ply/fingering) sweater in. You will benefit from using yarn that has a little drape (think wool with some alpaca, silk or linen). At least 25gr of each for swatching.
– Knitting needles suitable for working small circumferences in the round and flat for either Visser or Halvis. If you know you are loose or tight, you may wish to bring a range of sizes to accommodate as you go.

HOST NOTES
MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE
12

VENUE TO PROVIDE
– quiet space for teaching
– chairs
– tables
– light
– refreshments
– possible use of white/blackboard or flipchart – a big piece of paper of some sort will do.