Online Combination Syllabus

The class will be presented in 4 sections, with 3 parts to each section: Materials: I recommend moving through the materials in the order that I've mapped out, but you can jump around if there's something that strikes your fancy. Chats: There will be 2 chat periods each week, you should be able to make at least one. If you can't make any chats in any week, please email me and let me know. Homework: You'll be working a stockinette stitch swatch AND a ribbing swatch in this class, you can work them separately, or together as one big swatch. I'd love to see photos of your swatches as you work! You can work one section per week, or proceed at your own pace. Part 1 - The Nuts & Bolts Welcome to Part I Video An overview of the three main knitting styles (Western, Eastern, and a variation which I'm calling Combination Knitting) and my theory of the worldwide spread of these styles. I'll talk about why it doesn't matter whether you're a Right handed (English) or Left handed (Continental) knitter and give you some tips to help you create better stitch and row tension no matter HOW you hold your yarn.
Materials Lectures Geography of Knit Videos Western/Combination Basic Western Knitting Basic Combination Knitting Geography of Knit PDF Handouts Combo Knitting Geography of Knit Western/Combo Cheat Sheet	Chats 2 Chats This Week See class chat schedule for specific times Wednesday at either 8:00 or 20:00 US CT Sunday at either 8:00 or 20:00 US CT I will host 2 online chats during each week of classes. The chats are text chats (not video) and will be set up to alternate between 8am and 8pm US Central Time on Wednesdays and Sundays. Hint: Type "Time Saint Paul, MN"into Google to discover what time it is where I am & to determine when the chats will occur in your own time zone.	Homework In this portion of the class student work must be finished in the following order: 1. Cast on 20 sts, work in St st (however you usually knit & purl) for 20 rows or so. 2. Listen to the lectures, watch the videos and read the handouts. 3. Work in Combination Knitting for at least 20 rows, revisiting the materials as necessary. Don't be discouraged, and DON'T RIP OUT!
Part II - How Do YOU Knit? Welcome to Part II Video We'll determine our own knitting styles (Western, Combination, some other variation) and examine how we form our stitches. I'll discuss the pros and cons of Combination, and whether it will be an answer to your knitting prayers, or an insidious plot to force you to doubt your knitting chops. Hint: Both are pretty great outcomes, trust me... We'll finish this part of the class with some Combination Ribbing and you may see some of the nicest ribbing you've ever created.
Materials Videos Stitch Orientation Setting Tension I Setting Tension II Setting Tension III PDF Handouts Stitch Orientation	Chats 2 Chats This Week See class chat schedule for specific times Wednesday at either 8:00 or 20:00 US CT Sunday at either 8:00 or 20:00 US CT	Homework Practice your Combination Knitting and work on losening up as you purl to create better row tension. Set up a 2x2 ribbing (K2, p2) and work for at least 20 rows. Once again, give it a good chance and don't rip out - just keep going. It's a swatch, a tool. You'd never get much work done if you stopped every 5 minutes to polish your hammer!
Part III - How To Fit Into a Standard Knitting World Welcome to Part III Video We'll discuss pattern terminology, and when is the best time to use - or eschew - Combination Knitting. I'll give you full translations of what the magazines and books mean when they tell you to K1tbl or K2tog, and help you understand that it makes NO DIFFERENCE which way your stitches are seated, as long as you knit them so they're happy.
Materials Lectures Standardization Videos Standardization When Good Combo Goes Bad Combination Decreasing PDF Files Combo Translation Combo Decreasing Standardization	Chats 2 Chats This Week See class chat schedule for specific times Wednesday at either 8:00 or 20:00 US CT Sunday at either 8:00 or 20:00 US CT	Homework There is no practical work in this portion of the class, just keep practicing your combination knitting!
Part IV - The Fun Stuff I'll give you some fun tricks, a couple of nice increases, some explanations about directional decreases and we'll finish by cabling without a cable needle.
Materials Videos Annie's Cabling Weaving In Ends Long Tail Cast On K2tog Bind Off PDF Files Annie's Cabling (without a cable needle)	Chats 2 Chats This Week See class chat schedule for specific times Wednesday at either 8:00 or 20:00 US CT Sunday at either 8:00 or 20:00 US CT	Homework Return to your ribbing swatch and increase 2 stitches in each group of knit stitches on the RIGHT SIDE ONLY, you'll have a K4, p2 ribbing (K2, p4 when viewed from the wrong side) Use this swatch to practice your cabling without a cable needle. Return to your Stockingette Stitch swatch and practice the decreases shown in the video & handouts.