Date
Friday, 4 April 2025
Time
15:00 - 17:30 (2.5 hours)
Price
£45
Location
Edinburgh Printmakers
(Castle Mills, 1 Dundee St, Edinburgh, EH3 9FP)
Age guidance
16+
Practice using a Shetland style stuffed leather knitting belt and long double pointed needles. These knitting tools have been used in Shetland for over 150 years. Traditionally used to stabilise the needle which helped with speed and the ability to walk while knitting. It also has many other benefits including knitting tension and a reduction in strain on the joints in the wrists, arms and shoulders.
In the workshop you will start by using 2 long double pointed needles (30 - 40cm long) and a knitting belt. We will also look at different techniques for holding your yarns during fair isle knitting and knitting in the round with the belt and 2 colours is an option. Later in the class you can try adding a raepin string at the bottom of your knitting to discover if this changes your tension, speed and knitting position.
We'll discuss the benefits of a knitting belt and how it can be used for many styles of knitting.
Plus Janette give you lots of tips to get you started on the right track and the pitfalls to watch out for whatever your project.
Attendees will have the chance to purchase the knitting belts they have used at the end of the workshop if they wish.
Skills Required
Beginner (Note: this class is suitable for participants who already know how to knit)
Materials Required
Please bring:
3mm needles (either straight or circular) for your homework
4 x 3mm DPNs in 30, 35cm or 40cm length. These can be bought in class if you don't have them.
Shetland Knitting belt or makkin belt is needed for the class. Please bring if you have one otherwise leather belts can be borrowed or bought during the class.
Homework Knitting: Please bring a single colour piece of stocking stitch or garter stitch worked back and forth, 40 stitches x 20 rows, in 2ply jumper weight yarn equivalent to 4ply on 3mm needles (either straight or circular). Do not cast off the stitches!
Teacher Biography
Janette is an experienced Fair Isle knitting tutor and designer living in Shetland. She is well known for her work using Shetland knitting belts - visitors may know her from teaching on knitting cruises or her popular appearances at Shetland Wool Week over the last decade.