Similar to Alison's, how do you translate an idea, or inspiration, into a viable design. How do you know what yarns, needle size(s), techniques, to choose that best bring the idea to a pattern that would be something others would like to knit?

am I too late? I choose design too. And how to make garments fit, how to calculate ease, how to calculate fit given different yarn gauges. Advance finishing too, but I guess that's another class.

Offer workshops at your local rec centre, or open your home to "Tea and Knitting Workshops". Pick a project or two and send out flyers...$35 plus material cost for 2 hours of group instruction, class limited to 6...man oh man if you can knit, there are people who want to learn how. I have taught myself everything on the internet, but I know there are folks who love to get together with other knitters and talk shop. Creativity expands exponentially under these circumstances...!

Or...you could pick topics - Knitting Basics: basic stitches, counting rows, fixing errors, lace stitches, how to read a chart, how to choose wool. Lace Knitting: Stitches, how to alter patterns, add beads, draw a line chart (I do this in excel to keep track of rows).

Always lots to teach! Good luck!

Hollycat

I know Ann Budd has her great books out there with basic patterns for all yarn types, but I would love to master adjusting the pattern you love to the yarn you love that is not the same gauge as specified in the pattern.

Plus mixing yarns, colors.

But you tease us with even the thought that we might be able to take a class from you.

Anne

Shaping/math to create your own designs. I love Sunrise Circle and am so entranced by the shaping of it. I would love to learn how to draw out a design and then figure out the best way to create the knitted fabric to create a finished product.

Shaping/math to creat your own designs. I love Sunrise Circle and am so entranced by the shaping of it. I would love to learn how to draw out a design and then figure out the best way to create the knitted fabric to create a finished product.

Theoretical garment construction. By "theoretical" I mean more than just "here's how to work this kind of shaping." More like "ok, so you want to put short-row bust shaping in a sweater. Here's how to figure out where/how to size/how to work with your gauge, etc." Or, "if you're knitting a sweater for a person with body shape/measurements of X, here are the things to think about altering in a pattern, based on how garments fit bodies." Or, "my sleeve cap is too tight. What's the problem and how do I reknit it so it fits better?"

This kind of class exists somewhere in the gray space between technique, design, knitting math, and pattern alteration.

I might even drive to Montreal if you would teach it :)

How to design. Definitely would want to pick your brain about that.

How to design. Definitely would want to pick your brain about that.

A knit design class, mais oui. Sunrise Circle would be fun, too.

I know that you are in France and I am in Minnesota, and I am very jealous that you are in France, and I am not. But what I need and perhaps most of the knitting world is a practical class in lace knitting. Not just learning stitches, but the tricks needed so you don't rip your hair out, along with the yarn when you make a mistake

LouAnn Loomis.

Now that I bought that expensive yarn I need to get started on Clapotis!

I would love to take a class with you titled something like:"From a vague idea to a beautiful sweater. How I make the abstract, concrete." It would be great to see your process and learn the ins and outs of design and execution.

Kate,

Another couple of classes that could be interesting would be:

how to finish sweaters nicely (seaming, sewing in ends etc..)
how to photograph knitting for magazines (and for fun) tips and tricks you've picked up through working with Twist and other magazine submissions.

That's all. Hope all is well with you and your family.

I would love to learn how to steek so I could knit a cardigan sweater in the round. I've seen knitters perform "surgery" via their blogs, but it still makes me weak in the knees to even think about cutting the knitted fabric.

I'm always interested in classes on pattern-writing -- calculating multiple sizes, standardizing instructions, clarity vs. too much information... You seem like an ideal person to teach a class like that, with your experience on both the designing and the editing ends.

I'd also be interested in a class on the Sunrise Circle jacket, since it's such a unique piece.

Of course, I'm in Portland, OR, so I'm not sure this is entirely relevant to me. ;)

Well, I really like all the workshops I did with you and it is still very very helpful. I'm a much better knitter for that!

the finishing techniques most definitely
and the socks and mitts

and I would love the increase and decrease class, I always get them reversed, (I would come to mtrl. for that!)

and make a breastfeeding friendly sweater - cardigan - that fits well - and that can grow down post-baby and still look fine with numerous breast sizes.

I would love to know how to adjust a pattern to fit my size. Maybe I might want the sleeves longer or the back wider. This is probably easy with a plain sweater but add cables and shaping and I'm lost.

How about a class on "how to be an awesome mama, design beautiful beautiful knitted things, run a gorgeous online knitting magazine, AND still be a fantastic and fun human to be friends with" ?

Or maybe just one on knitty pattern designing math...?

Kate,

I would love to take a design class with you to learn some of the tricks of how you create your designs and how I can avoid some classic pitfalls when I'm trying to create my own designs. (if that day ever comes)

A second class that would be awesome is a cabling class, but for advanced cables (how to design them, chart them...) I'd love to know how to create cables like your Arwen cable, but yet different from that. Not sure if that's clear.

Hope this helps!

The first thing that comes to mind is sweater design. Then I ask, what do YOU think you know well? That would be the place I would start.

i am not sure if this suggestion is what you are looking for, but i would love a class on pattern making or sizing or design. i have always thought your patterns are so beautifully constructed and embody such innovation. i am pretty sure that would be a challenge to 'teach'

btw, i was a bit shocked to see your blog pop up in my reader. but happy. :)

Designing for babies and children. Technique-wise -- Two color twisted knitting (Wintergreen) and knitting on the diagonal (Clapotis and beyond).

Off the top of my head:

- fair isle knitting or a special class for one of your mittens patterns
- how to knit the perfect-fitting sweater
- sweater design

I would love to take a pattern design class!

I would love to take a pattern design class!

The things that attract me most to your designs are:
1) use of texture (Wisteria, Daniel, cardigan for Arwen)
2) use of colour (Bird in Hand, Wintergreen, Syncopated Caps)
3) unusual construction (Sunrise Circle, Keyhole Top),

Oh, and I just love Camellia too.

What kind of an audience are you thinking about?

Thinking selfishly, I'd love to hear about your design process & how you solve problems that arise.

A single class on one of your smaller-scale projects would be good.

I don't know which knitting techniques you enjoy the most, but if you are teaching something that you think is fun and very interesting, that can't fail to come across to your students.

How to design a sweater

pea pod or the bird in hand

Hi Kate! What classes have you offered in the past?

Stranded color work, intarsia, toe-up socks (2 on one needle would be ideal!).

Something on inspiration and designing, perhaps stash busting or gift knitting (can you tell my head hurts really, really bad right now).

I would take one on colorwork or cabling.

I liked "A Cardigan for Arwen" and would be interested in designing cables.

Don't know if this would make a whole class: I've always admired the drape of your patterns. There is so much beautiful stockinette, and it never looks boring as you combine it with colours or stitch patterns. Could this be taught?

colorwork-bird in hand mittens.

a mini sweater class...maybe one of your classics?

-using short row shaping in designs.
-designing cables (reversible? a la Arwen)

sweater design! going from sketch to finished product... theory! or wine and knit ;-) drink and knit with you, i'd sign up for that!

I would love to take a designing class from you - more like a lecture than a traditional knitting class would even be cool. (What makes a design, how your choose the yarn for it, stuff like that.)

I would definitely be interested in a class about your design process.

I teach knitting classes. Here are the requests that I get: Beginner Knitting; Socks; Magic Loop; Mittens, Moebius Cowls; Finishing and Blocking

What do you know the most about/mos comfortable teaching? What have you taught before?

I always have requests for higher level finishing classes.

My favourite classes are the ones where the teacher lets us inside her brain for a little while. What inspires you? Once you have an idea, what do you do to take you from the spark to the finished piece? You're well known for interesting construction (Clapotis, Sunrise Circle)...how did you come up with those ideas and how did the construction come about?

You know, the easy stuff ;)

The design process. I want to know how your ideas get from your head to the finished pattern.

How about a class on the Bird in Hand mittens?

A knit-a-long would be fun, esp. if you teach us to customize per individual measurements.

For me, it would be how to knit superb flattering sweaters, how to shape them and make sure they'll fall nicely. I am still shy and afraid of sweater-knitting, but want to overcome it and master the art of the sweater! (I live in Montreal too)