An Introduction To Cable Knitting with Gotland Yarn ⏤ Slighe Mittens
Fiber Tales | Live, Hands-On Virtual Class | 1 Session
Taught by Jo Bint of Snowy Thistle Knits, hosted by Six Dutchess Farm
What is cable knitting, and how do I do it? Learn the basics of cables while knitting the perfect pair of early spring fingerless mittens to keep you warm. All the better paired with our Gotland yarn—a light and airy wool filled with small farm charm.
This class will focus on the cozy Slighe Mittens pattern by Jo Bint of Snowy Thistle Knits. As Gotland shepherds and market farmers, we absolutely ADORE these lush, warm mittens that give your fingers room to roam. Let’s make them together!
Prepare to gather in the Zoom room with new fiber friends and old for this 2-hour hands-on knitting class, hosted by Dutchess County shepherds, Jennifer and Hans, and led by Scottish knitwear designer and storyteller, Jo Bint. We’ll guide you through our latest series of Fiber Tales and welcome spring with knitting needles in hand!
Slighe Mittens give a great introduction to cable knitting for knitters of all skill levels. They are worked in the round, in simple ribbing, and use a combination of three- and four-stitch cable crosses to alter the paths of the columns of stitches.
In this class, we’ll discuss our favorite cast-on techniques, the symbols used in the patterns charts, and how to read our work so we always know where we are in the pattern. We’ll learn an abundance of useful skills, such as how to cable without a cable needle, join yarn, sew in ends and fix mis-crossed cables without having to frog your whole project!
Come armed with your yarn, needles, and all your cable-knitting questions to this relaxed virtual workshop and we’ll get you some answers, as well as a cute pair of fingerless mittens!
We’ll also learn about the special qualities and nuances of Gotland yarn from the fiber flock at Six Dutchess Farm.
Digital pattern included! You can purchase a Slighe Mittens Gotland Yarn Bundle here or individual skeins of Gotland yarn here.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
50-85g DK weight yarn (1 skein of Six Dutchess Farm Pure Gotland Yarn 2ply DK; 219m/240yds in 100g). Please note: Yarn requirement will vary depending upon size and length of mittens knitted.
US 3 (3.25mm) -or size required to obtain gauge- in preferred needles for small circumference (magic loop, 9” circular or dpns).
You will need dpns or magic loop in the same needle size to work the thumb.
Stitch Markers
Tapestry Needle
Waste yarn for thumb gusset
Copy of the Slighe Mittens pattern (digital copy included in the class).
GAUGE AND SIZE:
32 sts and 33 rows in 2x2 ribbing over 4" (10cm)
The finished length of the short mittens is 8.25”/ 21cm and the longer mittens is 9.5”/ 24cm.
The ribbing on these mittens allows them a generous stretch and they have been designed with approximately 2-3”/ 5-7cm of negative ease. The pattern is available in three sizes to fit hand circumference 5.5-7 (7-8.5, 8.5-10)”/14-17.75 (17.75-21.5, 21.5-25) cm.
Finished circumference: 5.5 (6.25, 7)”/ 14(15.5, 17.75) cm.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Basic knitting skills, should be comfortable knitting in the round on circular and double-pointed needles.
HOMEWORK:
Before class, please knit and block a swatch with your chosen yarn to determine which needle size will give you the correct gauge. Use the suggested needle as a starting point and reduce or increase needle size as needed.
YARN:
We recommend that all participants use Gotland yarn for this class, as we'll be exploring the unique qualities and demands of this special fiber. If you have another yarn close to your heart, you are welcome to use that instead.
This class will be limited to 20 registrants, first-come, first-served.
CANCELLATIONs
Please note, no refunds are given should you decide to cancel your registration, but we do accept ticket transfers. If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to gift your class to a friend or loved one, who can share the experience with you.
About the Instructor | Jo Bint of Snowy Thistle Knits
Meet Jo—a Scottish knitter, knitwear designer and teacher based in Nova Scotia, Canada. She is the creative force behind Snowy Thistle Knits.
Jo’s work has her native Scotland at heart, though she’s heavily influenced by her adopted home in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Her first career began as a dentist. She never dreamed of pursuing a path as a knitwear designer, but moving to North America meant she could no longer practice dentistry and that left plenty of time to explore her crafty genes. With ancestors who were tartan weavers in the borders of Scotland and a long line of knitters on both sides of the family, the fiber industry was deep in her blood.
Her passions for color and texture often take her outdoors, wandering in the forest, examining emerald moss or gnarly old trees, collecting pretty stones at the beach, or drinking tea, inside a comfy spot by the fire. A knitting project and a design notebook are never very far from her reach, as she delights in the challenge of transferring patterns and shapes into knitted fabric that other knitters can enjoy creating. Jo loves to teach and to help knitters realize the joy of mastering a new technique.
Snowy Thistle Knits designs are classically and thoughtfully styled with a focus on functionality, and will become staples in every wardrobe. The patterns are carefully written to make them easy to follow, allowing knitters to create stunning masterpieces with discrete details and simple accents of cables and lace. Jo also offers many helpful how-to videos on her YouTube channel.
Alongside knitting patterns, she also specializes in laser-engraved items, creating beautiful leather shawl cuffs and handy wooden notions for fiber folks— the perfect embellishments for your favorite new fiber pieces.
Find Jo’s patterns on Ravelry or her website, snowythistleknits.com and follow her work on Instagram as @snowythistleknits.