Boot Camps
About the Boot Camp series
In Boot Camp I start from the beginning, as if you are new to knitting. At the same time I cover the fine details that experienced knitters often find missing from earlier learning. The series works for newer knitters and highly experienced ones, including TKGA Certified Master Hand Knitters. Students at every level have said they learned tips and techniques that improved their knitting.
There are three levels. Everyone begins with Boot Camp 1, then Boot Camp 2, then Boot Camp 3. Each Boot Camp runs 10 weeks, except Boot Camp 1, which includes an orientation session followed by 10 weeks of lessons.
The lessons are pre-recorded. A few days after each lesson we meet for a live Q&A on Zoom. That session is recorded and posted if you cannot attend live or want to review it later. Each class also has a private Facebook group where you post homework and receive individual feedback from me. You will receive a main course document with materials lists, homework, and links to the skill videos.
What you will learn
Boot Camp 1 covers the foundations of knitting:
- Basic stitches: cast on, knit, purl, bind off
- Basic decreases: k2tog, ssk, p2tog, ssp
- Basic increases: yarn over and kf&b
- Basic fabrics: stockinette, seed stitch, garter stitch, ribbing, and beginning lace
- Even tension
- Fixing mistakes
- Beginning short rows and row compensation
- Tools, yarn weights, and yarn characteristics
- Basic pattern and chart reading
- Gauge and blocking
- Identifying fibers with the burn test
- Reading the ball band and fiber substitution
Practice patterns for these skills are included at the end of the materials.
Boot Camp 2 builds on those foundations with intermediate skills such as M1 and lifted increases, compound increases and decreases, beginning cables, lace, colorwork (flat and in the round), jogless joins, and more.
Boot Camp 3 moves into intermediate and advanced techniques, including seaming, short-row shaping, intarsia, stranded knitting, steeks, duplicate stitch, button bands, buttonholes, reading schematics, and constructing a small sweater.
Signing up for Boot Camp 1 does not obligate you to continue to Boot Camp 2 or 3.
Class details and fee
Each Boot Camp is $200 USD, about $20 per lesson plus its follow-up Q&A. The full three-course series takes about 35 weeks, including breaks between Boot Camps and occasional holidays.
Lessons are pre-recorded and released on Saturday mornings. Live Q&A sessions are the following Thursday.
Orientation is about one hour. Weekly Q&A sessions are also about one hour and stay on the same Thursday time. I typically accept about 50 students per Boot Camp. When the class is full, registered students receive additional information.
Exact dates are sent to the wait list when a class is scheduled.
Beyond Boot Camp 3
After Boot Camp 3 I offer advanced courses in socks, lace, pockets, and grafting. A colorwork class is in development. Graduates may take these classes as they become available.