Coming Soon : My Craftsy Classes!

I’m so pleased to announce that  I will soon be giving classes through Craftsy.com!

Even better, one of the classes entitled “Feminine Fit” will be based on the Knit to Fit series I’ve been running right here on my blog!

  I’ve hugely expanded the information for this class wherein I demonstrate how to acheive the fit you’ve always wanted in your sweaters but didn’t know how to get. I’ll show how to do this easily and without using a lot of intimidating math equations.

I’ll also be teaching a class on Continental Knitting, so if you’ve been wanting to learn this enormously useful technique,  join me on Craftsy.com for this excellent free class.

I’ll post links, a special discount offer and more information as soon as I have it.

Here I am on the Craftsy set:

 

Joan on the Craftsy set

 

 

Vogue Knitting Live!

I will be heading to NYC to teach at Vogue Knitting live Jan 18th thru 20th, 2013!
My “Whip Your Knits into Shape” class is a must if you’re having trouble with the fit of your sweaters and would like to learn how to shape garments to fit your individual form. There will be two sessions (same class), Friday evening and Sunday afternoon.

See this and the rest of my class descriptions for VKLive here

“My Grandmother’s Knitting” Giveaway!

The book signing and shrug fitting event at Knitique last weekend was such a success, to further celebrate the wonderful book by Larissa Brown, “My Grandmother’s Knitting”, I’ll be giving a copy away to a lucky winner who signs up for my newsletter between now and March 15th.

The book contains family stories and patterns from seventeen designers such as Jared Flood, Meg Swansen, Ysolda Teague and myself.

Here is Knitique’s photo of my Angelina Shrug named for my mother which is included in the book.

Sign up for our White Lies Designs newsletter here for your chance to win a copy of this beautiful hardback book!

Many thanks to Lisette Davis for such a lovely photo.

Angelina Shrug Workshop

In case you’ve not seen the new book “My Grandmother’s Knitting” (STC 2011), I’ve got a design included in it named for my mom, the Angelina Shrug.

Knitique of Elk Grove California will be hosting a series of workshops with me in March, 2012 to get just the perfect fit for this pretty, versatile garment. Wear it over a sleeveless dress, jeans and a tee or whenever the air conditioning gets a bit raucous in the office.

Did you ever wish you had the designer of your knitting project standing over your shoulder to help? With these workshops, that’s exactly what you’ll get! I’ll guide you along every step of the way from choosing the right yarn and color to showing you any tweaking tips needed for a custom fit.

Whipping Your Knits in Sacramento!

I am delighted to announce that due to popular demand, I will be giving classes and workshops in the Sacramento, California area beginning in March!

 Check out the Arcade Creek Parks and Recreation Department’s webpage for all the details on the upcoming offerings, beginning with my very popular “Whip Your Knits into Shape”  workshop on March 19th,2011.

Students will come away from this workshop with a basic paper pattern made from their very own measurements and the skills needed to customize existing patterns to fit their specific shape or to design their own garments from scratch. Registration begins immediately for this excellent 6-hour class. Lunch will be served and enrollment is limited to 14, so hurry and land your spot!

Portland Workshop and Knit and Crochet Show!

Hi Portland, OR  Knitters!

If you’re wondering what it takes to fine tune your fit from frumpy to fabulous , wonder no more!

I’ll be teaching my “Whip Your Knits into Shape” class at Abundant Yarn and Dyeworks the evening of May 13th, 2009.

If you’re a difficult fit, this class is for you. Adding designer shaping touches to your knitted garments is easy once you know a few simple rules and how to apply them. Flatter your figure by shaping any garment as you knit it. Darts, ease, and short row shaping are all important elements for a custom fit. Learn which ones to use to play up your specific body type to it’s best advantage.
The class will run from 6 to 9 pm.
Call (503) 258-9276 to make your reservation.

*******************************************************************************************

 
We’ll also be  at the Knit and Crochet Show the 15th through the 17th  at the Doubletree Hotel, booth #28.

Here’s a discount coupon to help get you in. Right click on it to print.

I’d love to see you all there!

Toot Toot! All aboard!!!!

Join Bobbin’s Nest Studio , Bonita Knitting Store AND Joan McGowan-Michael for a fabulous Couture & Color Retreat spent with fellow knitters in beautiful Santa Barbara.

I’ll be the Designer in Residence for this wonderful trip, Oct 16th through the 18th! 

 Catch the train in either San Jose, CA  or San Diego, CA and take a relaxing ride with us to Santa Barbara where we will spend a delightful weekend knitting, taking classes, shopping and of course, eating! Did I mention knitting?

My Whip Your Knits into Shape class will help you hone your fit and teach you the little techniques that turn your knitting from frumpy to fabulous!

There will also be a wine and cheese reception, color class, trunk shows (including one from White Lies Designs),  and a knitting clinic  among other fun activites.

More information can be found at : http://www.coutureandcolor.com/

Edit:  Early bird discount!  Save $150 by booking this trip before May 1st!!!

Whip Those Knits in the Pacific Northwest!

Are you  tired of the garments you knit not fitting the way they should?

Middleford Yarns in Medford, Oregon will be hosting me for a “Whip Your Knits into Shape” workshop on November 7th and 8th.  This event will be in conjunction with the annual Ample Knitters Retreat. 

 Petite or plus-sized, if you’re a difficult fit in “off the rack” clothing, commercial patterns as written probably aren’t much better for you.  If you’re interested in customizing your knitting to really fit your body properly, this workshop will be just the thing. 

We’ll discuss short rows and interior dart shaping, and various ways to apply them to your knits for a perfectly fitting garment.

Participants will come also away from the workshop with a complete set of current measurements and a handy a “body sloper” which is a flat pattern on paper drawn to the dimensions of their body. This can then be used either to customize commercial pattern sizes according to the given schematics or to easily design garments from scratch.

 

Contact Middleford Yarns to reserve your spot for this useful workshop.

(541) 941-3332

P.S I’ll also be bringing along a White Lies Designs trunk show for your viewing pleasure!

 

Home again, but what a time!

Wow, what a great time we all had on our knitting cruise from NYC to Quebec city!

I flew in to New York the day before the cruise began and had a great time walking around Manhattan.

I’m a fan of Project Runway so was very interested in visiting Mood Fabrics where the contestants buy their supplies. 

My hotel was about five blocks away, so I went for a walk over there as soon as I got a chance.  Unfortunately  being a  Sunday as well as Labor day weekend, the garment district was closed up tight as was Mood.  I had some burnout silk and glass buttons in mind, but all I was able to get there  were these photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ah well, hopefully some other time.

I was a bit surprised with the view from my hotel room. Apparently $200 plus tax per night doesn’t buy a great view in Manhattan (nor any view it would appear).  The screaming 15 x 20 foot turbine engine of the hotel’s air conditioning system below my window did however, work like a giant white noise machine and lulled me right to sleep.  I’m thinking the big net over the thing is to keep pigeons from being sucked in as well as garbage.

Finding myself having brought the wrong needle size for a project i wanted to work on, I decided to hire a real NYC cab and have it take me over to Seaport Yarns, one of Lily Chin’s favorite local haunts ( or so I’m told ). Here, the view from inside the cab  hurling it’s way to the yarn shop.  You can’t see my eyes bugging out of my head nor my white knuckles on the door handle. Yes, it was terrifying and I’m shocked that we got there without a scratch.

Once to my destination I found Seaport Yarns a very comfortable,  well stocked shop with lots of room for classes and sitting-n-knitting. Here I am with Andrea, the owner, who tells me that the stairs and elevator to their fifth-floor shop is no deterrent to the determined hordes of knitters who find them.

The next day I took a cab over to the ship with fellow teacher Joan Shrouder and her husband Don. Once on board,  one of the first things we saw on our way out of NY harbor was this lovely lady:

Several day into the cruise we found ourselves in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Our first stop there was to see Lucy Neatby at her delightful home/studio for a little tour and shopping experience.

Here, the bus pulls up right in front of Lucy’s house.  she must pay the neighbors off in hand-knit socks.                                                                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

This must be the place with yarn flung over the bushes !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucy ( love her hair ) and I and some of her lovely projects.  Her home was filled with eclectic artwork.

    

 

 

 

 

 

 These critters were in Lucy’s washroom:

Then we were off to the Fleece Artist’s home studio. It was so interesting to see the dyeing going on and the yarn drying everywhere. Very inspiring.

Inside the dyeing kitchen:

Our days at sea were filled with lots of knitting, great food and wonderful classes.

Below, students from my toe-up sock class with their projects.

    

All in all, we had a wonderful time and I can’t wait for the next trip. Here’s a shot of all the great knitting cruisers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interested in booking a knitting cruise?  Contact Melissa at Craft Cruises!   Tell her Joan M-M sent you!

 It’s a perfect knitty vacation!                                                                  

Vintage-Inspired Beading

I’ve always loved the beaded vintage cardigans from the 1950’s. They were luxurious, opulent, and surely reserved for the most special of occasions.

I saw them from time to time during my childhood: the flash of a folded shell when an aunt opened her drawer. A cardigan in the window of a resale boutique while driving by. The bolero on a friend’s mother who was leaving to go to dinner. It seemed to me beyond glamorous to own and wear one of these exotic beaded beauties.

It wasn’t until I was all grown up and had acquired a few of these garments for myself that I was able to get a good look at how they were adorned. I then realized that what seemed like it would take a tedious application of each bead one by one and would require at least a lifetime was not that way at all! A couple of evenings would be all that was needed to duplicate this rich look.

I teach a class on how to do this and students seem to just love it.  I share my small collection of beaded sweaters for inspiration, and we learn several techniques of beading during class. For many students, the lights really go on as to how many ways they can use this new skill to embellish anything from a common T-shirt to jackets, felted bags, holiday ornaments, etc.. The list is endless!

Here, a few photos of my beaded sweater collection to inspire YOU!

The first photo shows three of these sweaters.

 The second, a close-up of the black sweater using oval shaped beads, rhinestones and rounds as well as sequins in a leaf design.

The third sweater uses octagonally cut bronze  beads  on cashmere in a floral spray motif, one that I chose to duplicate.

The fourth sweater shows a fantastic use of several types of beads to indicate shading and some 3-d techniques to give dimension to the flower centers.

The fifth is my version of the bronze floral spray used on my Beauty and the Beads Jacket. The pattern includes complete instructions on how to do the beading.