From Britain with Love

Once the domain of grannies and maiden aunts, knitting has experienced something of a renaissance in recent years, fuelled by a renewed spirit of ‘make do and mend’. So it was with a great sense of anticipation, and a little trepidation, that I headed off to Craft Central in Clerkenwell to try my hand at a beginner's knitting class.

On arrival my classmates and I were presented with our essential knitting kit: a ball of Keep & Share’s Recycled Offcuts Yarn, two wooden knitting needles and, perhaps most importantly, a glass of wine... and so we were ready to start knitting.

Like most people in the class, I hadn’t picked up a pair of knitting needles since I was a child, when I'd attempted to create a scarf to rival that of Tom Baker's Dr Who (this being the seventies) but had ended up with a grubby, ragged scrap no larger than a coaster. 

Hoping for better things this evening, I was keen to get started. Amy quickly established what level everyone was at and started us off with the basic knitting stitch. Most of us had done this before and, like riding a bike, we soon got the hang of it again. What started off feeling slow and clunky soon felt like second nature and before long we each had a few rows to show for our efforts.

Soon the needles were flying and we were ready to graduate onto the purl stitch. Having never tried this stitch before, it felt a bit awkward at first, but with some gentle encouragement from Amy and some tongue-biting concentration on my part, I got the hang of it and was soon busily knitting and purling alternate rows.

Next came the mystical art that is ‘casting on’ and ‘casting off’. These words struck fear into the hearts of me and my fellow knitters, but Amy reassured us that it’s really very simple if you take it slowly and follow the steps. She gave us each a useful illustrated instruction sheet to take home with us, so we could refer to it later on if we got stuck. Sure enough, we managed to cast off our final rows and proudly examined our little samplers of knitting.

Being a two hour ‘taster’ class, the focus was very much on learning the basic techniques, rather than creating a finished piece. But I could tell from the smiling faces around me that everyone was pleased with what they’d learnt in such a short space of time.

It’s certainly given me a taste for knitting and I’m keen to book onto one of Amy’s longer courses, such as the 'Beginners Hand Knitting Workshop' or the two day ‘Knit a Gladys' course - an introduction to machine knitting where you make one of Amy's signature Gladys cardigans from start to finish in a weekend.

After the class, I couldn’t resist paying a visit to the Keep & Share pop-up shop at Craft Central, where I treated myself to one of Amy’s classic Gladys cardigans, which I’d had my eye on for a while, and a Keep & Share Knitted Belt Kit, which is an ideal starter project for beginners.  

Back at home I made an effort to do a little bit of knitting every day, so I wouldn’t forget what I’d learnt. My scrap of brown knitting which I'd started in the class gradually got longer and longer until eventually I had to decide what I was going to do with it.

I thought about making it into a skinny scarf, perhaps with some bright, contrasting pom poms on either end (inspired by Jo Gordon's gorgeous creations) but in the end I decided it was the perfect length for a neck-warmer, so I cast off my final row (yay, I remembered how!) and secured the ends with a pretty ceramic brooch I’d bought from Anja Lubach at the Origin Craft Fair at Somerset House recently.

A few days later my mother spotted my new neck-warmer and asked me where I’d bought it. ‘I didn’t buy it... I made it!’ I said, bubbling over with childlike pride, and thinking that there really is nothing more satisfying than saying those three little words.
 

Resources

Keep and Share is an alternative luxury knitwear label offering uncoventional, yet infinitely wearable, knitwear for men and women. Each piece is designed to satisfy over time and is lovingly knitted in the UK by the designer Amy Twigger Holroyd and her small team of makers.

As well as selling her designs online, Amy runs knitting workshops from her studio in Herefordshire and at events around Britain, such as the Hay Festival. Visit the Keep & Share website to buy online and to find out more about their knitting workshops.

Craft Central is a pioneering not-for-profit organisation dedicated to building a strong future for craft and design. Based in London’s Clerkenwell Green, they provide workshops, studio space and support for talented designer-makers and craftspeople. Don’t miss their open studios, craft events, exhibitions, and designer sales. Visit the Craft Central website to find out about the latest events.

Feeling inspired? Take a look at the Creative Courses category in our Directory, where you'll find a variety of inspiring hands-on courses: from cool crafts to fashion, interiors, cooking and gardening.

If you run a creative course that you think our readers would be interested in hearing about, please let us know by emailing editor@frombritainwithlove.com

Next: Learn to make a chunky charm bracelet