Leave the Basics Behind workshop: Harrogate

Do you want to expand your knitting repertoire? In this taster course, you’ll make 9 different squares to make up a sampler project – each square of which teaches a set of more advanced knitting skills. This course will help you gain confidence in pattern reading, alongside teaching you lots of brand-new skills. Delivered in a friendly, expert manner, you’ll get as much individual help as you need along the way to make sure you’re well on the way to your cushion by the end. And as we meet more than once, you’ll have plenty of time to bring in any questions you have.

In each session we will focus on knitting four or five squares that will go towards making up your own project choice - either a lovely pillow, a warming scarf, or a funky knitted bag.

Using some of our lovely British Breeds wools, you’ll learn the basics of a specific selection of stitches (as detailed below). Bring along your questions too – we’ll all learn from them!

This workshop is run over the course of two sessions. They can be booked together or one at a time, if that works better for your life. If you wish to attend the full workshop, you'll need to book onto sessions 1 and 2.

The workshops are £30 a session or £60 for the full workshop of two sessions.

Session 1:

This session focuses on trying out a smocked square, a herringbone pattern, a log cabin square (learning to pick up sts in garter st) and gives you a taste of entrelac. We’ll also have a bit of homework around mosaic sts – simple enough to try at home!

Session 2:
In this session, we’ll learn to make a centre start lace square using the pinhole cast on, make twisted sts (2 st cables), bobbles, increase and decrease more than 2 sts at a time, and work carried sts.

FAQs

What's the difference between Beyond the Basics and Leave the Basics Behind?

Beyond the Basics is a 'next steps' workshop for people who have basic knitting skills, to learn common techniques and stitch patterns. Leave the Basics Behind is a similar format, but with 9 different techniques or stitch patterns that are slightly more advanced than the ones covered in Beyond the Basics. You don't need to have done the Beyond the Basics workshops to do Leave the Basics Behind, though.

Where is the event held?

Leave the Basics Behind is held in our shop at 23 Cold Bath Road, Harrogate.

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

There are regular trains from Leeds to Harrogate. It takes about ten minutes to walk downhill from the railway station to the shop. You can also catch the number 6 bus from the bus station next to the railway station and get off at the Cold Bath Road/Western School stop.
Parking near to the shop on Saturday is a little tricky: there is zoned parking and you can pop into the shop for a disc to park for up to 3 hours. Further up Cold Bath Road beyond Sainsbury’s there is free parking on the side streets. Alternatively, Harrogate has several car parks in the town centre. The Montpellier Shoppers car park is close by where you can park for up to 12 hours. On Sundays the on street parking on Cold Bath Road is free and not time limited.

Is there disabled access?

Our workshop room is down a flight of stairs, with facilities on that level. We need to know in advance if you have a problem with stairs. We will always try to be flexible and to accommodate your needs if we can, so give us as much notice as possible and we will try to make arrangements.

What do I need to bring to the event?

You will need 4mm needles (straight or circular), 4mm double-pointed needles (DPNs), 6mm needles (straight or circular), and a stitch holder.
You may also wish to bring pen, paper, stitch markers, row counters, and/or tape measure.

What skill level is this workshop?

To make the most of this workshop you should be able to do the following before you start:
Cast on and cast off
Knit and purl.
(If you haven't mastered these yet, please book yourself on one of our 1 day Learn to Knit Workshops first)

It would also be helpful if you had tried knitting in the round before, though it's not essential.

What about lunch and refreshments?

Tea and coffee will be provided. There will be the option to order lunch (not included in the workshop fee) from a lovely local café, or you can bring your own or pop out for a breath of fresh air.

Is my registration/ticket transferrable?

Yes you can transfer your ticket, but you need to re-register- details on how to do this are here.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

Yes please!

What is the refund policy?

We offer a full refund on places up to 2 weeks before the workshop. If you're unable to make the event at the last minute, you can easily transfer to a different date. Details of how to do that are here.