Stormy Weather
I’ve started the fourth (of five) shade of blue on my cowl and I’m about to start the tiny waves. I will work the tiny waves until I have 8 grams of the fifth shade. It took 7 grams to cast on and work the beginning edging, so I’m giving myself one extra gram for the ending edging and and bind off, just in case. I do plan on using as much of this yarn as possible in this project. Also, I’ll just mention, the colors were true in the previous post (scroll down), they look more gray than they really are in this photo. Rav project page link.
On another topic, have any of you gone through the TKGA Masters Program for Hand Knitting? I’ve thought about it before, but haven’t done anything about it because I know I’m too busy, and honestly, I can’t start it now anyway. My next big project will be figuring out an overall plan for homeschooling Caleb through high school so he’s ready for college. I’m not going to try to get the whole thing carved in stone, but I need to make sure we’ve got definite plans so he has what he needs both before the entrance exams and when he graduates so he can get into the college of his choice. He’s in seventh grade now, but I want to at least have a road map before we start eighth grade. Once I have that sorted though, I think I could begin working through the Master Knitter program. I was just wondering if there’s anyone out there that’s done it and what they thought.
Labels: Small Projects
posted by Melanie at 8:52 AM
4 Comments:
I signed up for the first level of the Master Knitter program, and received all the paperwork. I have to admit I was disappointed, because they expect you to do all the digging on your own - apparently feeling that that is part of the learning process. There are no references as to where to start. You also have to list all your sources (which can be books, live lessons/classes, etc.) and include samples of your knitting. I've heard from others (locally) that it helped them improve their knitting, but the whole thing seems rather overwhelming to me to start from scratch with no direction. Plus, there are two more levels beyond that.
I applaud you for your homeschooling - something I would never have been able to do! Hoever, one caution from the family of a kid who graduated at the same time my daughter did (after being homeschooled through high school) - he had no class ranking, which affected his ability to get scholarships and to some extent, affected his consideration for admission to various schools.
I have been "working" on the process myself for a while. The best recommendation I can make is to go to one of their conventions. The classes are EXCELLENT and they have one called something like "intro to the Masters" or Knitting to the Masters or something like that. They lay it all out and critiques the swatches you have already done before you submit them. That said, knitting the swatches for the first level didn't take very long.
I have done both Level 1 and Level 2. I really learned a lot in Level 1 by doing the research and digging that Amy talks about. From that perspective, I thought it was very helpful.
I haven't committed to Level 3 yet because it does take some time to do all of the knitting, and I'm now spinning and weaving tapestries on top of my full time job.
Several years ago I completed and passed level 1 of the TKGA Master knitting series, with no re-dos. I had every intention of pushing through to the end. I even started level 2 but there were so many things I loved and wanted to knit and with working full time, I had such a tiny amount of free time. I have been knitting for over 55 years, and know a lot about knitting, the tricks and tips and fixes. I have tried many techniques from steeks to intarsia, twined knitting to fair isle, bobbles to pattern design. If I have a question, I can easily find the answer or see a video demo online. So in the end, I did a value chart of pros and cons and determined that I was really doing it just to have the title Master Knitter. Now I am free to knit the things I want to knit when I want to knit them and gift them to those who love hand knitting. Best of luck with whatever you decide, I know whatever you chose, will be right for you.
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