My First Sweater - Downbeat
Ready to knit your very first sweater? The Downbeat by Elizabeth Smith is an ideal beginner-friendly pattern. This top-down, seamless design works up beautifully in worsted weight yarn and features short rows for a flattering neckline, plus options for A-line or straight body shaping.
In the first session, you’ll learn the essentials of creating a well-fitting sweater: swatching, gauge, sizing, and ease. You’ll knit and measure a gauge swatch in the round and learn how to use that information to confidently select your size.
Over the next four sessions, we’ll walk step-by-step through every stage of knitting a top-down raglan sweater—from shaping and separating for body and sleeves to picking up stitches and polished finishing techniques. By the end of the class, you’ll not only have a stylish, handmade sweater, you'll understand the construction process and feel confident casting on your next one.
Class: Downbeat Sweater Class
Skills required: Proficient casting on, knitting, purling, binding off, increasing, decreasing, small circumference knitting using DPNs or Magic Loop technique. Some experience reading a simple project pattern is helpful, but not required.
You will learn: Swatching in the round, measuring gauge, sizing and ease, Increasing (M1 and TFB), decreasing, backward loop cast on, picking up stitches, German Short Row technique, dividing for sleeves/body, finishing techniques
Location: DKA Makers' Lounge
Instructor: Lori
Supplies Needed:
- The Downbeat pattern by Elizabeth Smith (available on Ravelry or for purchase in shop). Sizes available for finished bust measurement of 34.75 (38.5, 41.5, 45.25) (48, 51.75, 55.5) (58.25, 62, 66)”
- 750-1700 yards of worsted weight yarn; we recommend Falkland Worsted, Berroco Vintage, Cascade 220, Cascade MeriSeta, Keystone, Cascade Woolpaka, Woolstok, Como Grande - Lamana, Uptown Worsted, Wool Ease, Malabrigo Rios
- US 7 & US 8 needles - 16" and 32" circular (or size needed to get gauge)
- Stitch markers
- Barber cord or scrap yarn
- Tapestry needle
Students are given a 10% discount for supplies needed for class and any purchases at the shop during class days, excluding sale items, gift cards, classes, and events.
Register early. Classes with fewer than three students will be canceled 72 hours before the start date, Participants will receive a full refund. No refunds will be issued for registration canceled 72 hours before class.
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