Available Classes

Pattern Classes | Technique Classes

Heather Anne Ordover

call/txt  703.618.2555

email     Heather@Crafting-a-Life.com

Who?

Heather Ordover won awards for teaching HS English in NYC and for Honors Writing at the University of Arizona. She's written curriculum, articles, and is now editrix and designer for her own book series, What Would Madame Defarge Knit? Creations Inspired by Classic Characters. Her designs have also appeared in Knitting Socks from Around the World and Knitting Scarves from Around the World.

She credited her popularity as a teacher at her LYS in Tucson, Arizona, to her modus operandi while teaching high school—"always teach to the joke." What is great literature for if not giving us the opportunity to get the inside jokes at parties?

When teaching knitting I strive for a comfortable, friendly environment where everyone is at ease. The worst thing I can imagine in a knitting class is having an instructor say, 'You're doing that wrong! Do it my way!' —In knitting, as in life, there are many paths to the same goal.

Availability:

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Pattern Classes—

Sock Heels a-Go-Go

first taught at Sock Summit '09
This course teaches at least six heels and leaves participants armed with a set of worksheets that will allow them to substitute virutally any heel into any sock they ever knit from that point forward—guaranteeing a perfect fit. This class can be tailored as needed—fewer heels, shorter class, toe-up only, top-down only, or all six heels in six hours.

Course Length: 6 hours (can be taught in shorter segments)
Materials Needed: There is homework that needs to be done before the class—little cuffs and some cuff-heel-flaps to prepare for the different turns and gussets. Details will be provided.

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Paävätär sock plaited cast-on

The Finnish socks Ordover designed on the cover of Knitting Socks from Around the World use a special plaited cast-on. This class is only 1-1/2 hours but can be extended to three hours by adding another cast-on from the book (the Channel Island Cast-on from the Gansey Socks or a provisional cast on like the Ides of March). Students will practice the cast-on while constructing a wristie and leave class with the pattern for the Bohus-inspired wrist warmer.

Course Length: 1.5 hours (can be expanded to 3 hours)
Materials Needed: DPNs or two circs or long circ for magic loop, three colors of yarn to match the needles. Sample wristie knit using US6-7 and three colors of light-worsted yarn

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Double Knitting

The Finnish scarf Ordover designed for Knitting Scarves from Around the World is double knit. Depending on your needs, the double knitting class can run from 1-1/2 to 3 hours. Students will leave class with a soap bag scrubbie or a bookmark (or both!). Course Length: 1.5 hours (can be expanded to 3 hours)
Materials Needed: straight needles or circ for knitting flat; DK or light worsted for bookmark; hemp or linen, for soap bag scrubbie.

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Shawl Construction

A three-hour class dedicated to learning the construction of the Defarge Stole from What Would Madame Defarge Knit? This class will leave participants with a lacy bookmark and a new way to construct directionally-dependent, rectangular shawls without grafting. Course Length: 3 hours
Materials Needed: 24-40 in circ for knitting flat; lace, fingering or DK needed for bookmark.

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Technique Classes—

• Ergonomic knitting: 1-1/2 hours
  
• Fixing mistakes in knitting: 1-1/2–3 hours (3 hours if there is a practicum where students bring their "design elements" they wish to fix).
  
• Specific cast-ons or techniques: by request.

Should you wish to have copies of What Would Madame Defarge Knit? on hand, they can be procured most easily and shipped directly from info@CooperativePress.com. I am happy to sign any books in which I've played a role at the end of any class.

If you have any questions, would like to see the fee schedule, or wish to tailor any of these classes to your specific needs, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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