Last month I spent five great days at the Creativ Festival in downtown Toronto. I took several classes, ranging from sewing a huge craft bag. to knitting socks two-at-a-time, to ribbon embroidery.

Continental Knitting

Perhaps the hardest class I took as Introduction to Continental Knitting. It was absolutely like learning to knit for the first time, but worse because you are fighting your muscle memory the whole time. I’m pretty pleased, though, with the result. This swatch looks no worse than the knitting I did back when I was learning in 2008. And, while I don’t think I will become a Continental knitter, I hope to become proficient enough to do two-handed colourwork.

Two mini socks

I also took 2-At-a-Time Top Down Socks. Now, I’ve knit 2-at-a-time socks before, and I didn’t really enjoy the process very much. But, I was hoping by taking this class I might  learn something new that would make this a technique to turn to more often. Unfortunately, I discovered that I really, really don’t like this technique. I guess I’m more about the process than the finished product.

I did, however, learn a cool new heel technique.

Shadow wrap short row heel

It is called the Shadow Wrap Short Row heel, and it is a method of working short rows that doesn’t involve any wrapping. Essentially, you twin up stitches by making a stitch while you work the decrease section of the heel, and then you triple the stitches and then work them together again when in the increase section of the heel. Cheryl Toy of Little Church Knits (who taught the class) explains is so much better than I do.

Now, this is a technique that I will definitely be using again! It produces such a smooth and attractive heel, and it works up quickly too. I can’t wait to give it a try on a full-sized pair of socks.

Next Up: Canvaswork at the Creativ Festival