Learn to Knit
Learn to Knit
Scholarship tickets are available to anyone as funds allow. Call or email us to request one! Read more at the bottom of this page.
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Looking to learn to knit? Whether you're a complete beginner or looking for a refresh on the knitting basics, this class at our shop in Bushwick, Brooklyn is for those looking to get started making their own clothes & accessories with little more than sticks and string.
PLEASE READ BEFORE SIGNING UP!
Please arrive 15–20 minutes early to select & purchase materials for class! Students may also bring their own materials from home, please read the "Required Yarn" and "Required Tools" sections below to make sure you're bringing the best stuff to learn with!
If you already know how to cast on, knit, purl, bind off, and do simple stitch patterns like stockinette and ribbing: Congrats! You're too advanced for our beginner class! Please sign up for Intermediate & Advanced Knitting instead, or browse other knitting classes here.
For those who don't know what those words up there mean, or those who are dreaming of getting to that level, this two-part class is meant to help you get started at whatever point you're at in the beginning stages! Welcome!
Our beginner classes are split into two parts. You can take one or the other, or both!
KNITTING 101 for absolute beginners & folks who want to re-learn these techniques: during the first hour of class, we will be teaching the long-tail cast on and the knit stitch, the foundations to nearly every project! All Knitting 101 students are welcome to stay for the entire 2-hour class to practice with support from the instructor, even if not signed up for Knitting 102.
KNITTING 102 for folks ready for next steps: during the second hour of class, students who can confidently cast on and knit on their own can opt to learn any of the following: the purl stitch, how to join a new ball of yarn, simple decreasing, weaving in ends, binding off, seaming techniques, or how to work in the round on circular needles. Our instructors can help you choose which techniques to learn next if you're not sure. Knitting 102 students should arrive around the second hour of class unless they want to listen in on Knitting 101 for the first hour.
KNITTING 101 + 102 for confident beginners: take Knitting 101 & 102 back to back in one session to learn all of the techniques listed above. We recommend this option to those who have knit in the past or folks who know they are quick learners. Any student who signs up for this option can always change their mind in class and just stick to 101 techniques if it ends up being more challenging than they thought.
Email us if the class level you want is sold out, sometimes we are able to adjust availability depending on the number of sign ups we have.
Optional extra info, all of this will be explained again at the beginning of class:
INSTRUCTOR
Cleo (they/she)
PROJECT
Knitting 101 students can choose to make a scarf, hat, or bag (see photos). Knitting 102 students can choose from the same projects, or get help from the instructor selecting another project that's best for their skill level.
SKILL LEVEL
Absolute Beginners and Advanced Beginners are all welcome.
You can read about how we determine skill levels here.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
None! You don't need any knitting experience to take this class. All students 9 years or older are welcome.
REQUIRED YARN
We can help you pick out the right yarn to purchase 15–20 minutes before class starts!
You can knit a scarf in any worsted, bulky, or super bulky weight yarn. The amount you will need will vary depending on the yarn weight you choose and the size you want your scarf to be (we can give you estimates in the shop).
If you want to make this hat you’ll need at least 200 yards of worsted weight yarn.
To make this bag you'll need 320 yards of bulky weight yarn.
We highly recommend learning to knit with wool yarn! Yarns made from acrylic and most plant-based fibers don't provide the same elasticity that makes wool yarns easy to learn with. However, if you prefer to use non-animal fiber yarn, we do have a 100% organic cotton available in the shop that we've had many beginners use with great success.
REQUIRED TOOLS
We can help you pick out the right needle size to purchase 15–20 minutes before class starts!
If you’re making a scarf, the needle size will vary based on the yarn you choose: anything between US 8 (5 mm) and US 19 (15 mm). If you’re making the hat pictured you’ll need US 8 (5 mm) needles. The bag pattern pictured uses US 10.5 (6.5 mm) needles.
We recommend using wooden needles when you’re learning, the metal ones can be heavy (if they’re vintage) and too slippery, and plastic ones can be too sticky!
Class Policies
Wait Lists
If a class is full we are happy to add you to the wait list in case someone cancels. Send an email with the name of the class (and the date, if there is more than one date for the class) to hello@cleosyarnshop.com to be added.
Cancellations
We are happy to offer you a refund or store credit for any class sign up as long as you give us notice at least 48 hours before the start time of the class.
We cannot offer refunds or store credit for any late cancellations. However, if the situation was out of your control and you want to come to another class instead, we can sign you up for a future class using our Scholarship Fund which is available to everyone!
Many of our classes have a minimum number of sign ups required to run. If a class doesn't get the required number of sign ups to run and we decide to cancel or post-pone the class we will notify those who did sign up via email between 24–48 hours before the class's start time and offer them a seat in the next class, a refund, or store credit.
Photography
When you attend a class at our shop you agree to be recorded and photographed during the class. If you would like to request that your face, hands, or body not be in any photos or videos that we share on social media please send an email requesting so any time prior to the start time of the class to hello@cleosyarnshop.com. You may still be recorded or photographed during the class but we will respect your request that the videos or images of you not be shared online.
Scholarship Fund
Our Scholarship Fund is contributed to by the shop and our community to help those who need it attend our classes and events. You can read about why we started the fund here.
When signing up for a class or event, anyone is welcome to sign up for a Scholarship Fund ticket at a discount as funds allow. When a Scholarship Fund ticket is purchased, the amount discounted is taken from the Scholarship Fund to pay the shop and it's staff the regular ticket price.
If you are considering requesting a Scholarship Fund ticket but aren't sure whether it's for you or not, it probably is! The folks who have contributed to the Scholarship Fund wanted to contribute and want the funds to be used! And the lovely people putting on this class or event are still getting paid the full amount to do it. Please only pay full price if you feel you have enough to do so.
That said, we also ask that you be mindful of the amount and frequency of requests you make from the fund. Making sure funds are available to as many people as possible is a collaborative effort, so we'll check in with you and you check in with us!
If you'd like to use the Scholarship Fund, you can do so by calling the shop (929-529-7542), emailing us (hello@cleosyarnshop.com), or coming into the shop and requesting a Scholarship Ticket. We will ask you how much you are able to pay (zero is an acceptable answer!) and the funds available will cover the rest.