Here are some photo's from the lace knitting workshop at Unwind.  Student shawls are still in progress and it's been fun to see how different yarns are knitting up with the same pattern.  On the first day we began by knitting mini samples of the shawlette so the students were able to sample all the different techniques right off the bat, including seeing how the shawlette pattern progresses and takes shape.  Above is Kim's sample in mohair.  Isn't it cute?

It's already been three weeks since I left Ulukhaktok!  Now that I'm all settled into vacation mode and I've had a chance to think about what I just did, I'm really proud of myself and so thankful to the wonderful people who made this opportunity happen for me.  Also I'm missing my students badly!  I gained eleven grandmas and aunts in Ulu, and it's sad to realize that I won't be seeing them again any time soon.

Above are photos of some of the products on display at the open house.  I was constantly being impressed with their work ethic but was still blown away when I counted over over 50 hats on display.  

I still have a few Ulu moments that I'd like to share once I get my pictures off my camera.  Stay tuned.  Also, here is the website I made for the program where you can see photos and details of the full fifteen week program.

<3 Janna

If you've ever been interested in knitting lace and think you're ready to begin making holes on purpose this is the workshop for you.  Lace knitting can seem very scary for the knitter who has simply stuck to knit and purl stitches and avoids patterns at all cost.  If this sounds familiar, this workshop was designed for you.  Participants will learn basic lace knitting techniques and will work on a simple shawlette pattern with easy-to-remember repeats.

Sadly my brand new camera has died which means I cannot post any pictures of my sample shawlettes at this time, but the one above by cashsmith is similar (but larger).

Silk, cotton and linen yarns would all be lovely to use for the season and available at Unwind for purchase


Beginner Lace Knitting
two part class,  June 15 & 22
6pm - 9pm

Unwind Knit & Fibre Lounge
Gibsons, BC

Call for pricing:
604 886 1418

www.unwindknitandfibre.ca

All of the ladies finished their first slipper today.  We all applauded every time someone finished.  The slippers are so great, I love the uniqueness of each one.  It has inspired me to spin up my own yarn and knit some slippers myself.

The ladies are on week two of knitting (that's only two weeks of knitting ever!) and they are already taking on slippers with a shaped heel.  This is amazing!  One of the ladies requested it last week and before I knew it everyone was agreeing - slippers it is!  I was happy to comply.

It was a busy day to say the least, so I wasn't able to take pictures until after the students left.   Here are everyone's slippers in progress.  They are using the hand-spun that they made a few weeks back.  This is their first spinning and they learned how to dye the fleece in their spinning workshop too.

 
Today was day three of beginner hand knitting and most of the ladies have already done stockinette, moss stitch and basket weave.  I've been adapting my lesson plan based on the fact that they are such fast learners, and knitters.  Many of them are already able to catch mistakes and fix them without my help.  Amazing!

I've loved every minute, these ladies are a blast;  we laugh a lot!  I expected that I'd learn a lot from them too, but I had no clue, they are so generous! They have already begun introducing me to their language and are constantly telling stories.  Today I heard about the first time the older ladies saw a muskox.  Apparently muskox left the area for a couple decades and returned in the 70's, so they were literally in disbelief when people claimed to have seen them.  

All the ladies have amazing skills in various media like printing, embroidery, beading and sewing, and they all make their own winter parkas.  Mary's fur collar is made with wolverine fur and includes the claws!  It is amazing.  I'll post a picture of it at some point.

Mid day we all gathered at the window to watch the local rangers and junior rangers prepare for a 200 km trek.  They meet rangers from Kuglutuk who also travel 200k to meet them half way.  This journey is meant to prepare the junior rangers with outside survival skills.  They are gone until the end of the week.  Bellow are some pictures of them leaving, the group pic only shows about 1/3 of the rangers who left.  Some of the people in the pic are family members saying goodbye.