Make-Alongs
At Fabrications, we know that sewing, knitting, and crafting are more fun when we do them together! Sometimes you need a little guidance through the tricky parts, or simply the motivation to complete a project. Since 2020, we have been hosting sew-alongs, knit-alongs, and quilt-alongs as a fun way to learn new techniques, share ideas, and connect with each other!
Here are a few answers to your FAQs!
- All of our make-alongs are hosted on our YouTube Channel. Make sure to subscribe and hit the notifications bell to stay in the loop!
- There is no need to sign up. Our videos are shared publicly and free to watch.
- Participation is optional! We know everyone works at their own pace, and some people might not be ready to start when we are.
- Most make-alongs run for about 3-5 weeks depending on the complexity of the project.
- Videos are filmed LIVE and published within 24 hours for you to catch up or rewind.
- Typically videos are filmed on a weeknight (EST). Specific dates and times will be shared when make-alongs are announced.
- If you watch our videos live, you can have specific questions answered in real time. Comments are monitored daily if you think of anything you want to ask at a later time.
- Kits are often available (online and in the shop), depending on the project. If you prefer to choose your own supplies, our staff can help you find what you will need!
If you want to receive updates on upcoming SALs, QALs, and KALs, you can subscribe to our newsletter, and follow us on Facebook or Instagram. Join our Fabrications Sewcial Group on Facebook, where you can share your photos and find encouragement from our friendly community!
UPCOMING MAKE-ALONGS
Wild Ice Knit-A-Long
Chilly winter winds got you down? In need of an excuse to stay in with a warm cuppa and some knitting? Challenge yourself to knit just one more sweater this season with our knit-a-long hosts Caitlin and Emily!
Join our daring duo as they tackle stranded colourwork and sweater knitting together in Brienne Moody’s Wild Ice sweater! The Wild Ice sweater offers simple, geometric stranded colour work in the yoke and sleeves in a relaxed fit with straight sides.
As stranded knitting is often thought of as a more advanced skill, we recommend that you already feel comfortable knitting and purling in the round on circular needles before tackling this project.
In addition to sharing our own personal knitting tips, tricks, and quirks, we’ll learn all about:
- Choosing your sweater size
- Top-down sweater basics (order of construction, separating for sleeves, etc.)
- Reading knitting patterns and charts
- Using yarn choice, needle choice, and an understanding of colour dominance to knit vibrant stranded knitting
- How to hold your yarns, how to swatch, and how to avoid puckering in stranded knitting
- How to knit short rows
- The importance of wet blocking your stranded knitting!
You will need:
- Yarn:
- Worsted weight yarn in the amounts specified in the pattern for your size
- Our sample was knit from Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok Worsted in the colour ways Grey Harbor (150g skeins) and alternating bands of Pressed Grapes and Lilac Bloom (1 50g skein each).
- Colour:
- We will talk about picking colours for stranded colourwork in the first session. In the meantime, if you’re feeling nervous about colour choice we recommend checking out this clever blog post from TinCanKnits (especially the part about value!)
- Needles:
- 3.75 mm (US 5) 16” (40cm) circular needle for the neckline ribbing
- 3.75 mm (US 5) 24-40” (60-100cm) circular needle for the hem ribbing (length depends on sweater size)
- 4 mm (US 6) 24-40” (60-100cm) circular needle for the sweater yoke and body (length depends on sweater size)
- Optional: double pointed needles of the same sizes can be used for knitting the sleeves, or you can use the needles listed above to knit magic loop style.
- Always use the needle size you need in order to get gauge - our sample knitter had to go up to 4mm and 4.5mm to meet the designer’s gauge!
- Notions:
- At least one stitch marker that will sit comfortably on your larger needle (optional: add extra markers in a different colour if you would like to use stitch markers to keep track of your pattern repeats)
- Darning needle
- A small crochet hook to help fix wrong-colour stitches (optional)
- Pattern:
- A copy of the pattern, available for purchase through Ravelry (https://www.ravelry.com/
patterns/library/wild-ice- )sweater
Check back soon for exciting new make-alongs coming in 2025!
