Le Pouf Cardi Class (Advanced - Knitting)

Aaaaah, freak out! Le Pouf, c’est chic! That’s right, we’re putting our most colourful foot forward this fall with fun, fade-y cardigans! Let Emily guide you through painting with yarn to build your own custom, cozy ombre cardigan using Beata Jezek/Hedgehog Fibres’s free patterns Le Pouf and Fluffy Pouf. Dig those random single skeins out of your stash, grab some needles, and get ready to cast on!

Required Skills:

• Casting on, binding off, weaving in ends
• Knitting, purling, switching between knits and purls (aka ribbing or seed stitch, etc.)
• Must be comfortable knitting in the round on a circular needle (aka can put down and pick up project without reversing direction), and using either magic loop or double pointed needles (DPNS)
• Recommend previous experience with basic shaping (increases and decreases)
• Swatching - you are asked to bring a washed swatch with you to the first class (Check out these blogs on how to swatch here.)

You'll learn all about:

• choosing your size
• achieving ombre transitions through marling or striping
• knitting with two strands of yarn, and knitting from the inside and outside of your ball of yarn at the same time
• top-down sweater basics (order of construction, separating for sleeves, etc.)
• reading knitting patterns and keeping track of stitch counts
• increases: make 1 right and make 1 left
• picking up stitches
• stretchy bind off options
• wet blocking 

You will need:

• SWATCH: Before the first class, you will need to make a washed swatch to check your gauge against the recommended gauge for the pattern. (Check out these blogs on how to swatch here.)
  • You will need to knit this swatch holding both yarns together (as if they were one)
  • We recommend using the needle size suggested in the pattern as a starting point for your swatch (4mm).
  • You should soak your swatch in water and let it air dry before measuring/coming to class. This will give you an accurate understanding of how the finished sweater will behave.
  • If you wish to measure your swatch before coming to class, you can follow the instructions in the blogs linked above.
  • If your swatch is too big (i.e. 16 stitches/4”) you will need reduce your needle size to accommodate. If your swatch is too small (i.e. 24 stitches/4”) you will need to increase your needle size to accommodate. 
• We recommend bringing extra needles in the size range 3mm-5mm to the first class, in case you need to change needle size before you cast on.
• PATTERN: A copy of the pattern, available for free on the Hedgehog Fibres website. Please note, you are welcome to knit the original Le Pouf Cardi or the mohair version, Fluffy Pouf. The yarn requirements will change depending on which version you decide to knit.
• YARN: We recommend speckled or variegated yarns over solid/semi-solids as your ombre transitions will be smoother. As we will be fading different yarns together, this project is perfect for those single skeins, half-used skeins, minis, etc… Nobody says you can’t have more colours! They do not all need to be the same base yarn, but should all be fingering/sock weight. Check out these blogs for some tips on how to choose colours for fading.
  • Le Pouf: 5-8 skeins of different colours of fingering weight yarn (~100g, between 350-425 yards per skein), depending on the size you knit. (Note: If you want to substitute with DK weight yarn, you will need only half the yardage.)
  • Fluffy Pouf: 3-6 skeins of fingering weight yarn (~100g, between 350-425 yards per skein) AND 3-6 skeins of mohair lace weight yarn (~50g, between 350-425 yards per skein). We recommend keeping one of these strand the same colour throughout, as per the pattern.
    • • Fingering weight yarn suggestions
      • Mohair yarn suggestions
• NEEDLES: 4mm (6 US) circular needles, 32” or 40” for body, same needle (magic loop) OR a set of DPNs for the sleeves. You may need to adjust the size of your needle in order to get gauge - please refer to the swatching note above.
  • Optional: the same needles but 1-2 sizes smaller than your main needle for tighter ribbing
• NOTIONS: Stitch markers that will fit on your needles, scrap dk or medium weight yarn to hold your sleeve stitches, a tapestry or darning needle, 
  • Optional: a stitch picker or crochet hook for picking up stitches

A list of our class policies can be found here.

Minimum registration is 3. Maximum is 6.

This class is being taught by: Emily

Emily loves anything and everything knitting! She is so excited to help you face your next great knitting challenge!