Allerton Park & Retreat Center

Experience Level: Beginner

Whether you want to learn to knit or just need a refresher, enroll in Knitting 101: Knitting for Beginners on Thursdays, April 17 and 24 from 2 to 5 p.m. in The Studio.

Led by fiber artist Billie Theide, participants will learn the basics of knitting, including needle and yarn selection. Students will learn how to cast on, basic stitches, how to read work, fix mistakes, cast off and make fringe and pom poms. No previous experience is necessary.

$80/person* (Ages 13+; 13-17-year-olds must be accompanied by an adult, who does not need to register.) Register by April 14. All sales are final.

*Students should bring one of these two supply options (and are advised to purchase them as soon as possible, since availability can change):

OPTION 1:
— 2 skeins of Lion Brand Re-Spun Thick & Quick yarn. This is classified as a Super Bulky 6 yarn made of 100% recycled plastic. There are 223 yards per skein; the two skeins must be of the same dye lot. It is hand washable; lay flat to dry. Avoid purchasing a dark colorway.
— 1 pair of Clover Takumi 9" Bamboo Knitting Needles, US 13 single pointed straights.

OPTION 2:
— 3 skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn. This is classified as Super Bulky 6 yarn made of 80% acrylic and 20% wool. There are 106 yards per skein; the three skeins must be of the same dye lot. It is machine washable. Choose a solid colored yarn and avoid purchasing a dark colorway.
— 1 pair of Clover Takumi 9" Bamboo Knitting Needles, US 13 single pointed straights.

Additional Supplies Required:
— pair of sharp scissors
— laptop, iPad, or smartphone
— pencil

If you will need disability-related accommodations to participate, please email Olivia Bunting at owarren@illinois.edu.

About the instructor

Billie Theide is a former chair of the Crafts Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she was a Professor Emerita. Theide is a metalsmith, jeweler and ceramicist. Her work is in public art collections around the world including the Smithsonian, Museum of Arts & Design in New York City, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City and the Racine Art Museum, among others.

She is the recipient of a Visual Arts Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and five Artists Fellowship Grants from the Illinois Arts Council. Theide has been recognized for her excellence in teaching and is a Distinguished Member and Past-President of the Society of North American Goldsmiths.