Shaping Garment Pieces: March 10 Meeting Preview

Are you bored with making rectangle-shaped garments and ready to take your skills to the next level? Or have you tried more complex garments but been disappointed with the results? If so, this next series of meetings are just what you need as we delve into one of the most-requested topics from our member questions - making crochet garments.

Making garments is such a broad topic that we're breaking it down into several separate presentations. The March 10 meeting (2:30 to 4:30 pm at Prospect Park United Methodist Church) will be all about constructing garment pieces to a specific shape and size. At this month's class you'll have an opportunity to:

• Practice shaping techniques using increases and decreases
• Learn how a garment's finished size relates to gauge and what to do if you can't "get gauge"
• Learn tips and tricks for analyzing a pattern to know if it's suitable for your yarn and your skill level
• Review special terminology used in garment patterns

A raglan-sleeved baby sweater pattern will be provided to all participants, although it is not necessary to make the entire garment to learn from the classs. You'll make a variety of sample swatches in this class and can use the techniques you learn with many other projects.

For those who are interested in the sweater, Maxine's in-progress sample is shown here. The sweater requires approximately one and a half skeins (3.5 oz each) of worsted weight yarn - the sample was made with Plymouth Encore Colorspun.

Note: It is perfectly acceptable to use another pattern as the project for this class and the April class (Blocking and Finishing Garments) - with the understanding that the presenter will not have had the time to study details of your pattern.


To get the most from this class, please bring the following materials:

• A generous gauge swatch (at least 5" x 5") worked in FLdc (front-loop double crochet) in a worsted weight yarn; use a hook size that will get you as close to the following gauge as possible: 13 stitches and 6 rows = 4". Important: If you are making the baby sweater, work this swatch in the same yarn that you'll be using for the sweater.
• Crochet hook in the size you used to work the swatch . For many crocheters, the hook size for worsted weight yarn will likely be I9 or J10.
• Extra yarn for class samples and for the project. You don't have to use the same yarn for the class samples as you use for the project, but it should be the same weight.
• A calculator and pencil/pen. The calculations will be simple, so if your cell phone has a calculator, that will work fine.

As always at our meetings, participation in the class is optional and there's a separate table set aside for anyone who wants to use the meeting time to work on other projects. Tthis month, we'll also have a separate area where Carol will work with beginners on projects and problems of their choice.

We'll also have a short report (10 - 15 minutes) at the beginning of the meeting from the new officers on some chapter business.

We hope to see you on Saturday the 10th!