Cut with Confidence: A Beginner's Guide to Steeking
Learn to steek with confidence in this hands-on knitting workshop! Master how to safely cut your knitting, reinforce steeks, and finish edges like a pro. Perfect for tackling colourwork cardigans and seamless shaping.
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Cut with Confidence: A Beginner's Guide to Steeking
Welcome to the wonderful world of steeking—an exciting and transformative technique that opens up new possibilities in your knitting journey!
If you’ve ever marvelled at the clean fronts of colour work cardigans or wondered how knitters manage such seamless shaping, this workshop is your next exciting step. Steeking allows you to knit complex patterns entirely in the round—no more purling back and forth—then cut (yes, cut!) into your fabric to create openings for armholes, necklines, or cardigan fronts. It sounds daring, but with the right guidance, it’s absolutely doable—and incredibly empowering.
In this 2-hour hands-on class, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to reinforce and cut your knitting like a pro. Spaces are limited, so bring your curiosity, your courage, and a trusty pair of scissors—let’s conquer the cut together!
What You'll Learn:
This class will guide you through the essential steps of steeking:
• Choosing the right materials: Understand the different behaviours of different yarns and how they can affect your steek.
• Reinforcing your work: Discover the different ways to reinforce your steek including the crochet method and the sewn method.
• Making the cut: Learn how to cut your knitting safely so that it doesn't unravel or spoil your work.
• Finishing the edges for a professional look: Look at different finishing techniques so you can decide which ones work best for your projects.
Class Highlights:
- Bring your pre-knitted swatch (see below), and together we'll tackle this empowering technique by actually cutting your own knitting.
- A supportive environment where you can ask questions and get expert advice.
- Tips and tricks so you can steek like a pro!
Skill level:
Suitable for anyone who has already learned stranded colourwork (eg. Fair Isle). Some basic crochet experience would be useful but not essential.
Important info for this class
Duration: 2 hours, in-person class
What to bring:
- You will need to prepare a specific swatch as homework. This will be the swatch you will steek in class. All the details will be in an email which will be sent to you when you book the class. As an example, you can see the chart for the sample swatch you will need to knit in the pics on this page.
- a contrasting coloured yarn; the same weight or thinner than the yarn you used to knit your sample. You will use this to crochet your steek.
- the knitting needles you used to knit the sample. You will use these to pick up stitches for a faux button band.
- sharp scissors: embroidery scissors work well but sewing scissors are also good.
- crochet hook: the same size or one size smaller than the knitting needles you used to make the swatch.
- some left over yarn from your swatch
- a sewing needle and some cotton thread
Your steeking sample swatch to be knit before class:
For your first attempt at steeking Linda recommends choosing a wool yarn (preferably non-superwash but this is not absolutely necessary) in two highly contrasting colours. The sampler (pictured in two colours below) was designed for DK weight yarn (8ply) although you can use any weight of yarn. If you choose a yarn lighter than DK, say a single strand of fingering weight (4ply), then add a few extra repeats (the pattern has multiples of 8 stitches) so the total size of the sample is at least 8” (20cm) around.
Ensure you use the needle size recommended for your yarn. You are looking to achieve a firm gauge/tension. (A good yarn option to consider would be BC Garn Loch Lomond, an organic pure wool DK/8ply tweed yarn).
Instructions for class homework (to be completed before the class):
Using the main colour, you will cast on 53 stitches and knit the complete fair isle chart (supplied by email - and you can see it in the pic on this page) in the round. Bind off all stitches. Wet block and dry your swatch.
Your teacher: Linda Scocca
Linda was taught how to knit by her mum when she was eight years old and encouraged by both her Nonna’s to keep her hands busy. Knitting, crochet, embroidery and sewing where all a part of her life from a young age. After a break from crafting Linda came back to it, and knitting in particular, with a vengeance! Shawls, jumpers, cardigans, socks, colourwork, lace, cables, accessories - she wants and does knit all the things! Linda enjoys helping many knitters and crocheters decipher tricky patterns and learn new techniques at our regular Help Clinic. She has oodles of patience for beginners and is excited to welcome newcomers to our much loved craft.
Terms and conditions
- Full payment is required prior to the start of the class to confirm your spot.
- Minimum numbers - All classes require a minimum of two people in order to go ahead and, depending on the class, a maximum of 6. If your class or workshop does not have the minimum number of students, the class will be postponed and you will be notified within three days of the class date if it has been cancelled or changed.
- We cannot be held liable for travel or any other costs in the event of a cancellation.
- If your class is postponed or cancelled you can use the amount paid to transfer to another event/activity, use it as a store credit, or be issued a full refund.
Cancelling a class
- Up to 7 days before the class - you are able to cancel, postpone or swap a class up to 7 days prior to the class date and can receive a full refund.
- 7 days-24 hours before the class - we are able to offer a credit but we cannot guarantee a full refund unless another booking fills your spot.
- Less than 24 hours before the class - no credit or refund available.
Please see our general Classes & Workshops page for our FAQ.
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