Knitting Happily Ever After – Ergonomics for Knitters (3-hour class, 6 hour class)
Ever know a knitter who hasn’t said, “Just one more row”? Me neither! I’ll bet they’ve also complained of aches and pains while knitting. In this class, you’ll learn how knitting effects the “fabric that makes the fabric”- your body. By completing a Risk of Injury assessment in class you’ll learn how knitting contributes to those aches and pains throughout your body. But more importantly, you’ll learn how to reduce them. A little knowledge and some simple changes can keep you knitting happily and safely ever after. Students who’ve taken this class have said that it should be “required learning for all knitters regardless of experience level!” and, “it’s as important as the knit and purl stitches!” This class is taught by a passionate knitter who is also a physical therapist.
KnittRx (various time formats)
Knitting is not a “no pain, no gain” activity. Yet many of us take better care of our favorite stash fiber than we do the fibers that allow us to knit—our bodies. Tired muscles, sore joints, and aching backs and necks needlessly plague too many knitters. This class will teach you fun ways of “fiber care” for the most important project you make—YOU! Don’t let the preventable keep you from doing what you love. Knit on, safely and comfortably!
My Aching Hands (and Wrists)! (various time formats)
Few knitters don’t complain about discomfort in their hands and wrists at some point in their knitting journey. New knitters beware! Learn what contributes to knitter’s discomfort and most importantly, how to avoid it. Unlearn techniques that don’t serve to keep you knitting comfortably, learn to make choices to ease the work your hands do, and even some tips for making them feel better.
Swatchbuckling (3-hour class)
Avast ye mateys! Let’s bring improved ergonomics to life in your knitting technique. We’ll swatch to improve your posture, comfort, and efficiency. We’ll examine yarn tensioning techniques, and all phases of stitch creation first with simple then more challenging swatches and stitches. We’ll also look at ways to add movement to knitting to avoid stiffness and injuries caused by disuse. Class is appropriate for students who are comfortable with basic knit purl stitches. Swatches of basic cable and lace patterns are also made in class. Stitch patterns are provided in both charted and written formats.
Socks Unraveled (3-hour class)
Making socks should be as comfortable as wearing them. But many sock knitters have aches and pains creating their fantastic footwear. Fear not! This class will teach you ergonomic basics for injury prevention and explore risks and remediation for knitting socks. A little knowledge and some simple changes will help make your body happy from head to toe. Bring your knitting and materials for note taking and of course, a sock project to work on.
Ergonomics for Fiber Enthusiasts (various time formats)
Do you do more than knit or spin? This class takes inventory of the ergonomic pros and cons for a variety of fiber arts including weaving and finer needle work. You’ll learn how injuries occur and the contributions your craft makes both to their occurrence and prevention. You’ll learn to identify ergonomic risk in your craft and techniques to prevent injuries including improved posture, stretching and exercise.
Er-GO-nomics - Comfort on the Go! (various time formats)
In this class we take it to the streets! After a brief introduction to what ergonomics is all about and common pitfalls for knitters, we’re picking up our needles and knitting on the go. We will walk to local venues where your knitters like to hang out and we’ll examine ways to make these places more ergonomically friendly. Knitters will learn to knit while walking and of course we’ll be knitting as we walk between locations! This is lots of fun and very practical for today’s on-the-go knitter.
Ergonomics at Your Spinning Wheel – Ergonomics for Spinners (3-hour class)
Time seems suspended when you’re at your spinning wheel. Hours melt away but stress and strain can be accumulating in your body. Spinning shouldn’t hurt! In this class you’ll learn what ergonomic risk factors are and where they exist in spinning at a wheel. Most importantly you’ll learn what to do to minimize them and early warning signs that could prevent an injury. Safer strategies for seating, balancing your spinning work, and of course, stretches will all be taught.
This is not a “how to spin” class. Students must be able to spin a continuous singles.
SPECIAL OFFERINGS
Small Group Mini-Consultation (class length varies with group size)
Ever feel aches or pains after or during knitting? This small group setting is an opportunity for knitters to receive direct feedback about their knitting ergonomics and personal habits that create risk of injury. Knitters learn how to identify and reduce risk of injury and discomfort through working individual analysis with Carson and observing others do the same. Students are asked to complete a short questionnaire before the class to help with the analysis.
