Professional Polish: Secrets of Pros with Patty Lyons (MAY 16)
MAY 16 (TUES., 9 AM–12 PM)
Learn the professional tricks of the trade that can make your projects look more polished and your knitting life more enjoyable! Renowned for her ability to teach the “why” not just the “how”, Patty Lyons digs deeper into her bag of tricks to present a whole new batch of sanity saving knitting tips. From cast on to bind off and everything in between, learn simple tricks to make your knitting better, like how to avoid the dip you get at the start of a bind off, or the hole under a make one increase. You’ll learn how to make the knitting decisions that can add polish to your work, like choosing the right way to join a new ball or weave in those ends. Even learn simple fixes to avoid tragedy like how to fix a dropped stitch in your cast on, or what to do when you find a bad bit of yarn in your work, or a mistake in your stitch pattern after you’ve bound off!
Skill Level: Advanced beginner. Must know the long tail cast on (in slingshot position), and how to knit and purl. Please review and practice: http://bit.ly/longtailslingshot
Materials needed:
Worsted or chunky NON-splitty yarn in LIGHT COLOR, small amount of contrasting color yarn in same weight.
A small bit of thin crochet cotton or sock yarn.
Needles & Notions
Sharp scissors, tapestry needle, empty needle appropriate for yarn (for casting on and working your swatch in class), needle appropriate for swatch, crochet hook appropriate to yarn.
Single Rooms, $70 Per Night
Please note, the boarding house is for class participants only.
With spectacular views of town from its third-story perch, our boarding house offers bright, airy accommodations just a few minutes’ walk from the studio, shop, and general store with cafe. Year after year, returning students remark upon the peaceful camaraderie they enjoy winding down after class in the spacious common areas, and the fun conviviality of cooking family-style dinners in the kitchen. In addition to a living room, dining area, and full kitchen, the boarding house has six bedrooms and two full bathrooms.
Built in 1853, Cheshire Mills Boarding House provided lodging for workers at the mill for over 100 years. Today, Harrisville Designs is dedicated to maintaining an economical nightly rate to help ensure the cost of lodging is affordable during workshops and classes throughout the season.
Harrisville Designs is happy to provide towels, sheets, and pillowcases for an extra $20 per stay (please order ahead). However, students are more than welcome to bring their own linens. Pillows and blankets are provided. Reservations can be made while signing up for class. We do apologize, it’s an old building. There is no elevator and two flights of stairs. Please pack accordingly.
Alternative Housing & Dining
Harrisville is a small village (pop. 1200) with a post office and general store/cafe across the street from the studio and Boarding House. Harrisville is a short drive from Peterborough (15 minutes away) and Keene (20-25 minutes away); both offer a nice variety of hotels, shops, and restaurants.
Additional accommodations in Harrisville are available at Aldworth Manor and the Harrisville Inn. Peterborough accommodations are available at Cranberry Meadow Farm, the Jack Daniels Motor Inn, and the Little River Bed and Breakfast. Options in Keene include the Carriage Barn Inn, the Best Western Plus, the Fairfield Inn & Suites, the Holiday Inn Express, the Courtyard by Marriott, and Days Inn. We also suggest searching Airbnb and Vrbo.
Location
About Our Workshops
Nestled in the heart of a historic textile village, workshops at Harrisville Designs take place in the Bethuel Harris Mill. Built in the 1830s as a spinning mill for locally raised wool and located at the end of the canal, it originally operated on water power. Today, it’s home to our first-floor retail store and spacious second-floor workshop studio. Year after year students are greeted by sunlit windows, fresh air, and tranquil views of the mill pond and preserved industrial brick buildings.
Workshops vary in skill levels and lengths. Enrollment is limited to ensure each student is immersed in the atmosphere of a working studio rather than a classroom. Most scheduled classes meet from 9 am to 4 pm; however, the studio is open to students 24 hours a day while their class is in session. Looms are provided in the weaving classes, and woolen yarn and other materials are included in the tuition, unless otherwise noted in the materials lists online. While taking a class, students receive a 10% discount on all items in our store, including looms! (Excludes sale and consignment items)
Withdrawal/Refund Policy
Please note our 2023 cancellation and refund policy includes a non-refundable $100.00 registration fee per workshop. In the case must withdraw, you have 8 weeks prior to class for a full tuition refund, less the registration fee. After this date all payments are non-refundable, no exceptions. Thank you for your understanding!
COVID-19 Protocols
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we reserve the right to cancel a class at any time for safety reasons. We strongly encourage all teachers and students are up-to-date on all CDC recommended COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, as eligible. Masks may be required at teacher discretion. Policy subject to change.
Have a question about a HD workshop or class order? Call 603-827-3996.