Review & Giveaway – Finishing Techniques [CLOSED]

This giveaway is now closed.

Last Friday, I went to a finishing techniques workshop with Claire Crompton at Spin a Yarn, a yarn shop in Bovey Tracey. I’ve been meaning to do a finishing workshop for absolutely ages – the cost has been putting me off for a while, but I decided to bite the bullet and do it.

Finishing Techniques Workshop

Our tutor was Claire Crompton, a fantastic textile artistic who lives nearby. Apart from being lovely, she has written and published a large number of books, also spins, and is a fantastic teacher. She covered a number of techniques with us:

    • Blocking (steam & wet)
    • Weaving in ends
    • Mattress stitch for side-seams
    • Mattress stitch for shoulder-seams
    • Joining vertical knitting to horizontal knitting
    • Picking up stitches
    • Buttonholes

Learning material and the pieces I produced in the lesson.

Nothing we did was new to me, having been an eager student of knitting books, YouTube and magazines in heaps – but oh, I can’t explain how incredible it was to have someone showing you exactly how to do it, with a number of tips and tricks that I’ve never picked up from anywhere else.

Picking up stitches on a neck.

I’ve never been an advocate of physical workshops, having never done them – but I’m a complete convert now, and I will be doing more. I highly recommend you try one – the number of people sitting with us saying “I should have done this 50 years ago” was incredible.

(I was, as always at events such as this, the youngest by about 25 years. It’s fine.) A shoulder seam.

We had a really tasty lunch of quiche and salad, with divine chocolate cake for dessert. During lunch I also had a quick gander around the shop, and got some yarn for a sock commission. I may or may not have bought an extra skein so I can make myself more socks…(don’t tell JS).

The ladies were lovely, and I had a super day. Spin a Yarn itself is any knitters dream…I would be happy living in there forever.

At-Spin-a-Yarn

Giveaway – The Knitter’s Bible

Having had such a fine day, Claire pointed out to me that her books were sold at Spin a Yarn, and I immediately asked her if she would sign one for you, my lovely readers. She did! So, I have a copy of “The Knitter’s Bible” for you to enter for, with a dedication in the front saying:

Best wishes, Claire Crompton

If you would like to enter, leave a comment on this post stating if you could do a workshop in anything, what would it be in? As always, you will get extra entries if you share the post to any social media network, with a separate link in a comment here letting me know you have done so. Entries are limited to four per person. Picking up stitches on a neck.

Anybody can enter the giveaway, so get sharing! It will end on the 24th of June – that gives you just two weeks.

I’ll do a review of the book tomorrow, I have far too much work to do so right now! (We’ve just moved house…again. Third time in two months.)

Much love,

Corrie xx

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53 Responses to Review & Giveaway – Finishing Techniques [CLOSED]

  1. Sheila says:

    I would love a workshop in buttonholes and other closure techniques. I’ve only made one cardigan so I just haven’t had cause to try many types.

  2. Tammy Mattson says:

    I would love to take a class in finish work as you did. To have someone show me how to join seams would be ideal!

  3. Tammy Mattson says:

    I posted this on Facebook and Google.

  4. Hayley says:

    I would LOVE to do a workshop that teaches me how to knit different types of sleeves and how to sew up a multi-pieced project like a cardigan. There are so many terms used in the patterns that I am unfamiliar with! It would’ve been great to meet someone like Claire Crompton and to have the opportunity to pick their brains for awhile :)

  5. Hayley says:

    Shared on Facebook

  6. Hayley says:

    Shared on Google+

  7. Hayley says:

    Shared on Twitter
    *Tweet! Tweet!*

  8. Pat Barry says:

    I would love to do a workshop that show sewing up techniques to give a neater finish. Shared on Facebook.

  9. Kori says:

    I’d love to finally take an “oops!” class! I’d love to know how to fix my mistakes instead of discreetly fixing my stitch count.

  10. Yuki says:

    I’ve always wanted to take a workshop on designing and pattern making.

  11. Rachel says:

    I would love a workshop in finishing and swatching. I have read and seen a lot on this. But an in person learning day would be great.

  12. Frances Harper says:

    I would like to learn how to block my completed projects.

  13. Connie K. says:

    I would love a workshop in color work. Thank you for a wonderful contest!

  14. Dahlia says:

    I would like to take a class on sizing. I tend to be a little, um “top-heavy”, so things tend to fit right in the chest but are a little big everywhere else.

  15. MJ says:

    I’d love to do a workshop of steeking. I think I just would feel better if I had someone hold my hand as I started cutting my knitting.

  16. Knittingdancer on Ravelry says:

    I would like a workshop on doing the magic loop.

  17. Christine says:

    I would love to take a knitting workshop on anything, having never done one! So glad you got the opportunity! Thanks for sharing with all of us!

  18. Christine says:

    Shared on FB!

  19. Christine says:

    Shared on Twitter!

  20. I would like to do a workshop on containing clutter especially papers!

  21. I would like to do a workshop on containing clutter, especially papers!

  22. Lynda says:

    I would like to attend a workshop of steeking. I think it would be less scary to “cut” in the presence of someone who has done it before!

  23. Lynda says:

    Shared on Facebook

  24. Lucia says:

    I would love a workshop on knitting two socks at a time on circular needles!

  25. Lucia says:

    I’ve shared on FB!

  26. Newsitian says:

    I would take a workshop in seaming. Mattress stitching, Kitchener, and anything else that needs to look pretty. Somehow all of mine always look “home made”.

  27. Elizabeth says:

    I would love a workshop about Fair Isle or Entrelac. Thanks for the giveaway!

  28. patsy says:

    I would do a workshop on finishing techniques.
    sparky136 on ravelry

  29. Podruha says:

    I would love to attend a workshop about altering patterns to fit my body shape – my ever changing body shape.

  30. Luv2CUSmile says:

    I would love a workshop that teaches how to adjust a pattern for substituting yarn weights. And teach the best yarn to use for specific results. It seems i am always searching for a rule of thumb for this… would be great to learn and have a guide handy to refer to once in awhile.
    Awesome giveaway!

  31. Katie says:

    I also think finishing techniques would be great. I also saw one offered on Celtic Cables that sounds very intriguing. Also mock cabling! Too many projects too little time!

  32. Katie says:

    Just shared on facebook ;)

  33. Leta says:

    I would love a class in finishing techniques. How to make your work look more professional!

  34. rose says:

    A workshop on colorwork in knitting would be very helpful for me

  35. cara says:

    I would love a workshop on spinning using a drop spindle.

  36. Brae says:

    I really need to look for classes or a workshop on how to Crochet, it is the one technique I am yet to master, even just to use for finishing off edging on projects.

  37. Rose S. says:

    My desire is simple to learn knitting on circular needles — it frightens me every time.

  38. Natalie S says:

    I would love to take a class on grafting with a very patient instructor!

  39. Aly says:

    I would LOVE to learn brioche knitting. I have had my eye on the Hosta Brioche Scarf pattern for a long time!

  40. Katelyn says:

    Currently I would pick pattern design. I am just getting into this and it would be really helpful to have some guidance.

  41. Beth W. says:

    I would love to learn to master the Kitchener stitch…my sock toes need help! Or, how to assemble a sweater without anxiety…or, how to adapt a pattern for a long waist without making me look stretched out!

    Thanks for the fun!
    yhime407 on Ravelry

  42. Linda says:

    I’d love a workshop on spinning.

  43. Eileen says:

    I would LOVE to have a workshop in various lace techniques as that is my current obsession. I am sharing this post on FB for an extra entry. :) Thanks!

  44. Newsitian says:

    I would love to do a workshop in seaming. No matter how pretty I knit my pieces, my sewing always looks elementary. Just more proof that I knit better than I sew.

  45. Sie says:

    I would like attend a workshop on different techniques for sewing up garments – there seem to be so many that I get confused – what is the best one for the particular article?

  46. Kathy says:

    I so need a workshop on putting in sleeves. Then I could make a sweater that isn’t top down!

  47. Diane says:

    I would like a workshop on finishing techniques.

  48. Paula B says:

    I would love to do a workshop on drop spindling. i have the spindle, roving, and book, but would like to SEE how it’s done.

  49. Ann says:

    I would love to do a workshop about steeks, I often look at the techniques but I’m far too chicken to try it out on my own

  50. Ann says:

    Shared on FB

  51. Ann says:

    Tweeted and posted to google+ :o)

  52. Joanne Rees says:

    I would take a workshop that teaches me how to knit continental I have tried working from videos but just don’t seem to be able to figure it out

  53. Hannah Compton says:

    If it could be a workshop in anything then I’d like to try my hand at wood turning, its always been something I would like to try even though I probably don’t need another hobby lol

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