Membership
Treat yourself or a loved one with the gift of Membership: enjoy free access to all exhibitions, access to our Members’ Room, priority booking to evening talks, and much more.
Join today
British Knitting: A Hands-On History
Short course
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Cancelled
While the origins of knitting are unclear, we know it has been practised in many different parts of the world, over many centuries, producing both objects of great beauty as well as practical items. This six-week course will focus on the history of hand-knitting in the British Isles, where we'll explore topics ranging from debunking myths about Shetland lace to unravelling the histories of hand-knitting in the Indian subcontinent.
Each week we'll delve into a different history and technique to gain a deeper understanding of the craft through combined lecture-based learning and practical making. Lecturers include V&A Curator Susan North, and specialist writers and historians including Claire Wilcox, Roselyn Chapman and Pragya Sharma. Hands-on sessions will be led by textile artist and teacher Rachael Matthews, where you'll get the chance to try out the techniques for yourself, creating a series of beautiful swatches before experimenting with your own design studio sampling.
Each week we'll delve into a different history and technique to gain a deeper understanding of the craft through combined lecture-based learning and practical making. Lecturers include V&A Curator Susan North, and specialist writers and historians including Claire Wilcox, Roselyn Chapman and Pragya Sharma. Hands-on sessions will be led by textile artist and teacher Rachael Matthews, where you'll get the chance to try out the techniques for yourself, creating a series of beautiful swatches before experimenting with your own design studio sampling.
Workshop Leader
Rachael Matthews
Rachael Matthews has taught hand knitting for over twenty years, working with community groups to develop knitting as socially engaged art. Teaching Knit at Central St Martins College of Art and Design has taught her to communicate through stitches with all cultures on a deeply creative level.
I enjoyed the opportunity to try the skills and share learning with others Previous Course Student
Course overview
Week One: Stocking Stitch
Stocking stitch is often a knitter’s comfort stitch, but deeper investigation of how the loops work can help us to understand the full complexities of the craft.
Stocking stitch is often a knitter’s comfort stitch, but deeper investigation of how the loops work can help us to understand the full complexities of the craft.
Week Two: Aran Knitting
With bigger needles and heavier wool, we will twist our stitches in robust vertical repeats. The hardest part of Aran Style knitting is choosing a design from its rich history.
With bigger needles and heavier wool, we will twist our stitches in robust vertical repeats. The hardest part of Aran Style knitting is choosing a design from its rich history.
Week Three: Sheltand Lace
Learning to knit Shetland lace with Shetland wool is a sublime experience. This lightweight fabric full of rhythmic holes is warm, delicate and substantial.
Learning to knit Shetland lace with Shetland wool is a sublime experience. This lightweight fabric full of rhythmic holes is warm, delicate and substantial.
Week Four: Hand-knitting from the Indian Subcontinent
Taking inspiration from the multi-cultural provenance of Indian hand knitting, we will create paisley motifs using a wide selection of Shetland yarns.
Week Five: Ribs and Ruffles. We'll explore how to manipulate wool into three dimensional decorative elements.
Taking inspiration from the multi-cultural provenance of Indian hand knitting, we will create paisley motifs using a wide selection of Shetland yarns.
Week Five: Ribs and Ruffles. We'll explore how to manipulate wool into three dimensional decorative elements.
Week Six: Working on chunky needles, we will transform knitting from the functional to the performative live in the galleries.
By the end of this course you will:
Feel confident moving away from the knitter’s comfort stitch of knit and purl. Be able to increase, decrease and fix mistakes in the rows. Have comprehensive knowledge of pattern abbreviations, charts and tension squares.
Enrol now
Short course: British Knitting: A Hands-On History
4 October 2024 - 8 November 2024
£600.00
Cancelled
Need help enrolling? Talk to the admissions team:
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Open 10.00 - 13.00, Monday to Sunday (closed 24-26 December)
