GAAKALONY
Online KAL Community
If you are reading this message, you are at the Nautical Yarn blog. If you would like to become a member of GAAKALONY, please send me an email message at carole@nauticalyarn.com and I will add you to the GAAKALONY membership roles.
Below are descriptions of the GAAKALONY classes offered in the shop. However, we will be posting pictures, hints, tips, frustrations, joy, and commentary about each square throughout the year during approximately the same time frames as the in-store classes. The square numbers are representative of the colorway was have chosen for the Nautical Yarn rendition of the GAA. Because beautiful, Ludington, Michigan is located on the shores of Lake Michigan, we have chosen grass and trees, sand, water, and sky, with a little bit of sunset as our color inspiration for the GAA.
GAAKALONY
Nautical Yarn is offering a new class experience during 2008. We are hosting our first KAL! What’s a KAL, you ask. A KAL is a “knit along” and we picked a doozy for our first one. The Great American Afghan consists of 25, 12 x 12 squares, each designed by a well-known designer and published in a booklet by Knitter’s Universe.
We will be providing the following components for our GAAKALONY (Great American Afghan Knit Along of Nautical Yarn—sounds like a gasoline additive doesn’t it? Or maybe a new kind of lunch meat?)
Component 1—FREE Classes
The fourth Saturday of each month in 2008, we will offer FREE classes on two squares at the shop, located at 108 South Rath Avenue, Ludington, MI. You may attend some, all, or none of the classes and still be part of the GAAKALONY. The classes will be taught by the staff of Nautical Yarn. The schedule of classes for Winter 2008 with descriptions of each square and techniques learned is listed on the Nautical Yarn web site at http://www.nauticalyarn.com/. Come in to Nautical Yarn when you are in the Ludington, MI area to see completed squares. We have about 8 finished as of this writing. (January 11, 2008)
Component 2—Online KAL Community
The second component of GAAKALONY is an online KAL community where we will post pictures and comments from all KAL members, as well as tricks and hints for each square. The address of the GAAKALONY is nauticalyarn.blogspot.com. So, if you are enjoying the sun and warmth of a winter vacation or awaiting your annual summer visit to Ludington, you can still be part of this community of knitters. Send me an email message at carole@nauticalyarn.com and I will add you as a member of the KAL.
Component 3—Donated Afghan
The third component is the finished Great American Afghan. The staff of Nautical Yarn will contribute their squares to a finished afghan, which will be auctioned off in 2009 to benefit a worthwhile charitable organization. If you would like to donate your finished square(s), Nautical Yarn will happily accept completed squares for a second afghan to donate.
The most important components of GAAKALONY are numbers 4 and 5—Knowledge and Fun.
Component 4—Knowledge
If you complete all 25 squares, you will be an expert knitter. You will have worked with hundreds of stitch patterns and excel at reading patterns and charts.
Component 5—Fun
While completing the squares with a real physical or virtual KAL community, you will have a ton of fun!
So remember, classes are FREE. You do not need to make every square to participate. Individual squares would make great handbags, pillow covers, or motifs to include in a different project.
During the classes we will discuss the pattern stitches pitfalls and hints of each design. Then, we will practice the parts of each square on a swatch. For most squares the necessary supplies are size 7 straight or circular needles, worsted weight yarn, cable needle, and stitch markers.
Online KAL Community
If you are reading this message, you are at the Nautical Yarn blog. If you would like to become a member of GAAKALONY, please send me an email message at carole@nauticalyarn.com and I will add you to the GAAKALONY.
Below are descriptions of the GAAKALONY classes offered in the shop. However, we will be posting pictures, hints, tips, frustrations, joy, and commentary about each square throughout the year during approximately the same time frames as the in-store classes.
GAAKALONY
(Great American Afghan Knit Along of Nautical Yarn)
In-store and Blog Schedule
January 26, 2008 (both classes taught by Carole)
Square 9 designed by Lily Chin 10:00 - 12:00 PM
We will begin our GAAKALONY with Lily’s fantastic, diagonal square. If you have ever knit a dishcloth, you have probably knit a square of this general shape and size. But, that’s where the resemblance to a dishcloth ends. Square 9 has bobbles, lace, and slip stitch designs.
Size 7 needles***
Square 8 designed by Kathy Zimmerman 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Kathy’s square will take us into the land of cables. Kathy designed this square using “composite cables”. This beautiful square is a lot of fun to knit. Square 8 incorporates 3 and 4 stitch cables into a beautiful design.
Size 7 needles, cable needle, and stitch markers (optional)***
February 23, 2008 (classes taught by Pat and Maryann)
Square 3 designed by Traci Bunkers 10:00 - 12:00 PM
During the morning class we will learn how to knit this square designed by Traci Bunkers. It contains many textures; cables, bobbles, and knit/purl combinations.
Size 7 needles, cable needle***
Square 11 designed by Melissa Leapman 1:00 - 3:00 PM
In the afternoon class, we will work on the “cat” design. You will see a cat develop on this square by just using a few simple cable stitches. Your chart reading skills will improve with this one.
Size 8 needles, cable needle, and stitch markers***
March 22, 2008 (classes taught by Pam and Shelly)
Square 19 designed by Barbara Venishnick 10:00 - 12:00 PM
Entrelac! If you have always wanted to learn the ins and outs and ups and downs of Entrelac, this is the class for you. You will learn the basics of Entrelac and work on this interesting, two-color square. Cables add extra interest.
Size 6 needles, cable needle, and stitch markers***
Square 20 designed by Diane Zangl 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Pretty Flower Buds and Leaves will be knit in the afternoon class. We will all get Spring Fever as we knit this simple yet elegant square.
Size 8 needles, cable needle, and stitch markers***
***
Note: The needle sizes suggested for the individual squares vary, depending on the stitch patterns. As always, the sizes listed are merely a starting point, choose the needle size that gives you the correct gauge. That is why we suggest you bring sizes 6, 7, and 8 needles.
