Edie Eckman

Coming up in early 2012, I’ve got two exciting teaching opportunities that I’d like to share with you.

Beginning January 6, I’ll be teaching an online class at Crochetville, entitled “Symbol Crochet”. This will be a one-week class in which I introduce the basics of reading crochet diagrams. Here’s the class description:

Learn the fundamentals of reading crochet stitch diagrams and see how this universal crochet “language” makes it easy to read patterns from any country. More and more crochet patterns, published domestically and especially outside the United States, are using international crochet symbols. With symbol crochet, you can see what your stitch pattern is supposed to look like and see the relationship of stitches to one another. Many crocheters find this way of presenting patterns easier to follow than written-out instructions, allowing them to avoid mistakes before they happen! The class will cover both back-and-forth and motif charts.

The cost of the class is only $20, and you can register online. If the class is successful, I plan to offer more classes in reading more complex charts, drawing your own charts, and other topics.

At Stitches West in February, I’ll be teaching an almost full roster of classes, including three-count-em-three new classes.
The new classes are: Go Bi-Textural, Easy Stitches for Impatient Knitters, and Crochet Stitch Workshop. I’ll also be teaching the ever-popular How to Say It: Technical Writing for Knitters & Crocheters (perfect if you want to publish your own designs or consider becoming a tech editor), and Crochet for Knitters.

I love the Stitches Events; I’ve been going to them as a student and then as a teacher for twenty years! There’s so much camaraderie and fun, and newcomers are always welcome! Please join me for some of the best fiber fun around.

For some people, December can be a time of extremes. The stress of trying to complete self-imposed holiday tasks, the happiness (and perhaps exhaustion) of spending time with far-flung friends and relatives, and perhaps the sadness of thinking about those who are not with you during the holidays.

For me, December is a relaxing month. Things settle down. There’s no work-related travel, and deadlines seem to be sparser. Although things pick up again right after New Year’s Day, I love the quieter month, when I can anticipate a week or so of vacation from work, and concentrate on spending time with family. Of course, I’ll also be preparing for these new classes. Please email me if you have ideas of what you would like me to include in the classes.

Best wishes for a safe and peaceful holiday season.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to talk to Lara Neel of the Math4Knitters podcast. Before we started, I had no idea what we were going to talk about, but we found plenty to discuss! It was a pretty wide-ranging discussion, from the typical “When did you learn to knit?” to talk about careers in the arts, photography, our work days, and other things.

Please give it a listen!

This past week my belt for Imperial Yarn was shown at Portland Fashion Week. I think it is very cool that I had a tiny, tiny part in it and that my crocheted belt (pictured left) was shown on the runway. Chrissy Gardiner was also credited as a “guest designer”. Congratulations to designer Anna Cohen, whose designs were a huge hit. I only wish I could have been there to bask in her reflected glory!

To see more pictures from the collection, visit this gallery. To see more information on the Imperial Knits Collection, visit this description on the Portland Fashion Week website or buy kits on the Imperial Yarns website.

The Knit & Crochet Show in Greensboro was wonderful; it was great to see so many old friends and meet so many new ones. I I taught a couple of new classes, and was relieved they went so well. My students were especially happy to hear about the new feature that I’m adding to the website just for class attendees.

After each class, I’ll be posting resources related to the things we discussed in class. Sometimes these will be links to software or other topics that came up in class. Other times, it may just be completed spreadsheets from a pattern drafting class. In other words, the content of that particular class will determine what the resources are. It will be like the “links” section that goes with a good podcast, although this “podcast” will be a live class, and you’ll have to take the class to find out the password.

I’ll do my best to get content online within a few days of the class, but sometimes internet connectivity while traveling is less than ideal. If you’ve taken the class and don’t see the material up within five days or so, send me an email.

And let me know what you think!

Here at the Edie Eckman website, you’ll learn about the many hats that I wear as a freelancer in the fiber arts world—teaching, writing, designing and editing. You’ll learn about the books that I write, the classes that I teach, and the technical work that I do. Hopefully, you’ll discover that you want to take a class from me or ask me to teach, design, or consult.

I love knitting AND crochet; please don’t make me choose between them! It’s all just making fabric with fiber and either two tools or one. I feel very strongly that knitters need to know how to crochet and crocheters need to know how to knit in order to take advantage of the best both skills have to offer.

You can find me on Facebook (Edie Eckman), on Twitter @edieeckman and on Ravelry (edieeckman).

Feel free to explore the site, and drop me a line. I’d love to hear from you!

Edie

Unfortunately, the original edieeckman.com website has become the victim of a hacker (or hackers), and has had to be shut down. I have high hopes of getting it restored within a few days, but meanwhile you’ll be looking at a very slimmed-down version of the site, while we work on a fix.

I beg your patience while we work out these problems; you can always reach me at edie (at) edieeckman.com.