Spend Thursday, October 1, with designer & author Helen Hamann: Finishing Technques Workshop plus Trunk Show of ready-made garments for purchase. - 10/4/2009 Helen Hamann’s workshop, Finishing Techniques, will be held Thursday, October 1st from 10 am to 3:00 pm at Colorful Stitches, 48 Main St. (rear of building), Lenox, MA. Join Helen as she explains and demonstrates such techniques as picking up stitches, short row shaping, mitered corners, pockets, grafting, Fairisle weaving, tucks, buttonholes, increases and decreases, cast-on and bind-off techniques. After her workshop from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm knitters and non-knitters can see, try on and purchase Helen’s ready-made garments. Description As a designer and manufacturer of hand-knit garments and accessories Helen has come to understand the importance of a professionally finished knit. She also understands that the techniques you use to knit a garment from cast-on to shaping to bind-off will effect the success you have in finishing your garment as a pro. Many of these knitting techniques, plus alternative and better ways to assemble garments, are not used in most pattern instructions but can easily be substituted for better fit and look. Working with swatches Helen will explain and demonstrate provisional cast-on, one and two-stitch increases and decreases, Fairisle weaving, short row shaping at necklines and shoulders, darts, gussets, tucks, mitered corners, pockets, tubular bind-off, buttonholes, picking up stitches and grafting. The workshop is open to knitters who know how to knit and purl. There will be a 45-minute lunch break. Lunch is not provided, but light refreshments will be available throughout the day. Workshop participants will need to bring: • knitting needles sizes US 3 to US 8 (3.25mm to 5mm) • crochet hooks, one fine and one medium sized • tapestry needle • scissors • stitch markers • stitch holders • tape measure • several buttons of any size Yarn will be provided. Workshop Fee: $65.00 Full payment for the workshop is required at the time of registration. Workshop limited to 15 participants. To register for the workshop: By phone: 800-413-6111 or 413-637-8206 By mail: Colorful Stitches, PO Box 2278, Lenox, MA 01240 Pay by MasterCard, VISA, Discover or MA check. Registration closes Monday, September 28. Garment and Kit Trunk Show & Sale Knitters and non-knitters will have the opportunity to see, try on and purchase ready-made garments and accessories from Helen Hamann’s collection from 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm, October 1st. Also available for purchase will be Helen’s knitting kits, patterns and yarns. Helen works exclusively in yarns of pure baby alpaca and alpaca blended with pima cotton. Her ready-made hand knits are sold in upscale boutiques and department stores in Canada, Japan, Europe and the United States. In the United States Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s, among others, have sold her work. Helen Hamann Helen Hamann launched sweater design and manufacturing in Peru, utilizing high quality native alpaca and pima cotton to create modern trend-right looks using color and Incan techniques. Her designs have spread internationally, featured in fashion magazines, TV shows, and runways of Piti Filati. She has created exclusive designs for companies such as Peruvian Connection, Andean Imports and Elann. She is the author of Andean Inspired Knits, Helen organizes and conducts tours of Peru for fiber arts enthusiasts. Helen Hamann, a native of Peru, resides in Tennessee.	Double Breasted Cardigan Deep V Pullover Trapeze Tank with Cardigan Asymmetrical Coat Helen Hamann