Spend Thursday, June 17, with designer and author, Louisa Harding: Beading Workshop - 6/17/2010 Louisa Harding’s Beading Workshop will be held on Thursday, June 17th, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Lenox Library, 18 Main St., Lenox, MA. Working from the pattern for a lace scarf from her upcoming fall collection Louisa will demonstrate and instruct participants in the techniques used to knit-in the beads on the scarf’s edge and body. These are techniques that can be used on any other beaded knit projects. Pre-registration and pre-payment is required. Workshop Description How often have we admired the way beads outline and highlight a stitch pattern making whatever we knit with them eye-catching and unique. We know we can omit the beads and still knit the item but there is always something missing to complete the look. Louisa often uses beads in her lacework and the asymmetrical lace scarf, Sunday - the project for the workshop - is an excellent example. Though complex looking the scarf’s pattern is a simple eyelet using yarnovers, K2tog and SSK decreases. Participants will have the opportunity, after Louisa demonstrates two ways to thread beads for knitting, to knit several repeats of the stitch pattern and to work beads onto selected stitches. Participants will also learn a beaded picot cast-on, a cast-on that can be applied to many projects. During the workshop Louisa will relate how she designs with beads giving advice on the effective placement of beads in knitted garments and accessories. The workshop is open to knitters who know the basics of knitting. Previous experience in lace knitting is helpful but not necessary. Workshop participants will need to bring: 1 ball of DK (5.5 sts to one inch) weight yarn #7 (4.5mm) needles Scissors Sewing needle Sewing thread Scarf instructions, beads and beading needles will be provided. Workshop fee: $55.00 Full payment for the workshop is required at time of registration. Workshop limited to 10 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, June 14. About Louisa Harding Louisa Harding has been a professional knitwear designer for more than 15 years. Her designs have appeared in several issues of Rowan Knitting Magazine, Vogue International Knitting Magazine, Knitter’s Magazine and the Debbie Bliss Magazine. She authored the Miss Bea series of children’s patterns for Rowan. Louisa, who lives in England, now has her own line of fine hand knitting yarns that she supports with the publication of twice yearly pattern collections, her most recent books being Belle, Bijoux and Chinoiserie. To know Louisa a little better we asked if we could quote the “About Me” bio she penned when she joined the online community, Ravelry. “I am Louisa Harding, someone once asked me if I was sure about that, yes, I’ve always been me. I am the person behind the name behind the Louisa Harding range of yarns and design publications. I was taught to knit at 6 by my grandmother but until I embarked on a Textiles for Fashion degree I did not have the attention span to really get hooked. I didn’t knit my first garment until I was 21, in my 3rd year at college and on placement with Rowan Yarns. The design to my astonishment was published in Rowan Magazine 6, (right place, right time!). After college I worked for Rowan for 12 years, eventually becoming the in house designer for the Jaeger and Patons UK brands. I went freelance after having Oscar, baby no. 2, as it all became a bit too much. During my freelance times my Husband Steve and I came up with the idea for the ‘Miss Bea’ range of books. In 2005 I was offered the opportunity of launching my own range of yarns and design collection books and I haven’t look back. I still work with Steve, my fantastic rock, he takes all the wonderful pictures in the books and keeps me well and truly grounded, as do the children, the dog and the cat.”	Sunday Scarf Swallow Beaded Shrug from Belle Star Beaded Bag from Belle Louisa Harding