As a teacher, Sivia appeals to the creative spirit, and few can remain untouched by her verve and passion for her subjects. In her classes, technique, though important, is a means to an end, which is always the delight of following the joyful knitting muse wherever it may lead.
Sivia’s classes and workshops often are built around making a particular project, but only as a jumping off place for discussions on all sorts of related knitterly things. Students will often find themselves inspired to experiment outside the realm of the original project, sometimes coming up with highly original designs of their own as a result.
Sivia’s specialty is knitting with beads, which she has found to have a natural affinity with lace, and can also conjure magical effects in conjunction with cables and other textural elements. Sivia loves to explore the seemingly endless possibilities for embellishment resulting from the beautiful partnership of beads and knitting. Her classes will almost always contain some type of exploration of this partnership.
Sivia is also available for one-on-one tutorial sessions. Please for availability, or use the contact form.
Here are some of the subjects that Sivia is prepared to offer in class and workshop format, listed below in alphabetical order.
Beaded Treasure Bag or Felted Purse
This class is a crash course in knitting with beads. Three different techniques are taught and many bead effects and possible embellishments are discussed. The purse can either be made into a drawstring treasure bag or hand felted for use as a wallet.
Diamond Fantasy
Hone your lace knitting skills while making this popular tip-to-top diamond lace triangle shawl with a knit-as-you-go edging. Sivia provides many lace knitting tips and tricks along with advice on incorporating beads into your lace. An attached I-cord edging finishes the shawl, and blocking is thoroughly discussed.
Dué Amori Gloves and Scarf
This class involves many techniques – lace, twisted stitches, cables and beads. Students may choose either the gloves or scarf as their class project and gain confidence in knitting a multimedia project in either rounds or rows. Strategies for keeping track of multiple patterns are discussed, as well as technical tips for working textural, beaded and lace stitches.
Gothic Beginnings
Beginner lace knitters learn the basics of lace increases and decreases, reading charts, and following a lace pattern while getting practice in correcting common mistakes and generally getting into the flow of lace knitting. The project is the Gothic Leaf Scarf, a smaller version of the Gothic Leaf Stole. Beads are welcome in this class!
Harmonia’s Rings
The Harmonia’s Rings cowl, which uses Cat Bordhi’s Moebius cast on to achieve the mysterious spiral neck shape, features an easy but addictive self-pleating knit and purl stitch pattern. Class includes many techniques: the Moebius cast on, beaded picot bind off, knitting the texture pattern in the round, shaping in pattern, and many interesting by-notes, including several ways to customize the pattern.
Lace Along
Bring whatever lace project is on the needles, or start a new one, with Sivia providing expert advice, encouragement, inspiration, and trouble shooting help as needed.
Lace as a Triangle [or Rectangle, or Faroese Shaped Shawl]
Take a traditional shawl shape and insert your own choice of lace patterns found in stitch dictionaries to create an original design. Charting patterns, shaping lace in pattern, modulation from one pattern to another, and types edgings will be discussed, along with different styles of designing. Students receive the benefit of Sivia’s years of experience in designing all types of lace shawls.
Moebius Madness
A peek into the infinite possibilities of Moebius knitting. Students learn Cat Bordhi’s unique Moebius cast on and create at least two projects during the class, a scarf or wrap as the first project, and a bag, basket or cat bed for the second. Many edging and embellishment techniques are discussed, along with felting techniques for the second project. This class is guaranteed to inspire lots more Moebius knitting!
Moonrise Necklace
This class starts with a riotous bead swap and ends with a beautiful, heavily beaded necklace that has been compared to a luscious garden of beads. Students will use lace weight yarn and short rowed garter stitch to create a very special and unique, as well as fun and easy to knit neckpiece.
New Pathways for Sock Knitters
Students receive an introduction into Cat Bordhi’s brilliant rethinking of the structure of the sock as we explore her eight new gussetless sockitectures featured in the book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters Volume 1. Students will knit the two sample learning socks from the book and choose one full size sock project to concentrate on, which could be a design of their own imagination based on one of the book’s sockitectures, or one of the designs found in the book.
Norwegian Woods
A perfect introduction to shaped lace, this top-down triangle shawl features three easy-to-knit lace patterns that can be easily customized, resulting in a shawl unique to each knitter. Students learn a simple beading technique and we discuss blocking strategies for the shawl and its unusual scallop-shaped edge.
River Rock Scarf
This luxurious scarf uses oodles of beads that create the illusion of natural-like bead “rocks” embedded in a flowing “river” of ribbing. Students learn how to manage large numbers of beads with ease and explore the creative possibilities of this unique freeform technique of placing beads.
Toe up Socks
An introduction into toe up sock knitting, suitable for beginner sock knitters. Students learn Judy’s Magic Cast On and make a traditional gusseted heel flap sock using their choice of 2 circulars or set of double pointed needles. Sivia provides a customized pattern suitable for any gauge and any weight of yarn. Students will start with measuring their foot and learn to knit a perfectly fitted sock.