Weekend
Workshops with
Marilyn Van Keppel
April 4-6, 2008
Evanston Ecology Center, Evanston, IL
Marilyn Van Keppel is a retired professor of mathematics. She’s been knitting for over 50 years and also enjoys weaving, spinning, natural dyeing, cooking, travel, playing the piano (mostly Bach), reading, and walks with her Jack Russell terrier. Marilyn attends Meg Swansen’s Knitting Camp each year, and one year she discovered a book of shawl patterns written in a strange looking language. Intrigued, she wanted to make some of the shawls and found a dictionary to help her translate some of the terms. Unfortunately, the library eventually wanted their book back, so she went to the Faroe Islands to buy a dictionary of her very own. “I felt from the first moment there that I had found my spiritual home.”
Workshop Info
Class #1: Knitting in the North Atlantic (lecture and video)
Friday, April 4 from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. (Evanston Ecology Center)
2 hours. $15 WCKG Members / $20 Non-Members
Skill level: All levels. Class Size: 35 students.
Learn a little about the physical aspects (geology, flora, fauna, climate) and history of the four island countries, Shetland, Faroes, Iceland and Greenland. Marilyn will also talk about the sheep and the knitting traditions in each country. This will all be followed by a tour of the Faroe Islands via video.
Class #2: Icelandic Shawls
Saturday, April 5, 2008, - 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
(Evanston Ecology Center)
6 hours. $70 WCKG Members / $80 Non-Members
Skill level: Advanced Beginner, some experience with lace knitting helpful
Class Size: 24 students.
We will start a simple shawl (sized to fit a small teddy bear). Various methods of beginning will be considered, and the student will choose which one to use for the shawl. While the knitting is being worked, an overview of the history of the shawls, and some shawls from Iceland, will be presented. The pattern for the simple shawl is presented in the same format as that of the Icelandic shawl book Three-Cornered and Long Shawls, and includes a simple all-over lace pattern in the body of the shawl along with a knitted-on lacy border.
Class #3 Faroese Shawls
Sunday, April 6, 2008, 9:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. (Evanston Ecology Center)
6 hours. $70 WCKG Members / $80 Non-Members
Skill level: Advanced Beginner Class size: 24 students.
A small shawl (teddy bear sized) incorporating the traditional styling of a Faroese shawl, is knitted in garter stitch with a lace inset. The pattern is written in the same style as those featured in the Faroese Shawl book Foroysk Bindingarmynstur.
Some full sized Faroese shawls from the book will be shown and some of the
variations featured in these shawls will be discussed.