Visual Aids and Handouts

Some people are visual learners, some are auditory learners, and some are tactile learners. And knitting is a tactile activity, with a lot of visual activity thrown in for good measure.

For the new knitter in the first session, I hand out the following.

1. A sheet from a package of the handouts that the Michael's stores use for their knitting classes. (When I was doing the volunteer teaching as part of the Craft Yarn Council of America certification program, the knitting teacher at Michael's was so grateful for the assistance I provided that she gave me a full package of these handouts.)
2. A sheet listing all of the differences between knit and purl stitches - I empasize that the purl is the reverse of the knit in every aspect.
3. The preworked sample of knitting that I described in the blog entry at http://knittingteachers.blogspot.com/2009/06/students-first-stitches.html


For the slightly more experienced knitter, at the "pattern reading and more" session, I hand out the following:

1. A sheet describing a couple of different increases and decreases.
2. The Bernat pattern sheets used for reading patterns - see the related blog entry at http://knittingteachers.blogspot.com/2009/07/pattern-reading-resources.html
3. A sample schematic for a sweater.

I also do a lot of drawing on either a whiteboard or a piece of paper, especially when discussing the baby afghan pattern - both for the shape and for the stitch pattern.

I am thinking of converting the pattern reading course into a PowerPoint slide show - I think that will work out really well.

What do you use for visual aids and handouts? Please comment.

Thanks


Judy Obee
My Knitting Website

Pattern Reading resources

When I teach students how to read patterns, I borrow extensively from the library of free patterns at the Bernat website. I print these, and give them to the students. As we are talking about reading the patterns, they can make notes for themselves.



One of the first things that I point out is that most yarn manufacturers publish patterns, and they want the knitters to succeed, no matter what their experience. Because then the manufacturers can sell more yarn. And that's a good thing!



The first pattern I give them is the Preemie Hat, at http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=3654. (It also contains a crocheted version.) The nice thing about this pattern is that it is a simple stocking stitch rectangle - nothing complicated at all, but it really is cute!



I first talk about the picture, the skill level, the size information, the materials, and the gauge. At this point, I also give them the second pattern that I will discuss later, just to show that this header information is similar.



Then we work line by line through the instructions portion of the pattern. When we are done, the students really do have the confidence that they could make the hat. I have a partially completed hat, which I use to demonstrate the seaming. Some day I'll make another one and complete it!



The second pattern is for a Classic Turtleneck at http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=1843. This is also a simple pattern the only stitches are 2x2 rib and stocking stitch. But there is some shaping with increases and decreases. And there is an interesting method for creating the turtleneck. But by the time we go through it line by line, the confidence level increases.



The third pattern is for a baby afghan, at http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=173. This is a rectangle, no shaping, but it does have an interesting pattern stitch (popcorn stitch or an equivalent). When we are talking about the pattern stitch, I use a pencil and paper to diagram what is happening with the stitches - it seems to help the comprehension. Also, it may inspire them to try to draw their patterns later on.



I also give them a fourth pattern, for a baby layette, from http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PID=2354. I only touch on it briefly - I point out that it has both shaping AND and interesting pattern stitch, and it is labelled as being for a more experienced knitter. But I tell them that it really is just more of the same of what we have been talking about.



The students leave the class with an obvious air of confidence that they didn't have at the beginning of the class.



My goal is to make each of the above projects, taking a lot of photos of the work in progress, so that the students can relate the words to the knitting better.



What do you do for helping students learn to read patterns? Your comments are appreciated.



Thanks



Judy Obee
My Knitting Website