The Economics of Knitting - Classes

Do you want new or great? I'm noticing a trend with requests for classes and presentations. Organizers always ask first what I have that's new. Some now even pay a premium for classes which have never been taught before. However, when students email me, they ask for my existing classes and want the details of where and when I'll next be teaching them. Often it's because someone told them it's a great class and they learned a lot by taking it.

I think the more often I teach a class the better it gets. I get to practice the material, I figure out what isn't working for students and why. I get their questions and add the answers into the class and the notes for future sessions. I also have the opportunity to recognize the difference between an problem for a specific student and a more general problem with the material as I repeat the class. As I move forward I can often share more information more quickly because I'm communicating it better. 

It takes a great deal of time for me to develop the best possible material for both classes and presentations. To recoup the costs of the time invested, I need to use it multiple times if I'm going to sustain my work as a business. I do accept that ultimately this is a passion project for me but on the other hand I only get hired if I'm seen as a credible expert. 

So what do you want, my new material or my best material?

Toronto Knitters Frolic Classes

Too busy to write much. I'm prepping for the Toronto Knitters Frolic this weekend. You can read more here: http://frolic.torontoknittersguild.ca/robin-hunter/

I hope I'll see some of you in my classes.

YarnOver SleepOver Retreat 2015

This weekend Mary Pat and I head up to Orilla for the third annual YarnOver SleepOver Retreat. We have a great weekend planned for the attendees. Many of them are joining us for the third time! I've included a few photos of last year's fun times.

Classes for next Saturday

I'll be back at Linda's Craftique next Saturday. I'm teaching two of my most popular classes. 

Here's what Linda says about the Buttonhole class: 

"On a personal note, I have always told people to “get over it, there is no such thing as a nice buttonhole in knitting” I was wrong….I took this class and Robin has some wonderful ways to make great buttonholes!!"

Saturday, March 21st (3 hours), 10am-1pm
Buttonhole Boot Camp

Are you afraid of buttonholes? You don't need to be. Join Robin to learn all about buttonholes. Learn how to choose which type to use, the pros and cons of various forms of construction, how to knit each type and much, much more.
Students must know how to cast on/off, knit and purl.

Materials: Odd balls of worsted weight yarn and 4.5mm needles

Saturday, March 21st (3 hours), 1:30-4:30pm
What the Pattern Doesn't Tell You

Knitting patterns are like recipes, full of terminology and instructions that assume you know things you might not yet have encountered in your knitting experience. Join me to learn all of my tips and techniques that will make your projects even better. I'll share with you the details that aren't in the pattern.

Students will learn how to choose patterns and supplies to knit with confidence, cast on without a knot, make the cast off edge square, how to start a shawl from a garter stitch tab and much, much more. This class was developed as a response to all the questions that knitters ask me, so please come with your personal knitting questions.

Students must know how to cast on/off, knit and purl.

Materials: Odd balls of worsted weight yarn and 4.5mm needles