The Orenburg Warm Shawl Online Workshop

Description

Discover a new knitting tradition! For over 300 years, the elegant lace shawls from Orenburg, Russia beguiled knitters and collectors alike. While many lace knitters may be acquainted with the delicate “gossamer webs” for which Orenburg is famous, her focus here is on the “warm shawl,” a much sturdier, yet more luxurious cousin seldom found outside the region.

The history of Orenburg’s warm shawls reflects the larger history of Orenburg, as they became the basis for a thriving cottage industry subsidized by the Soviet government for generations. Shawl-knitting was passed from mothers to daughters without any written instructions, and was almost lost during the economic upheavals of the late 20th century.

Galina and her mentor, master Orenburg knitter Olga Fedorova documented the techniques and motifs of Orenburg lace first the first time, to preserve the tradition and bring it to knitters outside of Russia.

Through a series of instructional video, interview segments, and archival photographs, you will cover:

• A brief history of Orenburg and the evolution of its lace-knitting economy
• The tools and materials traditionally used for knitting these shawls
• The 10 basic motifs of Orenburg lace knitting along with rules for combining them in a piece
• The unique construction of the warm shawl
• 2 grafting techniques
• How to wash, block, and finish your shawl
• This workshop also features downloadable charts and 2 full patterns for an Orenburg warm shawl

Lesson Outline:

• Course Overview
  • Artist Profile: Galina Khmeleva
• Introduction to the Orenburg Shawl
  • Tools & Materials
• Shawl Basics:
  • Traditional Lace Motifs
  • Unique Shawl Construction
• Knitting the Edges:
  • Knitting Shawl Borders
  • Adding Bridge Sections
  • Russian Grafting
• Knitting the Center
  • Square and Triangular Shawl Versions
• Topping Things Off
  • Square Shawl: Adding a Top Border
  • Triangular Shawl: Creating a Serrated Top
• Wrapping Up (In Your Shawl): Washing, Blocking, and Caring
• Final Notes & Workshop Survey

Skill Level:

Intermediate to advanced. Students should have some lace-knitting experience and be comfortable with knitting charts.  

Techniques Covered:

Lace knitting; chart reading; Russian grafting; Russian bind-off; short-rows; washing and blocking shawls.

Materials for Full-sized Shawl Pattern in Workshop:

• For full sized square shawl: approximately 3000 yds lace-weight yarn; 3 or more 32-inch circular knitting needles (to go around shawl circumference), size 2 ½ (3 mm); 2 double point knitting needles, size 2 ½ (3 mm); tapestry needle; crochet hook; stitch markers; stitch holders; waste yarn; blocking wires or nylon cord; t pins
• For full-sized triangular shawl: lace weight yarn in 3 colors, approximately 300 yds each; 32-inch circular knitting needle, size 2 ½ (3 mm), or set of double point knitting needles, size 2 ½ (3 mm); tapestry needle; crochet hook; stitch markers; stitch holders; waste yarn; blocking wires or nylon cord; t pins

Watch a Preview Now:

This Online Workshop Includes:

• Discussion board: The discussion board is a great way to interact with other users in the Online Workshop. It’s an open forum for you to ask questions, share your thoughts, and express your inspirations.
• Gallery: Share images of your work where you can give and receive feedback from fellow students.
• Notes: This is a place for you to keep personal notes to help you with your work and the Online Workshop content. Only you will be able to see your notes.
• Video Lessons: Run Time 170 minutes

About the Instructor:

Galina Khmeleva has earned a reputation as one of the most respected and knowledgeable lace knitting instructors in the country. A friend and student of the late Orenburg lace master Olga Fedorova, Galina has taught the techniques of Orenburg spinning and knitting throughout the world for over 20 years. She is the author of numerous articles on Orenburg lace, and with Carol Noble wrote Gossamer Webs: History and Techniques of Orenburg Lace Shawls (Interweave, 1998). Galina is also the author of Gossamer Webs: The Design Collection.