Stay warm with October knitting classes

Thimble & Spindle — formerly Woolen Collectibles — offers knitting classes to help crafters stay warm in the cool October weather.

The yarn and craft store is located at 183 First Ave. E.N., Kalispell. For more information, call 756-8746.

Following is a list of available classes:

Christmas stocking

This three-session class takes place Oct. 7, 14 and 21; choose from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. or from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Cost is $45.

The class will teach knitters how to make a Christmas stocking. From classic to contemporary, with fast and easy choices, there is a stocking for everyone to knit.

Fair Isle tam

Fair Isle is well known as a knitting method and a pattern type. Real Fair Isle patterns are built up in horizontal bands, by knitting two colors of yarn in each row. The motifs are clearly defined by careful selection of colors.

Fair Isle is associated with patterned woolen garments, hats, gloves and scarves and have been knitted for centuries one the small island of Fair Isle,w hich which lies halfway between the Shetland and Orkney islands near Scotland.

This class will teach this ancient traditional way of knitting. Techniques included are knitting with a color in each hand; weaving yarns to reduce snagging; reading tam charts; knitting traditional peerie, border and wheel patterns; and shaping and finishing the tam.

The three-session class runs Oct. 9, 16 and 23 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. or from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Cost is $45.

The cable mitten

The three-session class runs Oct. 10, 17 and 24 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. or from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Cost is $45.

Mittens are wonderfully portable knitting projects — and whose fingers don't need warming? In this class, knitters will learn to create a classic cable with a few twists.

Techniques to be covered include the ribbed cuff, the thumb gusset, different patterning for the front and palm, and the pointed tip shaping at the at the end of the mitten.