Joan will show you how to take your knits from frumpy to fabulous! Adding designer shaping touches to your knitted garments is easy once you know a few simple rules and how to apply them. Darts, ease, and short row shaping are all important elements for a custom fit. Learn which ones to use to play up your specific body type to its best advantage.

Knitters are commonly confused when faced with choosing which size garment to make for a proper fit. Never again wonder if you've chosen correctly. Learn how to measure yourself and others properly, and use those measurements to assure success in every garment you knit!

BEADING FOR KNITS (3 hours)

Joan's collection of vintage beaded sweaters give the class inspiration for knitters to bead their own items. A plain cardigan or pullover becomes a gorgeous heirloom in a matter of a few hours! Hand beaded sweaters sell for big $. Learn how to duplicate this luxurious look easily for very little money by making a fancy beaded sunglass case in class.$5 per person additional materials fee.

Homework: With plain DK weight wool and size 5 needle cast on 30 sts and work in stockinette for 6". Bind off. Steam or single crochet around outside to keep swatch from curling.

Materials: 6"x 6" swatch. Scissors. Sewing thread, white and black, sewing needle. If you need reading glasses, please bring them!

MY FAIR-ISLE (3 hours)!
Learn the secret of knitting with two colors at a time AND knitting with both hands. This simple technique will also open the door to the Continental style of knitting for those who desire to. Working off of a colored chart and using the knit stitch only, students will make a cute wearable wide headband in class.

Bring: Two different colored balls of worsted weight yarn, one 24" circular needle, size 7.

ROCKIN' THE STOCKINS'! (6 hours)
Everyone loves to knit socks, but have you tried stockings? Elevate your fashion quotient thigh high with stockings shaped and fitted to your very own leg!
Learn to measure your leg properly, then work a simple toe-up construction that allows you to shape the stocking as you go and simply bind off when you reach the height you want. Get a custom fit that assures comfort and wearability.

Joan McGowan-Michael has been a professional fashion designer for over twenty five years, styling garments for retailers as diverse as Frederick's of Hollywood and JC Penney.

She founded her company, White Lies Designs, with her husband Mike in 2001. It has since become the original go-to resource for lingerie patterns for hand knitting , and other romantic, vintage inspired knitwear styles. The thread that runs through all of her work is the celebration of romance and the feminine form. She believes that all women are beautiful and strives to help enhance that beauty through the clothing she designs. All of her styles are available in a wide range of sizes from petite to plus.

Joan has written articles and published designs in all of the major knitting magazines and contributed styles to books including Big Girl Knits and Stitch-n-Bitch Nation.

She has appeared on DIY network's Knitty Gritty, PBS's Shay Pendray's Needlework Studio and Good Evening Sacramento, and has been profiled in Cast On , Interweave Knits, Knit 1 , and Belle Armoire magazines.

Her own book, Knitting Lingerie Style was released in May of 2007 by STC publishing and includes 32 lingerie and lingerie-inspired designs. If you like pretty, lacy and feminine knitting, don't miss it!

Read more about Joan and see her lovely designs at her website: http://www.whiteliesdesigns.com

WORKSHOP LOCATION:

The workshop will be held in San Martino di Castrozza (1450m), nestled at the base of the famous Pale di San Martino mountain chain, crown jewel of the Italian Dolomites, located just 68 miles North East of Venice, Italy. Rich in history and tradition, the resort town of San Martino di Castrozza began as a cherished alpine playground over 150 years ago frequented by European aristocracy and royalty. Today, it remains a charming, highly considered, European resort destination for all backgrounds and ages.  The workshop also includes a one-day visit to Venice, Italy.

STRUCTURE:

Classroom instruction conveniently is held in the hotel after lunch, when the local stores close for "pranzo," Italy's daily celebration of the mid-day meal with their families.

• Six classroom sessions, each lasting three hours, will take place over the course of the trip for a total of 18 hours structured instruction.

• Emphasis is placed on the one-on-one, private time spent between student and instructor.

Our mornings will be reserved for unique and special outings to explore our local surroundings, and will encompass a variety of experiences, including tantalizing cooking demonstrations in a variety of settings.

• In addition to the wonderful morning excursions and our afternoon classes, you will enjoy two days with no structured class instruction. Students will have the choice of exploring on their own, or participating in some fiber arts-related guided group activities.
  
• The first day off allows you the opportunity to explore the area on your own, relax in town, or take advantage of one of our signature events, the Alpine Adventure Agency's One Day Bus Tour of the Dolomitic Passes (offered "a la carte." to our group).
  
• Venice takes center-stage for the final day of your dream, workshop vacation. If you like to ski or snowboard and are interested in spending your mornings on the slopes, you can read about our local slopes here, and view ski pass information here.

The Alpine Adventure Agency is unique in providing Italian cell phones to each paying guest for use during your vacation. You will not need to worry that your own phone will not work in Italy. We supply one to each paying guest with 5 Euro already on the card. You can buy more minutes for your phone easily in most stores. We have made instant concierge service and assistance possible with important phone numbers already programmed into the phones, including mine, the hotel, local transportation companies, and medical assistance. I am just a phone call away to assist you with any needs or requests.

Upon request, we provide hiking poles to each guest.

Upon request, the hotels' kitchens and the restaurants we will be visiting can accommodate any dietary need with advanced notification.

We get to do many special activities that have been created just for my groups, thanks to my family's personal friendships with various business owners in the region.

We hired a full-time consultant who specializes in outdoor/ nature photography to help our guests take incredible pictures. He will be present for most group activities, taking the group to the best locations to take pictures, giving advice on using your equipment, and showing you where to stand to get those amazing shots of your dream vacation.

Ken and Daniela Anderson, your lead guides, are certified to provide first responder care and be the first link to help until professional emergency personnel can arrive in case of an emergency. They are not EMT's, paramedics, doctors or nurses. Daniela and/or Ken accompany all organized group activities and are certified in American Red Cross Standard First Aid and CPR/ AED (automated external defibrillator) for the Professional Rescuer.

Participating in cooking demos with top chefs is a highlight of our morning excursions! Photo: Daniela Anderson.

We hired a full-time consultant who specializes in outdoor/ nature photography to help our guests take incredible pictures. Photo: Courtesy Alessandro Simon Photography.

Click here for a detailed daily itinerary with pictures.

We invite you to visit our group on Ravelry:

Fiber Summit Series Abroad (FSSA)