Meet our Makers: Sasha Kagan Knitwear Designer presenting two workshops

Once again, our wonderful local knitting "celeb" Sasha Kagan will be joining the Wool and Willow Festival. Sasha will be taking time out from her touring exhibition "My Life in Textiles: 4 Decades of Hand Knit Design" to join us with an exhibition and sale of her exclusive knitwear and books, as well as presenting 2 of our workshops. Mounting this exhibit is part of Sasha's ongoing mission to 'elevate knitting to a much higher status and encourage the next generation', and her commitment to the Wool and Willow Festival is further evidence of this.
The first of her Wool and Willow workshops - aimed at beginner knitters - will introduce knitting with big needles and big wool, with participants being able to leave with a hat.

The second - for intermediate and advanced knitters - will be looking at Fairisle and domino knitting techniques with a nod to the skilled use of colour for which Sasha is renowned. Pattern, colour and texture are key to Sasha Kagan’s creative process and her exhibition ‘My Life in Textiles’ reflects the importance of these elements in her work over the last four decades.  Although Sasha trained as a painter and printmaker, she was immersed in the needle arts from an early age as both her mother and grandmother were enthusiastic and proficient knitters and needlewomen.

With a maximum of 8 students in each workshop, you will be sure to get you fair share of attention and advice from Sasha as well as having an opportunity to meet other keen or keen-to-be knitters into the bargain!
Sasha's new book - The Classic Collection - will be publised in May and on sale at the Wool and Willow Festival. A GMC-published pattern book with garments reworked in today's "softer, more luxurious yarns" and essays by a number of Kagan's colleagues and industry professions, including  Kate Buller from Rowan Yarns, Sandy Black of The London College of Fashion and Trisha Malcom from Vogue Knitting Magazine.

If you really (really?!) can't make it to Llanidloes in May/June this year, then don't forget that the Exhibition of Sasha's Life in Textiles will also be on view at these events:

• Ruthin Craft Centre, Denbighshire 14th  May - 12th June  -   www.ruthincraftcentre.org.uk
• The Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace, London - 6th-9th October
• The Knitting and Stitching Show, Dublin, Ireland - 10-13th November
• The Knitting and Stitching Show, Harrowgate - 24th-27th November 

See www.twistedthread.com for details of The Knitting and Stitching shows

For more information about Sasha Kagan, please visit her website www.sashakagan.co.uk