Woolschool - Afterthought Heels : Cut Into your knitting with confidence
Saturday 24th - Sunday 25th April 2027
Time: 1pm – 4pm | Places available: 10 | Tutor: Donna Jones – Donna Jones Designs
Level of experience required: Students need to be confident knitters, comfortable with knit and purl stitches, following a simple pattern, and working small circumferences in the round using your preferred method.
REQUIREMENTS: Students don’t need to have knitted socks before, but should be confident knitters who are comfortable with knit and purl stitches, following a simple pattern, and working small circumferences in the round using their preferred method.
DESCRIPTION:
Discover the freedom of a true afterthought heel and learn to cut into your knitting with confidence. In this practical workshop, Donna will guide you through identifying and marking the heel position, safely cutting into your knitted fabric, picking up the stitches and working the heel. You’ll practise the technique on a mini sock that you knit in advance from instructions provided before the workshop, with plenty of guidance along the way, so that deliberately taking scissors to your knitting feels far less alarming!
AIM OF WORKSHOPS:
By the end of the workshop, students will understand how a true afterthought heel is constructed and how it differs from a pre-planned afterthought heel using waste yarn. They will have practised safely cutting into knitted fabrics, picking up stitches and working an afterthought heel, and will be introduced to alternative ways of shaping and finishing the heel.
The workshop will also explore how the same techniques can be applied more broadly, for example when repairing or replacing a worn heel, or when cutting into existing knitting to add features such as pockets. The aim is to give students both the practical skills and the confidence to use these techniques independently.
TUTOR’S BACKGROUND:
Donna Jones is a handknit designer, technical editor and knitting educator based in South Wales. She has many years of professional experience designing, publishing, teaching and supporting knitters, including work as a Rowan Design Consultant and as an author and magazine contributor. Donna has a particular fascination with how knitted fabric works and loves helping knitter develop their skills, confidence and understanding. Her teaching combines clear, practical instruction with encouragement to experiment, solve problems and make confident creative choices.