Virtual Workshops with Fallingblox Designs

While nothing can compare to an in-person workshop, I’m hoping that (through liberal application of technology) we can all learn something worthwhile. For now the instructions here will address the Zoom software.

Please click through and read the topics below. With your help, we can all have a grand knitting adventure together.

Please also read my Virtual Workshop Policies page. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

All of my workshops have a small amount of homework, which will ensure that you have a bit of recent practice in double-knitting, as well as a foundation to work from during the workshop.

For your convenience, here is a list of the homework links and yarn/needle requirements for each workshop. More detail can be found on the workshop pages.

Aside from the Lace workshop, all workshops will require that you bring at least two well-contrasting (ideally one lighter and one darker) solid-colored yarns in the DK to worsted weight range and the needles you'd normally select for your chosen yarn. I recommend circular needles if possible. Other requirements will be shown below.

Shortly before the workshop, all students will be sent a link to their workshop's PDF handout. You will need to download and print or otherwise have the handout accessible during the workshop. To save paper, you generally only need the worksheet or pattern page; the rest is for your reference later.

Please also make sure that your computer's camera and microphone are working, and that you have the required tools and materials (see Homework, above).

On a Windows or Mac computer, when you click on a link to join a Zoom meeting, you may be prompted to install the Zoom software. I recommend you use a computer, as the full set of features may not be available in the browser or mobile version of the software. If you like, you can visit http://zoom.us/download to get the latest Zoom Client for Meetings (at the top of the page) beforehand. You do not need to have a Zoom account to use the software.

At or near the workshop's time, clicking on the Zoom link should pop up a window that requests access to the Zoom software. Approve that and you should be able to enter the workshop. I will provide you with a Zoom link which will allow you into the meeting. Please do not share this link with others – for security purposes, it is set for each individual meeting and shared only with paid/registered attendees. Please join with computer audio and video (these can be muted or hidden later if needed) and add your name when you log on (the software will remember it for next time).

As we begin the workshop, I will set some defaults such as “spotlight” which forces your view to be primarily of my presentation, and will mute all participants except myself. You can change your view or unmute yourself if you like, but I can also re-mute people remotely if it seems like someone has left their mic on by accident. 

You are welcome to leave your camera off if you want, but if you need to ask for help, you may need to turn it on. Before the workshop gets under way, we’ll do a little round of intros to get acquainted (and also make sure everyone's mic is working).

To speak, you can either:

  • hold the spacebar
  • press Alt-A (Windows)
  • press Cmd-Shift-A (Mac)
  • click/tap the microphone icon on-screen. 

In general, please stay muted if you are not asking a question; this keeps your voice and background noise from becoming a distraction to others in the workshop.

I will have the chat window open and accessible; to ask a question, please use the chat. This will allow me to address your question as soon as I am able, and is the least disruptive to the other students. If I call on you to clarify your question, please unmute your audio and do so. If your question is about something in your work, please also make sure your video is on so I can see what you’re trying to show me. When your question is answered, please mute your audio again.

Please note: when the Zoom session is over, the chat is deleted, so make sure to copy anything you want to keep.

For most workshops, we will break midway for 10-15 minutes to give your hands and eyes a rest. For full-day workshops, we will also break for half an hour or longer for a quick meal. Please be prompt in returning! For the sake of the other students, I will need to start with or without you if you take too long of a break.

If you need to step away for any reason during the workshop, I recommend you wait for a lull so that you don’t miss anything. However, if you take your device with you, please disable or block the camera while you move, to keep from distracting or disorienting other participants.

If you need to leave the workshop early or are finished with the material before others are, you are welcome to leave early. I appreciate if you let us know, even via chat if you can’t get a word in otherwise, so I understand why you’ve left.

When you are done with the workshop, I would appreciate if you left me some feedback.

With your constructive feedback, I can improve for the next group of students (which might also include you!). At the end of the workshop, check your email for a message with some post-workshop info including a link to the feedback form. The form is anonymous by default; if you want a response, please make sure to add your name and email address.

You will also get another email with a link to the workshop video once I have it..

Thank you!