Knit a Humpback Whale | Amy Vervoort | Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 2026 | 4pm - 6pm

Knit a Whale Class

Knit one of our beloved baleens in this whimsical whale class. It's rated intermediate, but the pattern is simple to follow. You must be able to knit and purl and have basic pattern/stitch-reading skills. We'll cover increases, decreases, simple shaping, and stitch lean/direction. Since it's a whale and not a fitted garment, it's a fun, no-pressure way to build your skills.

What you'll need

Needles:

• A 32 or 40 inch circular needle (I recommend Chiaogoo Red Lace, Addi, or Knitter's Pride).
• Double-pointed needles (set of five) in a size matching your circular. Optionally, a second set one size smaller for casting on, used only for the first two rounds to create a tight nose end and fin tip.
• We graduate from small dpns to larger dpns to the matching circular, then back down for tips, tails, and fins. Example: if your yarn calls for a 4mm needle, use 3mm circulars, cast on with 2.5mm dpns, and switch to 3mm dpns or circulars at the start of round three.

Yarn:

400 yards. Any yarn works, but I strongly recommend wool or superwash wool (Cascade, Briggs and Little, and Malabrigo Rios are good examples). Any weight is fine (fingering through chunky), keeping in mind we needle down a full size from your yarn's recommendation. Avoid acrylic, alpaca, and cotton, which lack memory for shaping, have poor stitch definition, or are too stretchy. A wool that lightly felts over time is ideal for plush knits.

Finished size depends on yarn weight (heavier yarn makes a bigger whale):

• Fingering / light DK: about 1.5 feet
• Light worsted / worsted: about 2 feet
• Chunky: about 3 feet

This is not a small project; you're making a couch cushion (or a new bestie)

Stuffing: fibre fill, at least one good-sized bag (amount depends on your finished size)

I'll provide the pattern, plastic safety eyes or cover sewing on yarn eyes, and a darning needle for stitching French-knot barnacles

All classes and workshops are non-refundable. Cancellations made 7 days, or more in advance of the workshop or class date will receive 100% credit. 6 days before class, and no credit will be issued.