Whether you're looking for a workshop, class, craft fair or festival, we've rounded up a great selection of knitting events around the UK in the coming month...

APRIL

Saturday 13th PROFESSIONAL FINISHING TECHNIQUES
www.blacksheepwools.com Warrington 01925 764231.
Get a professional finish, with various shaping techniques, blocking, and sewing up.

Fancy learning a new skill or getting to grips with a new technique? Check out the upcoming events for March 2013 to see what amazing workshops and classes are in store in the knitting world!

Fancy learning to calculate your own patterns? It’s the ultimate in knitting freedom, but really does take a certain level of confidence. You can boost yours by taking one of Amy Twigger Holroyd’s Calculate Your Own Pattern workshops in Hereford. 

The two-day course takes place from 26-27 January 2013 and costs £150, which includes all materials plus lunches. Among the topics covered you'll learn the basics of garment shaping, stitches, structure and all-important trouble-shooting tips.

By the end of the weekend you’ll be ready to start designing your own items to knit, as well as modify existing patterns and items! The course is suitable for both hand and machine knitters, but to get the most out of it you’ll need some knitting skills already.

Get your knitting off to a great start for 2013 and begin the year by developing some new skills, from sock knitting to calculating your own patterns!

5 January Knitting for Beginners, Chelmsford

Head to Made Do and Mend and get to grips with how knit, purl, cast on, stocking stitch, garter stitch, rib and cast off. The class costs £37.

Book your place at www.makedomend.com or call 01245 267794.

8 January Learn to Knit Socks, Chipping Norton

This workshop at the Fibreworks tackles all the essential skills required for sock knitting, including knitting in the round, turning the heel and grafting the toe. This class is best suited to knitters who are already fairly confident. Attending costs £25 per person.

Book your place at www.thefibreworks.co.uk or call 01608 645970.

The weather outside may be frightful, but the knitting and crafting opportunities are delightful! Here are some of our favourites for December.

1 December Knitting with Colour with Emma King, Leeds

Introduce some vibrancy into your winter with the colourwork techniques of Fair Isle and intarsia, guided by Emma King. The workshop costs £45 and runs 10-4pm.

Book your place at www.baaramewe.co.uk or call 0113 278 1788.

It’s not always appealing to go outside at this time of year, but we’ve picked out some knitting events and happenings for November to tempt you!

With nights drawing in and a real chill in the air, now is the perfect time to indulge your passion for all things knitting and wool related!

08-14 October Shetland Wool Week 2012, Shetland

Celebrate Shetland’s farming communities, textile industries and the wool of Britain’s most northerly native sheep with knitting masterclasses in Fair Isle and Shetland Fine Lace, workshops in hand-spinning, weaving and felting, and masses more.

Find out more at shetlandwoolweek.com or call 01595 989 898.

With autumn on the way, knitting retreats and workshops are more enticing than ever. Here’s our pick of some of the best.

1 September Learn to Knit Socks, Newbury

Learn how to shape toes and heels on plain or fancy socks with this workshop at the National Needlework Archive in Newbury. Once you have learned how you can enter their forthcoming competition for the best pair of Fancy Footcovers! The class runs from 10am to 3pm and costs £25.

Find out more at nationalneedleworkarchive.org.uk or call 01635 38740.

There a few things as eye-catching as a line of natural-dyed yarns, so we're pleased to let you know that Spin a Yarn are holding their second natural dyeing day at Mill Farm in Dartmoor this August.

Katie and Joyce Mason are offering you the chance to learn to transform raw fleece into beautiful vibrant yarn, in a day that includes a home-cooked meal, plus drinks and a cream tea.

August is almost here, so now’s the perfect time to plan which knitting workshops and events to head out to!

4 August The Toft Farm and Studio Open Day, Dunchurch

Toft Alpaca farm in Dunchurch, Rugby, will open its doors for a summer open day where you can meet the alpacas, tour the farm and enjoy taster sessions in a variety of crafts, including knitting, feltmaking and crochet. FREE OF CHARGE. Just turn up.

Find out more at thetoftalpacashop.co.uk or call 01788 810626.

5 August Professional Finishing, Weston Super Mare

Taking place at The Wool Sanctuary in Weston Super Mare, this class is led by knitter and hand knit designer Susie Johnson and costs £49.

Book your place at thewoolsanctuary.com or call 0115 947 4239.