KNIT~MAGIC ‘SAFE KNITTING’ Training & Teaching Assessment
Before we can begin training you to teach others, we want to ensure that your own technique is sound. This means that you knit in a way that is comfortable, efficient, and most of all, safe. We also want to ensure that your teaching skills are effective and conducive to the multi-faceted approach we use. Because each person comes to us at a different level, the length of this phase of the training can vary greatly, generally anywhere from 1 – 8 lessons.
In this private, one-on-one program, we will assess your current style of knitting and create a plan for postural and muscle memory re-training. If need be, will replace old habits with new muscle memory, knitting posture and body positioning, forming the basis of your new knitting practice. We will also assess your general teaching skills and, if need be, help you hone them.
In certain cases, we encounter those whose technique requires very little re-shaping and whose general teaching skills are already excellent. In these instances, the first lesson/assessment is all that is needed before proceeding on to the TEACHER TRAINING Program. In most cases, multiple sessions are needed before moving on. At the end of the first lesson/assessment, we will be able to recommend how many additional sessions should be needed in order to achieve ‘safe knitting’ status and begin TEACHER Training. The first lesson/assessment is a stand-alone session. If you choose not to continue with us, or if we deem that you are ready to proceed immediately to the TEACHER TRAINING Program, you will only be charged for that first lesson.
In rare cases, this ‘un-training’ and ‘re-training’ process may take more than 8 weeks. For example, if people have been knitting for many years, it may take longer to break them of their habits. For this reason, we cannot ethically guarantee that you will be assured of receiving ‘Safe Knitter’ status upon completion of the 8-week cycle. At KNIT~MAGIC, we take knitting safety very seriously. Each person learns (and ‘un-learns’) at a different pace and our goal is to ensure that those who leave our trainings do so with complete command over their healthy knitting practice.
KNIT~MAGIC ‘SAFE KNITTING’ TEACHER Training: Level I
(prerequisites: ‘SAFE KNITTING’ Training & Teaching Assessment Program or Post-Assessment Exemption)
The KNIT~MAGIC ‘SAFE KNITTING’ TEACHER Training: Level I is a private, one-on-one training lasting 8-12 weeks (1 lesson/week). In this program, we educate those who have been deemed ‘safe knitters’ and effective teachers about how to pass on healthy knitting practices and sound technique to first-time knitting students.
At KNIT~MAGIC we understand that each person learns at a different pace and our goal is to ensure that those who leave our trainings do so with complete command over their healthy knitting practice and the skillset being taught. After the first 8 weeks, trainees can opt to take their final exam in which they will be asked to demonstrate how well they are able to teach the different aspects of ‘safe knitting’ covered in the program. If a particular area is not deemed strong enough to pass, the trainee can choose to continue for the full 12 weeks and then be re-tested, or may be re-tested in lessons 9, 10 or 11. The base fee for this program covers only the first 8 weeks. Trainees who do not finish after 8 weeks may pay for each subsequent lesson individually. This way, should they choose to re-test and pass in lesson 9, 10 or 11, they will not be charged for remaining lessons.
Topics covered in this course include:
- Sound knitting posture
- Proper finger, hand, wrist, arm, spine and neck position
- Breathing techniques for knitters
- Intuitive assessment methods to determine a student’s learning style
- Safe needle hold options
- Yarn control
- How to maximize the physical, mental & emotional benefits of knitting
- Optimal length of time to know/how to know when you’ve knit for too long
In each lesson, trainees will be given a chance to practice what they learn in teacher/student simulations. Each teacher/student simulation will be assessed and feedback will be given.
For out-of-towners, the program can be tailored into a more condensed form, consisting of weekend intensives. But, as mentioned, until we see you knit in person, we can’t give you an idea of how long your training will take.
For more information on scheduling and fees, please contact us.