About 18 knitters flocked to Table Rock Llamas Fiber Arts Studio in Black Forest, Colo., just a few hours before this yearís Super Bowl. In its second year, the Super Bowl Mystery Knit-Along class has scored big for knitters/football fans or pseudo-fans. Knitters arriving at the studio have no clue about their ìsuperî project. Chris McHugh, who leads the class, selects a pattern and yarn based on a budget; and knitters pay a fee for the class and materials.Last year, the staff at Table Rock Llamas brainstormed ideas to draw knitters to more classes. McHugh introduced the mystery knit-along, and said the class is popular not only at Table Rock Llamas, but also in other knitting communities. A new knitter, Dawn Neighbors, inspired this yearís project. ìDawn is a new knitting student, and she’s phenomenal with fiber arts,î McHugh said. ìShe gets everything right away. She wants to learn everything all at once, so she trolls the Internet.î McHugh said Neighbors brought in a picture of fingerless mittens, and McHugh designed the pattern from the picture.McHugh said she often selects yarns that don’t move off the shelves quickly but are superb to work with. ìIf a yarn isn’t cheap, people aren’t willing to buy it just to try it,î she said.During the pre-Super Bowl class, McHugh calls out the mystery pattern line by line; and, as soon as someone correctly guesses the project, she hands out the pattern to the class. The person who guesses the pattern also wins a prize. The class takes the pattern home and works on the project as they watch the Super Bowl.Neighbors said she ìadoredî the class. ìI thought it was well taught and organized,î she said. ìI was partial to the project, but I really enjoyed it.î Neighbors said she has only been knitting about five months, and she thought the technique used was not complicated. ìI love where it is going ñ the colors, the project, everything. It’s just beautiful. Chris nailed that pattern,î she said.Another attendee, Irmi Engl, is an experienced knitter. She finished her mittens within a week. ìI finished my gloves, and guess what happened? My husband liked them so much he made me go to the yarn store and buy more yarn so I can make him a pair, too,î Engl said.Based on the growing popularity of the class, Table Rock Llamas plans to hold another knit-along for next year’s Super Bowl. Basic knitting knowledge is required for the knit-along, but if people are interested and don’t know how to knit, they also offer beginning knitting classes.For more information about the knit-along and other classes, visit http://tablerockllamas.com.
