The 2025 Panama Canal Cruise

I taught on this cruise through the Panama Canal twenty years ago! How could it be that long ago? I was dazzled and blown away by some of the excursions I took. This was my first Craft Cruises trip. The time spent around the ship was relaxing, and the meals were great. I had fun with my students in class, and out of class. Some of us took a pre-cruise package to Costa Rica and saw so much wildlife! I loved the excursions I took. It was a lovely time, and I wish everyone could experience the gift of travel like this.

The canal itself is a monument to modern design and engineering–and it only had two lanes then. Now it has three due to the recent expansion project. You can read more about the Canal and its history in my blog.

I can’t wait! We’ll start at Ft. Lauderdale, and I will teach my knitting classes on the days at sea. We will sit together as a sprawling group at meals (taking up many tables) and I hope we can all sit with everyone by the end of the trip to meet each person in the group! Our beloved tour guides, Shelley and Scottie, will be with us to explain things and suggest some activities!

Be sure to check out the excursions on the Holland America website, once you have signed up. The photo to the left is a view of the canal.

The classes I will teach are as follows:

Traditional Ganseys

Learn some of the history of the Gansey and how to construct one, a sweater style prevalent in the 19th century and early part of the 20th century among the fishermen of the British Isles. A small- scale sweater will be knitted using traditional construction techniques. Even if you never knit a full-sized gansey, this class will expand your understanding of construction, and will enhance your knitting bag of tricks! Alternate methods to these techniques will also be explored.

Twined Textured Fingerless Mitts

Learn the fascinating 400-year-old Swedish technique of Tvåändsstickning, (Two-End Knitting), or Twined Knitting by creating one of a pair of fingerless mitts. Working in the round, two yarns are used to create this beautiful, elastic fabric, but they are not stranded! The yarns are continuously wrapping around each other taking turns in the front or back of the work, to make the motifs. Once you understand the movements, the knitting becomes almost meditative and soothing.

The typical gauge for traditional twined knitting is high, usually 8 stitches to the inch or more. I teach a lot of twined knitting classes and have found that students meet with better success and less frustration initially if they begin with a lower gauge, such as working with worsted-weight yarn. The Herringbone Braid is also included in the class.

Puntas From Peru

In Peru, the chullos (hats worn only by men and boys), are made with a great deal of care and skill. The men knit these hats for their sons, while the women knit for their families, or to sell. Often the hats start with the puntas, or scallops, in two or more colors. We will practice these design details and learn alternatives to them, such as making q’urpu. These tiny bobbles, or popcorns, are made on a continuous string, then “popped through” the fabric of the chullo, applied after the hat is knitted or by incorporating the q’urpu as the fabric is knitted. Learning these techniques deepens our understanding of the clever ways knitting can be manipulated as well as instilling an appreciation for the culture that created them. In this way, we can continue in, and be a part of, these traditions. And what a fun addition to a child’s hat or sweater!

Finnish Mitts

Create one of a pair of fingerless mitts in class to learn about tapestry crochet, in one and two colors, worked in the round, and the classic motifs of the handsome 19th-century Finnish Korsnäs sweater. It is said this garment was knitted by young women for their betrothed. It is an unusual pullover as it includes both tapestry crochet and knitting incorporating geometric motifs as well as (sometimes) depicting dancing men and women.

After crocheting the cuff with a motif, the hand of the mitt is knitted in 3 colors and is finished off with crochet at the top of the hand and thumb. A thumb gusset is worked as well. Then to top it off, a type of applied fringe will be made.