Join our staff archaeologist, Ashley Morton, on Sunday March 6th from 12 to 4 for a look at ancient knitting history and to create a piece of ancient-inspired knitting. This class will feature a short lecture on the history of early knitting (dating as far back as 1000 CE!) followed by casting on the Ancient Knits Scarf. The pattern makes a big, cozy, modern scarf using the Dura-Europos stitch; named after the ancient Syrian town on the banks of the Euphrates River. A fragment of this pattern is the oldest known piece of knitting in existence—dating back to 2,000 years ago!

Please note this class is for advanced beginners and intermediate knitters (i.e. you will already need to know how to cast-on, knit, purl, and increase and decrease, and cast off).

What you’ll need to bring:

435 yards of bulky weight yarn. Look for a yarn with a gauge of 2-3 stitches per inch. We recommend the following affordable bulky yarns: Lion brand Wool-Ease Chunky (3 balls total), Lion brand Alpine Wool (5 balls total), Bernat Softee Chunky (4 balls total) (all available at JoAnns) and Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky (4 hanks total) (available at knitpicks.com).

US size 11 needles

Space is limited. One lucky class participant will win an Ancient Knits Scarf! Keep for yourself or give as a gift! Each participant’s name will be entered into a raffle for the scarf and at the end of the class a name will be drawn.

Must be present to win.

Cost: $10 for Museum members or AIA members. $15 for non-member.