Reversible Cables: Virtual Workshop with Cecelia Campochiaro

Details

Date:  Friday, September 26, 2025

Time: Noon-3:00 p.m. Eastern time

Location: Zoom—this is a virtual event. The class will be recorded, and participants will have access to the video indefinitely—we won’t take it down, but we recommend that you watch it as soon as you can!

The Project

We’ll be making a brand-new cabled design by Cecelia Campochiaro, the Wriley Shawl. Wriley is a luxurious rectangular shawl that looks the same on both sides through the magic technique of reversible cables.

In class, you’ll learn about how reversible stitch patterns work, with a detailed walk-through of Cecelia’s new book, Reversible Knitting, and learn how the Wriley Shawl is made. During class, you will make a small swatch that uses all the techniques in the shawl. After making the swatch, you’ll be ready to cast on one of the most elegant pieces you’ve ever made.

Finished dimensions: approximately 15 x 88 inches (38 x 224cm)

Workshop participants will be the first knitters of this beautiful new design. We don’t throw this term around lightly, but the Wriley Shawl has heirloom written all over it. Prediction: your first will not be your last. We can envision many beautiful versions of Wriley in different yarns, but none will be more sumptuous than the deliciously light combination of Kinu + Sensai.

What’s in the Box?

If you choose the class + kit option, your kit will contain 3 delicious cones of Ito Kinu, a 100-percent silk yarn, and 5 balls of Ito Sensai (kid mohair + silk) to be held together. Made with remnant fibers from spinning other pure silk yarns, Kinu is environmentally friendly, with a matte finish and beautifully nuanced color.

Choose from one of the seven colorways that Cecelia put together from her seemingly endless private collection of Kinu. (We’re not saying this will be an easy choice!)

Angora

The full-size photography sample of the Wriley Shawl was knit in the Angora colorway.

Hydrangea

Denim

Lime

Dark Brown

Gray

Mustard

Our Workshop Leader

Cecelia Campochiaro grew up in a family of artists and has been knitting since she was 12. In her prior professional career, she developed finely calibrated machines that inspect computer chips. Cecelia left high tech in 2018 to focus on knitting.

While seeking simple knitting projects to take with her on business trips, Cecelia “unvented” a simple way of knitting in which complex-looking fabrics “just happen.” This discovery led to mountains of swatches, months of work, and the publication, in 2015, of her groundbreaking book, Sequence Knitting: Simple Methods for Creating Complex Reversible Fabrics.  Sequence Knitting was followed by Making Marls: A Sourcebook for Multistranded Handknitting, an exquisite exploration of knitting with multiple strands of yarn.  

In 2025, Sequence Knitting and Making Marls got a new sibling. Reversible Knitting: A Handbook and Stitch Dictionary. Reversible Knitting takes a fresh look at stitch patterns for hand knitting where both sides of the fabric look the same. Reversible Knitting includes a stitch dictionary with over 300 stitch patterns and extensive general information about working reversible fabrics. This book builds on Cecelia’s first book, Sequence Knitting, which is about making reversible textured fabrics by repeating a fixed sequence of stitches.

In high demand as a teacher, Cecelia travels the globe to work with knitters in person at festivals and retreats. A virtual workshop with her is a rare opportunity, and kind of a big deal!

May we brag for a moment? Cecelia is the featured designer for MDK Field Guide No. 5: Sequences, and MDK Field Guide No. 19: Marls. Her designs hit the sweet spot where simplicity of technique meets astonishing beauty; we will be knitting them on repeat for the rest of our lives.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Is the Wriley Shawl suitable for beginners? Yes. The project requires these basic skills: how to cast on, knit, purl, and follow a simple, intuitive chart.

Do I have to order the kit in order to participate in the virtual workshop? No. The Wriley Shawl will be smashing in any yarn that combines good stitch definition with a dash of drape. However (you knew there’d be a “however”), there’s an art to choosing the right yarns in the right colors; this beautiful kit incorporates Cecelia’s expertise, for a sure-fire result and beautiful knitting experience.

How should I get ready for the workshop? Make sure you order your kit and class by September 12, grab your needles, and you’re all set. Your order confirmation email will include the Zoom link for the class, plus a download code for the Wriley Shawl pattern on Ravelry.com. 

What’s the format? With Cecelia’s instruction and an overhead camera focused on her hands, we’ll learn Cecelia’s reversible cable technique. Participant mics will be muted most of the time, and the chat box will be monitored constantly for questions from participants. 

How far along in my shawl can I expect to get during the workshop?  In-class time will be focused on learning and practicing Cecelia’s techniques while making a small swatch. You can make the swatch from the yarn you’re using for the shawl, or from any yarn that’s easy to work with. At the end of class, we’ll be off to a great start on the Wriley Shawl.

When will the kits ship out? Kits will ship from Nashville, Tennessee the week of September 8. Please note that shipments to addresses outside the U.S. may not arrive in time for the live workshop on September 26.

What if I want to work at my own pace? That’s perfectly fine. All participants will receive the pattern, and we will keep the session recording available to participants indefinitely. 

I can’t make it to all of the live Zoom session. May I still participate? Yes! Everyone enrolled in the workshop will receive a link to the recording and all resources we share.