Ann Budd—Knitting Superhero

by Orysia Cox.

As my knitting progressed and I completed a few sweaters, I wanted to personalize my work—use stitch patterns from stitch dictionaries, redo the math to accommodate a larger bicep or add waist shaping, or knit a sweater that fell between the designer’s published sizes.

Enter Ann Budd, a knitting superhero who helped me take my knitting to the next level.

Ann’s expertise is unparalleled. She has sixteen books to her name, and she retired after twenty-plus years on the editorial staff at Interweave Press. To say she knows her stuff is an understatement.

During COVID, Ann transitioned her in-person classes to Zoom and extended them from single-day workshops to multi-week sessions, allowing students to learn concepts in depth while knitting at a comfortable pace. Her top-down sweater classes consider all aspects of construction, including circular yokes, raglan, saddle shoulder, and set-in sleeve styles. Each construction style covers six, two-hour lessons spread over eight weeks, with recorded sessions available for playback.

Included in each class is a valuable worksheet that helps you design a sweater using your choice of yarn, needles, and gauge. Participants need Ann’s book, The Knitter’s Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters, that costs approximately $41 CAD and is available in print or e-book from her website (see below).

In class, Ann guides your use of her book so your gauge and measurements align with your desired design. Participants can ask questions during class, learn from fellow students, demystify knitting math, and have a strong supporter cheering them on!

I have taken several of Ann’s classes, including her custom-fit pleated skirt class and some of her tutorials, such as fixing mistakes, and I can attest to Ann’s generosity in sharing her knitting knowledge. Her empathy and practical approach make complex concepts accessible.

If 2025 has you yearning to enhance your knitting skills from the comfort of your home, Ann Budd’s classes are an amazing investment. Whether you’re an advanced-beginner, an intermediate knitter looking to expand your repertoire, or an advanced knitter seeking refinement, Ann’s guidance will elevate your craft.
For more details, visit Ann’s website at annbuddknits.com/classes.