Internationally acclaimed knitters and designers from across the United States and Scandinavia will gather in Seattle Oct. 15 through Oct. 17 when the Nordic Heritage Museum hosts its third annual Nordic Knitting Conference, expected to draw hundreds of knitters from around the world.

The conference will feature intensive, hands-on classes in various Nordic techniques representing Scandinavia’s rich knitting traditions and contemporary interpretations of this legacy.

The conference also includes a Friday night happy hour, a Saturday evening banquet with a keynote address on Estonian lace by Nancy Bush, and educational and social interactions with other knitters.

“Knitting is not only a celebrated tradition in the Nordic countries but has also become popular with contemporary textile artists and DIY enthusiasts of all ages," Eric Nelson, CEO of the Nordic Heritage Museum, said in a museum press release. "We are proud to bring these internationally acclaimed craftspeople, artists and designers together for this popular program.”

The Nordic Knitting Conference became an international event when it was first launched in 2007, and in 2009 the conference was expanded.

For the 2010 conference, internationally acclaimed instructors include Beth Brown-Reinsel (U.S.), Nancy Bush (U.S.), Britt-Marie Christoffersson (Sweden), Evelyn Clark (U.S.), Carol Rhoades (U.S.) and Ruth Sørensen (Denmark).

Conference registration is $35 for members of the Nordic Heritage Museum and $40 for nonmembers. Classes are $110 for full day (six hours) or $60 for half day (three hours). The Saturday night banquet and lecture is $35 and may be attended without being enrolled in the conference. Classes were sold out in the 2009 and 2007 conferences.

Class descriptions and detailed information about the 2010 Nordic Knitting Conference are posted here. Interested knitting enthusiasts are advised to register as soon as possible, according to the Nordic Heritage Museum.