UKFT member Albion Knitting Co offers in-depth knitwear courses in Clerkenwell, London, for designers, students and industry professionals.

Developed for industry, by industry, these courses were created to address the skills gap observed by Albion Knitting Co, whose team found the industry’s demand for practical skills in new graduates joining the company. The programmes are also well-suited for students entering the industry or launching their own labels, providing them with the technical understanding needed to succeed in knitwear product development and understand UK knitwear manufacturers.

The courses have undergone the UKFT Approved process, in which UKFT evaluates and approves fashion and textile training programs designed to reflect industry practices.

This approval highlights high-quality courses that equip candidates with the skills needed for career advancement and meet industry requirements at all levels, from entry-level to higher education and continuing professional development (CPD).

The courses span various skill levels and cover foundational to advanced topics, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience.

To promote social mobility, Albion is also offering one assisted place per course for students from lower-income families.

The Albion Knitting School & product archive is based at 2 Naoroji Street, London. WC1X 0GB.

Courses include:

Knitwear from yarn to industry (part-time)

This is a 10-day, 30-hour part-time course,  perfect for beginners. Held in the evenings from 5.30 – 8.30pm, it covers four essential areas: Yarn, Knitting & Programming, Garment Make-Up, and Knitwear Product Development. Each session offers a thorough introduction to knitwear, including topics like yarn type, yarn count, machine gauges, Stoll programming, and garment linking. The course also provides a comprehensive guide to learn the skills in becoming a knitwear product developer.

By the end, students will have created swatches with basic stitches and a mock-up panel with shaping, laying a strong foundation for future projects and roles such as knitwear product developer, buyer, designer, or programmer in the industry.

• Duration: 10 days
• Time: 5:30pm – 8:30pm
• Total Hours: 30 hours (3 hours per day)
• Cost: £1800

Knitwear from yarn to industry (full-time)

This comprehensive 10-day, 60-hour full-time course is designed for beginners in the knitwear industry who wants to gain in depth knowledge about knitwear.

Held from 10am – 5pm each day, it covers four key areas: Yarn, Knitting & Programming, Garment Make-Up, and Knitwear Product Development. Each session offers a thorough introduction to knitwear, including topics like yarn type, yarn count, machine gauges, Stoll programming, and garment linking. The course also provides a comprehensive guide to learn the skills in becoming a knitwear product developer. By the end, students will have created swatches with basic stitches and a mock-up panel with shaping, laying a strong foundation for future projects and roles such as knitwear product developer, buyer, designer, or programmer in the industry. By the end, students will create a full garment and 20 swatches, paving the way for roles such as knitwear developer, buyer, designer, or programmer.

• Duration: 10 days
• Time: 10am – 5pm with a 1-hour break for lunch
• Total Hours: 60 hours (6 hours per day)
• Cost: £3000

Knitting & Programming (Level 1)

In this 5-day, 30-hour course, you’ll explore the fascinating world of industrial knitting.

It starts with the basics of knitting, from learning machine handling techniques, gauges and programming based on a range of stitches and shaping. As the course progresses, students will tackle advanced stitches such as cables, ribs, and Milano. By the end of the course, they will have combined these techniques to create a personal swatch library and sweater mock-ups. Designed for beginners, the course provides participants with the programming and technical skills necessary for a solid foundation in industrial knitting. Upon completion, students can expect to have produced 20 swatches and a project that showcases their programming skills.

• Duration: 5 days
• Time: 10am – 5pm, with a 1-hour break for lunch
• Total Hours: 30 hours (6 hours per day)
• Cost: £1600

Knitting & Programming (Level 2)

In this advanced 5-day, 30-hour course, participants delve deeper into the art of knitting with a blend of modern programming concepts. With a focus on machine handling, jacquard and intarsia techniques, and the combination of complex stitches, the course is ideal for those looking to enhance their knitting skills. Students also learn shaping calculations and apply these techniques in advanced projects.

Limited to 6–7 participants, the immersive programme ensures personalised attention and guidance. Upon completion, students will have created 20 swatches showcasing advanced stitches, along with a mock-up that incorporates intricate shaping techniques.

• Duration: 5 days
• Time: 10am – 5pm with a 1-hour break for lunch
• Total Hours: 30 hours (6 hours per day)
• Cost: £1600

About The Albion Knitting Company

The Albion Knitting Company was founded in London in 2014 when entrepreneurs Chris Murphy and Jamie O’ Neill, who had been working in China for over ten years, saw an opportunity to boost the British knitwear manufacturing sector and embrace the need for localised production in UK. They opened the only industrial-scale, fully fashioned flat knitting company in Haringey, London.

Over the past decade, it has grown significantly and transitioned its manufacturing operations to a state-of-the-art facility on the Isle of Man while cementing its presence in London as a hub for education through the establishment of The Albion Knitwear School.

The Isle of Man facility is a fully vertical operation, managing everything from knitting and linking to wet finishing. Equipped with cutting-edge Stoll knitting machines, Electrolux washing and drying systems, and Mentasti automatic pressing technology, Albion Knitwear ensures the highest quality in garment production. Following the electronic knitting process, garments are meticulously assembled by hand using traditional linking and hand-sewing techniques.

Albion has a production capacity of 90,000 fully fashioned garments annually, with minimum order quantities (MOQs) starting at just 120 pieces per style.

The company’s London school aims to bridge the gap between industry practice and education, offering specialised training in fully fashioned flat knitting to give the next generation of designers and technicians hands-on experience and technical proficiency.

At the Albion Knitwear School, students can gain invaluable insights into industrial knitting processes, from yarn selection and machine programming to garment finishing and quality control.

Find out more about the knitwear courses or manufacturing services via the link below.

VISIT THE ALBION KNITWEAR WEBSITE