Knitting Arts - Events

Workshop Schedule

Saturday, May 10th

Join us for birthday cake (and knitted cupcakes!) as we celebrate May birthdays, including Gunilla and Carol!

12:00 - 1:30 'Birthday Cupcake Workshop' with Gunilla

2:00 - 3:30 '2 Socks on 2 Circular Needles' with Christy

4:00 - 5:30 'Bind-Off Techniques' with Gunilla

Sunday, May 11th

We have shortened hours on Mother's Day:

11:00am - 5:00pm

No Knitting Doctor service (Gunilla gets the day off!)

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Our workshops fill up quickly and space is limited, so please register early.

Advance registration is required by calling the store at 408.867.5010 during normal business hours.

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It's Birthday Saturday!
Free Workshops This Weekend!

Saturday, May 10th

This weekend our free workshops are focused on "techniques" and having lots of birthday fun! We'll have birthday cake and refreshments all day - don't miss the Birthday Cupcake Workshop at 12:00!

So please join us this weekend for the camaraderie of other knitters, and the joy and relaxation of our favorite craft.

Birthday Cupcake Workshop with Gunilla
Make this adorable jumbo cupcake (this one is vanilla) in just a couple of hours, and learn a new technique for starting a project in the round from the center! Knit in Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky Hand Dyed, this baby whips up in no time flat. Use a thinner yarn and smaller needles for a smaller cupcake.
Materials: 2 colors Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky Hand Dyed, #11 dpns, small amount of polyfil or similar for stuffing.
Pre-Requisites: Must know how to cast-on, knit, purl and bind-off.

'2 Socks on 2 Circular Needles' Workshop with Christy
Learn the invaluable technique or knitting two socks (or gloves!) at the same time! In this workshop Christy will step you through the ins and outs of working two socks on two circular needles. Say goodbye to the dreaded 'second sock syndrome', because from now on you'll be able to finish both at the same time! You are welcome to bring that sock or glove project you've been dying to start, or just bring some yarn to practice, and you'll be a master of this technique in no time!
Materials: Yarn appropriate for your intended project, or a smooth fingering to DK weight yarn to practice.
Note: It is important for this technique that you either have two balls of yarn to work with, or a center-pull ball from which you can get an end from both the inside and the outside. Please check this before you come to class. Two sets of circular needles in a size that is appropriate for your yarn, either 24" or 32" in length.
Pre-Requisites: Must be able to knit, purl, cast on and bind off. Must already be comfortable working in the round.

Bind-Off Techniques with Gunilla
Does finishing your scarf/sweater/project cause you stress? Does your bind-off edge look a bit 'pinched'? Ever wish you knew different techniques for binding off that would create a decorative edge? Then let Gunilla step you through some fabulous bind-off techniques! She will cover the basic bind-off, as well as the deocrative Picot-Edge bind-off and how to create an invisible join when binding off in the round. This workshop has homework! Please complete 2 swatches, and leave on the needles.
Materials: Please bring a medium (DK to worsted) weight yarn (non-fuzzy) and needles appropriate to yarn.
Pre-Requisites: Must know how to cast-on, knit, purl and bind-off.

The 1st & 3rd Tuesday evening of every month,
with April, from 6:00 - 8:00pm

Knitted lace has a long history. The delicate tracery of openings that both veil and reveal what lies beneath has intrigued knitters for centuries.

Today "lace" doesn't just mean doilies and table cloths knit in very fine yarn. Often the yarns are not fine and the needles are large for faster knitting and greater impact. Basically, lace knitting is a series of yarnovers and corresponding decreases. But within that simple definition lie a myriad of variations.

Join April, host of our Lace Gathering, on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month. Whether you're new to knitting lace or have been knitting lace forever, you'll find a welcome place here! Become a regular, or drop in when your schedule permits. This meet-up will be a great opportunity for knitters of all experience levels to meet, laugh, and support each other as you foray into the luscious world of lace.

Every week the group will take a look at a new technique or trick relating to lace knitting, and have a ball knitting the night away! Although most knitters' projects will likely be lace, knitters of any projects are welcome.

Below are some samples of lace knitting designs - some traditional, some not so traditional- to get your creative juices flowing!

How would it look, do you think, if everyone, old and young, would sit down together to knit for a while? Laughter and merriment and riddles and questions and folktales and anecdotes from each person's life would blend together in the stitches. Then later, when you recalled these events that have gone through your own fingers stitch by stitch, they would speak their own quiet language: Do you remember? Do you remember?
Hermanna Stengard, 1925. The Mitten Book.

Leg Cozies designed by Lisa Daehlin, from "Lace Style".

The Essential Tank Top designed by Laura Zukaite, from "Lace Style".Super-Spiral Shawl designed by Meg Swanson, from "A Gathering of Lace".Just Right Wrap designed by Mary Lynn Patrick, from "Lace Style".

Retro Redux Shrug designed by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark, from "Lace Style". Tailored Scallops designed by Pam Allen, from "Lace Style". Vanalinn Gloves designed by Nancy Bush, from "A Gathering of Lace".

Ongoing Events

Good Works Group
For over a year now, Knitting Arts has been setting aside one Monday evening per month for those who would like to gather and focus on charitable knitting and crochet. The Good Works Group meets on the first Monday of the month from 6:00pm - 8:00pm at Knitting Arts. All knitters and crocheters are welcome. Please visit the Good Works section of our website to read about more of our charitable events.
Sock Hop
The second and fourth Tuesday of every month sees the Sock Hop happening - a group of knitters getting together and working on, primarily, socks. All skill levels are welcome, and if you need help with something, it can be provided.
Gunilla hosts this group, 2nd and 4th Tuesday from 6pm to 8pm.
Teen & 'Tween Knitting Club
Girls (and guys) just gotta have fun! This is a FREE group, meeting every Friday afternoon from 4-6pm at Knitting Arts. The group is hosted by Knitting Arts manager Marie Stroughter, who provides guidance to students each week. The club is for those with basic knitting experience, and we ask that you "register" in advance so we can plan space and seating. Participants are encouraged to bring projects they are interested in, or they can choose from a variety of project & pattern books that are geared toward their age group.
TKGA Group Meets Here
Knitspiration of Silicon Valley is a TKGA-affiliated (The Knitting Guild of America) knitting guild for the South Bay / Santa Clara County, California. The purpose of the group is to support and encourage one another towards excellence in knitting through education, group discussion, and sharing.
The group meets monthly at Knitting Arts. Visit their website to see a schedule of upcoming meetings, as well as an archive of past meeting topics and events. All knitters are welcome!