Alexandria Make in Public Day is a day to celebrate the colorful creativity of our community. Bring your current work in progress (knit, crochet, needlepoint, canvas, pottery – doesn’t matter!) and meet up with other creatives and makers for Alexandria’s version of World Wide Knit in Public Day!
We are partnering with our local maker businesses, the Mobile Art Lab, Alexandria musicians, and other performers for an inspiring afternoon of creativity and more.
The gathering spots:
- Uptown Old Town: 200 block of Commerce Street at fibre space (1319 Prince Street) will be entirely reserved for us to gather and create!
- City Center: Market Square at City Hall (301 King Street) will host the Mobile Art Lab and several demos, and be a gathering space for makers to meet and create.
The events:
Flash Art Tattoo Event for Stitchers – fibre space: 1319 Prince Street
We are partnering with the artists of Madison Street Tattoo for a flash art event for stitchers. We will have four amazing flash sheets of yarn, knitting, crochet and sewing inspired tattoos you can have inked during this daylong event. More details on registration, pricing, etc soon!
Hook and Needle Exchange – fibre space: 1319 Prince Street
We are collecting unwanted hooks and needles, now until Make in Public Day. Stop by our free hook and needle booth to pick up tools that work for you! This event is intended to help offset the rising costs of knitting and crochet tools in the US due to recent tariffs. Consider bringing tools that you no longer need and grabbing those you can use from others in our community. Read more here.
Craft Cocktails with Glitter and Pride – Red Barn Mercantile: 1117 King Street
Craft a hand-written letter – Penny Post: 1201 King Street
Pippin Toy Co: 1310 King Street
Make your own jewelry – Wear Ever Jewelry: 1112 King Street
Custom Trucker Hats – Bishop Boutique: 815 King Street
Create custom trucker hats by Beatrix and Greta from noon to 5 pm.
Made in ALX Maker Faire: 415 King Street
Dina‘s Doodles – 5-minute live sketches: 1 – 4 p.m.
Calm Connect Well – Pop-up candle bar: 12 – 3 p.m.
Common Hearth Bakery – Cookies, etc.: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Alicia Fashion Box – Kid’s Bracelet/Charm Bar, hours TBD
Custom Earrings – The Pink Reef: Market Square
Designer Janice Park will be creating custom earrings on site during this event! Janice pours over every detail, from decades-old color cards to pick the perfect color combination to working with sculptors to create original designs that will get you stopped on the street for compliments.
Recycled paper crafting with Upcycle! – Ten Thousand Villages: 915 King Street
What is World Wide Knit in Public Day?
World Wide Knit in Public Day was started in 2005 by Danielle Landes and is now the largest knitter run event in the world. It began as a way for knitters to come together and enjoy each other’s company. Knitting is such a solitary act that it’s easy to knit alone somewhere and sink into your work without thinking about all the other knitters out there. Neighbors could spend all their lives never knowing that the other knits. This a specific day to get out of your house and go to a local event (with your knitting in tow) just for you and people like you. Who knows you might even bump into your neighbor! Consider this a spark, to ignite a fire; getting all of the closeted knitters out into fresh air.
How to prepare:
Bring your folding chair or blanket, as we have a limited number of chairs in both meeting locations. Suncreen, an umbrella and water will also be helpful if the weather is warm.
