Classes & EventsWant to take on a new craft? Or just add a new skill or technique to your toolbox? How about meeting a pattern designer or getting a book signed? Join us at the shop for our classes, private lessons, and events!
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Regular Gatherings
Stilly String Social Night
Each Tuesday evening, we stay open late until 8 PM and gather around the shop's table to craft, laugh, snack, share stories, and discuss the latest news/books/patterns. No RSVP is necessary, and even if you've never visited the shop before, we'd love to have you visit!
Can't make it on Tuesday nights? Come by and grab a seat any time the shop is open!
Project Groups: Crochet-alongs & Knit-alongs
Our Crochet-Alongs and Knit-Alongs are free to join. Sign up for these fun groups by contacting us or stopping in the shop - once your name is on the list, you're eligible for 20% off the featured yarn for the duration of the -Along!
Fall 2019: Nightshift KAL
Featured pattern: Nightshift by Andrea Mowry // Featured yarn: Painted Sky by Knitting Fever
KAL Dates: Saturdays, September 14 - October 26, 1-3 PM (NO KAL meeting on September 28)
New for Late Fall 2019: Mindless Vacation CAL / KAL
Join us on Saturdays in December to get started on a mindless project to keep you occupied during the winter break - whether you're traveling or hanging at home, we've chosen some projects that will keep your hands busy for binge-watching or binge-listening! Even better: these projects are beginner-friendly, so whether you're just learning to crochet/knit or are experienced and want to potentially teach someone during break, these will be perfectly approachable!
CAL / KAL Dates: Saturdays, December 7 - 21, 1-3 PM
CAL project: Brighton Cowl by Tian Connaughton // Featured Yarn: Vintage DK by Berroco
KAL project: Wheat Scarf by Tin Can Knits // Featured Yarn: Woolstok by Blue Sky Fibers
Stilly River Yarns Literary Society
Every month or so, we meet at the shop during our Tuesday evening social time to discuss a book of the group's choice.
Our next meeting will take place on September 24, 2019, and we'll be discussing Circe by Madeline Miller.
Recent reads: July 2018 - The Book Thief; August 2018 - A Walk in the Woods; October 2018 - A Man Called Ove; January 2019 - Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal.
Community Cause Crafting
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Saturday Spin-Ins
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Classes, special events, and lessons
Special events, Fall/Winter 2019
Classes and lessons
We offer a full range of classes and private lessons here at the shop. Please read our class policies before registration, and feel free to email or call us with requests and questions! All group classes and special events requiring reservations are available for online registration; click on the class title to go to its registration page in our online store. Private lessons and the Knitroduction / Hooked on a Feeling / Spin a Yarn / Warped Minds lessons are scheduled in advance on a first-come, first-served basis.
Interested in learning how to knit or crochet? Get signed up for a lesson - Knitroduction (knitting) or Hooked on a Feeling (crochet). These lessons are $25 per hour and will get you going on basic stitches, finishing a piece off, starting a piece, and choosing a project and appropriate yarn. The lesson fee includes your first set of needles and first ball of yarn, and we schedule these lessons one-on-one
Interested in learning how to spin or weave? Sign up for a lesson - Spin a Yarn (handspinning) or Warped Minds (basic weaving). These classes are $25 per hour; if you have your own equipment, please let us know when you get signed up. (If you can bring along a photo, that'd be even better!)
All About I-Cord with Vanesa Polo: 2-hour class, $30 - Saturday, October 26, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
I-cord is one of the simplest things that you can knit, but it has lots of possibilities and can be used to enhance your knits in many ways. In this class, you learn a variety of I-cord options, including round, square, cast on, bind off, applied and two kinds of buttonholes. This is an easy technique that you can use again and again! PLUS - students will get a free copy of Vanesa's shawl pattern that utilizes 4 different kinds of i-cord!
Barley Hat: 4-hour class, $50 - Saturday, November 3 & 17, 10 AM - noon
Learning to knit in the round is an adventure, and it's the next step after scarves for many beginning knitters. So why not learn to knit in the round and make a quick, fun hat? The Barley Hat class will walk you through all the steps of working in the round: casting on, joining, and making sure your pattern lines up the way it's supposed to; you'll also learn the basics of reading a knitting pattern.
Basics of Tunisian Crochet with Karen Whooley: 3-hour class, $75 - Saturday, November 2, 1 - 4 PM
Tunisian crochet is a crochet technique in a category all of its own. Worked in paired forward (picking up loops) and return passes (working off the loops), unique stitches of all kinds can be created. If you are a knitter wanting to learn to crochet, Tunisian is the perfect way to learn to maneuver with a single hook. In this workshop, you'll learn how to pick your hook size, work up a Tunisian stitch sampler scarf to lay the foundation for your Tunisian crochet adventures, and how to finish your work with lots of tips along the way. If time allows, how to increase and decrease will be included, too!
Bousta Beanie (Intro to Stranded Colorwork): 4-hour class, $30 - Sundays, November 3 & 17, 1 - 3 PM
In this class, we'll be knitting The Bousta Beanie by Gudrun Johnston - it's an ideal introduction to stranded colorwork because of its regular, small patterning and the ability to experiment with colors. We'll discuss best practice in stranded colorwork, managing your yarn, how to avoid unsatisfying projects, and even some color theory. The class will give you a solid start on your hat and the stranded technique, and you'll leave with all of the skills you need to complete it independently.
Flock of Flaxes (Your First Basic Sweater): 6-hour class, $70 - Sundays, September 22 / October 13 / October 27, 10 AM - noon
One of our most common requests as we edge into the fall and winter is for a basic sweater class that will help knitters conquer their fears and anxiety about a first garment. We hear you! Join us for this three-session class in which you'll learn about the hows and whys of swatching for gauge, basic seamless top-down sweater construction, and tips and tricks that will make your first sweater a stunning success!
Kitchener Stitch Mini-Class: 1-hour class, $10 - Saturday, October 12, 9 - 10 AM
One of our Socktoberfest special mini-classes focused on sockmaking skills! Learn how to Kitchener stitch (aka "graft") together two sets of live stitches neatly to make it look like a more-or-less seamless line of knitting.
A-Maize-ing Mitts Class: 4-hour class, $30 - Thursdays, November 7 & 14, 6-8 PM
In this class, we’ll be knitting the Maize mitts, designed by Tin Can Knits. It’s a free pattern with tutorials incorporated throughout; it allows for both fingerless mitts and full mittens, but we’ll be focusing on the fingerless mitts version during class. We’ll discuss tips for working small-diameter projects in the round, how to improve the gusset (thumb) section, and making minor modifications to the fit/project to get just the mitts you want.
Magic Loop Mini-Class: 1-hour class, $10 - Saturday, October 5, 9-10 AM
Part of our Socktoberfest celebration! In this mini-class, get the basics of using the Magic Loop method to work small-circumference objects in the round. Magic Loop is often used for sleeves, socks, mittens, and fingerless mitts - never lose another DPN down the couch or car seat!
Planned Pooling with Vanesa Polo: 3-hour class, $45 - Saturday, October 26, 2-5 PM
Do you love those beautiful hand-dyed skeins but never know what to make with them? Are you bothered by the random pooling of the colors when you knit or crochet them? Then this is the class for you! We'll learn how to read a skein and understand what to craft with it. With a swatch and a little math, we'll be able to control the pooling and make it look just like we want it to! Students will also receive a free copy of Vanesa's planned pooling cowl pattern. NOTE: This class is designed for crocheters AND knitters!
If you've always wanted to knit socks but have been overwhelmed by the tiny yarn, multiple miniscule needles, and/or all of the terminology, this class could be the answer to your needs! Work a simple, traditional top-down, heel-flap-and-gusset sock in worsted-weight yarn on the in-the-round method of your choice - we use the Rye pattern by Tin Can Knits (link to their website) We'll meet on 2 Thursdays two weeks apart, which will give us time to make a worsted-weight sock that will teach you all the skills for a traditional top-down sock of any size and with any weight of yarn. Please note that there is homework that you must complete prior to arriving for class; also, please read our class/lesson policies prior to enrolling for this class.
Stretchy Cast-On Mini-Class: 1-hour class, $10 - Saturday, October 19, 9 - 10 AM
Another one of our Socktoberfest mini-classes designed to help build your toolbox for sock knitting! Learn two stretchy cast-on techniques (German Twisted and long-tail tubular cast-ons) that will make your cuff-down sock knitting (or sweater knitting, or shawl knitting) less stressful, because you know that it'll fit over your or the recipient's foot and ankle!
Stretchy Bind-Off Mini-Class: 1-hour class, $10 - Saturday, October 26, 9 - 10 AM
The last of this year's Socktoberfest mini-classes! Learn two stretchy bind-off techniques (the elastic bind-off and Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off) that will make your toe-up sock knitting a perfect fit all the way to the end of the project.
Toe-Up Socks: 4-hour class, $50 - Sundays, October 13 & 27, 1 - 3 PM
Sometimes you have a limited amount of yarn... sometimes you're not quiiiiite sure how big your sock target's foot is... sometimes, you want to try your socks on for best fit as you go. If any of these statements hold true for your sock projects, then toe-up socks are an excellent candidate for a new sock technique for you to learn. Using the Towanda Socks pattern by Heather Hill, you'll learn Judy's Magic Cast-On and work a gusset-and-flap toe-up sock in a DK-weight yarn. We'll meet on 2 Sundays, 2 weeks apart, which will give you time to knit the foot and gusset increases (Class 1 / homework) before proceeding to the heel turn and flap (Class 2) and completing the sock leg.
- Second Tuesday of each month: Birthday Night! Join us at Stilly String Social Night (5ish - 8ish PM) for homemade cake and a celebration for everyone with a birthday that month. (If you're a celebrant and have dietary restrictions/allergies, please let us know by the first Tuesday so that we can make the best possible effort to accomodate you!)
- The entire month of October: Socktoberfest! Various mini-classes and sock-focused classes all month long.
- Sunday, October 20: Fiber Fusion Field Trip - join us early in the morning for breakfast at the Maltby Cafe, and/or meet us at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe for a Stilly River Yarns meetup.
- Sunday, November 10: Yarn Revolution Meet-Up, Nile Shrine Golf Center, Mountlake Terrace
- Tuesday, November 26: Collection of items for the Warming Tree at Stanwood Elementary School starts
- Saturday, November 30: Small Business Saturday
Classes and lessons
We offer a full range of classes and private lessons here at the shop. Please read our class policies before registration, and feel free to email or call us with requests and questions! All group classes and special events requiring reservations are available for online registration; click on the class title to go to its registration page in our online store. Private lessons and the Knitroduction / Hooked on a Feeling / Spin a Yarn / Warped Minds lessons are scheduled in advance on a first-come, first-served basis.
Interested in learning how to knit or crochet? Get signed up for a lesson - Knitroduction (knitting) or Hooked on a Feeling (crochet). These lessons are $25 per hour and will get you going on basic stitches, finishing a piece off, starting a piece, and choosing a project and appropriate yarn. The lesson fee includes your first set of needles and first ball of yarn, and we schedule these lessons one-on-one
Interested in learning how to spin or weave? Sign up for a lesson - Spin a Yarn (handspinning) or Warped Minds (basic weaving). These classes are $25 per hour; if you have your own equipment, please let us know when you get signed up. (If you can bring along a photo, that'd be even better!)
All About I-Cord with Vanesa Polo: 2-hour class, $30 - Saturday, October 26, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
I-cord is one of the simplest things that you can knit, but it has lots of possibilities and can be used to enhance your knits in many ways. In this class, you learn a variety of I-cord options, including round, square, cast on, bind off, applied and two kinds of buttonholes. This is an easy technique that you can use again and again! PLUS - students will get a free copy of Vanesa's shawl pattern that utilizes 4 different kinds of i-cord!
- Prerequisite skills: casting on, knitting, purling, binding off
- Class fee: $30
- Materials needed: Some left over yarns in DK or worsted weight - light colors are preferable, and two color choices would be nice, but not necessary; double-pointed or two circular needles that are the appropriate size for your yarn
Barley Hat: 4-hour class, $50 - Saturday, November 3 & 17, 10 AM - noon
Learning to knit in the round is an adventure, and it's the next step after scarves for many beginning knitters. So why not learn to knit in the round and make a quick, fun hat? The Barley Hat class will walk you through all the steps of working in the round: casting on, joining, and making sure your pattern lines up the way it's supposed to; you'll also learn the basics of reading a knitting pattern.
- Prerequisite skills: casting on, knitting, purling.
- Class fee: $50; yarn included
- Materials needed: US6/4.0mm AND US8/5.0mm 16" circular needles for ribbing and main body of hat; EITHER US8/5.0mm double-pointed needles OR US8/5.0mm in long circular needle to work Magic Loop for decreases at top of hat. Also required: tapestry needle, stitch markers. Materials purchased for class will be discounted by 20% upon registration/payment.
- Homework: download/print Barley pattern from tincanknits.com (free; please bring to class)
Basics of Tunisian Crochet with Karen Whooley: 3-hour class, $75 - Saturday, November 2, 1 - 4 PM
Tunisian crochet is a crochet technique in a category all of its own. Worked in paired forward (picking up loops) and return passes (working off the loops), unique stitches of all kinds can be created. If you are a knitter wanting to learn to crochet, Tunisian is the perfect way to learn to maneuver with a single hook. In this workshop, you'll learn how to pick your hook size, work up a Tunisian stitch sampler scarf to lay the foundation for your Tunisian crochet adventures, and how to finish your work with lots of tips along the way. If time allows, how to increase and decrease will be included, too!
- Prerequisites: Must know how to make a chain, yarn over, and pull up loops on a crochet hook
- Class fee: $75; hooks are included with registration fee.
- Materials: Please purchase/bring a solid light- to medium-colored DK-weight (#3) or worsted-weight (#4) yarn so that you can see the stitches - the yarn should be something that will stretch slightly, so please avoid linen/cotton. The shop sample on display at Stilly River Yarns is worked in Malabrigo Rios.
- Homework: none!
Bousta Beanie (Intro to Stranded Colorwork): 4-hour class, $30 - Sundays, November 3 & 17, 1 - 3 PM
In this class, we'll be knitting The Bousta Beanie by Gudrun Johnston - it's an ideal introduction to stranded colorwork because of its regular, small patterning and the ability to experiment with colors. We'll discuss best practice in stranded colorwork, managing your yarn, how to avoid unsatisfying projects, and even some color theory. The class will give you a solid start on your hat and the stranded technique, and you'll leave with all of the skills you need to complete it independently.
- Prerequisites: casting on, knitting, purling, working in the round
- Class fee: $30; yarn and needles purchased separately. Materials purchased for class will be discounted by 20% upon registration/payment.
- Materials needed: 4 hanks Elemental Affects Shetland Fingering (2 of your main color, 1 each of 2 contrast colors), US2.5/3.0mm in 16"/40cm circular and US4/3.5mm needles in 16"/40cm circular and DPNs or long circular for Magic Loop, stitch marker, tapestry needle. You will also need to purchase your own copy of the Bousta Beanie pattern; it is available as an in-store Ravelry purchase or to purchase on your own through Ravelry.
- Homework: Cast on and work the ribbing and increase row as indicated in the pattern. Leave work on the needles and bring to class.
Flock of Flaxes (Your First Basic Sweater): 6-hour class, $70 - Sundays, September 22 / October 13 / October 27, 10 AM - noon
One of our most common requests as we edge into the fall and winter is for a basic sweater class that will help knitters conquer their fears and anxiety about a first garment. We hear you! Join us for this three-session class in which you'll learn about the hows and whys of swatching for gauge, basic seamless top-down sweater construction, and tips and tricks that will make your first sweater a stunning success!
- Prerequisite skills: casting on, binding off, knitting, purling, working in the round on circulars / double-pointed needles, basic increases, basic decreases
- Class fee: $70; needles/yarn to be purchased separately - class materials are eligible for a 20% discount upon registration/payment
- Materials: pattern (download/print free directly from the Tin Can Knits website), US8/5.0mm needles in an appropriate configuration to swatch in the round, and an appropriate quantity of worsted-weight yarn to knit desired size (all class materials purchased from the shop are eligible for a 20% discount); you will eventually need a needle size two sizes smaller than your gauge needle to work the ribbing at the neck/cuffs/hem, but we will determine what your appropriate needle sizes for this project are in the first class session as we look at your completed gauge swatch.
- Homework: swatch with your desired yarn and needles. We'll email you the "swatch recipe" as soon as we receive your registration.
Kitchener Stitch Mini-Class: 1-hour class, $10 - Saturday, October 12, 9 - 10 AM
One of our Socktoberfest special mini-classes focused on sockmaking skills! Learn how to Kitchener stitch (aka "graft") together two sets of live stitches neatly to make it look like a more-or-less seamless line of knitting.
- Prerequisites: Knitting, purling
- Class fee: $10, includes two sets of Kitchener "setups"
- Materials: US8/5.0mm needles - any configuration of your choice (DPNs, straight needles, circulars); tapestry needle - class materials, even materials for a mini-class, are eligible for a 20% discount upon registration/payment.
- Homework: none!
A-Maize-ing Mitts Class: 4-hour class, $30 - Thursdays, November 7 & 14, 6-8 PM
In this class, we’ll be knitting the Maize mitts, designed by Tin Can Knits. It’s a free pattern with tutorials incorporated throughout; it allows for both fingerless mitts and full mittens, but we’ll be focusing on the fingerless mitts version during class. We’ll discuss tips for working small-diameter projects in the round, how to improve the gusset (thumb) section, and making minor modifications to the fit/project to get just the mitts you want.
- Prerequisites: casting on, knitting, purling, working in the round
- Class fee: $30, includes yarn
- Materials: Pattern (downloadable from the Tin Can Knits website, free), US6/4.0mm double-pointed needles OR 32"/80 cm+ circular needle for Magic Loop; class materials are eligible for a 20% discount upon registration/payment.
- Homework: Pick the size of mitt that you want to make, cast on the number indicated by the pattern, and work the first section of the pattern (stop when you reach the heading "thumb gusset"). Need help picking a size or walking through the pattern? Just ask us at registration! We'll be diving right in to the thumb gusset at the beginning of the first class.
Magic Loop Mini-Class: 1-hour class, $10 - Saturday, October 5, 9-10 AM
Part of our Socktoberfest celebration! In this mini-class, get the basics of using the Magic Loop method to work small-circumference objects in the round. Magic Loop is often used for sleeves, socks, mittens, and fingerless mitts - never lose another DPN down the couch or car seat!
- Prerequisites: Casting on, knitting, purling
- Class fee: $10; includes yarn
- Materials: 40" / 100cm circular needle in a size that you like using with worsted-weight yarn - generally, anywhere between a US6 and a US8 (4.0mm - 5.0mm) - class materials, even materials for a mini-class, are eligible for a 20% discount upon registration/payment.
- Homework: none!
Planned Pooling with Vanesa Polo: 3-hour class, $45 - Saturday, October 26, 2-5 PM
Do you love those beautiful hand-dyed skeins but never know what to make with them? Are you bothered by the random pooling of the colors when you knit or crochet them? Then this is the class for you! We'll learn how to read a skein and understand what to craft with it. With a swatch and a little math, we'll be able to control the pooling and make it look just like we want it to! Students will also receive a free copy of Vanesa's planned pooling cowl pattern. NOTE: This class is designed for crocheters AND knitters!
- Prerequisites: starting / finishing / basic stitches for your fiber craft
- Class fee: $45
- Materials: any hand-dyed skeins you may have that you would like to discuss; hooks/needles that are the right size for your yarn, plus, ideally, a few more sizes up or down from that size so that you have options for your swatch; notebook/paper/pen for notes; calculator (your phone calculator will be fine)
- Homework: none!
If you've always wanted to knit socks but have been overwhelmed by the tiny yarn, multiple miniscule needles, and/or all of the terminology, this class could be the answer to your needs! Work a simple, traditional top-down, heel-flap-and-gusset sock in worsted-weight yarn on the in-the-round method of your choice - we use the Rye pattern by Tin Can Knits (link to their website) We'll meet on 2 Thursdays two weeks apart, which will give us time to make a worsted-weight sock that will teach you all the skills for a traditional top-down sock of any size and with any weight of yarn. Please note that there is homework that you must complete prior to arriving for class; also, please read our class/lesson policies prior to enrolling for this class.
- Prerequisite skills: Casting on, knitting, purling, working in the round, basic increases, basic decreases
- Class fee: $50 (includes yarn)
- Materials: US3 & US5 (3.25mm & 3.75mm) needles in your preferred configuration for knitting small-circumference objects in the round, stitch markers, tapestry needle. Class materials are eligible for a 20% discount upon registration/payment.
- Homework: yes - follow directions for the size you desire to make, and stop once you have completed the cuff according to the pattern directions. (You should be ready to do the heel flap once you arrive for the first class; please keep in mind that the larger the sock size, the longer it will take you to complete the homework and the project. You may wish to choose a child's size sock to start with!)
Stretchy Cast-On Mini-Class: 1-hour class, $10 - Saturday, October 19, 9 - 10 AM
Another one of our Socktoberfest mini-classes designed to help build your toolbox for sock knitting! Learn two stretchy cast-on techniques (German Twisted and long-tail tubular cast-ons) that will make your cuff-down sock knitting (or sweater knitting, or shawl knitting) less stressful, because you know that it'll fit over your or the recipient's foot and ankle!
- Prerequisites: knitting, purling, "regular" cast-on, bind-off
- Class fee: $10 (includes yarn)
- Materials: US8 (5.0mm) needles in the configuration of your choosing (DPNs, straights, or circulars) - class materials are eligible for a 20% discount upon registration/payment.
- Homework: none!
Stretchy Bind-Off Mini-Class: 1-hour class, $10 - Saturday, October 26, 9 - 10 AM
The last of this year's Socktoberfest mini-classes! Learn two stretchy bind-off techniques (the elastic bind-off and Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off) that will make your toe-up sock knitting a perfect fit all the way to the end of the project.
- Prerequisites: knitting, purling, "regular" cast-on, bind-off
- Class fee: $10 (includes yarn)
- Materials: US8 (5.0mm) needles in the configuration of your choosing (DPNs, straights, or circulars) - class materials are eligible for a 20% discount upon registration/payment.
- Homework: none!
Toe-Up Socks: 4-hour class, $50 - Sundays, October 13 & 27, 1 - 3 PM
Sometimes you have a limited amount of yarn... sometimes you're not quiiiiite sure how big your sock target's foot is... sometimes, you want to try your socks on for best fit as you go. If any of these statements hold true for your sock projects, then toe-up socks are an excellent candidate for a new sock technique for you to learn. Using the Towanda Socks pattern by Heather Hill, you'll learn Judy's Magic Cast-On and work a gusset-and-flap toe-up sock in a DK-weight yarn. We'll meet on 2 Sundays, 2 weeks apart, which will give you time to knit the foot and gusset increases (Class 1 / homework) before proceeding to the heel turn and flap (Class 2) and completing the sock leg.
- Prerequisite skills: working in the round, knitting, purling, binding off, basic increases, basic decreases
- Class fee: $50 (includes yarn)
- Materials: US4 / 3.75mm needles in configuration that you prefer to work small-circumference objects in the round (Magic Loop, 2 circulars, double-pointed needles), stitch markers, tapestry needle
- Homework: none! We'll start the socks in the first class.