Hardcore Knitting In SF
"Hard Core" and "knitting" don't often turn up in the same sentence, but in this era of makers and doers and DIY, knitting has gained prominence as the pseudo-ironic pastime of choice for urban hipsters and their grandmas alike. I say "pseudo" because it's very easy to get sucked into this hobby until you dream earnestly of purls and puke circular needles. That's the other side of hardcore here, along with sweaters with knit skulls on them and people who store their needles in their piercings (I kid you not).
Here are a few places where you can see such stitch witchery in action, and possibly partake. It could be the first step in a long road of wool perdition that will include stealing your mate's bingo money to buy more yarn. I would have included more knitting groups, rather than classes, but all the people who knew about such things were too busy knitting to answer my queries. That's hardcore. (photo: Punk Rawk Purl)
Bliss Bar
4026 24th St
San Francisco, CA 94114
The Chicks With Sticks group is exactly what it sounds like, only more awesome. Adult beverages combine with sharp objects for the ultimate handicrafts experience. It … does conflict with the Center's Monday Night Knit, so choose wisely. [link]
The Three Dollar Bill Cafe
1800 Market St
San Francisco, CA 94102
Now you know this is what your cute lil hipster heart has been longing for all these years. The Monday Night Knit is for comfy chairs, cafe culture, and friendly LGBTs … showing you what's wrong with your purl. Chat people up, learn sage stories from Way Back When, and make your partner that incredible pair of socks you've been putting off. [link]
The Craft Gym
1452 Bush St
San Francisco, CA 94109
Have a crafty orgy here at this lovely warehouse space, which has way more to offer than just knitting, even. Design your own tees, learn about all those buttons on the … sewing machine that you have always been afraid to touch, learn what serging is, help out with group projects on the weekend, and make friends with whom you can model your newly crafted items. The people who work there are totally awesome skill-wise and well as personality-wise. If you want to get out of the house and do something, this is a good place to start. [link]
Noe Knit
3957 24th St
San Francisco, CA 94114
A haven for the novice knitter, with "Learn To Knit" classes and lots and lots and lots of patience. And also these cute little business cards with a needle tracker on … the back so you know what you already own. Handy! [link]
ImagiKnit
3897 18th St
San Francisco, CA 94114
Kind, creative, down-to-earth hippylicious yarn emporium. They answer questions and have every texture, color, brand and utensil you might ever need, and if they don't … have it, they know where you can get it. [link]
Urban Knitting
320 Fell St
San Francisco, CA 94102
Urban knitting is a serene, clean, organized, zenlike knitting emporium with a variety of classes and the knitting equivalent of Kali, many-armed Goddess of Creation and … Destruction, running the place. Watch her go. She will offer you advice, and once she gets to know you, helpful constructive criticism. Don't mess with her, though. That would be . . . counterproductive. [link]
