Things To Do In Arlington

The Seattle area is certainly not unique in being a great home for the fiber arts (knitting, crochet, sewing, and more), but there are elements to the city that make it especially suited to these hobbies. As a tech centric city, many Seattleites spend their workdays in front of a computer, and a hands-on activity that produces an actual physical result can be a welcome tonic to too much screen time. Learning to make one’s own clothes and gifts is also a natural extension of the urban homesteading activities like canning, cheese-making and edible gardening that are also popular in Seattle. And of course, drippy Seattle weather certainly encourages one to find engaging and cozy indoor activities. (Find more things to do in Seattle, rain or shine) For those who have never knit, crocheted or sewn before, or need a refresher on long-forgotten skills, there are many options for getting started on a successful path to a new (and possibly addictive) hobby. Knitting, Crochet, Felting, Cross Stich Nearly every yarn store in Seattle offers classes, so checking a nearby neighborhood shop will probably be a safe bet for at least beginner classes. Once up to speed on basics, some shops offer more specialized classes to help target particular projects or techniques. The Weaving Works in North Seattle is one such shop that offers the basics, but also goes deeper into knitting and crochet skills with classes in fixing mistakes, yarn substitutions, binding off techniques, reading crochet charts and Tunisian crochet (a method that uses elements of both knitting and crochet).   Weaving Works and another North Seattle shop - The Fiber Gallery - also offer classes in spinning, needle felting, and weaving for those interested in a wider array of fiber hobbies. For learning opportunities beyond the yarn store, Makers’ Mercantile in Kent, Pacific Fabric and Crafts and even the North Seattle Community College all offer knitting and other fiber arts classes.  The Seattle Parks Department schedules classes as well, primarily for children, teens and those over 50 years. For a fun half- or full-day Puget Sound yarn excursion, there’s Churchmouse Yarns and Teas a ferry ride away on Bainbridge Island and Tolt Yarn and Wool in the pretty farming community of Carnation. Churchmouse offers some great specialized topics like Victorian cross stitch, Continental method knitting and a Feldenkrais-inspired class on “Healthy Handiwork Habits” to help hobbyists avoid the possible pain of repetitive motions. Tolt Yarn and Wool offers locally-made yarns, including Sleepy Hollow Fiber Farms, a small local producer that labels each skein with the name of the sheep the wool came from. Hobby groups are not true classes, but a welcoming group of fellow knitters, crocheters, or weavers can help keep a beginner encouraged when encountering challenges with new projects. And, usually, they’re free! Check the neighborhood shop schedule and most likely they offer group knitting or other craft circles that are open to the public. The Bellevue Parks Department organizes a knitting circle that works together to knit items for local hospitals and Eastside Baby Corner. It’s free to attend and they provide the patterns and material. The first Sunday of the month is also a good time for fiber art groups with a Scandinavian angle. Most months, the Nordic Heritage Museum offers a Nordic knitting circle, and the Swedish Club has a weaving group. They are both free and open to the public. For periodic special events throughout the year, keep an eye out for the Madrona Fiber Arts fest, Vogue Knitting Live, the Knit Fit marketplace, and the LYS (Local Yarn Shop) Tour. And for those who get truly serious about it, there’s even CraftCruises, which has scheduled Alaskan cruises focused on knitting, crochet, handspinning, needlework and more, departing right here from Seattle or north in Vancouver! Sewing and Quilting There are several options for sewing classes around Seattle. Drygoods Design is currently a popular spot for its stylish fabric selection and the “make*do*mend” studio that offers classes in basic sewing and quilting. They also offer classes focused on particularly useful patterns like the Washi dress or an “everyday” skirt. Pacific Fabrics and Crafts, Makers’ Mercantile, and the North Seattle Community College, mentioned above as venues for knitting and crochet classes, also offer sewing classes. The South Seattle Community College location does as well (although their selection is more limited than North Seattle). University of Washington’s continuing education department (aka the Experimental College), Stitches, and Quality Sewing and Vacuum are a few other spots with solid schedules of sewing instruction. For those on a budget, check out Sew Up Seattle. This is a free community group that gets together monthly on the 4th Saturday from 11am to 1pm at the Denny Park Lutheran Church. They have sewing machines, tools, and scraps, and beginners are welcome to come to learn and practice for free. The Lynnwood Library periodically schedules a “Make Friends with Your Serger” class. Frequency can be erratic, but for those struggling with the serger, occasionally checking the Sno-Isle Library system’s event calendar might yield a free learning opportunity.

Fireworks! Parties! Parades! No, it’s not a belated Fourth of July celebration, it’s how the French celebrate Bastille Day every July 14. Show support of our amis across the sea by attending a Bastille Day Party at Le Pichet, or save up all your energy for belting out “Vacation” when The Go-Go’s take the stage at Chateau Ste. Michelle in the middle of the week. And if all that singing and celebrating saps your energy, Skillet has a Golden Girls–themed happy hour to help you recover. As always, check Groupon for more things to do in Seattle. Bastille Day Party Downtown | Monday, July 14, 6 p.m. Raise a glass of champagne and toast French National Day at the French café Le Pichet, where the celebration will include live music from Bric a Brac and The Post Alley Ramblers. We’re thinking the food and drink specials will offer up plenty of opportunities to practice your French food pronunciations. (1933 First Ave.; free) Brian Herbert University District | Wednesday, July 16, 7 p.m. George R.R. Martin may be having a moment, but when it comes to the sci-fi fantasy realm, we hope he remembers one thing: "He who controls the spice, controls the universe.” Brian Herbert—best known for penning the New York Times best-selling prequels to his father’s Dune series—arrives at the U District store to discuss and sign copies of his new sci-fi novel, The Little Green Book of Chairman Rahma. The book centers around a radical environmental-activism group that seizes control of the government to put an end to climate change. No word yet on whether sandworms play any role. (University Book Store, 4326 University Way; free) The Go-Go’s Woodinville | Thursday, July 17, 7 p.m. It’s been 33 years since The Go-Go’s debuted their triple-platinum album Beauty and the Beat, but three decades have done nothing to lessen the popularity, energy, or, dare we say it, sex appeal of the '80s favorite all-female pop-punk band. For their Replay America tour, the band has paired up with Cutting Crew, Naked Eyes, Martha Davis of The Motels, and Patty Smyth of Scandal. (Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, 14111 NE 145th St., Woodinville; $61+; buy tickets here) Golden Girls Happy Hour Central District | Friday, July 18, 3 p.m.–6 p.m. and 10 p.m.–11 p.m. Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia would probably be shocked to discover there’s no cheesecake on the happy-hour menu inspired by their friendship, but after throwing back a couple of $6 Betty Whites (vodka, apricot liqueur, Cocchi Americano Bianco, and prosecco), they’d likely be too drunk to care. The food specials—smoked-lamb corn dogs, egg-topped poutine—don’t seem to logically relate to anything on the show, but then again, none of those St. Olaf stories ever made any sense either. (Skillet Street Food, 1400 E. Union St.) Seattle Pinball Rally Ballard | Saturday, July 19, noon to 8 p.m. Pinball enthusiasts and machine collectors will descend upon the Hilliard’s taproom for the all-ages event, which will also include classic arcade games. Skillet Street Food will provide grub for the event, while the melodic bumps and chimes of the machines will be accompanied by live music from The Crow Quill Night Owls. (1550 NW 49th St.; free)

Birdwatching might have had a reputation as a slightly geeky activity for a particular subset of the tree-hugging population, but as the 15th most popular outdoor recreational activity (according to a survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service), it’s clear its appeal in recent years has broadened. And for good reason: as many people work sedentary, indoor jobs, birdwatching provides an excellent way to encourage outdoor activity and deepens one’s relationship with the natural world. Spotting and trying to identify birds can turn the outdoors into the venue for a visual and mental game that can help engage even those who normally feel restless or bored on a stroll outside. With the occasionally challenging nature of Seattle weather, Seattleites can use all the encouragement they can get to head outdoors. Fortunately, the times when weather is at its least appealing can also be excellent birding opportunities. Winter brings waterfowl, raptors, seabirds, and more. That tough stretch before summer starts is also the season of songbird migration. And any fitfully drizzly day can result in good spotting as birds take advantage of insects emerging from the soggy ground. And for those who are curious but don’t know a Wood Duck from a Wigeon or where to go to see either, Seattle is also home to many resources and great locations for the novice. The Seattle Audubon Society is, of course, a great place to start. Almost every month, they offer a free public guided walk. Binoculars are provided (although one does need to reserve them in a week in advance via a phone call to the Audubon Nature Store). They also offer classes and field trips to both members and non-members. Field trips generally have a shared car pool cost, and priority for sign-ups will go to members. Classes will have a higher cost for non-members. The Seward Park Audubon Center also offers many bird-focused, family-friendly programs. There are regular evening “owl prowls” and themed program days most Saturdays, often focusing on birds or some aspect of bird life. The Seattle Parks Department offers regular birding programs, many of which are free. Some are basic birding classes and walks; others might be focused on a particular species, like a visit to a Great Blue Heron rookery. While it’s not regularly scheduled, the Discovery Park “Birding by Ear” program is particularly excellent and worth signing up for when it is offered. Once one’s up to speed on the basics, the best way to hone one’s skills is to practice, practice, practice. Fortunately, even within a busy city like Seattle, there are many places to see a great variety of birds while enjoying a walk outside. The Union Bay Natural Area (aka Montlake Fill) is an especially busy birding spot. Despite its humble origins (underneath this grassland and riparian area is an old landfill), it is now a hotbed of bird action, with around 200 species having been recorded as visitors. You can see who’s been around lately via the white board in a kiosk at the east end of the area. It’s updated regularly by birder and author Connie Sidles, who’s written three books of essays about her near-daily visits to the Fill. The Fill can be usually be relied on for a variety of ducks on its several ponds, Redwing Blackbirds in the cattails by Lake Washington, Great Blue Herons on the shore or ponds, swallows and Savannah Sparrows flitting around the grasslands, and, sometimes, Bald Eagles flying from their nests down the shore. Across Lake Washington from the Union Bay Natural Area is the Washington Park Arboretum, with more excellent opportunities for waterfowl and Bald Eagle spotting. And most large Seattle Parks are also great spots for birdwatching, especially Seward, Discovery, and Carkeek Parks. For even more location ideas, including some beyond Seattle proper, Seattle Audubon Society’s BirdWeb.org includes lists of hot birding spots, and the Washington State Audubon organization offers seven colorful and informative “Great Washington State Birding Trail” maps covering seven regions within the state. These maps are a great road trip inspiration and can be viewed online for free. Find more things to do in Seattle.