A random act of knitting on campus; also called knit bombing or "graffiti knitting"

Knitting may not be the cheapest of hobbies, but for those looking to live cheap knitting can provide endless hours of entertainment for less initial monetary investment than something like rock climbing. Even better, while pursuing the hobby, one ends up with a surplus of gifts for their loved ones.

You can no longer buy much yarn in Davis, but knitting needles can still be found in town.

Some places in and around Davis to find knitting supplies and help:

  • Spin a Yarn in Winters has been bought by the quilt store, Cloth Carousel, and as of November 2015 has a large selection of yarns of all weights and a great selection of buttons. This is currently the closest quality yarn store to Davis.
  • The Paint Chip carries a small selection of cotton, alpaca, and other yarn, and some bamboo needles and other supplies.
  • Rumpelstiltskin is a yarn and textile craft store in Sacramento, which carries a comprehensive stock of yarns and tools for knitting, spinning and weaving as well as books and classes.
  • Babetta's Yarn and Gifts is in Fair Oaks and has lots of different fiber and weight yarn. She also has a stamp card that gets you a discount when it is full.
  • UCD Bookstore seems to periodically offer knitting needles and cheap yarn off and on throughout the year.
  • Davis Food Co-op sometimes has some organic yarn skeins and a few sets of knitting needles. It also hosts the Craft Circle which meets 4-6 pm on the first and third Sundays of every month in the conference room.
  • The Artery Artist's co-op occasionally has handspun yarn from local breeders such as Meridian Jacobs, a farm in Dixon run by a local artisan & supplier of Jacob sheeps' wool & yarn
  • The Yolo Knitters Guild is a group of local knitters, meet 2nd & 4th Thurs Noon-2 pm at Lutheran Church 8th & B Sts Davis.
  • Dollar Tree has some random Lion Brand novelty-ish yarn come in occasionally, surprise, surprise. Not all the time, though.
  • Yolo Hospice Thrift Store in Woodland - lots of cheap yarn
  • SPCA Thrift Store in Davis sometimes gets knitting needles, crochet hooks and yarn in; it's not guaranteed but worth a try because it's very cheap! Don't expect top notch yarn, but if you score some knitting needles here at a price next to nothing, you can spend the money you saved on nicer yarn from one of these other places.
  • How to be a Badass Knitter sets some good ground rules up
  • Colleen Simon of Fiber Confections offers roving and handspun yarn at the Davis Farmers Market off and on from approximately October-February, sometimes on Wednesdays and sometimes on Saturdays.
  • Yolo Wool Mill has handspun and machine spun yarn from local sheep. Find them at the Farmers Market on Saturdays.
  • Wind Dancer Ranch has naturally colored Navajo-Churro yarn for knitters and wool for handspinning. Local farm in the Capay Valley.
  • WalMart has a decent craft section
  • JoAnn Fabric in Woodland and Michaels in Vacaville have great yarn selections as well as guidance for teaching yourself. Michaels offers occasional classes on knitting for a small fee. A new store in Woodland called Knitting Pretty has just opened up.

The UC Davis Craft Center offers a beginning (and sometimes continuing as well) knitting and crochet classes, as well as a few classes on quickie knitting and cable techniques. Class schedules and cost can be found here. The cost of the beginning knitting class includes knitting needles and yarn.

The Davis Adult School offers an Monday evening knitting class for $45. The class meets at the new Korematsu Elementary School in Mace Ranch. The teacher provides supplies for in-class instruction, but everyone goes out and selects the yarn and needles they want to use.

Several community knitters have a knitting group that meets every Monday night from 5-7 at the Davis Senior Center. A calendar of locations can be found on their page, Davis Knit Night. They're super friendly, and always welcome more. A second group meets 6-9 pm at the Barista Brew on 5th & G Streets in Davis.

Departed Businesses

  • Knittin' Pretty Yarn Shop carried supplies for all needle crafts including knitting, crochet, tatting, embroidery, felting, and rug-hooking.
  • The Knitter's Playground was a knitter-focused business downtown that closed in 2007. Their associated Fairfield-based business, Fiber Elements, now seems also to be defunct.

Comments:

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Does anybody know if there are any knitting groups? I know that may sound super dorky, but it may be fun to get a bunch of people together to knit?—ChristyMarsden

2006-01-23 10:57:59   Totally not dorky. I'd join. Anyone else interested? —LeishaCook

2006-01-23 12:00:23   I think there is a group of people who meet at Delta of Venus on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings. I remember seeing a poster that said "Mmmmm... knitting and beer." I'll try and remember to check on this later... —ArlenAbraham

2006-02-04 01:33:17   I am knitting my first scarf. I'd join in with a gathering. —SharlaDaly

2006-02-23 13:15:29   Okay, that's three people. I think that officially constitutes a group. Any thoughts on when/where to meet? —LeishaCook

2006-07-19 22:16:06   I'm going to a Giants game tomorrow night for "Stitch and Pitch" night! They set aside a special section for knitters and give out free gifts, etc., while we watch the game. Should be fun! Check it out! —SharlaDaly

2006-07-20 15:09:58   I love to knit! It's a great way to have gifts for all your friends and family and you can do it while you watch TV so you don't feel so lazy. My only problem is that I have WAY too much yarn! —CatStarr

2007-01-05 13:09:49   The Knitter's Playground and In Sheep's Clothing stores both have free "come & knit" sessions. Playground has a knit & movie night., and hosts meetings of local knitting groups. Check the store pages for calandars. The Yolo Knitting Guild meets 2 Thursdays a month Noon to 2pm at the Lutheran Church hall at 8th & B Streets ($1 donation) - notices are in the Food CO-OP newletter. Bring lunch; lots of help available; trade extra yarn, patterns. —ValerieVann

2007-06-02 14:36:40   After 10 year, In Sheep's Clothing is closing. The clearance sale is on now. Get stuff at discount while it lasts! —templets

2007-10-17 11:12:33   Are there any places to buy yarn in Davis now? Hobby Craft, Knitter's Playground, and In Sheep's Clothing are all closed. Do I have to go all the way to woodland to get yarn? —annlewis

2007-11-28 13:24:00   Yes. There's nowhere in this town to get yarn now. Argh. Must edit wiki... —JenniferRutherford

2008-06-14 00:13:31   I had just learned to knit when most of the local stores closed down. Bummer. —BreeButler

2008-09-26 14:46:11   really? nowhere?? since i need some yarn i'm going to check at the Co-Op, as suggested above. if i remember, i'll report back here... —watson

2008-12-27 19:35:42   I was at the farmer's market this morning and there was a vendor selling yarn and fiber there. —EmilyH

2009-12-02 17:24:00   Today I stumbled upon Knittin' Pretty Yarn Shop in Woodland while I was waiting for City Smog to open after lunch. The owner, Annabelle Reynolds, is looking to sell her business sometime by August 2010 so that she can retire. Since Knitter's Playground and In Sheep's Clothing recently closed, it would be a shame for another specialty yarn shop to close so soon. Is there anyone out there interested in owning a yarn store? In the mean time, she has stocked an excellent selection of gorgeous natural fiber yarns (alpaca, wool, merino, sugar cane viscose, bamboo, silks, etc) which I haven't seen at JoAnn or Walmart. I definitely recommend Knittin' Pretty for that special yarn, although it is less expensive to go to Walmart for the cheap acrylics. —StephanieStudebaker

2009-12-18 17:14:15   Just as a note for any area knitters who might be GLBT: I recently decided to learn to knit. I got a bunch of knitting stuff for the holidays from my partner and my friends, but I still need some things, including needles. I drove up to Woodland on my lunch break, intending to go to Knittin' Pretty. Unfortunately, the store van parked outside had a number of bumper stickers, including a "Yes on 8" one. I didn't think I'd feel comfortable shopping there, so I kept driving. —nmwallace

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