The Library of Virginia will host a “Knit In Public Day at LVA” on Saturday, June 8, in honor of the annual Worldwide Knit in Public Day. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the library’s lobby and conference rooms.

Worldwide Knit in Public Day, observed every second Saturday in June, serves as a global invitation for knitters to engage in their craft in public spaces. The event aims to promote knitting as a social activity and facilitate skill-sharing among participants.

Knitting enthusiasts are encouraged to bring their ongoing projects to the “Knit In Public Day at LVA.” Activities will include listening to knitting-related lectures, exploring displays featuring historic knitting patterns and contemporary fiber craft items from the Library’s collections, and watching live demonstrations.

Refreshments will be provided, and visitors can enter to win door prizes from Richmond area yarn shops. The event will feature two lectures, both of which will be livestreamed for virtual viewers.

At 11 a.m., KT Vaughan will present “Knit Like Defarge: Encoding Meaning Into Your Stitches,” examining the literary connections of knitting, particularly inspired by characters such as Madame Defarge from “A Tale of Two Cities.”

At 1 p.m., Nicole Brown will discuss “Instructing them in sewing &c: Black Girls, Knitting, and the Williamsburg Bray School,” exploring the historical significance of knitting in the education of Black children in the United States.

Additionally, visitors can download a digital copy of “Little Red Riding Hood’s Knitting Book” (1923) from the Library’s collection, offering insights into vintage knitting patterns and techniques.

For more information, please contact Nan Carmack at nan.carmack@lva.virginia.gov or call (804) 692-3762.