Knit the Bridge has been mapping out all of its participants.
Knit the Bridge has been hard at work prepping to yarn bomb the Andy Warhol Bridge starting August 10th until September 8th. According to their website, “Knit the Bridge is a vision for a grassroots, community-led arts project that would bring the many diverse communities of Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania together to create a large-scale, aesthetically stunning, fiberarts installation on a bridge in downtown Pittsburgh.”
As of right now, Pittsburgh neighborhoods are at 80% participation and Allegheny County’s municipalities are at 82%. KTB wants 100% participation in both of these categories and needs your help to do so! Do you or an organization you know of from any of the following neighborhoods or municipalities want to help? Here are three ways you can:
Donate
KTB wants to raise $35,000 by July 12 at midnight through their Indiegogo campaign. There are also some perks that come along with set donation amounts. If you donate $60, not only will you be helping out, but you get an awesome t-shirt!
KTB still needs railing covers made from black acrylic yarn. They can be knitted (stockinette stitch) or crocheted (double crocheted) and need to be either 9” x 105” or 15” x 80”. Completed railing covers can then be dropped off at any of the drop-off points listed here by July 31st.
Install
If you are 18 years or older and want to help install the panels and railings when the project goes up starting August 10th, sign up here or email at knitthebridge@gmail.com. You must commit to at least one 3-hour shift and attend a training session. Training days are required and are scheduled for the following dates:
Thursday July 25 7-8pm
Saturday July 27, 11-noon
Sunday July 28, 1-2pm
Wednesday July 31st, 1-2pm
Missing Pittsburgh Neighborhoods
Fairywood
Windgap
East Carnegie
Westwood
Ridgemont
Duquesne Heights
Esplen
South Shore
Bon Air
Arlington
Arlington Heights
Hays
New Homestead
Glen Hazel
Spring Garden
Black railings that will be used on the Andy Warhol Bridge.
Missing Allegheny County Municipalities
East Deer Township
Borough of Springdale
Springdale Township
Frazer Township
Kennedy Township
Borough of White Oak
Borough of Versailles
South Versailles Township
Borough of Wall
Borough of Trafford
Stowe Township
Borough of Leetsdale
Borough of Rosslyn Farms
Neville Township
Borough of Glenfield
Borough of Haysville
Borough of Liberty
Borough of Lincoln
Borough of Pitcairn
Borough of West Homestead
City of Duquesne
Borough of Dravosburg
Borough of West Elizabeth
Fitz-Clark refractor telescope at the Allegheny Observatory.
School may be out for the summer but there’s still plenty of opportunity to get your learn on. From day-long workshops to weekly evening classes, there’s tons of chances to try something new or pick up long-forgotten hobbies once again.
Knitting/crocheting
Whether you’re picking up a pair of needles for the first time, looking to perfect your purling skills, or ready to make the perfect pair of socks, a knitting or crochet class is a great opportunity to pull out the yarn and needles. The following locations offer a variety of classes for all skill levels.
Dyed in the Wool 3458 Babcock Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15237 (412) 364-0310
Yarns Be Design 622 Allegheny River Boulevard Oakmont, PA 15139 (412) 794-8332
Natural Stitches 6401 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (412) 441-4410
Knit One 2721 Murray Avenue Pittsburgh, PA, 15217 (412) 421-6666
Wine and Whiskey
Dreadnought Wines in the Strip District has a variety of classes for different levels of expertise, including both Wine and Spirit Education Trust Certifications and more casual tastings. 2013 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (800) 565 2816
Wigle Whiskey, one of the Strip’s newest establishments, distills their own whiskey and gin onsite in traditional copper pots and using local ingredients. They offer tours on Saturdays, plus have events like labeling parties and the annual tar and feather celebration. 2401 Smallman Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 224-2827
Arts, Crafts, and Tech
The Society for Contemporary Craft holds day-long and evening workshops using all kinds of crafts and materials: fiber, wood, book arts and paper, metal, and mixed media. 2100 Smallman Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 261-7003
Union Project is a neighborhood space for people to come together and connect, create, and celebrate. They currently offer ceramics classes, Zumba, salsa, yoga, and hula hoop lessons. 801 N Negley Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (412) 363-4550
Cut and Sew Studio offers a social sewing environment, with all tools and materials available, for people looking to learn how to sew, wanting to get better at it, or working on specific or independent projects. 5901 Bryant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (412) 865- 6565
Saxifrage, described as a higher education nomadic campus, offers classes in woodworking, computer programming, organic agriculture, graphic and user-centered design, map and geographic information systems, and carpentry.
TechShop is a community-based workshopping space for people who want access to industrial tools and equipment. Classes are offered in a wide range of industry, such as woodshop, metal work, silk screening, welding, embroidery, computer design, 3D printing, and much more. 192 Bakery Square Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (412) 345-7182
Improv/Comedy
Steel City Improv has multi-level 8-week classes for both budding and more experienced comedians to hone their craft. Students have the opportunity to perform on stage, plus the chance to audition for the house teams and/or form independent groups. 5950 Ellsworth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15232 404-2695
Improv Academy also offers weekly classes, as well as private sessions for actors or writers, film, television, on-set work with production companies, and improv troupes. 109 Market Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 407-3319
Arcade Comedy Theater explores the many different forms and type of improvisational and standup comedy through various weekly classes, including some aimed towards kids and teens. They also host monthly workshops taught by visiting and local professionals. 811 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh PA, 15222 (412) 339-0608
The University of Funny has a comedy 101 class to teach adults the basics of comedy. Mic technique, confidence in front of crowds, and the art of standup are all explored to find your inner funny. (412) 573-9444
Miscellaneous
Free Ride in Point Breeze isn’t so much a bike repair shop as it is a bike education facility. The idea is that you volunteer your time, paired with a willingness to learn, and the staff at Free Ride teaches you how to build, and repair, your own bike. They have a variety of earn-a bike programs for both adults and children, as well as individual classes throughout the week. Construction Junction 214 N. Lexington Street Pittsburgh, PA 15208 (412) 254-3774
The Allegheny Observatory in Riverview Park offers tours Thursday and Friday nights in the warmer months. Tours start with a short presentation, followed by a walking tour of the building, and then end at the 13-inch Fitz-Clark refractor telescope. Public lectures are also offered every month. 159 Riverview Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15214 (412) 321-2400
While not necessarily a class or workshop, we’d be remiss to not mention Trundle Manor in a list of unique learning opportunities in Pittsburgh. Billed as “the most unusual tourist trap in the world meets the most bizarre private collection on public display,” you can tour (by appointment only) the manor’s antique taxidermy, old world charm, sadistic medical devices, coffins and coffin like items, Steampunk influenced creations, cryptozoology, and much more. 7724 Juniata Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15218
(412) 916-5544
Of course, all locations of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh have a plethora of classes, events, and workshops, from knitting book clubs and video game gatherings to language clubs and computer classes.
What cool classes and workshops did we miss? Leave us a message on Facebook, send us a tweet, or email Catherine@iheartpgh.com. And keep a look out for our posts on cooking/dining classes in the ‘Burgh and free/pay-what-you-can yoga!
Another fantastic collaboration here in Pittsburgh. An eco-friendly way of marking trails in the park is by making trail markers out of organic materials. Join the Pittsburgh Craft Collective in knitting and crocheting trail markers for the project.
Here are some links/articles/blog posts that are worth a look:
Black and Gold for Knitters too – Yes, here in Pittsburgh – no one is immune from the disease know as Black and Gold Fever – even in places where you might not think sports fans dwell – like a knitting shop! Check out the new display from Natural Stitches – located on Penn Ave in the Trader Joe’s plaza – they have a wall of black and gold yarn – just in time for football season. We are eager to see what kinds of things are knit out of that yarn. (Photo – Natural Stitches Blog)
Tugboat Printshop: DIY SHOW POSTER! – Check out this great posted that Tugboat Printshop created for the Society of Contemporary Craft’s newest exhibit – “DIY A Revolution in Handicrafts” – I have seen these posters hanging up around town and I hope I can pick up one for my walls at home. Tugboat Printshop is located in Lawrenceville but their works can be found around the country and they even have some pillow designs in Urban Outfitters. (Photo – Tugboat Printshop Blog)
Image by thebristolkid via Flickr
New Place to Eat and Drink in Pittsburgh – Salt of the Earth – Now Open – Salt of the Earth a new restaurant from Kevin Sousa opened on Monday night. It has been really interesting to follow the set up of the new space on Penn Ave – they have done a great job sharing photos and stories on their blog, twitter and Facebook – looking forward to visiting soon.
Always wanted to learn to knit? Here is your chance to get a free lesson (and some free dinner) and to check out the Fe gallery in Lawrenceville.
CommuniTeach is a website that is co-founded by a Pittsburgher one of his friends in Chicago. The idea is to create a website where people can share their skills and learn new things. Communiteach offers Learn-its on all kinds of things from guitar lessons, yoga, cooking, knitting and more.
This Wednesday, CommuniTeach will host scarf knitting for absolute beginners – the class is free and includes supplies and dinner. This is the last chance to see the current exhibition, “Scissors,” which closes right after the knitting.
