Art Workshops

Arm Knitting at FIDA

Arm Knitting at FIDA

Having you tried doing something new for the first time? This post marks another first for us!

Arm Knitting at FIDA

Last April 15 (Sab’s birthday as well), we were invited by FIDA Sewing and Arts School in Silang, Cavite to be with them at their open house event. Luckily, we were also invited to join the arm knitting workshop. We were taught by the lovely Leanne. I honestly admire her for the patience in dealing with my leftie problems.

Front view
This is what will greet you when you enter.

It as quite an adventure for us since it’s our first time to explore another part of Cavite which is not very familiar to us. But the adventure was worth it since we got to meet amazing people who are gifted and enthusiastic about arts and crafts like us. Oh and btw, I was with Sab of The Sab Stuff (and her boyfriend) and with Yen of DnY Arts and Crafts.

Open House
Open House Sign

We were greeted by so many artsy stuff there. Up to the food which were served on cute paper cups and some were place on palettes!

Food!
Cookies + cupcakes + corn + nuts + gummy bears
Customized cookie
Their customized cookies, very yummy butter cookies and icing!

The Arm Knitting Workshop

Leftie Probs
Leftie Problems / WIP

For the workshop proper, Leanne taught us knitting but not just the ordinary type. We were taught to knit without the needles or hooks but with our arms! Yes, with our arms! The project was to make our very own scarf through arm knitting. Leanne told us about this video tutorial on Youtube wherein a person does knitting with her arms and we were all flabbergasted about that.

We were asked to pick the colors for our yarns. I had the blue one, Sab had the nude, Jeth had the pink and Yen had the purple one. We were all astonished by our progress yet there were also confusions with the steps since there were transferring involved, looping, grabbing and crossing and even letting go!

Frieds
From L-R: Sab, Jeth and Yen

Most of us encountered those confusions and errors and I think I was the one who had most of the trouble since (first of all) I’m a leftie and they were all righties. Looking at them motivated me that even though my orientation if different, I could still do it. My scarf was kinda messy since there were loose knots and tight ones but the finished product was amazing! Of course, super thank you to Leanne for helping me close the scarf.

Products
Finished products with the golden shears and yarns
With Leanne
With Leanne

 

With our FIDA goodies!

Words can never describe exactly how we felt about knitting for the first time using our own arms. And truly, it’s always an adventure to try something new, not just a new hobby but also a new place to go to.


Now, here’s how to reach FIDA Sewing and Arts School in Silang, Cavite:

How to go there (our version):
  • Ride a bus to Alabang Town Center.

If you are coming from Taft, just ride a bus along Vito Cruz cor Taft Ave (in front of Torre Lorenzo). Make sure the bus has “ATC” or “Alabang” on their signage. Just to be sure, you may ask the conductor otherwise. Fare is Php 47.

  • From Alabang Town Center (ATC), ride a shuttle with Balibago as their destination point.

Since this was our first adventure together, we asked around just to make sure. For this, we asked the people in-charge of queuing the passengers just to be sure. We were lucky to have ridden a kind driver who taught us on what’s next. Fare is Php 50.

  • From the drop-off point at Balibago, we rode the tricycle to Stanford Suites.
There’s a walking distance to the tricycle station and they will take you directly to the location where FIDA is. The tricycle ride was long enough to be able to take power naps in between and also to appreciate the view that you’ll see (or I’m just a nature lover). The driver (A) asked us for Php 50 each (going to and fro) yet when we got to talk to the other one (B), it was supposed to be Php 19 each. We were dismayed yet it was okay since we asked driver A to pick-up us at Stanford Suites when were going back already.
How to go back to Manila:
  • Tricycle back to Balibago area (where we were dropped off) or directly to the terminal.
The fare going to Balibago area was Php 50/pax since we were naive then. Yet, when we opted to go to the terminal to send Yen off, we were only charged at Php 10/pax.
  • Ride a bus going to Makati / Cubao
Since Sab, Jeth and I were Makati-bound, we went down at Makati area near Dusit Thani and just walked to Glorietta where we bought our food at Mercato. The bus ride was smooth and really quick but when it reached EDSA area (we all know what means), the traffic was terrible! I was asleep the whole ride so my fare was paid by Sab & Jeth. If I were to guess how much was the fare per person, my estimate would be around Php 50/pax also.
Lovely view
Lovely view

As they would ask, have you tried doing something for the first time?


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19 Comments

  • Sabine
    May 9, 2016 at 5:43 PM

    I usually knit in winter, when there’s a lot of Darkness here. I love to do that. This looks like so much fun too! 🙂 could be great to add to my knitting experience:)

  • heidi williams
    May 9, 2016 at 8:42 PM

    I’ve never heard of arm knitting, how interesting. I tried crocheting but couldn’t get the hang of it. What a fun day out and who doesn’t love cupcakes.

  • R U S S
    May 9, 2016 at 11:06 PM

    I frequent Silang a lot but this is the first time I’m hearing about FIDA & I’m glad I did. I’m not the arsty, knitting type. I wish I had the patience for it, lol but I would definitely find time to visit FIDA to invite them to one of my events. I know several people who are into knitting and a lot of them have even taken time to sell their items in bazaars & online.

    • Kristine Redillas
      May 10, 2016 at 1:44 AM

      Yes! And they have other classes there. The place just invites creativity. 😀

  • alison
    May 9, 2016 at 11:17 PM

    I have never even heard of arm knitting before but I think it would be fun to try. This is a cool way to do it too. I can see a girl’s night eating and arm knitting together and how fun it would be to learn a new skill. I love to learn these things even if I don’t use them that often.

    • Kristine Redillas
      May 10, 2016 at 1:48 AM

      Our teacher shared that she learned by just watching videos/tutorials on Youtube and I find it amazing. It’s challenging at first but when you get the hang of it, it’s really fun!

  • Sheri
    May 10, 2016 at 5:32 AM

    This looks like a lot of fun and something worth trying out at least once. When I read the title I was not sure of what to expect, LOL. I am a leftie too, so I can understand getting confused a little bit, but it makes it even more fun.

  • Stella @ Travelerette
    May 10, 2016 at 8:14 AM

    I’ve never heard of arm knitting! How cool that you can do that. And I really love the shade of blue that you chose. I haven’t done any knitting since I was a teenager, but when I was younger I used to do some knitting and cross-stitching. It’s very relaxing!

  • berlin maynigo
    May 10, 2016 at 12:12 PM

    I havent tried arm knitting and havent heard about it also. But this is coolness. Such neat and kakaibang accessory! Would love to try, hope I could find an organizer or an enthusiast near our place.

    • Kristine Redillas
      May 10, 2016 at 12:32 PM

      You could go to FIDA Sewing and Arts School. They are located in Silang, Cavite. 😀 My previous post about them will show you their location. 😀

  • ROBERT LEE
    May 10, 2016 at 12:17 PM

    Not bad ha, if you are up to doing something new, something different, something for clean fun. In fact, I could imagine bringing kids to learn a little something on art and at the same time to bonding with arm knitting.

  • Dorothy Mae C. Torretijo
    May 10, 2016 at 1:09 PM

    Wow! This looks so much fun!! You’re blessed to have an artistic hands. I’m jealous hihi. Hope you enjoyed.

    • Kristine Redillas
      May 10, 2016 at 8:02 PM

      Everything can be learned. I’m a leftie and the teacher is a rightie so there was a bit of a struggle for me. Haha. But it was really fun. 😀

  • Joanna
    May 10, 2016 at 6:21 PM

    I have never heard about arm knitting before. It sounds like a great idea of a birthday party though and I love how they prepared the table and the cupcakes for you. I would give this a try, but I don’t know how good I’ll be at, as I can barely get around sewing with a needle.

  • Liezel Regidor
    May 10, 2016 at 8:49 PM

    This is so interesting. I’ve tried knitting back in high school and I loved it. But this one is different. I live near Cavite so it should be easy for me to reach FIDA. I might try it out soon. Thanks for sharing!

  • Johna
    May 10, 2016 at 10:30 PM

    Aww wownI love this! I’ve been trying to learn this frkm youtube videos but I haven’t had much luck! Do they have any crochet classes? Hehe. I already know how to knit and I’d love to learn how to crochet!

    • Kristine Redillas
      May 10, 2016 at 10:35 PM

      Yes, they do have classes for crochet! 🙂

  • Jessica
    May 10, 2016 at 10:40 PM

    Fun workshop! Hope this kind of activity will be offered more soon. It doesn’t open only your creativity but as well possibility of getting new friends, especially if you went alone. Sharing of ideas!

  • Georgia
    May 11, 2016 at 5:41 PM

    I have never heard of arm knitting! I would be so bad at it as I am so bad at the conventional way of knitting! But the scarves all look so cute! Well done!

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