Once upon a time (in the year 2003) Victoria Knitter's Guild member Barb Beukema heard about these events called 'Knit-Outs' that were happening (mostly in the USA!) and decided it would be fun to try and organize one here in Victoria, BC.

She chose Willows Beach in Oak Bay as the venue (after all, Knit-Outs are ALL ABOUT knitting outside, and knitting in public); a few other Guild members came out to help, and VOILA!, Victoria had its first successful Knit-Out. It is estimated that about 100 knitters came to that first event, and it was deemed so much fun, that Barb organized another one in 2004.

In the fall of 2004, Barb decided it was fun to organize Knit-Outs but she'd really rather be a participant, so she put out a call for someone else to do the organizing part. Marilyn Guille, another Guild member who had participated in 2004, picked up the baton (the needles?) and ran with it.

In the summer of 2005, the Knit-Out was moved to Saxe Point Park in Esquimalt, which allowed the event to include merchants for the first time. And estimated 200 people came out to the event, which included a few demos and a 'fashion parade' (which was attended by a local llama!)

By 2006 the Knit-Out was a firmly established event in Victoria, and more knitters, vendors and participants than ever before participated -- probably about 300! Though we were in the fog a bit in the morning, the weather cooperated beautifully and it was a great day. Visitors signed the guest book from the Lower Mainland, all over Vancouver Island, and Washington State!

In the fall of 2006, Marilyn realized that 2007 would be the 5th anniversary of Victoria's Knit-Out, and taking everyone's positive feedback into account, decided to take the event to the next level ... thus the Victoria FibreFest/Knit-Out was born, and the summer of 2007 produced a fabulous event for fibre fans everywhere!

Check out our schedule of events here!

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