Hours and Last-Minute Details

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We can’t wait to see you at Red Alder!

Red Alder water bottle

When you arrive, please come to the Red Alder Registration Desk on the 3rd floor mezzanine to pick up the packet that will include your name badge, class locations, and show schedule. You can also pick up any pre-ordered tote bags and hot-and-cold beverage bottles there.

Red Alder tote

Great news — we were able to order a few extra tote bags and bottles, so if you missed out on the pre-order, you may be able to get one when you come. We’ll be accepting credit cards for payment, and once they’re gone, that’s it — they’ll be gone for good.

Registraton Desk hours are:

  • Wednesday: 3:00-6:00pm
  • Thursday: 8:00am-5:00pm
  • Friday: 8:00am-5:00pm
  • Saturday: 8:00am-5:00pm
  • Sunday: 8:00am-2:00pm

Marketplace

Redd the Wandering Duck

We’ve got an amazing slate of vendors this year, plus some extra fun planned!

Marketplace hours are:

  • Thursday 8:30am- 4:30pm
  • Friday 9:00am-5:00pm
  • Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm
  • Sunday 9:00am-2:00pm

Each day in the Marketplace, stop by and look for Redd the Rubber Duck to enter into our daily prize drawing. The drawing will take place live in the Marketplace 15 minutes before close Thursday through Saturday, and at 1:00pm Sunday.

Book Signing:

Stop by the Seattle Yarn booth Saturday from 12:30 to 2:00pm where Kate Atherley will be signing copies of her newly-released book, Math for Knitters.

Runway: Rubber Duck

rubber ducks in knitwear

Drop off your well-dressed ducks at the Duck Walk in the Pavilion any time from 9:00am Thursday until 12:30pm Saturday, when voting will begin.

Everyone can vote for their fan favorites from 12:30 Saturday until 12:30 Sunday, then we’ll announce the winners! Be sure to be there at 12:30 Sunday to find out if your favorite won.

Quick-Service Lunch Options

lunch salad and sandwiches

We’re happy to report that grab-and-go lunch options will be available for purchase each day in the Pavilion from 11:30am-3:00pm, including Sunday. A rotating variety of sandwiches, soups, and salads will be available as well as chicken tenders, snacks, fruit, and beverages. We hope the availability of this convenient lunch option each day makes your Red Alder experience smoother and easier.

Red Alder Merchandise Is Now Available for Pre-Order!

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We’re excited to share some fun news: limited-edition Red Alder merchandise is now available for pre-order! 

What’s Available?

T-Shirts
Soft, comfortable, and easy to wear, in a variety of colors and styles. You can choose from crew or v-neck and long- or short-sleeved styles.

Tote Bags
These 100% cotton canvas bags are roomy and sturdy enough to hold yarn, projects, or your market finds. (You may find yourself using it everywhere!)

Water Bottles
Our vacuum-sealed bottles will keep drinks hot or cold for up to 12 hours, so you can stay hydrated through your classes or well into the evening fun.

Aprons
Practical protection with an embroidered graphic, perfect for dyeing, spinning, or any wonderfully messy making.

How will ordering and delivery work?

Pre-ordering helps us plan quantities thoughtfully and ensures you’ll get the items you want. In order to offer you a variety of merchandise options at the best prices, some items will be sent to you directly, while others will be waiting for you to pick up at the show.

All of the orders can be made through our new online shop, but please take note of how the items will be fulfilled so you know what to expect!

T-shirts and aprons will be printed on-demand and shipped directly to you. This allows you to be sure of getting the exact color and size you want without our running out of stock. But it does mean you’ll need to order in advance — shirts will take 6 to 8 days to arrive to most US addresses. Please order now to be sure you’ll have your shirts in time to wear to Red Alder! We suggest ordering these items no later than January 30.

Tote bags and water bottles must be pre-ordered and will be available for pickup at the Red Alder Registration desk. Pre-orders for these items will end January 23, and they are available only in limited quantities. Once they’re gone, they’re gone, so if you want to get them, place your order now!

Shop Now

Celebrate Your Creativity at the World’s Quackiest Fashion Show!

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Make it waddle. Make it wonderful. Make it handmade.

Runway: Rubber Duck

Get ready for one of the most charming events at Red Alder Fiber Arts Fest: the Runway: Rubber Duck duck-dressing competition and splash-ion show!

This is your invitation to combine fiber creativity, playful design, and a healthy sense of fun—all on a very small (and very adorable) scale.

Participants are invited to dress a rubber duck in handmade creations of your own making. Think tiny sweaters, dramatic capes, jaunty hats, elegant wraps, bold costumes, or delightfully impractical fashion statements. Garments and accessories may be knit, crocheted, felted, sewn, stitched, felted, or constructed using any fiber-forward or makerly technique. Mixed media is welcome, creativity is encouraged, and whimsy is highly recommended.

Got more ideas than you can fit on one feathered friend? The daring and ambitious are welcome to enter multiple ducks dressed in a related theme to compete for the Top Flock prize!

Bring your fully styled duck or ducks with you to Red Alder, or pick up a duck from the registration desk when you arrive. Our well-dressed ducks will fill the runway at our Duck Walk outside the Marketplace. Ducks will be on display from Marketplace opening time Thursday until mid-day Sunday, giving makers a chance to show off clever construction, thoughtful details, and fabulous fiber choices—just on a much smaller model.

This event is less about competition and more about celebrating imagination, craftsmanship, and joy. Whether your duck is cozy, couture, whimsical, or wildly experimental, it belongs on the runway. Expect smiles, laughter, and plenty of quack-you-up moments. 

Even if you don’t decide to dress a duck, stop by the Duck Walk to admire the entrants and vote for the Fan Favorite Fashionista. And don’t miss the big reveal — the announcement of the winners Sunday at lunchtime!

So gather your scraps, cast on something tiny, and let your creativity run free. At Red Alder, fashion comes in all sizes—and sometimes, it quacks.

Rules and Details

Announcing This Year’s Fundraising Beneficiary: Knit the Rainbow

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Red Alder is proud to announce Knit the Rainbow as this year’s charitable fundraising beneficiary.

Each year, Knit the Rainbow distributes thousands of hand-knit/hand-crocheted garments and accessories to homeless LBGTQIA+ youth in cities across the nation.

This year, you can help by dropping off handmade scarves, hats, gloves, socks, cowls, shawls, ear warmers, and sweaters at our collection point. Knit the Rainbow will distribute these items to homeless LGBTQIA+ youth in the Seattle/Tacoma area. You can also help with a direct monetary donation.

Visit Knit the Rainbow‘s site to learn more about their mission and the work they do.

So Many Things We’re Bursting to Tell You!

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Things may have seemed pretty quiet around here, but behind the scenes we're working busily away to make sure that Red Alder 2026 is the best it's ever been.

Teacher and vendor announcements will be dropping soon! We're having a hard time keeping a lid on our excitement about some folks who will be joining us for the very first time. Look for those annoucements soon.

A few things we can share at this point...

  • We'll kick things off with a community hello at the Wednesday Welcome gathering.
  • Thursday's Teacher Meet & Greet will be updated with some fun new twists.
  • Friday evening will see the debut of our first Red Alder trivia night: Shear Genius!
  • In addition to our Saturday evening banquet speaker, we're introducing our first-ever Sunday afternoon Spotlight presentation, with not one but two speakers you're sure to want to see.

In the meantime, mark November 15 on your calendars for registration, as you'll want to get first crack at these classes.