Hi, I’m Nicole
I’m a knitting and Hawaiian quilting educator, a maker with several projects going at once, and the person behind Vieira Artistic Designs.
I love beautiful yarn and fabric as much as the next maker. But what really gets me excited is helping someone understand their project—why a yarn behaves a certain way, how a sweater comes together, or what to do when the instructions suddenly feel like they’ve switched languages.
That moment when someone says, “Ohhh, now I get it!”? That’s my favorite part of teaching.
A Little Understanding Goes a Long Way.
Will this yarn work?
Which size should I make?
Is that stitch supposed to look like that?
Those are Welcome Questions Here.
My teaching focuses on helping you understand the choices you’re making, with clear explanations, practical examples, and room to ask questions. We talk about the how and the why, so you can carry what you learn into your next project.
There’s room for mistakes, too.
We can take our making seriously and still laugh when we discover we’ve been confidently knitting the wrong thing for the last twenty minutes.
Whether you’re working toward your first sweater or exploring something unfamiliar after years of making, I want you to feel comfortable learning—and increasingly confident making decisions for yourself.
A Family Connection, One Stitch at a Time.
Hawaiian quilting holds a special place in my life. My family passed down the tradition we call Kapa, and when I pick up my needle and thread, I feel connected to the people who shared it with me.
Through Ke Aloha Quilts and my Hawaiian quilting classes, I share both the techniques and the personal meaning this work holds for me. Choosing fabric, shaping an appliqué, and settling into hand stitching offer a different pace of making—one that gives us time to connect with our work and with each other.
Come Learn with Me!
There are several ways we can make together, depending on where you are in your creative life.
Knitting Courses and Workshops
Learn with me online or in person, with guidance that helps you work through techniques and understand how they fit into a finished project. My signature sweater course walks you through the process of making your first sweater, from choosing yarn and understanding gauge to fit and finishing.
The Sweater Club
If you’ve already made a sweater and are wondering what comes next, the Sweater Club offers ongoing education, project support, and a community of knitters learning alongside you. We explore yarn, fit, construction, and techniques—and celebrate the discoveries along the way.
Yarn and Help Choosing Your Next Project
You’ll also find my yarn shop partnership at In Between Stitches in downtown Livermore, California. I manage the yarn, knitting, and crochet side alongside my friends who own the quilting and garment-sewing side of the shop.
It’s a lovely place to explore materials, ask questions, and find inspiration. You may arrive with a project in mind. You may also meet a skein that has other plans.
A Creative Life with Plenty to Explore.
Before this chapter of my life, I spent time in choir, theater, and stage management. I even met my husband, Chris, while we were singing on stage together. Creativity has always been part of how I connect with people.
These days, that connection happens through teaching, making, and traveling to learn about the people and traditions behind our materials. I bring those experiences back to my classes and writing, along with whatever is currently on my needles—or waiting patiently for me to remember where I left off.
On the blog and in my newsletter, I share practical knitting and fiber advice, project inspiration, Hawaiian quilting, and glimpses of my own creative adventures. There’s usually a little humor involved. Yarn has a way of keeping us humble.
Let’s Keep in Touch.
If you’d enjoy helpful tips, new resources, class updates, and occasional stories from my project bag, I’d love to have you join my newsletter.
Bring your curiosity. Unfinished projects are welcome, too.
Let’s Create Together
If you’re looking for helpful knitting tips, hands-on education and courses, or checking out a new community to join, there’s a place for you here:
