Although we have not received new merchandise this week (John the UPS Guy seemed quite pleased as he strolled by the shop!), we have met a lot of new folks. Thanks to all who brought out of town friends and family members to WoolWinders. We appreciate your support more than we can say.

Our New Year's hours are as follows: We will be open Saturday, Dec. 31 from 11-3 PM, closed Sunday and open Monday, Jan. 2 from 11-6. After that, we resume our regular hours and classes will once again begin.

Happy New Year to all!

You have shopped for the rest, now treat the best. You.

We have a few post-holiday promotions with YOU in mind:

1. Take 15% off CASHMERE YARN: JOSEPH GALLER PASHMINA, SCHULANA CASHMERINO, and LOBSTER POT yarns all 15% so that you can take care of yourself!

2. Take 15% off all PRISM YARNS, including STUFF (WILD, COOL and LIGHT) yarns!

3. And, we've extended our 15% off sale on all red and green yarns (or yarns with any bit of red or green in them)!

So, come on over and get something special for yourself! After all, who is more deserving?

Santa arrived today in the form of John the UPS Guy, who wheeled in so many boxes that he had to strap them down! We like that.

We are now fully restocked with Crystal Palace needles (straight and dp), Crocheters Companion and Folk Vests (fabulous winter designs!), Denise Interchangeable Needles with additional long cords, and the gorgeous COLINETTE KITS!! These kits are the perfect "from me to me" gifts. So treat yourself; you know you have been very good this year!

And we received addtional Colinette yarn as well; some fill-ins of Prism and Giotto.

And to all, a good night.

OK. We are down to the wire. Truly in the last minute mode. New knitter in your life? Pick up a copy of KNITTER'S COMPANION. We regard this as the BEST knitting reference around. More experienced knitter? Want to be a hero? Pick up a kit-we have both the WOOL in the WOODS AFGHAN KIT and the MANGO MOON SWEATER/THROW KIT. Only a few left of each. These are hand-dyed wonders and produce works of art.

Remember, we will be open today through 8:00 PM, tomorrow through 3:00 PM and Monday from 11:00 am-6:00 pm.

And happy and safe holidays to all!

We know you are getting those digital cameras ready to take pictures of all your hand made gifts! Whether they adorn the recipient or are just posed on a table top, please email us a jpg copy. We will put them on our website and/or "Wall of Fame" at the store. Just think. You will be famous. Oh, one caution though. Please send us only pictures of things made from shop materials. Thanks.

Need a GREAT last minute gift for the knitter in your life? Sally Melville's definitive sources THE KNIT STITCH and THE PURL STITCH are back in stock. We consider these books indispensable. Not only are the designs and yarn choices are terrific, the pattern directions and general instructions are clearly written and illustrated. Whether your recipient is a brand new knitter or an experienced one, he/she will love these books.

We are so appreciative of your support during our extended hours this week and have spent some wonderful time with friends and their families. So come on in until 8 PM today, tomorrow and Friday. Saturday we are open 11 AM-3 PM. And our red/green yarn sale continues through MONDAY, DECEMBER 26!

Anyone who has come in the store lately has noticed that we all LOVE the holidays. It is not just the steady stream of snacks and wine that seem to appear thanks to our wonderful customers and staff, or the music playing on our XM radio (channel 103-HOLLY),or even the fact that the weather is cooperatively wintery this year; maybe it is a combination of all those things. We know that you are all working feverishly on last minute gifts (check out our display table of suitable items that can be finished before next Saturday!), and so to help we are offering two things. First, take 15% off ANY YARN THAT CONTAINS RED AND/OR GREEN (sale runs through close of business Monday, December 26) and second, shop late next week. We will be open from 11 AM until 8 PM every night from Monday through Friday. And yes, you can partake of our snacks and such. Come in. Enjoy. Sing along with the XM. and Happy Holidays.

It is turning rather icy and treacherous out here so we are going to close at 6 PM to stay safe. We encourage you all to stay in, cozy up to your beautiful yarns, and stay warm and dry. Remember that we will be staying open until 8 PM EVERY NIGHT beginning next MONDAY through FRIDAY (December 19-23).

Stay safe.

Sorry about the gap in blogging; we were lucky enough to tag along on a business trip to NY with Lew. Is there ANYTHING better than Manhattan during the holidays? We think not. Fifth Avenue glistened, the tree at Rockefeller Center was amazing, and EVERYONE was wishing each other a joyous holiday. The stores were packed, the service was outstanding, the offerings plentiful. Fabulous.

If you need a quick and cozy knit, come see the MANGO MOON sweater we are wearing today. It is one of the warmest and softest things we have ever knit, and since you can do it on size 10.5-11 needles you COULD get it done in time for the holidays. Choose from several colors of mohair to mix with the recycled silk, pick one of 13 patterns, and just knit away. We are as warm as toast today.

We just needed something new at the shop. So we called the wonderful Iris Schrier, well known as the owner of ArtYarns (and a fabulous teacher and designer to boot) and ordered her GORGEOUS handpainted superwash merino yarn. Think of this as adult Koigu. The colors are amazing, the fiber is machine wash/dry, and the price is right! 100 yards for $9.99. Here's a thought. Make the Big Bad Baby Blanket from Stitch n' Bitch using a single strand of this yarn on a size 9 needle. You will need seven skeins for a work of art (that mom can STILL throw in the washing machine).

We are currently stocking six colors: black/white/grey; pink/light pink/green; three pinks/brown; pink/white;yellow/green/coral; three greens/brown; and mixed teals. Thank you, Iris! You made our day.

OK so the mid-atlantic is in a death-grip of cold. And snow is predicted for tomorrow (yay!). We lived in Miami for 12 years, so couldn't be happier about the abrupt change of seasons. Especially when we have super-bulky wool, rayon, alpaca, and even cotton to knit into cozy hats, scarves, mittens and the like. These fibers make the quickest of knits (get out those size 13/15 needles!). We have the patterns to match. Trust us. There is NOTHING warmer than Blue Sky Bulky Alpaca on a size 17 needle. You can make a scarf AND hat while watching a movie.

Need some inspiration? Join us tonight for LAST MINUTE GIFTS. We have 14 patterns that can be done in two days or less (we've done it!). Just give us a call to let us know you are coming so we don't run out of patterns (or snacks!). And we have added Hot Cocoa to the Flavia Coffee Machine line up. Yum.

We had to reschedule our LAST MINUTE GIFT class from Monday night due to the weather, and we have decided to devote our THURSDAY NIGHT KNITTING to it. Please come join us tomorrow, December 8 from 6-8 PM. We have models and patterns for 14 great gifts that can be made in a few days. Whether you want to make hats, bags, scarves or whimsical things, you will find something to inspire. We are waiving the class fee and offer a 10% discount on any purchases! Please call if you are planning to come so we make sure we have enough patterns.

And they are predicting more snow for FRIDAY. A perfect time to work on those gifts....

We love snow. And we are delighted that it is snowing as we write this, but not so happy that we have had to postpone our LAST MINUTE GIFTS class scheduled for tonight. We think we reached everyone who signed up, but thought we would also post. Please join us on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8 from 6-8 PM. And to thank you for your understanding, the class fee will be applied to purchases, and yes you will still get the class discount!!!

So see you Thursday. And by the way, our MANOS order has arrived!

OK, we have been collecting the things you have left behind throughout the year and thought you may want to collect them. In our lost and found we have two pairs of glasses, two jackets, and assorted patterns/yarns. If you identify them, they are yours!!!

On a separate note, we received the last of our PRISM STUFF yarns today. The beautiful SENEGAL colorway was worth the wait! If you are looking for an elegant and unusual scarf or shawl for a holiday gift, look no further than the PRISM line. Expensive....but you are worth it!

And don't forget about our SAMPLE SALE. Lots of things for sale in the back of the store: sweaters, scarves, hats, baby things, ponchos etc. No time to knit? This is the perfect solution. And, like Vegas, "what happens at WoolWinders, stays at WoolWinders." We will keep all your hand knit secrets!

Is there a child in your life who wants to learn to knit? Teach them with the DALE LEARN TO KNIT KIT! Contained within are three brightly colored skeins of yarn, kid sized knitting needles and a pattern/instruction book. They will love it! And if you want to supplement the yarn, we have beautiful colors of Dale BABY ULL.
And we are now fully stocked with the popular accessories collection from Colinette-ARTY FACTS. Make the cutest damn hat we have ever seen!