Colorwork is alive and well! Case in point: JOANNE EATER knitted this fabulous FAIR ISLE SWEATER using STONEHEDGE FIBER MILL SHEPHERD'S WOOL with the two-color stranding technique. And what a terrific job she did! Well done, Joanne! Plus, the latest issue of ROWAN MAGAZINE #53 for spring is just loaded with colorwork projects as well, many featuring the intarsia technique ("picture knitting"). Never taken the plunge into colorwork? Why not give it a try this March in our INTRO. TO INTARSIA CLASS on Saturdays, March 16th and 23rd from 12-2 PM at Woolwinders, your neighborhood yarn shop!

Save the date! This year Woolwinders will once again be participating in our area's annual METRO YARN CRAWL! The dates have been set and the 2013 MYC has been set for APRIL 20-28TH! Mark your calendars and join us and other area knitting enthusiasts again this year for wonderful discounts and prizes at ten local yarn shops in the Metro DC/Maryland/Viriginia region! Call your friends and make plans NOW to enjoy this very special event! Specific details to follow soon!

Two of my favorite knitting elements combined: a beautiful yarn and a beautiful pattern! The LITTLE OAK CARDIGAN byAlana Dakos is just a delightful baby/child cardigan knit all in one piece with a playful and interesting oak leaf motif around the yoke. Our own FLO MEIT expertly knitted our model up for us using STRING THEORY MERINO SOCK yarn in a pretty shade of golden yellow--perfect for any spring babies (boys or girls) on the horizon!

For those of you who having been following our DOWNTON ABBEY KNITALONG on our WOOLWINDERS RAVELRY GROUP PAGE, here's a photo of what our sampler scarf looks like at the halfway mark. After tonight, we will have knitted 6 out of the 12 sections with more beautiful patterns yet to come! Want to join us? There's still time! All the instructions can be found on our ravelry group page, each section has it's own thread, at http:/ravelry.com/groups/woolwinders-yarn-shop. And don't forget to share YOUR photos with us at Woolwinders, your neighborhood yarn shop!

Hurray! Another giant step for Woolwinders! Stop by this weekend and see our NEW STOREFRONT AWNING! You'll never get lost again on your way to Woolwinders, all you have to do is follow our sheep logo, "HANK," and our name on our new red awning. Only difference is Hank forgot to put on his red coat when he posed for the awning--all the better to see him! Have a wonderful weekend everyone and stay warm!

Whether you're just starting an afghan or finishing one like Thursday afternoon SAFARI KNITTING CLASS MEMBER, BETH HIRSCH, it is most definitely afghan season! All this cold air is turning many of you into afghan knitters if the number of ladies coming in telling us they want to knit afghans is any indication. Pictured here is a beautiful baby blanket knitted by Beth using CRYSTAL PALACE MOCHI PLUS yarn. The photo doesn't do justice to the lovely color shading or the gentle halo so characteristic of this yarn but you CAN tell the stitchwork is immaculate. Lovely job, Beth! We have LOADS of afghan yarns in stock right now from a new shipment of DEBBIE BLISS BABY CASHMERINO, to the all-purpose CASCADE 220 SUPERWASH and 220 SUPERWASH SPORT (new shipment due next week!), to luxurious bulky BABY ALPACA CHUNKY, and even COLINETTE ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS AFGHAN KITS at Woolwinders, your cold weather yarn shop! 

You've heard of "Little BO Peep?" Well, on Wednesday mornings at our SAFARI GROUP KNITTING CLASS we have "Little JO Peep!" Here's a very pleased JO SEYMOUR good-naturedly mugging for the camera for me this morning to show us her recently completed stunning Fair Isle META MITTENS. Knitted with SHEPHERD'S WOOL, these mittens are not only gorgeous to look at, they also are going to keep her mighty warm during the cold front passing through our region this week. Lovely, lovely job, Jo. Thanks for sharing:)

Woolwinders customer, TERESITA MONROE has some serious knitting skills! Just look at this beautiful scarf she MADE UP and knitted using CASCSADE 220 SUPERWASH yarn! Too bad, Teresita is camera shy, but her knitting speaks for itself--loud and clear. Great job, Teresita. Can't wait to see what you do next:) And coming soon to Woolwinders: LANA de NUBE, an exciting new high-end novelty yarn from PAGEWOOD FARM!

Today our first MODULAR SCARF class met and what a great job they all did! Under the capable tutelage of instructor, LINDA SNOW, everyone left with the understanding of modular knitting and their scarves well underway! I wanted to take a photo of the early stages of the scarf when it looks like a little bikini top but was vetoed for propriety's sake:) There's still two spots left in our second MODULAR SCARF class on SUNDAY, FEBRUAY 3RD from 1-4 PM if you need a good Superbowl Knitting project! Congratulations to a job well done in today's class to: ETHEL MAYER, SHEILA BERNSTEIN, PAMELA BALLARD, SUSAN ALLAWAY, IRENE TRAYNHAM, and RITA WEISS.

We are so please to welcome our newest addition to the Woolwinders family: DANCING LEAF FARM! Beginning in February, start looking for new yarns from Dancing Leaf Farm, including BALLET, SALSA, and SOCK HOP. The owner, Dalis Davidson, is well-known for her rich, saturated hand-dyed yarns which have long been favorites at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival each year. So many of you have asked that we carry selections from Dancing Leaf Farm that we just had to listen and are proud to support a local independent dyer:) Keep the great ideas coming--we listen-- at Woolwinders, your neighborhood yarn shop!