Hurray for LIZ WARSAW! Today in her Tuesday afternoon safari class, beginning knitter Liz completed (rather quickly at that) her first full-fledged project, the versatile and time-honored Big Bad Baby Blanket using CASCADE 220 SUPERWASH PAINTS yarn. You really have to see it in person to appreciate her stitchwork and the vibrant, energetic purple color she chose which really compliments the piece. Liz joined the Woolwinders family in February and we are so glad she did--can't wait to see what she does next! Great job, Liz!

Too cute!! I think this is one of my favorite photos from the store. Safari class member, MARCIA LACKLAND knitted this pretty Amerian Girl doll sweater and hat for her little granddaughter, AVA. The reward for her efforts:  a beautiful smile on an adorable granddaughter and hopefully a memory made that will last a lifetime<3 Heck, I still remember things that were made for my dolls at that age (and that was quite awhile ago!). Well done, grandma!  

That smile says it all! SEEMA HUSSAIN stopped in today for a lovely chat/knit session and shared a photo of the cowl that she knitted as a gift for her friend's daughter, ISABEL. I think the happy smile on Isabel's face says it all--she loves her handknitted cowl! Great job, Seema! Not only did you do a lovely knitting job, but you put a smile on a child's face and that speaks volumes! Happy knitting, friends!

Fresh off SHELLY GOLDIN'S knitting needles--a made-from-scratch sweater! What's made-from-scratch" mean? Come on, Paige, aren't all sweaters technically "made-from-scratch?" It's just my way of saying what a great job Shelly did in her Thursday morning safari class knitting this lovely, cozy new sweater, with CASCADE 220 SUPERWASH yarn, section by section, each week, as we wrote the pattern to fit her personal body dimensions and tastes. By taking a leap of faith, Shelly now has a handknit sweater she knitted herself that fits and looks exactly as she wanted it to! It doesn't get any better than that if you are a knitter, folks! Great job, Shelly! Next!

ATTENTION YARN LOVERS: The 2013 METRO YARN CRAWL begins in just 10 DAYS! Between April 20-28th participate in the METRO YARN CRAWL (MYC) by purchasing this year's red MYC tote bag and receive 20% off all regularly priced merchandise (excluding needles) at TEN participating yarn stores in the metro D.C./MD/VA area! You must have the bag to receive the discount and may shop at any of the ten stores as many times as you like and receive the discount during these nine days in April! Don't feel like trekking around? No worries, as long as you have the red MYC tote bag just earn the 20% at your favorite LYS's! Totes are $10 and are still available NOW at Woolwinders, your neighborhood yarn shop! Happy crawling, friends!

Here's to hoping everyone has a lovely spring afternoon and a chuckle!

Don't forget! Our NEW KNITALONG, the SHADES OF GREY AFGHAN, begins NEXT SATURDAY, APRIL 13TH! Terry has finished the first square and it's nice and easy to get you started with some simply lovely textured stitchwork using 1 skein of CASCADE 220 SUPERWASH color #892 Space Needle (it really is grey, not blue). The class is full for April but now's the time to register for the May session on MAY 11TH from 12-2 PM and be the first to get the newest afghan square patterns for that month! We will not be emailing these patterns, however, they will be available AT WOOLWINDERS and on our RAVELRY GROUP PAGE at http://www.ravelry.com/groups/woolwinders-yarn-shop on the second Sunday of every month. If you'd like to purchase the yarn for this afghan and don't live near Rockville, MD, we will be happy to ship it to you, just give us a call at 240-632-9276! Please be sure to share your photos of YOUR afghan squares as we knit along together! Happy knitting, friends!    

WOW! If we had a new knitter MVP it would be MARY FRANCIS MILFORD! Look at the fabulous sampler baby afghan she knitted using CASCADE 220 SPORT SUPERWASH yarn! Under the very capable tutelage of FLO MEIT, Mary Francis learned to knit in our Sunday morning BEGINNING KNITTING CLASS and has now moved into the Friday morning safari group knitting class and is well on her way to becoming one heck of a knitter! This afghan incorporates a variety of different stitches, perfect for the new knitter to practice and explore. And look at the wonderful results! Great job, Mary Francis!

Lovely, lovely new spring colorways of ART YARNS BEADED SILK & SEQUINS silk yarn and RHAPSODY GLITTER LIGHT finespun handpainted mohair yarn! Think fine and delicate for spring with cottons, and silks and finespun laces! And with ART YARNS, you'll add that "little something extra" to your knitting and crocheting with their embellished yarns: beads and sequins on the silks and thin threads of silver or gold glitter through the light-as-air mohair! Simply beautiful!

What do you get when you cross the lovely entrelac technique with glamorous and gorgeous ART YARNS CASHMERE 3-PLY yarn? The answer: these stunning cashmere fingerless mitts with entrelac cuffs knitted by ELAINE! Elaine was camera shy at first but we just had to give her boasting rights to such beautiful mitts! New offerings from ART YARNS will be arriving this spring, including their new line of yarns in partnership with Tahki Stacy Charles: TRANQUILITY, more decadent cashmere for you at Woolwinders, your neighborhood yarn shop!