This year's DOWNTON ABBEY KNITALONG PROJECT for Season Four of the popular television series will be a lovely wrap with a lace sampler border. Each week you will receive a new section of the lace border to work on during the new episode on Sunday evenings. HOWEVER, you MUST KNIT THE BODY OF THE WRAP NOW in order to be ready for January 5th when we issue the pattern for the first lace section of the wrap's border. The patterns will be available each week on our RAVELRY GROUP PAGE or via email if you SIGN UP to receive emails. The wrap requires approx. 1120 yards of heavy DK or light worsted weight yarn and an equal amount of mohair to be worked two strands held together on a size US 10 needle. We are using 4 skeins of STRING THEORY MERINO DK and 3-4 skeins of SHIBUI SILK CLOUD mohair (adding the mohair is optional). Whatever yarn you choose, START KNITTING THE BODY OF YOUR WRAP NOW! The directions are available at the store or on our ravelry group page at www.ravelry.com/groups/woolwinders-yarn-shop and get ready for a great new season even without Matthew...

  Friday morning SAFARI LITE CLASS member BEATRIZ del OLMO models her brand new RASTA NECKWARMER using MALABRIGO RASTA yarn!  Great job, Beatriz, you keep at it, girl! Can't wait to see what's next! Stop in this week and choose your color of RASTA yarn from our latest shipment of 15 NEW COLORS that came in just before Christmas before they're gone! SPOILER: This is the yarn featured in our JANUARY 11TH ARM KNITTING CLASS! If you are even THINKING about taking this great new class, on SATURDAY, JANUARY 11TH from 12-2 PM with our newest staff member, SUZY ROY, you should get your RASTA NOW to assure the best selection of colors! Happy holidays, everyone!

  A HUGE thank you to our own, SUZY ROY who initiated a class on the latest craze to hit knitting, ARM KNITTING! Her first class was taught this past month and attracted the interest of CBS producer, Jane Chick, who filmed the class and actually AIRED A SEGMENT on CBS NEWS affiliates in Minneapolis on Sunday, December 22nd! WATCH THE LINK BELOW featuring interviews with SUZY, and class participants, LAURA EISENMAN, and KARIN HALL! Then REGISTER for Suzy's next ARM KNITTING CLASS on SATURDAY, JANUARY 11TH from 12-2 PM and knit your very own bulky scarf using just 2 skeins of MALABRIGO RASTA YARN (we have TONS!) and your own two forearms in under two hours, at Woolwinders, where there's alway something new for you! Who know? You might come to class one day and become a TV star the next, lol! The segment has been sent to local CBS affiliates who may use it as a color story filler during local broadcasts in our area but no specific dates or times were provided to us. http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/video/9660353-making-hats-scarves-or-mittens-try-arm-knitting/

  MERRY CHRISTMAS from the staff of Woolwinders Yarn Shop! We hope all our wonderful, loyal customers enjoy the blessings of this  holiday season. Our store will be CLOSED DECEMBER 23-26TH to celebrate Christmas and will RE-OPEN on Friday, DECEMBER 27TH per our usual schedule. We look forward to seeing you then and in the meantime, may the joy of the season come to you and yours and remember: keep knitting!

  We are RASTA READY here at Woolwinders! Just in today: 140 skeins of the fabulous MALABRIGO RASTA YARN in 15 gorgeous colorways with each one more beautiful than the next! If you don't have your quick-knit holiday project yet, tomorrow is the last day before Christmas at Woolwinders to shop! Be sure to pick your colors of RASTA now before the ARM KNITTING CLASS on JANUARY 11TH which uses 2 skeins of RASTA to make the coolest and fastest chunky scarf ever!  REGISTER NOW for ARM KNITTING on JANUARY 11TH from 12-2 with SUZY ROY to be sure to reserve your spot and by all means get your RASTA YARN now to assure your best color choices. BTW, CBS NEWS is putting together an editorial for TV using segments/interviews they taped during our first ARM KNITTING class! Stay tuned for dates and times when it will air and see your Woolwinders friends on TV!

  Don't delay! Only TWO SHOPPING DAYS LEFT UNTIL CHRISTMAS at Woolwinders Yarn Shop! Remember: we are CLOSED DECEMBER 23-26TH to celebrate the Christmas holiday and will RE-OPEN on Friday, DECEMBER 27TH! Be sure to stop in this weekend for those last minute knitter's gifts like needle cases, yarn bowls, knitting bags and gift cards OR to pick up yarn for your vacation project to work on over the holidays or while traveling this holiday season! Happy holidays everyone from your friends at Woolwinders, your neighborhood yarn shop!

The tradition of knitting is alive and well in the next generation! JULES GARABEDIAN sent me this beautiful photo of her SELF-DESIGNED  Christmas Cowl! W.O.W. And even though she used our SHEPHERD'S WOOL yarn, she taught herself the Fair Isle technique! Oh, to be young and beautiful and brilliant again! But hey, we CAN be! Like Jules, take chances with your knitting, be adventurous, and never stop learning!  There is a BIG WORLD out there filled with new ideas, new yarns, new techniques (HINT: ARM KNITTING JANUARY 11TH CLASS!) just waiting for you and me to enjoy! Knit strong, friends, a new year is coming for you to explore with us, your friends at Woolwinders Yarn Shop! Happy holidays!

  Thursday afternoon Safari Knitting Group member, CAROLYN GOLD, knitted this wonderfully unique scarf using MADELINETOSH TOSH CHUNKY yarn and a can-do attitude to try new stitches and new constructions! And what great results! Carolyn added not only a great new scarf to her wardrobe but some new skills to her knitting "wardrobe" as well! Great job, Carolyn (and it looks especially good on you too)!

  Our Original Pancake House Charity Knitting Representative, KATHRYN WINSBERG, stopped in today and collected all your wonderful hand knitted and hand crocheted donated charity items to be donated to THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE'S ANNUAL CHARITY BREAKFAST for the disadvantaged in our area. Your lovingly made items will be distributed to individuals in need in our area, adults and children alike, who will benefit from your kindness. Thank you, thank you for your generosity. Merry Christmas and God Bless You.

  Whoa, baby! Thursday afternoon Safari Knitting Group class member, SUSAN BRAUNSTEIN, is ready to rock in the New Year this year in her stylish HPKY VENICE SHAWL! She did a wonderful job on this versatile accessory and pairs it well with slacks here in this photo but can easily spice up any holiday attire with just a hint of VENICE'S lovely glittery strands running throughout. Great job, SUE!