Portland, you're my hero.

Okay okay, Portland, I will never doubt your winter prowess again. This has been most impressive; I never knew you had it in you.

But really, it's not even the unprecedented accumulation of snow that has me in awe, or the fact that I've now gotten used to walking the 4 miles from home to the store, whereas two weeks ago this hadn't even occurred to me as a potential way to commute to work. It's the fact that we knitters don't seem at all deterred by this historic weather event. Despite the fact that the parking lot looks like this,

our doors are still open, and last-minute holiday shopping aside, that's probably a good thing if you're anticipating being snowed in for the next few days as we ramp up for what appears to be round three coming our way tomorrow night.

Amongst the champion customers this past week has been a cheerful knitter who actually cross-country skiied in to the store, and this brave soul who came in Saturday night just before we closed, to get another half-pound of yarn to finish off a baby blanket he's been working on for a friend and was banking on a long night of crocheting ahead of him.

So as a reminder, yes we will be open Wednesday, December 24, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed on Christmas Day, and open regular hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with hot cocoa to warm you up once you arrive! Just look for the sign...it stands out a lot more when there's nothing else but white.

Rain or shine! (Or snow...)

We'll believe it when we see it, but supposedly Portland's going to get quite a dumping of snow this weekend! Nevertheless, we'll be here at the shop all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, no matter the conditions. Given that we are normally closed Mondays and Tuesdays, we know how crucial this weekend might be for last-minute holiday shopping...or stocking up for what might be a cozy couple of snow days!

If you were hoping to purchase a gift certificate in time for the holidays but aren't able to make it in to the shop, we are excited to announce that we are now able email you a PDF version of your gift certificate, so that you don't have to wait for it to come in the mail, and can just print it off yourself at home. These gift certificates are available in our online shop, and are redeemable online as well, if you're not from the area.

Please note that we will also be open Wednesday, December 24, for our regularly scheduled hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. So if you live nearby, or are of the adventuresome spirit, we'll be here with the heat cranked up and yarn-a-winding. Enjoy it while it lasts!

Newcomers to the Shop

We've been spending the past week recovering from a crazy time up in Seattle the previous weekend and unpacking from the Urban Craft Uprising, and have discovered that there's an upside to this for you all here in Portland. We made so much new yarn for the show that we returned to PDX with an ample amount still in tow -- way more than we could fit on the shelves here at the store.

So, we've done some rethinking, reconstructing, and rearranging, and now have a new big shelf boasting a plethora of 4-ounce and 8-ounce cones, ready to go, that will remain stocked with pre-made yarn. Yes, it's been a busy month at the shop as people scramble to whip up last-minute holiday gifts, and for those of you who like to peruse the house blends of yarn that we already have on hand, rather than starting from scratch and making your own, we've now got many more options to choose from!


And as always, if you're just stopping in to the shop to buy premade cones, needles, notions, or gift certificates while we're busy winding custom orders, just let us know and we'll ring you up first so you don't have to wait. Additionally, if you've got a custom blend to be wound but there's a long wait ahead of you, you are welcome to prepay for your yarn and pick it up at a future time that's convenient for you (shipping is also available for out-of-towners). Just let us know!

Fourth Annual UCU -- The Biggest and Best!

What a weekend! Thanks so much to everyone who came out to the Urban Craft Uprising this past Saturday and Sunday in Seattle. We had nearly 8,000 attendees and it looked like on both sides, vendors and fans, everyone walked away happy!

If you were one of the first 100 people through the doors either Saturday or Sunday you probably received some fun Yarnia swag...but if you missed it, you should check out Crafty Wonderland's Super Colossal Holiday Sale this coming Sunday at the Oregon Convention Center. Yarnia is a sponsor for their show and we'll have some fun treats in their swag bags as well!

Running the Yarnia booth at UCU with friends Katie and Kris...what happy knitters!

Don't forget, if you're looking to learn a new skill or taking your knitting or crocheting to the next level, you can check out our class listing and try something new! Our classes are all now "on demand," and scheduled according to those who sign up, including the beginner knitting classes. However, all skill levels are welcome at our Wednesday Knit & Crochet Nights, so if you've just learned and want to practice in a casual group environment, come and join us!