Knitting circles were once a popular place to exchange rumors about the area's handsomest fireman, which of the neighboring towns' mayors were secretly left-handed, and the fate of the Crumb brothers. Get your finger on the pulse and some yarn with today's Groupon: for $7, you get $15 worth of yarn and supplies at BeauKnits Yarn Shoppe in Cohoes.

BeauKnits Yarn Shoppe outfits knitters, and crocheters with the necessary supplies to create all manner of projects. The cozy store hosts a cornucopia of yarn balls and skeins, available in brands such as Plymouth, Brown Sheep, and Berroco and in myriad colors, thicknesses, textures, and blood types. Thin and delicate lace yarns ($8–$20) help fill out a doily collection, Malabrigo sock-yarns fan across frigid feet ($18.75), and a few coils of Lamb's Pride wool yarn ($8.50) helps needle-wielders to knit a model sheep or imitation alpaca. The store's extensive supply of needles enhances crafts large and small, and its selection of patterns and books helps take the guesswork out of garnishing. The staff, eager to answer any knitting or crocheting questions, aids indecisive crafters in choosing the perfect tools for the job at hand.