Knitting circles were once a popular place to exchange rumors about the area's handsomest firemen, which of the neighbouring 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 $12, you get a beginners' knitting class at Unwind Yarn House in Newmarket (a $25 value).
Unwind Yarn House's knitting gurus reveal simple steps for transforming shapeless yarn bales into an endless array of dazzling accessories. In a small class limited to six students, instructors delve into the basics of needle wielding, from casting on at the beginning of projects to casting off when hands must attend a shadow puppet festival. Over the course of two hours, budding craftsters learn knitting and purling techniques to create snuggle-worthy patterns. Though materials are not included, students can peruse the store's natural fibre spools of silk, cotton, and wool yarn, as well as exotic fibres such as corn, sugar, and seaweed. After class, empowered hands can draw upon sturdy skill foundation to create an endless array of knitted wares, swathing friends and lonely snowmen in handmade scarves, shawls, and other hand-fashioned apparel.