Check out this thread:

Here is a link that might be useful: DC/VA yarn stores

Woolwinders in Rockville (mentioned in the linked thread) is a great shop. They've been very helpful. I'm going to be taking classes there shortly.

Thank you both for your input; this is the sort of thing you cannot find in the back of a magazine. It's funny about knitting shops - some you go into and come out of with a new friend and yarn. Others, you leave and wonder how they stay in business.

TommeCA, I have been doing a search for yarn stores in the different states we have been visiting this summer. I didn't do a search for the DC area, because I didn't think we would be going there. We did. We made a detour to visit my husband's cousin and his wife. She knits, though it's been many years, and would like to get started again. I asked her about stores in the area, and she said there weren't any. I just emailed her with the link that was posted above. I wish I had looked them up before I left. I just type in i.e. "VA yarn stores" in the search engine and get lots of info like was mentioned above. Enjoy your trip and find lots of good places to shop! When I stayed with my daughter in Cincinnati, OH for a month 2 years ago, we did the same thing in that area. You are right. You walk into some and come out with yarn and new friends. Others, you walk out wondering how they stay in businss. We walked out of 2 of them thinking that! The third was like walking into my local store, coming home, with a different selection, and new friends.

Tami