Welcome to The Woolly Panda, a small, female-run business owned and operated by me - Elena! I am a MICA graduate with a BFA in Fibers. My grandmother taught me how to cross stitch at 6 years old, which is where my hobby began, and then a family friend taught me how to knit at 11 years old. From there I taught myself crochet and embroidery, and then in school I learned to weave, spin, sew, dye, and so much more! It was also during this time that the idea of The Woolly Panda began to sprout. I just knew I wanted to make my life all about yarn, and that is what I am determined to do.

My goal for The Woolly Panda is to become a farm-to-table yarn store. I am working towards having my own sheep farm where I can raise all my woolly pals, collect their fleece, scour it, card it, spin it, and dye it all myself. A lofty goal, I know! In the meantime as I work my way towards this dream, I am sourcing all my yarn locally from the DMV area and hand-dyeing it in my little garage-studio in Centreville, Maryland. Occasionally I will get my hands on some raw wool that I get to spin myself, so keep an eye out for those special products! I aim to create bold, beautiful colors in a minimal-waste and eco-friendly way that reflect my love, passion, and respect for this wonderful medium. I really hope you enjoy my yarn-tastic creations and thanks for stopping by!