Merry Pin

05/13/2026

We are super proud to be DC’s only full service arts and craft store, and we strive every day to be the place where your creativity finds a home. If we’ve helped you find the perfect supplies, your kid had a good time at camp, or you’re just glad that we’re here, please consider voting for us in Best of DC!

How to vote:
1.Head to the link in our bio
2. Go to the Goods & Services section.
3. Find Best Arts & Crafts Store.
4. Type in Merry Pin and hit save!

Voting ends June 10th! 🗳️

05/13/2026

Have you seen these adorable watercolor kits from ? Cate Paper Co. is owned by Catherine —an artist, designer and letterpress printer based in Washington, D.C.

Why we love these kits:
1️⃣ Made locally & a woman-owned company!
2️⃣ Compact and portable - everything packaged together in a tin painting box.
3️⃣ When finished, the scenes make great notecards for friends & family.

Shop these great kits & other fabulous local products on our website (link in bio). We have a whole special section called "Shop Local" where you can find all of the DMV products we carry >> https://bit.ly/42rHdn0

05/12/2026

Sprinkling some crafty magic on your feed ✨

Find more

05/12/2026

This Week @ Merry Pin: 5/11 - 5/17

Fund the Tools for a Stronger Merry Pin

In just the past 3 days, the community has raised more than $6,000 to support Merry Pin, including a matching donation of $1,000 from one of our amazing customers, neighbors, and workshop facilitators, Krysten.

We're so extremely grateful for everyone who has contributed so far, but we need another $10,000 this week in order to open the sidewalk cafe.

This is crucial to be able to keep Merry Pin serving the community in its current capacity and keep our amazing staff.

Why are we asking for your support?

A series of unfortunate events combined with two years of lost sidewalk cafe revenue has put us in a very tight place. In the last few weeks:

1) One of our sprinkler system pipes burst (costing $4,300 to repair)
2) Our freezer broke ($500 to replace) and we lost $400+ in food inventory (total: $900)
3) Our oven is on the fritz and needs a technician ($500)
4) Our dishwasher broke ($5,000 to replace)

We have completed the patio construction, but cannot afford the fence ($15,000) and other components we need to pass inspection and get our permit to begin using the space.

We need to raise at least $20,000 in order to be able to keep Merry Pin serving the community in its current capacity and keep our amazing staff.

Wednesday: Weekly Open Craft Studio, 3:30pm-5:30pm

Thursday: Crafts & Laughs @ 6:30pm

Friday: Intro to Riso Zines @ 6:30pm

Saturday: Crafty Tales—Clementine Hunter @ 10:00am

Sunday: Glass Cutting Afternoon (3 Times Available)

Now Serving Edible Cookie Dough & Marshmallow Goodness 🍪

Join us on Sunday, May 31 for afternoon tea!

Give The Gift of Crafting!

Have friends and family outside of DC who love to craft? Help support our independent business by spreading the word about our online store. We ship nationwide.

We also sell virtual and physical gift cards—they make perfect last minute gifts for friends and family no matter where they live!

Click here for an update from Merry Pin DC!

05/10/2026

Pinkies up, DC! ☕️ Join us on Sunday, May 31, as Merry Pin transforms into a cozy tea room for a special Afternoon Tea service. Indulge in a 75-minute escape featuring:
🫖 A bottomless pot of your favorite tea
🥪 Three tiers of treats: finger sandwiches, large English scones with house-made clotted cream & lemon curd, and delightful sweets.
🎨 Relaxing tea-themed coloring sheets to spark your creativity while you sip.

Whether you’re catching up with friends or looking for a whimsical Sunday activity, we have a seat for you. This event booked up last time, so make sure you reserve your sitting soon!

05/09/2026

From “BYO Tent” to “I Need a Real Bed and a Private Space,” Camp Merry has a bunk for every budget and comfort level. Here’s the breakdown:

⛺️The Nature Purist ($125): Bring your own tent and pitch it under the canopy of Rothrock State Forest. You get the full forest experience with the luxury of indoor bathroom access just a short walk away.
🌲The Classic Camper ($245-$325): Care for your inner child in the bunkhouse! Choose from the Lower Bunkhouse (actual bunk beds, with A/C), or the Upper Bunkhouse (single beds, fans provided)
🪵The Room Seeker ($450): Need a little more me time? Grab a single bed in one of our limited private-ish bedrooms.

Everything else is included: Regardless of where you lay your head, your registration covers all meals, snacks, beverages, two full workshops, and every single campfire s’more your heart desires. Plus we have fun add ons like t-shirts, care packages, and more!

Space is limited (especially those real beds!), so snag your spot now at the link in our bio 🛏️

05/08/2026

Learn to crochet the classic granny square. This beginner-friendly kit teaches you how to make classic granny squares — the colorful, timeless building blocks of crochet. Ages: 7+

You’ll also learn to crochet triangles, which can be strung together to make a cheerful bunting or used to add creative flair to any project. Granny squares are a beloved craft tradition, simple to learn yet endlessly versatile. Stitch them together to create scarves, blankets, bags, or decorative home pieces. Made with 100% wool yarn.

Great for ages 7 and up, this crochet starter kit includes everything you need to begin your crochet journey.

Grab yours in store or online (we offer local pick-up or can ship to your door!): https://bit.ly/3PgoY0L

05/07/2026

We have some huge news: Merry Pin was recently named Retail Business of the Year by the DC Chamber of Commerce and DSLBD! We are incredibly honored to be recognized for the work we do bringing creativity to Upper Georgia Ave. 🏆🎨

But here is the honest truth: Being successful on paper doesn’t always mean having the cash in the bank to survive a perfect storm.

In the last three weeks, we’ve been hit with:
💥 A $5,000 dishwasher replacement
💥 A $4,300 burst sprinkler pipe
💥 A freezer failure + lost inventory
💥 Slow foot traffic and low sales days

At the same time we’ve poured everything into fixing the 860-sq-ft public patio outside our doors to make it a community hub. The $30k construction is *finally* done, but we are $20,000 short for the fencing and final permits required to actually open it and start generating revenue. Combined with lack of capital access due to our initial SBA loan and rising infrastructure costs, we are at a tipping point. Without funds, we are facing a forced downsizing that would change what Merry Pin is to this neighborhood.

How you can help:
1) Donate to our Patio Fund: 🔗 in bio
2) Shop with us: every coffee, craft kit, and workshop ticket helps.
3) Share this post: Help us reach people who believe in keeping local spaces alive.

We love this community and plan to be here for the long haul. Can you help us get across this finish line and celebrate two years?

05/06/2026

Things are getting spicy at Merry Pin! 🔥

We are officially turning TWO this June, and to celebrate we’re throwing a month-long celebration that is, quite literally, Two Hot to Handle.

It’s hard to believe, but Merry Pin is turning TWO! Over the last 730 days, this community has turned a little dream of a craft shop into a roaring fire of creativity, connection, and color.

Since our birthday falls right in the middle of Pride Month, we’ve decided to turn up the volume. This year, our anniversary theme is Too Hot to Handle. We’re celebrating the sizzling success of this little corner and the vibrant, fiery spirit of our LGBTQ+ community here in DC.

Here is everything you need to know about the weeks of festivities, our community art project, and how you can get an invite to the *hottest* party of the year.

Give The Gift of Crafting

Click here for an update from Merry Pin DC!