Millicent’s News

June 2006

 

Millicent’s Yarns & More

27 N. Centre Street, Cumberland, MD 21502

Shop Hours:  Tues – Sat, 10 –5,
Wed open late until 7

 


PROGESSIVE SALE ON WINTER WOOLS!!

Although summer isn’t even officially with us yet, I’ve been buying yarns for this coming winter and need space for all the new stuff coming in!!!  So, OUT WITH THE OLD!  Certain wool yarns (hand wash and machine wash wools) throughout the shop, will be marked on sale for three weeks in June.

 

WEEK 1, starting June 6, marked yarns will be reduced by 30%.  WOW!

WEEK 2, starting June 13, these same yarns will be reduced by 40%.  WOW AGAIN!!

WEEK 3, starting June 20, the yarns will be reduced by 50%.  HUH!  CAN’T MISS THIS!!!

 

 

Kids Knit:  Millicent’s is expanding its knitting program for kids, ages 6 through 18, over the summer.  We have had a great group of kids who gather regularly on Tuesday afternoons after school to knit and converse and generally inspire one another.  Beginning June 13, we will be extending Kids Knit to two afternoons:  Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30.  “Good,” said one of the teens.  “Now, if I miss one day, I know I won’t have to miss an entire week.”  Kid’s Knit is an instructional time.  Fees are $5.00 per session, although the instructional fee is waived for your child’s first session when initial materials are purchased.  Mommy Time:  We have Moms and Grandmas take advantage of this time to learn to knit with the kids.  Moms etc get to sit in the comfortable chairs (kids are very jealous about this) and have a class at half-price.  Instruction for Moms etc is a little scattered, given the needs of the kids.  So, what else is new for moms?

 

VAGMA, June 23-25

Sounds like a disease, doesn’t it?  The  Virginia Angora Goat and Mohair Association is holding its 15th annual show, sale, and fiber fest at the West Virginia Fairgrounds in Lewisburg, WV on June 23 -25.  The two days include three spinning classes, or, if you like, there’s a class on Goat Pharmacology 101!  Also a whole day of vendors for your buying pleasure.  For more info visit www.angoragoats.com or write Pat Kalitka, PO Box 305, Waterford, VA 20197.

 

KNIT & CROCHET SHOW: July 13-16, King of Prussia, PA

Almost in our backyard!  Four glorious days of classes on crocheting and knitting, plus a daily show for shopping you won’t want to miss.  Here are a few choices for you if you can attend:  Celtic Cables, Felting in Crochet, Design a Skirt, Spicing it up with Crochet, Crochet a Picture, Needlewoven Buttons, Blue Ribbon Finishing.  And this is only a very small sample from hundreds of class offerings.  For more info, visit www. KnitandCrochetshow.com or write to the Knit & Crochet show, 1100-H Brandywine Blvd, Zanesville, OH 43701-7303.

 

STITCHES EAST in BALTIMORE:  November 2 – 5

The mother of all knitting conventions will be taking place at our very own Baltimore Area Convention Center this year!  This is fantastic news for all of us.  There will be a wide array of classes, a fashion show,  prizes, demonstrations, book signings, and a floor show (in two arenas) for buying yarns, patterns, etc etc unlike any you’ve ever seen!  Keep these dates free!  You’ll want to go!

 

 

Summer Baby Sweater Challenge:  Fair Isle in Fingering Weight

It’s all Tara’s fault.  She started it, so don’t blame me.  We are challenging one another to knit a Fair Isle (stranded color work) sweater for our infants using Baby Ull from Dale of Norway and one of their intricate patterns.  Crazy?  You bet.  But there are already several folk who have heard of our challenge and are ready to join in.  We’ll meet weekly on Wednesdays during Knitters Night Out (5 – 7pm) starting June 7.  Come as you are able -- it’s bound to be a lot of laughs.  However, attendance is not necessary – at home efforts are counted too!

  

Afghan Challenge – starting in September

If you’ve seen Manos del Uruguay yarns, you’ve already fallen in love with them.  Hand dyed in beautiful shades in a women’s cooperative whose goal is to raise women out of the economic bottom rung, this yarn has been accompanied by beautiful designs for many many years. 

 

One pattern is especially fun:  a 12-square afghan that uses 12 different colors and 12 different designs.  We will be using this pattern as the basis for our Afghan Challenge on first Wednesday evening of every month, starting Sept. 6, and first Saturday morning of every month (when the first Saturday is Labor Day Weekend, so we’ll change that one month to the second, Saturday, Sept 9).  The beauty of this challenge is its economical approach to buying yarn.  Manos is moderately expensive.  Purchasing enough to knit an entire afghan is out of many folks’ budgets.  But, buying one skein per month is very manageable (between $12.75 and $14.75 per skein), and that is what we will be doing!

 

Why a challenge?  Well, for some, learning each pattern will be a challenge.  For some, finishing each square will be a challenge.  For some, getting through all 12 and finishing the entire afghan will be the challenge.  BUT, by doing this a group, it will be fun and give us incentive to get done! I’ve already had an overwhelming response to this program.  Glad to know that so many folk are interested.  And I’m looking forward to it!  Sign up for this challenge with Mel over the summer.  This will help us to be sure to have enough yarn choices on hand.

 

Just a reminder. . . .

Embroidery Workshops – monthly from May through December

Karen Philips-Shwallon, a master of award-winning needlework from Pennsylvania, will be leading all interested students through a long-term project  called“You Have My Heart.”  Karen has designed a large heart-shaped sampler for this nine-month series of workshops.  Students will learn new stitches each month, embroider them on their sampler between workshops, and then return to share their work and learn more!  While students are encouraged to attend on a monthly basis, Karen is happy to include any of you whose schedules make regular attendance more difficult.  The workshops will take place one Friday of each month, beginning May 19, from 10 am to 3 pm with a lunch break.  Fees are $30 per session.

The full schedule of dates are May 19, June 23, July 21, August 25, September 22, October 27, November 17 and December 15, just in time for a finished product for the holidays!

 

Millicent’s Now Has Embroidery Floss and Needles

A wide selection of colors in Anchor Floss has just arrived.  It’s really beautiful to behold, and will be lots of fun to use.  We also have embroidery needles of all sizes.  We hope to carry fine embroidery hoops soon. 

 

Rigid Heddle Loom Workshops

We’re happy to repeat our introductory to weaving workshop on July 8 and 15, followed by a project class on July 22.  For more information, see our Classes page on this website.

 

Great Free Patterns!

I’m not likely to do this very often, as I really prefer to sell you the great patterns that I bring into the shop for your knitting and crochet pleasure.  Still and all,  when I find something really really good, I’ve got to share it with you.  Check out the Berroco website (www.berroco.com).  They, like Crystal Palace (www.straw.com)know that fun patterns make for fun knitting and crocheting.

 

Beth Brown-Reinsel Workshop for 2007

Yes, she’s coming back!  Looking forward to a two-day workshop April 14 – 15, 2007.  Mark your calendars!

 

 

Triangular Loom Workshop

What a great fun time that was!  We had ten of us set up on hugh big looms, plus several other looms around for demonstration sake.  Folk came from Lancaster, PA and Mannasas, VA and several towns in MD.  And there was a crew of us local folkal who were weaving away, happy a little birds!  I’ve got several pieces on loom and available for you to see.  Come in to visit or take our introductory workshop on Saturday, June 17 from 1:00 to 3:00.  This is a great new way (well, really ancient way) to use beautiful yarns. 

 

Calling again for Chemo Caps

We have a new challenge.  In the six months since Katrina, one Mississippi hospital has been able to open its department for cancer patients, and an Oncology Center independent of any hospital has been able to re-open its doors.  The need for chemo caps is urgent.  I will have free chemo cap patterns at the shop for use with Chinchilla yarn.  I also have other chemo cap patterns or you can go on the net to search for chemo cap patterns.  Please use an especially soft yarn, like Chinchilla.   And here’s my challenge to you:  I have perhaps 80 to 100 balls of Chinchilla in the shop.  Let’s see if we can use them all for Chemo Caps for Mississippi.  Moreover, for every cap you knit and return to the shop, I’ll give you a 50% discount on your next ball of Chinchilla (more than ever!).

 

Join Our Knitting Community! 

Kids Knit takes place at Millicent’s on Tuesdays after school.  We have knitters ranging in age from 6 to 16.  This is instructional time – fees are $5.00 per hour.  Many Moms are learning to knit with us at the same time.

Knit-ins for adults are every Wednesday are from 12 noon to 2:00 and every Friday from 1:00 to 3:00.  Fee: $2.00

Hook-Ups with a crochet focus are on Wednesdays, from 3:30 to 5:30.  Fee: $2.00

Knitter’s Night Out (otherwise known as Knitter’s Therapy Night) 5:00 to 7:00 on Wednesday evenings. $2.00

 

And on a personal note . . . .

Remember that I closed the shop in May for 10 days?  The grand plan was to go see our new grandbaby and then to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Show for classes and to look and see and buy.  Didn’t happen . . . Many of you know that my 92 year old mother has been living with us the last two years.  She has been doing well – But something happened the last three weeks.  Mom has begun to be very confused, sometimes not remembering where she is, thinking she is a girl back in St Louis, insisting that she return to her mother’s home.  I keep thinking that she must be frightened, but really I think it is me.  When she wants to go home to her mother, she is real clear about it.  Anyhow, all my well laid plans were cancelled.  Hey, this parenting the parent is hard stuff.    Still, I did get a great garden in during those days at home!!  There’s the bright side of life.  (To view garden, drive by 801 Washington Street – its all about color and texture, just like my knitting!)



 

 

Happy Knitting and Crocheting

and Tatting and Weaving and Spinning

and Embroidery

from

Millicent’s Yarns & More!

 

 

  

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Millicent's Knits and Yarns • 49 North Centre Street • Cumberland, Maryland 21502
phone 301-722-8100 • mel@millicentsyarns.com