Millicent’s News

August 2006

 

Millicent’s Yarns & More

27 N. Centre Street, Cumberland, MD 21502

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

AUGUST SALE

BOOKS AND PATTERNS

Books 20% off original price

Patterns 20% to 75% off original price

Plan your fall knitting!

 

Help Wanted at Millicent’s – want to work to support your habit?

We are looking for help in our shop over from August through April and beyond.  We particularly need help on Wednesdays, Tuesday and Thursday mornings, some Fridays, and Saturdays.  We pay our help with “yarn dollars.”  For every hour worked, you keep a tab of your hours and your earnings.  Then anything in the shop can be purchased with those earnings.  (Sorry, we can no longer allow yarn dollars to pay for tuition for classes and workshops taught by any instructor other than Mel.)

 

Are you the right person for working at Millicent’s?  We are looking for folk who are comfortable with hard work, great with people, and are willing to learn. Organizational skills, polite telephone manners, and a willingness to clean and tidy is a plus.  Good listening skills are very important. A sense of humor helps a lot.  Some skill in knitting and/or crochet is sought, but even if your skills are elementary, that will be enough.  Don’t be afraid about not being able to answer customers’ questions; Mel is always with you to do that.  What will you gain helping out at Millicent’s?  You will learn so much just by listening and watching.  You will get to see and touch all the new yarns and other products coming into the shop.  You will get some insight into the inner workings of a retail business.  You will get to examine all the new books and magazines before anyone else!  You will meet upbeat people and enjoy Mel’s humor!

 

The Mad Hat Show – Call for Entries August 22-26

The Mad Hat Show is calling for hats, caps, bonnets, and headgear in two and three-dimensions and in expected and unexpected mediums.  The show, like last year’s Bag Show, will be held at three Centre Street galleries:  60 North Centre Street Gallery, the Connoisseur, and Millicent’s Yarns & More.  Now is the time to set your creativity free!  What can you make that can be worn on the head or can suggest being worn on the head?  Show dates:  September 2 to October 13. Entries can be dropped off at Millicent’s or at 60 North Center Street between Tuesday, August 22 and Saturday, August 26, between 11 and 5.  This is coming up fast so get going!! 

 

All work is encouraged to be for sale.  A 25% commission will be charged.  This show takes place in a public space; therefore sponsors reserve the right to withdraw any entrees deemed not appropriate.  Although great care will be taken, sponsors are not responsible for the safety of submitted works.

LOOKING AHEAD . . .

Sundays at Millicent’s  -- starting in September

Once again, we will be open on Sundays during the fall and winter seasons, 1:30 to 4:00.   I know that for many of you, it is the only time you can get into the shop to take classes or browse.  We will be closed the last Sunday of each month however.

 

Kids’ Activities at Millicent’s  -- starting in September

Tuesdays between 3:30 and 4:30 have become our established Kids Knit time.  We have “kids” between the ages of 6 and 16 gather to knit together.   There is a graduated kind of activity going on – the youngest are working on a knitting spool.  Some then graduate to a knitting board.  The oldest – teenagers from public, private and home schools -- are working advanced knitting projects (the kind with two and sometimes four sticks!) and are creating beaded bags, fingerless gloves with a mitten-top cover-up, socks, complex felted bags.  The younger and the older intermingle effortlessly and politely.  There seems to be a mutual respect for one another’s efforts.  Kids Knit costs $5.00 per hour plus project materials – first lesson is free.  This is a drop-in time although I recommend that your child attend at least one month at a time.

 

Thursdays between 3:30 and 4:30 in September starts a series of monthly project classes for children: Crafts for Kids. Children between the ages of eight and eighteen are welcome to join us.  We will be exploring the following topics: 

Weaving, September 7, 14, 21, 28;

Needlepoint, October 5, 12, 19, 27; 

Needle Felting (sculpting with wool), November 2, 9,16, and Nov. 30. 

We will take a break in December and continue in January.

Tuition fees will be $20.00 for each topic (four lessons) plus material fees which can range between $5.00 and $15 depending upon the complexity of the project.  Please register early so that we can have the right amount of materials for your child.  Classes are limited to 6.

 

Afghan Challenge – starting in September

You can think of this as a Block-A-Month project.  The beauty of this challenge is its economical approach to buying yarn. The yarn of choice is Manos del Uruguay and it 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!  Sign up for this challenge with Mel over the summer.  This will help us to be sure to have enough yarn choices on hand.  Our Afghan Challenge will be held on the first Wednesday evening of every month, starting Sept. 6, and first Sunday afternoon of every month (but the first Sunday in September is Labor Day Weekend, so we’ll change that one month to the second, Sunday, Sept 10). 

 

Here is a year’s worth of dates for you who like to mark your calendars:

Wednesday meetings (5 – 6:30 pm) – 9/6/06, 10/4, 11/1, 12/6, 1/3/07, 2/7, 3/7, 4/4, 5/2, 6/6,

7/11, 8/1, 9/5, 10/3 (afghan construction time)

Sunday meetings (2:00 to 3:30pm) – 9/10/06, 10/8, 11/4, 12/3, 1/7/07, 2/3, 3/4, 4/1, 5/6, 6/3,

7/1, 8/5, 9/9, 10/7 (afghan construction time)

 

We already have 12 participants. The more the merrier! It will be a party!  Be sure to join us for the fun!

 

 

 

Appalachian Festival -- Saturday, September 23, at FSU

A one-day Festival of Appalachian arts and crafts, music and cooking will take place at Frostburg State University.  There will be demonstrations, concerts, a fiddle-banjo-mandolin contest, and a wagon train!  Millicent’s will be setting up a tent to demonstrate fiber arts:  knitting, crocheting, weaving, spinning, embroidery.  I am looking for volunteers to help me demonstrate the traditional crafts we are keeping alive.  The Festival is also looking for volunteers for the Kids’ Tent and for general assistance.  If you’d like to help at the Millicent’s tent, please call Mel at 301-722-8100.  If you’d like to help at the Festival itself, please call Kara Rogers Thomas, professor of folklore and folklife at 301-687-3124.

 

Stitches East in Baltimore -- November 2 – 5

This is more than wonderful.  Stitches East, sponsored by Knitter’s magazine, is one of the premier gatherings for knitters and it is happening in our state!   There are classes galore, plus a market place, book signings, demonstrations, a style show, a student mixer and banquet.  And who are some of the teachers??  Wow –they are some of the best:  Chris Bylsma, Lily Chin, Kaffe Fassett, Vivian Hoxbro, Melissa Leapman, Sally Melville, and our most beloved Beth Brown-Reinsel.  There are classes for beginners through advanced knitters, and I understand that classes are filling quickly.  You can visit online at knittinguniverse.com or phone 1-800-237-7099 to request a brochure.

 

Needlepoint at Millicent’s

We now have many needlepoint kits for you to enjoy!  I particularly like the zipped cases that can be opened almost completely to work the needlepoint design and then zipped closed for immediate use.  We have these in the following:  embroidery scissors case, cell-phone protector, eyeglass case, and small handbag.  We are also carrying needlepoint kits for pillow tops and for children’s wall decorations.  All these kits use cotton floss.  I can order printed canvas needlepoint kits (pillow tops, Christmas stockings) from England with Paternaya wool, and will be happy to do so if the interest is there.  Sorry, I will not be bringing in needlepoint wools that are not part of kits nor handpainted canvas.  These are specialty items that you can find a specialty needlepoint shop.

 

Join Our Knitting Community! 

Kids Knit takes place at Millicent’s on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the summer.  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 5:00.  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 . . . .

Sweater Search:  You might remember, my little red-blue-yellow sweater I’m knitting for new our grandson Luke was missing last month.  Here is its little adventure story.  Patricia, who came back to the shop to knit in earnest when she learned that she was to become a grandmother for the first time, got the phone call that the baby was on the way when she was at Millicent’s taking a lesson.  Needless to say, she gathered up everything in sight (wouldn’t any grandmother-to-be?), and ran home to pack.  Well, guess where the little red sweater went?  It’s now back home and much longer than before.  I’m at the neck!!!

 

I’ve finally been able to see Luke, our first grandchild.  Needless to say, I am smitten!
 
        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