Millicent’s News

July 2009

 

Millicent’s Yarns & More

27 N. Centre Street, Cumberland, MD 21502

301-722-8100 or www.millicentsyarns.com

 

 Shop Hours:  Tues - Sat 10-5, Wed 10-7, Sun 1-4

(closed the last Sun. of each month)

 

MILLICENT’S

NEW COMMUNITY KNITTING PROGRAM

SUNDAY SOCIALS

This July Millicent’s yarns & More is starting a new knitting circle called Sunday Socials where you, as a knitter, can try out new patterns, new yarns, new skills, and meet new friends to boot!

          Sunday Socials will meet the second Sunday of every month from 1:00 to 4:00 for many, many years, we hope.  The third Sunday of the month we will supply follow-up help (also from 1:00 – 4:00).

Here is how it will work.  Every month we will have a new small project that will take one or two skeins of yarn only.  The yarn we use for each project will be one that is out of the ordinary (not one of our “backbone” yarns like Cascade 220 or Lamb’s Pride) which you will purchase as well as any needles you might use (if you don’t already own them)..  We will supply you with a free pattern (patterns in the public domain), a free lesson, and a second free pattern that will allow you to use this newly discovered yarn in another manner.  There is no fee or tuition for Sunday Socials.  We will meet over tea and cookies and have lots of fun.

          Sunday Socials are geared toward Beginner to Intermediate Knitters who have at least taken our Introduction to Knitting Class.  Our Block of the Month Classes have been geared toward Advanced Knitters (or those advanced beginner knitters who are so determined that they will try anything anytime).  But Sunday Socials will be more leisurely, will not demand a large outlay of money for supplies on your part, and will teach you skills that you will use for the rest of your knitting life.  And you will come away every month with a new idea for a knitted gift for family and friends.

 

JULY SUNDAY SOCIAL

Sunday, July 12 , 1:00 – 4:00

Our first project is a sort of “loofa” – a hemp cover for a bar of soap.  Your free patterns will be for a hand towel and dishcloth, and we will show you how you can put these together with a pretty bar of soap in a basket for a gift.  Our yarn will be Hempathy.  Your new skill will be knitting in a lace pattern using yarn overs, making 4 stitch I-Cords, and sewing your cover together the knitter’s way, using the Mattress Stitch..  You will be asked to purchase 1 ball of Hempathy at $6.50 and a pair of  size 5 or 6 straight (or circular) needles and a set of size 5 or 6 double pointed needles (dpns) if you need them.

 

THURSDAY AFTERNOON KIDS KNIT

We will be continuing our Kids Knit program through the summer.  Children ages 6 and up are welcome to Millicent’s on Thursday afternoons at 3:30 to 4:30 learn and increase their skills in knitting and crocheting.

 

MONTHLY KNITTING CLUB

(a.k.a. The Block of the Month Club)

Our Great American Aran Afghan is progressing nicely.  Next meetings are  Wednesday, July 1 in the afternoon (2 – 4) and in the evening (5 – 7).  We will also meet on Sunday, June 5 from 1 – 4.  Our July pattern is on pp 44 - 45.  Please come prepared each month with the number of stitches cast on and the first 6 rows of garter stitch (3 ridges) complete.  Please feel free to join in any month!

 

A KNITTING THOUGHT – from Tara Kellermeyer

“I have a knitting problem.  I can knit a pattern only once.  I know it is a problem.  I have made plenty of adorable sweaters and hats for my kids that could be made for baby shower gifts and vice versa.  But I can’t.  It’s like watching a movie over again.  It just won’t be the same the second time.

          This is especially a problem when it comes to knitting socks.  I mean, we have two feet.  And I love to knit a sock.  (notice no plural.) I love its compact size, perfect for travel, perfect to try a difficult pattern, and perfect on the wallet as it uses only one skein.

          Bill and I let our kids choose a gift, without input, for each other.  This year, for Mother’s Day, my 3 year old Brennan proudly chose a skein of white sock yarn ( in his favorite color, of course).  Every time I pull out my knitting, he asks if I am making the socks he bought me.  So now, for love, I will overcome my problem, face it head on, jump in feet first if you will, and knit two socks.

          I hope.”  

 

For three months now we have been including knitting thoughts from local knitters in our newsletter.  Whenever you feel so moved to write down a knitting thought of your own, please consider handing it to Mel to put in future newsletters.  This, my friends, is a great tradition being born!  So, who’s next????

 

PARKING

       Parking is an issue in Cumberland – an issue that is constantly being addressed by the city and the private owners of large parking lots.  Unfortunately, the parking issue hit Millicent’s square between the eyes this week.  A customer from Eastern Pennsylvania parked in the alley behind the shop.  Innocently he parked on the “Value City” side of the fence in the parking spots that are defined by painted lines.  He put money in the meter and came into the shop for 1 ½ hours.  Then he went out to the car to get something, only to find that his car was gone!  We discovered that it had been towed away.  (yes yes – I paid to get the car out of hock).

Time to beware! The owner of the “Value City” parking lot does not like to have cars parked in back (on their side of the metered fence) and will now tow without warning, notice or any other nicety.  They are also warning people not to park for excessively long periods of time in the larger lot in front of the shops and have security men taking down license plate numbers and checking times.  Not nice.

On the other hand, they have had many spaces  in their parking lot taken up by people who work downtown or shoppers who come to other downtown businesses.  And many of those people are parking in “prime” parking spaces – those parking spaces that are just in front of the shopping center where elderly customers or families would want to park.  So, I guess if we take time to walk in their shoes, we can understand their cracking down.

I’ve been to a downtown business owners meeting to address the issue.  I’m hoping that something good will come of it all.

 

HAVING SAID ALL THAT . . .

Another mainstay business in downtown Cumberland is going out of business.  Kauffman’s Music Store will be closing its doors soon.  It’s a shame.  As a downtown business owner, I implore you to support your downtown, to fight the parking issue with letters to the powers that be, to voice your desire to spend hours at Millicent’s taking lessons and enjoying our atmosphere at your leisure.  Thank you for shopping at Millicent’s.

Knit on, knit on . . .

Mel, Dick, Judith, Jola, Geni and Joanna

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