Millicent’s News

Millicent’s News  --  March 2010

Millicent’s Yarns & More

27 N. Centre Street Cumberland, MD 21502

301-722-8100      millicentsyarns.com

Shop Hours:  T - Sat, 10 - 5, Sun 12 - 5

Wed, open late until 7

 

ADDI TURBO CLICK SETS ARE BACK!  The folks at Addi Turbo waited a long time for technology to develop before they came out with a set of interchangeable needles. We’ve ordered the “Clicks” in the past and always run out of them.  Once again we have four sets of Clicks.  The set sells for $175, but if you were to purchase each potential needle (sizes 4 through 15 in 16”, 24”, 36” and longer if the cables are combined) would cost you over $660.   That’s almost as good as an Antiques Roadshow find!

HAT OF THE MONTH CLUB BEGINS IN MARCH  Our Hat of the Month Club is based on the book Hats On!  31 Warm and Winsome Caps for Knitters by Charlene Schurch.  She writes that her collection of patterns is contemporary, though many have a traditional look, based on historical artifacts found in museum collections.  There are many techniques used:  plain stockinette,  Gansey and lace, multi-color stranded or Fair Isle knitting, and mitered squares.  Most of the hats are knitted of worsted weight yarn, a few of sport or fingering.  The projects are small, easy to carry about, and will not over-warm us as we knit through the summer!  Schurch leads us through a number of cast on methods and various decorative embellishments such as pompoms, tassels, cords and braids.  Copies of Hats On! is available at Millicent’s.  The Hat of the Month Club is geared toward intermediate and experiences knitters.  It meets the first Wednesday or Sunday of every month. 

We will meet Wednesday, March 3 from 2 – 4 and again from 5 – 7.  Our weekend group meets Sunday, March 7, 1 - 3.  Please choose a time that is convenient for your schedule and feel free to come to as many meetings as you’d like.  The Hat of the Month Club is a free activity at Millicent’s.  We ask only that you purchase your book, yarn, and needles you may need at our shop.       

Our first hat is a single-color Gansey Watch Cap that uses 210 to 220 yards of a light worsted weight wool such as Cascade 220, or Louet Gems, Eco Alpaca, or Ultra Alpaca.  We will be reading a chart that is written for several sizes and uses symbols for a variety of decreases.  You might consider a light color yarn for this hat as the shadows the purls stitches in the pattern cast will be more evident than with a dark colored yarn.  Please join us for lots of fun!  What a wonderful way to have 12 beautiful hats finished by holiday time 2010!

SUNDAY SOCIAL,  March 14, 1 – 3pm  Sunday Socials at Millicent’s Yarns & More is available for beginner through advanced knitters.  Our goal is to teach a new skill and explore a new yarn every month while introducing a small project that can be complete in a few days.  And we have a lot of fun.  Patterns and lessons are free.  We ask that you purchase your yarn and supplies at Millicent’s.  We meet the second Sunday of every month from 1 – 3.

Our  March Sunday Social is a mystery.  But you will need to do some work before we meet March 14.  We have direction sheets at Millicent’s that will guide you through your preparation.  Let us tell you for now that this is an easy knit (beginners breathe easy!)  It is knit in the round. But it is a project that will take some time to knit: I knit my preparation on a round trip to Richmond and back plus one evening.  As for the revelation of the mystery, bring a pair of scissors with you on Sunday, March 14!

TRUNK SHOW FROM  DEEP  SOUTH  FIBERS  Deep South Fibers is a new company that has sought out little known knitwear designers who offer something new and exciting.  Millicent’s has a fun trunk show (garments on loan from a designer) from them – no, actually it is a funny trunk show of knitted toys from Dangercrafts which has the weirdest take on bears and bunnies and dogs that I’ve seen in a long while.  I am happy to offer a one-day class in knitting these little bits if there is enough interest.  We also have on loan the “Featherweight Cardigan” by Knitbots which has become a great hit on Ravelry.  Come and take a look!

CLASS  POLICY  CHANGES  --  PLEASE READ  We set a maximum number of students for our classes in order to assure that each student has the attention they deserve.  Unfortunately, we have been reserving spaces for students at their request only to find they don’t come to class.  This means that other potential students are turned away, when, in fact, they could have attended.  “No shows” hurt them and us. 

Because of this ongoing situation, we are instituting a new policy with our March class registration. From now on, only those students who pay the tuition fee in advance will have a space reserved for them in our computer listing.  That way we can keep the class open for students who do want to attend.  Students can pay during a visit to Millicent’s with cash, check, or credit card, or call over the phone to register and pay with a credit card.  I apologize in advance for being so hard-nosed, but we turned many people away this season only to find that our classes were filled with “no shows.”  No fun.

SNOW- DAYS Most of you now know that we do take snow-days when the snow is really bad.  That is for your safety and our safety.  Our winter store motto is “No yarn is worth dying over.” If we are closing because of a storm, we will put a message on our answering machine and try to call students in any upcoming class. Please rest assured that we will make up all classes that have been cancelled because of bad weather.  And that is why so many of our March classes are starting in the middle of the month!  We’re beginning to think Easter and Spring – so watch for that in our classes.  (Look for the asterisk *)  

 

THURSDAY AFTERNOON KIDS KNIT Our program for children continues – the kids continue to amaze us with their sense of adventure.  Children ages 6 and up are welcome to Millicent’s on Thursday afternoons at 3:30 to 4:30 to learn and increase their skills in knitting and crocheting.  Parents are asked to pick up children by 4:45 at the latest please!

 

Knit on, knit on, through all your happiness and woes!

 

Mel, Dick, Judith, Jola, Joanna, and Geni

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