Millicent’s News

Millicent’s News  --  April 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

 

MILLICENT’S  INSTITUTES STAFF MEETINGS: WATCH FOR HALF-DAY NOTICES!  The upcoming half-day is Friday, March 19.  We will open at noon.

HAT OF THE MONTH CLUB Our Hat of the Month Club is based on the book Hats On!  31 Warm and Winsome Caps for Knitters by Charlene Schurch.  We’ve sold 24 copies  of Hats On!  in the last month, and now have another six for those who would like to join us. The Hat of the Month Club is geared toward intermediate and experienced knitters.  It usually meets the first Wednesday or Sunday of every month (barring holidays – like this upcoming Easter Sunday on April 4). 

In April we will be knitting Norwegian Star, pictured on p.19 in navy and white with instructions on p. 42 - 43.   You’ll need two colors of a worsted weight yarn and 16” circulars size 4 and 6 and double pointed needles in size 6.  You might want to knit the hem before coming to the meeting.  Please choose a time that is convenient for your schedule and feel free to come to as many meetings as you’d like.  We will meet Wednesday, April 7 from 2 – 4 and again from 5 – 7.  Our weekend group will meet Sunday, April 11 (the second Sunday of April), from 1 - 4.  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 at our shop.  And heavenly days, bring treats if you are so moved!       

SUNDAY SOCIAL,  April 18, 1 – 4pm

(Please note that the Sunday Social will meet on the third Sunday of each month through Spring and Summer).  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 completed in a few days.  And we have a lot of fun.  Patterns and lessons are free.  We ask that you purchase all supplies at Millicent’s.  Our April  Sunday Social will introduce illusion (aka shadow) knitting to you. Created in simple knit and purl striped patterns, illusion knitting causes designs to appear and disappear depending on the angle of the viewer!  Now it’s here – now it’s gone!  We will be knitting with worsted weight cotton and you will need 2 colors.  This fun technique is used on dishcloths, clothing, scarves, hats, even wall-hangings!

COLLECTING YARN FOR BIG HEARTED KIDS Middle school students at the Spring Valley School nearby in Pennsylvania have committed to an enormous task:  they are knitting and crocheting 800 (yes, 800) blankets to donate to Haitian children through the Linus Project.  Their teacher Vio Kurtz approached us to ask for yarn donations.  Given the generosity of Millicent’s customers, I told her I was sure we could collect yarn for her.  In her words, her students are using “anything that can go around a knitting needle or crochet hook!”  So, if you have any partial skeins of yarn or yarns you were gifted but can’t stand or a project that was never finished and could be ripped out, please think of these kids’ valiant effort!  We will be collecting through the end of March.  Please be sure that any yarn you bring in is clean.

SPRING AND SUMMER YARNS ARE COMING IN Cottons from Minnowknits and Knit One, Crochet Too are now on the shelves, accompanied by the cutest spring patterns for children and fashionable patterns for adults.  We are anticipating a shipment of summer yarns from NORO any day now (pant, pant).  Look for lots of light weight and small shawl (shawlette?) patterns in our Newest Pattern notebook.  We will be knitting up models as quick as our little fingers can!  You can also anticipate new buttons and shawl pins arriving soon.

ASSESSING MISTAKES from Knitting Daily   When must you fix mistakes and when can yo leave them alone?  I’ve had students who had to fix absolutely every mistake or problem and would rather rip out and re-knit their work several times than leave a mistake in place.  Then there are other students (fewer in number) who are very relaxed about mistakes.  I, myself, am a recovering perfectionist who eventually learned that “done is better than perfect.”  The best knitting teachers will tell you, “There are no knitting police!”  Here are suggestions when you might want to fix your mistake.  

1) When the mistake affects the structure or size of the finished piece (ie your right and left fronts of a sweater have different lengths!)

2) When the mistake cascades into more and more problems (ie a missed YO in a lace pattern affect the stitch count which consequently destroys the lace pattern in subsequent rows).

3) When fixing the mistake will be an opportunity to learn how to do it right.

4) When the project is a gift and the mistake is visible to the recipient (unless the recipient is a young boy who doesn’t really care if all the cables are going in the right direction!)

 

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