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D E C E M B E R
H A P P E N I N G S
Skeins on Main
428 S. Main St., Rochester, MI 48307 248-656-9300
www.skeinsonmain.com
Store Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
We’ll help you overcome your fear of needles.
In the Store and About Town
Holiday Hours
Weekly Gift Certificate Drawings
It’s hard to believe the holidays are
almost here. It seems like we just
started fall classes again last week.
But it’s a something we all must
face. Because Christmas and New
Year’s fall on Sundays this year,
we’ll be closed just as we always
are. On Christmas Eve and New
Year’s Eve, the store will maintain
it’s regular hours as well (9:30am to
4pm). Happy Holidays!
In our effort to give back to you this
holiday season for all you’ve given
us throughout the year, we’re
holding weekly drawings for a $25
gift certificate. To enter, simply
spend $50 or more on product in the
shop (sorry – classes and gift
certificates don’t count) and we’ll
give you an entry form. Each week,
we’ll pull one lucky name. You can
enter as often as you wish, and
names that haven’t been drawn will
remain in the bowl until the drawings
end on Christmas Eve. Winners will
be notified by phone and can opt to
pick up a gift certificate or can
simply have it added to their store
account for use at a later time.
Snow Policy
The snow policy for Skeins this
year will be just as it has been for
many years. Because so many of
us travel longer distances to get to
the shop, and because safety for
all of us – both our clientele and
our team members – is so
important to us, we make the
choice to close the shop if
Rochester Schools close due to
the snow. We do not follow their
schedule for any other reason
(including when it’s too cold for the
buses to start). If the weather
turns and it’s safe to come in, we’ll
open the shop late. If the snow
starts to look bad in the afternoon
and we make the decision to close
for the evening, you’ll receive a
phone call. Please stop by the
desk to make sure we have a
current phone number for you on
file and remember to always check
the website for opening and
closing updates.
Customer Garment Sale
You may have noticed that we
always have a rack of sample
garments for sale near the office.
Many of you have requested an
opportunity to sell your garments
there. Maybe it’s something you no
longer wear, or something that
never fit you quite right, but
something that you definitely would
like someone else to enjoy. Here’s
your chance. Bring in those CLEAN
garments between December 1 and
January 31 and we’ll try to sell them
for you. When you bring them in,
visit the desk and receive a number.
Put that number, the date, and your
price on each garment. If the
garment sells, we’ll put 80% of the
sale price into your store account.
It’s that simple. If the garment
December 2011
hasn’t sold in 60 days, we’ll call and
ask that you pick it up within about
14 days. We’ll run the garment sale
for as long as we can.
Unfortunately, we can’t be
responsible for damage done to
items on the garment sale rack (this
is extremely rare) or items that may
not like the shop and grow legs so
they can walk away. We’re a lot of
fun to be around, but it happens…
Sometimes items are just fuddy
duddies and they leave us. Can you
imagine?!
Update on Scarf Yarn
We know everyone loves the
Marina, Tundra, and Flora scarf
yarns. It’s apparent by the daily
visits we receive from people
frantically trying to get more to
make gifts for the Holidays. So
here’s the update. As of our last
conversation with the company
that puts them out, many of the
colors are “no longer available.”
Some are on back order, which
means they’re still expected to get
more but we don’t know when just
yet. In an effort to keep everyone
happy, we place an order within a
day of every order that comes in.
It’s still not enough, but we keep
trying. We’ll post arrivals on the
website. In the meantime, we’re
sorry that we can no longer accept
special orders because we just
don’t know what’s going to come
in or when it will arrive.
Classes and Workshops
– Focus
on Fiber
–
Scarves
are soooooo
hot right
now,
so rather than talking
With Nora Bellows from Noni
> coming
about ainparticular
just a fewfiber,
short
weeks,
I thought
was only
we're
going
to talkitabout
appropriate to talk about
novelty
These
felting yarns.
this month.
> are yarns that are
Felting is simply the act of
developed
for a special
taking something made from
purpose.
Foranimal
example,
at least 85%
fiberthe
(usually wool) and
Marina
intentionally shrinking it in the
> washing
yarn thatmachine…
is used inAthe
LOT.
The
looser
it’s
knit,
the
faster
yummy scarf we're all crazy
and better it felts. Combine
about.
But there are
the item with soap and
> agitation,
others, too.
Next
week
and…
voila!
we're expecting a delivery of
It’s that simple. And since this
two
new scarf
newsletter
hasyarns.
gotten to be
entirely
too
long already,
we’re
> The great thing
is that you
going
to
stop
right
there.
can
buy only one ball and ☺get
Forgive us. We’ll have a better
discussion next month during
the class. Read below for
details!
It’s NONI!!!
Nora Bellows, known to many
simply as “Noni,” is coming to
Skeins in January. She’ll teach
for two days on January 7th
and 8th
(Sat &
Sun) from
10am4pm each
day. Day
One will
focus on
the tricks of the trade and how
to achieve a professionallyfinished item. This class is a
must for the woman who has
one or more unfinished knitted
or felted bags in her closet, or
who wants to take her
handmade bags to the next
level. Students who bring
completed knitted and/or felted
bags can leave with attention
getting bags that will elicit the
December 2011
question, "Where did you get
that?!"
In this class, students pick one
or many Noni bags to make
using Noni patterns. Nora
encourages students to make
the bag(s) that scare(s) them,
so as to take maximum
advantage of the techniques
provided as part of the class.
Students choose their own
project(s), get started, finish
knitting, and at times even felt
(if there is no on-site washer in
the shop) all before the class
even begins. During this one- or
two-day workshop, students will
learn a variety of finishing
techniques for producing a
professional-quality end
product. We will review the
fundamentals of felting and
blocking (in some cases,
students have left class to go
home and re-felt or, if able, we
felted together as a group) and
then move on to finishing
techniques. Students will learn
how to structure a bag, choose
and apply a variety of closures,
including magnetic snaps of
various sorts, buttons, flaps,
and zippers. We will choose
and apply a variety of handle
designs using different
techniques including fabric or
leather tabs, riveting, and handsewing. Students will be
introduced to a variety of bag
feet and how to apply them. We
will discuss, design, and create
personal embellishments in
order to create truly one-of-akind bags. Students who take
this class report increased
creativity and confidence, and
often make many more bags
after the class is over.
Experience: Participants must
be able to wield a sewing
needle thread with a modicum
of comfort, to poke a small hole
in a felted bag with a sharp
double-pointed needle, and
must be able to use a tape
measure and a pair of scissors.
It is not recommended that
participants get a manicure the
day before the workshop
(pedicures are fine).
Day Two will focus on fun with
flowers – her true passion!! In
this class, students will not only
learn to make beautiful knitted
flowers to felt (or not) and use
as embellishments for bags,
gifts, garments, shoes, afghans
and more, but will be
encouraged to explore their
own creative impulses in
combining different flowers
together for unique results.
Nora presents several basic
methods for making flowers and
offers an overview of and
approach for several of her
flower patterns. Students will
learn how to change the size of
the flowers by changing the
knitted gauge. Students will
begin with the camellia flower,
learn how to knit a petal, and
then move on to make a series
of petals, and finally learn how
to assemble the finished flower
for a beautiful finished result,
felted or unfelted. Attendees
will even learn some of the
flowers in her new book, not
being released until February.
It’s like a sneak peak!
Cost is $60 per class, or $110
for bothThis is a one-time
event, so don't miss out. A light
lunch is included each day.
Nora is an energetic,
enthusiastic, fun and
tremendous instructor with
talent that far exceeds
expectations. We’re honored to
have the opportunity to bring
her to Skeins.
.
Classes and Workshops
December 2011
Classes Over the Holidays
It’s a Smitten!
Are you like most, working
frantically to finish those Holiday
gifts, wondering how you’re going
to get the help you need? We
have a solution! On Wednesday,
December 21, after classes have
ended for the session, Sue will
come in and teach a social from
6pm to 9pm. Swirl students, this is
a great time to get the extra help
you need, too! The social is $6 an
hour, and we request that you call
ahead to let us know you’re
coming. Sue is a fantastic crochet
teacher, too, so bring whatever
questions you have on any of your
projects, or just come and sit so
you can get everything done in
time. It’s a little peace amidst the
busiest time of the year.
You can knit this one-of-a-kind,
two-person mitten for you and your
honey just in time for Valentine’s
Day! Hold hands
and keep warm at
the same time as
you stroll through
the Fire and Ice
Festival in
downtown
Rochester and watch everyone
look on with envy. Class will be
held on January 12 and 26 from
9:30 – 11:30am. Cost is $30 plus
materials, but you must sign up
ahead of time to reserve your
spot.
Once the Holidays are over, Cris
will teach two socials during the
break as well. She’ll be teaching
on Wednesday, December 28 from
9:30am-12:30pm, and Wednesday,
January 4, from 9:30am until
12:30pm. She’ll help you get back
into the groove and recover from
the stress of the Holidays with a
cup of coffee and a few laughs with
friends.
Friday Fiesta Rescheduled
This week’s Friday Fiesta has been
rescheduled for Friday, December
16th from 6-9pm. If you’re not
familiar with the Fiestas, they’re
simply socials held on a Friday
night and they involve food.
Someone will pick up dinner
(usually pizza and salad), then
everyone who wants to indulge just
chips in a couple of dollars to help
cover the cost. As always, the
socials are $6 an hour and we do
request that you sign up ahead of
time so we know how much food to
buy.
Lace Scarf/Shawl Workshop
You can choose whether you’d
prefer to the shawl or the scarf
with Kristen on Saturday, January
14 from 10am-12 noon. Done out
of Three Pines Studio gorgeous
hand-dyed wool, students who
take this class will learn the true
art of lace knitting. This includes
things like reading a chart,
picking up a missed yarn over in
the row below, and much more.
Scarf knitters will learn to graft
two halves together. There are
many things to be learned in this
quick project. Class is $20 plus
the cost of materials.
New Products/Gift Ideas
There are so many new things to
tell you about that it’s hard to know
where to begin. Knit Picks
products have arrived, including
their puzzle-piece blocking board
(you can use a single 1’x1’ piece
for a small project, or connect them
for a 3’x3’ board!), sock needle
sets, straight needle sets,
interchangeable sets in harmony
wood and metal, tips and cords,
and much, much more. Or if you’re
still looking for that very quick-knit,
gotta-get-it-done-by-yesterday
project, how about a hat and cowl
set from one ball of Tahki Boulder?
Each ball is only $30.25 and you
can knit the set in about two hours!
Woo-hoo for fast gifts!! For
stocking stuffers, be sure to check
out Baabs, the scissor holder, our
adorable tape
measures, or the
new necklaces
and pins from
Miknitures, shown
here. Or how
about a little gift for yourself? What
fun is it to do all this Holiday
shopping and knitting if you don’t
get a little somethin’-somethin’ for
yourself, too? Our favorite –
Madeline Tosh – is sending us
another yummy shipment next
week. This time it’ll be 20 colors of
her Vintage yarn. This is a
worsted, hand-dyed (of course),
plied yarn that you won’t be able to
resist. As always with her yarns,
we’ll send out an email once it’s on
the shelves. We expect it
sometime around the 14th or so.
Beginning Knitting with Karen
We receive inquiries all the time
from people who just want to try a
knitting class to see if they like it,
but they’ve never knit and are
intimidated by a large class for their
first time learning. If that’s the
case, Karen’s beginning knitting
class is perfect. The class is a very
affordable $10 and students will
learn to cast on, knit, and purl.
Afterward, they can decide whether
or not they want to join a regular
class to learn more. We try to offer
this class once a month. January’s
class will be held on the 21st, from
10am until noon. Please tell those
you know of that are interested in
learning to come check it out. We
do request that they sign up in
advance. Class size is very limited
due to the nature of the class.
Classes and Workshops
Winter Classes
This is a complete list of
classes offered. The instructors
shown in bold have openings
as of December 5, 2011.
Monday
9:30 – 11:30 Cris / Lori
12:00 – 2:00 Lori
5:00 – 7:00 Lori / Karen
7:00 – 9:00 Lori / Sue
Tuesday
9:30 – 11:30 Lori
12:00 – 2:00 Sharon
1:30 – 3:30 Dana
5:00 – 7:00 Dana / Sharon
7:00 – 9:00 Dana / Mary
Wednesday
9:30 – 11:30 Cris
10:00 – 12:00 Dana
12:00 – 2:00 Cris
4:00 – 5:00 Young People
5:00 – 7:00 Lori / Dana
7:00 – 9:00 Lori / Dana
Thursday
9:30 – 11:30 Karen
10:00 – 12:00 Dana
12:00 – 2:00 Karen
5:00 – 7:00 Karen
Friday
9:30 – 11:30 Lori
12:00 – 2:00 Lori
Saturday
10:00 – 12:00 Lori
12:30 – 2:30 Lori
Events-at-a-Glance
Winter Class Registration –
going on now
Friday Fiesta –12/16, 6-9pm,
$6/hour
Winter Classes Begin – Jan 9
Christmas Eve Hours – 12/24,
9:30am – 4pm
New Year’s Eve Hours –
12/31, 9:30am-4pm
Christmas Day and New
Year’s Day – 12/25 and 1/1 –
CLOSED
December 2011
Open Knitting – Thursdays 68:30pm (no charge)
Noni – Finishing - 1/7 10am4pm
Noni – Flowers – 1/8 10am4pm
Upcoming Workshops
Socials with Dana - $6/hour
Wednesdays, 1-3pm:
1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1,
2/8, 2/15, 2/29
Saturdays 10-12noon
1/14, 2/11, 3/10, 4/21
Socials with Cris $6/hour
12/28 9:30am–12:30pm
1/4 9:30am – 12:30pm
Socials with Sharon - $6/hour
Tuesdays, 12-2pm:
1/10, 1/17, 1/24, 1/31,
2/7, 2/8, 2/22
Beg. Knitting w/ Karen $20
1/21 10am-12noon
It’s a Smitten! With
Cris $30
1/12 and 1/26
9:30-11:30
Nora Bellows – Finishing $60
1/7, 10-4
- Flowers $60
1/8, 10-4
- Weekend $110
*Workshop samples are on
display at the shop
Do you have a birthday
this month? Visit the shop
and mention it to receive
20% off one entire
purchase of in-stock yarn
as our gift to you. Happy
Birthday! All discounted
purchases are final sale and
discount may not be combined
with any other offer.
A Line From Lori…
I can’t believe the Holidays are
upon us. I almost choked
when it came time to wish
everyone a Happy
Thanksgiving. Now it’s over
and I get chills every time I
say, “Happy Holidays!” (every
time I step outside, too, for that
matter!). The store is always
busy with people looking for
winter projects, gift ideas, gifts
they can make, and anything
else you can think of. We
make new friends every day,
and every day we’re surprised
to see a friend from the past
pop in to say hi. I think I can
speak for the entire team in
saying it’s our favorite time of
the year.
So with that being said, we all
wish you and yours a very
happy, healthy, and safe
Holiday season. I know many
of you will be travelling to see
family, or having them travel to
see you. Please be safe.
Lori & the Skeins On Main
Team
Take Charge of Your Skeins
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