28 June, 2008 | No comments

ATS Frequent Buyer Cards: just our way of saying thanks

We love our occasional customers and those folks who are just passing through and can’t drive by a yarn shop without stopping. But we recognize that it’s our frequent customers who really keep us in business, so we’ve come up with a way to give you the recognition you deserve.

Starting Tuesday, July 1, we will issue you, on your request, an ATS Frequent Buyer Card. We’ll register your card in our system by entering your name and phone number. After that, each time you buy something from us, just present your card. (If you forget it, your account can be accessed by entering the phone number you gave us when we registered your card—just like at the supermarket.)

Once you have spent $250, you’re eligible for a 10 percent store credit. You can claim your credit (we’ll issue you a certificate) at any time you like. For example, if you wait until you’ve spent $500, we’ll give you a certificate for a $50 store credit. Then we’ll erase your cumulative total and you can start earning credits all over again.

There are hardly any restrictions. Your credit certificates never expire. You can earn credits through buying regularly priced and clearance merchandise, taking classes and purchasing gift certificates. The only time we won’t accept Frequent Buyer Cards is during storewide sales like our anniversary and Friday the 13th events.

It’s our way of saying thanks for being such great customers of A Tangled Skein!

14 June, 2008 | No comments

New arrivals: Culinary Colors, Crystal Palace needles, Verena magazine

We’re still working on a review of all the new yarn we have in the store or that’s arriving very soon, but in the meantime, here are a few non-yarn items you might want to look for next time you visit.

If you’ve always wanted to try hand dyeing, we’ve just received an order of Culinary Colors from Knit One Crochet Too. They come in two configurations. There’s the dye-only kit, with one fluid ounce each of 10 vibrant colors of kitchen-safe, eco-friendly dye, along with directions and instruction in basic color theory. We also have kits for two hand-dyed scarves or a shawl that include three bottles of dye, directions, patterns and 450 yards of undyed Douceur et Soie (70 percent baby mohair and 30 percent silk).

Crystal Palace needles are the bamboo needles of choice for many knitters, and now we have them in 16-, 25- and 36-inch circulars and six-inch double points. Yes, the circulars come in size 0.

Finally, check out Verena, Europe’s top knitting magazine, now available in a North American edition. The patterns have a real European flair, and there are over 50 of them in the Summer 2008 issue.

3 June, 2008 | No comments

Summer classes: lace, Noni bags, organic cotton, and more

First, the Fine Print: Prepayment is required for all classes. With paid registration, students get a 10 percent discount on class materials. (We ask that all yarn and patterns be purchased at A Tangled Skein.) Classes require a minimum of 3 students; maximum class size is 6, unless otherwise indicated. Classes may be canceled because of insufficient registration. In case of cancellation, students will receive a full refund. Students who drop classes prior to 7 days before class begins receive a 75 percent refund. No refunds are given for cancellations within one week of the class start date. Unless otherwise noted, classes are open to students 14 and older.

You can register by telephone with your credit card: 301-779-3399.

A word about makeup sessions: If you find you cannot attend a session of a class that is offered on more than one day of the week (as our beginning knitting and crochet classes are), you may attend the alternate class. If you must miss a session of a class that is scheduled for only one time slot, you may make arrangements with the instructor for a makeup session. It is our goal to see that you get full value for your class fee.

Two Chances to Sit & Stitch
Wednesdays, 7 to 9 PM
Thursdays, 1 to 3 PM

Our sit & stitch sessions are open to everyone at no charge, no registration required. Just bring your current project (crocheters welcome!) or come find new inspiration—or both. Light refreshments are offered, along with encouragement and friendly conversation.

And a Chance To Sit & Spin
Fourth Friday of every month, 7 to 9 PM

Beginning and experienced spinners. Whether drop spindle or wheel users, get together for fellowship, conversation and exchange of advice and inspiration. There’s no charge, of course, and no registration is required. Anne O’Connor, spinner extraordinaire, is the moderator. Future dates, to aid in planning: June 27, July 25, August 22.

Beginning Knitting
4 Friday evenings, 7–9 PM
June 27, July 11 & 18, August 1
Skill Level: Beginner/Advanced Beginner
Instructor: Cheryl Hoffman

or

4 Sunday afternoons, 3–5 PM
June 15, 22 & 29, July 6
Skill Level: Beginner/Advanced Beginner
Instructor: Cheryl Hoffman

Join us as a new knitter or come to brush up on the basics. At the end of this course you will be able to cast on and cast off, knit, purl, and read simple patterns. We will start with a practice piece, and progress to a project such as a scarf, baby blanket, or purse.

Materials can be purchased at the first class. (If you have size 7 or 8 knitting needles, bring them to class.)

Price: $80 for 4 sessions, plus materials

Knitting Beyond the Rectangle 2.0
4 Sunday afternoons, 1–3 PM
June 15, 22 & 29, July 6
Skill Level: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate
Instructor: Cheryl Hoffman

If you are ready to move beyond scarves and baby blankets, this is the class for you. Over the course of four sessions, you will learn how to shape a garment by increasing and decreasing, how to change colors for striping, and how to read a pattern. The class project will be to knit a teddy bear sweater incorporating these skills. With the guidance of the instructor, you can also choose a project of your own—a vest, simple sweater, or perhaps a shaped bag, felted or not.

Price: $80 for 4 sessions, plus materials

Crochet for Everyone
3 Tuesday evenings, 7–9 PM
New dates: June 24, July 1 & 8
Level: Beginner/Advanced Beginner
Instructor: Edna Paulson

Who needs to know how to crochet? Almost everyone! Crocheted garments and accessories are all over the fashion magazines and catalogs, and many patterns combine knitting and crocheting (think of single-crochet or picot edgings on sweaters and baby blankets). Learn, or brush up on, the basics of this versatile craft while you make an envelope bag, a packable, crushable hat, a triangular shawl or a combined knit-and-crochet item of your choice.

Materials can be purchased at the first class.

Price: $60 for 3 sessions, plus materials

Crochet to Go Green
3 Saturday afternoons, 4–6 PM
June 14 & 28, July 12
Level: Beginner/Advanced Beginner
Instructor: Edna Paulson

Would you like to save a tree (or some petroleum) by providing your own shopping bag, but keep forgetting to bring one along? In this class you’ll crochet a mesh bag in the European style, big enough to hold a lot of shopping but small enough to tuck into a pocket or purse. If you’re a beginner, you’ll learn basic stitches, shaping and pattern reading. If you already know the basics, you can branch out by adding color changes or embellishments. The bag makes a fun gift, too.

Materials can be purchased at the first class.

Price: $60 for 3 sessions, plus materials

Knitting for Kids
Level: Beginner, ages 9–13
Instructor: Catherine Sutherland or Cheryl Hoffman

We are eager to introduce kids ages 9 to 13 to the joys of two sticks and a ball of string. But we despair, in this age of multiple activities, of choosing just the right times. So if you can gather together a minimum of two and a maximum of four children with matching schedules, Catherine will be happy to work with you to schedule a class at a suitable time. Students will learn to cast on, knit, purl, and cast off, while making several small projects. (The focus of this class is on teaching kids to knit, but Mom or Dad are welcome to sit in for no additional charge so they can help their children between lessons.)

Price: $80 for 4 sessions, plus materials

Basic Cuff-Down Socks
3 Saturdays, 3:30 to 5:30 PM
July 12, 19 & 26
Level: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate
Instructor: Catherine Sutherland

or

3 Thursdays, 5 to 7 PM
July 31 and August 7 & 14
Instructor: Jennifer Woods

If you can knit and purl with proficiency, you can learn to knit socks. This class will teach you to knit socks from the cuff down. Over the course of the class, students will knit themselves either one or a pair of socks in worsted-, sport-, or fingering-weight yarn. The instructor will help select appropriate materials at the first class session.

Price: $60 for 3 sessions, plus materials

Drop Spindle Spinning
2 Saturdays, 3 to 5 PM
June 14 & 21
Level: Beginner
Instructor: Anne O’Connor

Spinning expert Anne O’Connor will provide CD drop spindles and fiber for all participants as well as a handout giving information on the history of spinning, what fibers to spin and, as a reminder between classes, how to spin with a drop spindle. The second week, Anne will help those having any trouble using the drop spindle, demonstrate faster drop-spindle spinning methods, and teach how to ply yarn that has been spun so it can be used for knitting. She’ll also have more fiber samples and examples of other drop spindles. And if there’s interest, she’ll demonstrate spinning on a spinning wheel.

Price: $40 plus a $10 materials fee

Lace Swatch Afghan
4 Sundays, 1 to 3 PM
June 15 & 29, July 13 & 27
Level: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate
Instructor: Catherine Sutherland

Lace is undergoing a huge revival, and in this four-session class you’ll learn to make swatches in 10 different patterns from Lace and Eyelets, one of the Harmony Guides from Interweave Press (required for class and available to enrollees at a 20 percent discount). The swatches can add up to a lovely afghan as well as serving as valuable learning tools, helping students to master gauge and finishing techniques. This is a really cool project for lazy summer days.

Price: $80 for 4 sessions, plus materials

Make a Noni Bag
3 Wednesdays, 5 to 7 PM
June 18 & 25 and July 9
Level: Intermediate
Instructor: Rivka Semiatin

Nora Bellows’s felted Noni bag designs range from the whimsical to the elegant and back again. If you’ve ever seen these great patterns and wanted to try to knit one yourself, this class is for you. Over the course of three two-hour sessions, you’ll learn all about bag construction, felting, and the one-of-a-kind knitted embellishments that make Noni bags so unique.

Price: $60 for 3 sessions, plus materials

Finishing
One-day workshop, Saturday, June 28
1 to 3 PM
Instructor: Jennifer Woods

This one-session workshop will help ensure that your projects look handmade, not just homemade. The instructor will show you how to block the pieces and then put them together—sewing up seams, weaving in ends, and completing all the other finishing details to show off all your hours of work. This is not about picking up stitches or knitting neckbands but about applying details that will transport your UFO into a finished article that someone is willing to wear. Bring your UFOs that need finishing or two six-inch squares in stockinette stitch (or one on stockinette and one in garter). For sewing pieces together, you’ll usually want to use the same yarn you used to knit the garment; for sewing on buttons, it’s best to bring button thread.
Price: $20 plus materials

Organic Cotton Baby Sweater
3 Thursdays, 7 to 9 PM
July 10, 17 & 24
Level: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate
Instructor: Rivka Semiatin

Organic cotton is grown without pesticides and is not treated with harsh dyes or chemicals, making it a natural choice for knitting for babies. In this class, you’ll choose from our variety of organic and natural cotton yarns to make a cute and comfy sweater for the baby in your life. How about a simple and feminine garter stitch baby bolero or an adorable knitted sailor sweater for those summer outings? Whether you’re a sweater veteran or have never constructed a garment before, baby sweaters are fun for almost every knitter. You’ll learn the techniques to make a project that you and the little recipient will feel good about.

Price: $60 for 3 sessions, plus materials

Christmas in July
3 Saturdays, 1 to 3 PM
July 12, 19 & 26
Level: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate
Instructor: Catherine Sutherland

Here’s a refreshing idea: knit a Christmas stocking before the pressures of the holiday season begin to weigh you down. Not only will you come away with a potential family heirloom, you’ll also learn techniques that will help you master sock knitting, should you decide to take up that ever-so-popular activity.

Price: $60 for 3 sessions, plus materials

About the Instructors

Cheryl Hoffman learned to knit in graduate school and has ever since regretted the lost knitting opportunities in earlier years. Her project-completion rate is low (she’s a real process knitter), but her pleasure is undiminished. After years of academic editing from her basement office, she is thrilled to be co-owner of A Tangled Skein. The talents of her customers never cease to amaze her.

Anne O’Connor has been spinning for six years. She spins with both a spindle and a spinning wheel and spins mostly for knitting.
Edna Paulson learned to crochet as a child from her mother. Over the years her projects have ranged from slippers to stuffed toys, afghans, and a bikini. She also sews, does counted cross stitch, and knits. Edna enjoys sharing skills and tips with other needlecrafters.

Catherine Sutherland, trained as an archivist, now applies her degree to managing her stash. She began knitting for her children in 1993. Her mother-in-law assured her, after seeing Catherine’s first attempt, that it was wonderful how everyone found her own way. This remains Catherine’s philosophy today, and she has taught beginners of all ages in the College Park area since 2001.

Rivka Semiatin learned to knit when she was 10, but she jumped headfirst into the craft about four years ago. Since then, she’s added crochet to her repertoire and now is rarely found without a knitting or crocheting project in hand. She makes mostly garments such as sweaters, dresses, and lacy tank tops, and she makes them almost exclusively for herself, her favorite person to knit for.

Jennifer Woods has been knitting most of her life (since she was seven or eight) and has been knitting socks since 1994, when Nancy Bush’s Folk Socks book was first published. She and her husband wear only hand-knit socks. She also loves lace knitting and Fair Isle knitting. She has been teaching socks and other classes for five years, first at the now closed Yarns International and currently at A Tangled Skein.

12 March, 2008 | No comments

Give our new rack a spin

We now carry Vogue knitting magazines, so pick up your copy of the spring/summer issues of Vogue Knitting and Knit Simple the next time you’re in the shop. They’re on our new spinning magazine and book rack, where you’ll also find wonderful new pattern collections from designers Elsebeth Lavold and Louisa Harding.

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