By Sarrah Peters, News Editor
Before opening her yarn shop The Taming of the Ewe, Pat Miller wore many different hats. In college, she began as a voice major and trained with an opera singer. She obtained a degree as a theater major, before starting to work in broadcast news at CNN. She returned to school for a business degree to assist in her reporting on business news. While there, she was able to take the test to be a certified public accountant. Upon graduation, she worked as a CPA to get her license and returned to CNN.
Finally in 2006, Miller opened The Taming of the Ewe in Jacksonville.
“I’ve crocheted since I can remember,” said Miller. “My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was tiny. I knit from the time I was a senior in high school. I’d always wanted a yarn shop.”
In 2012, the store moved to Gadsden, where it is currently located at 532 Broad Street. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday. On Tuesday, the store has extended hours from 10 a.m. until 7 or 8 p.m. so customers can gather and knit together. The store is closed Monday and Sunday. Despite the hours, Miller says that if the lights are on, she is probably there and all customers have to do is knock.
For the holiday season, the store will be open seven days a week, starting after Thanksgiving.
The Taming of the Ewe offers books, magazines, needles and yarn of all types, including acrylic, wool, cotton blends, silk, soy silk, bamboo and alpaca. The alpaca yarn is locally acquired, and $4 of every skein purchased goes to Never Surrender.
The store has begun selling Adagio Teas recently as well. In fact, Miller is working towards getting her Master Tea Certification.
When the store moves to the old Blooms and Broad location at 541 Broad Street on January 3, Miller will be opening a tea shop at The Taming of the Ewe.
The best part of using the Taming of the Ewe for yarn projects is that Miller offers free lessons and support during projects. All she asks is that people buy the materials for the projects from her.
“It’s the part that I love the best,” said Miller. “People come in with problems and I fix them.”
For more information, call The Taming of the Ewe at 256-546-9090.