The Rain in Maine Fell Plainly on My Brain

Gentle readers, I did it!  I went to Maine for knitting-related business and pleasure. This means that in the two-plus years I've been blogging, I've finally reported about every New England state.  Whew!

Welcoming sign on exterior wall of Camden, Maine restaurant.

Admittedly, the southern three states have been granted the lion's share of coverage by moi. That has to do with proximity and my dislike of driving (I was obviously born in the wrong century). Fortunately, many factors conspired to make this northernmost trip possible, such as that H--my comrade, helpmate, and frequent chauffeur--really loves to visit the state of Maine and was more than happy to fetch us both to Camden and back. And, that I'm writing an article covering the wonderful organic yarn produced by Swans Island, about twelve miles north of Camden.

Swans Island headquarters, an 18th century farmhouse in North Fairport, Maine. Its name comes from an earlier incarnation of the company.

So, more about this estimable fiber-based company when the article appears some months hence. (I'll be tooting my horn when that happens, and you'll know.) For now, more about the knitting aspects of my trip.

First off, let it be said that five+ hours (each way) in the car can be highly productive, knitting-wise. At the start of our drive, I began one sock and finished it; on the way back, started another.

Hidden pictures:  Find the half-completed socks!

And whilst in Camden, I scoped out the one yarn store in town:  The Cashmere Goat. Here's the news: it's a very nice place.  The shop itself is airy and spacious; the two ladies minding the store were friendly yet unobtrusive; the selection of yarns (including Swans Island) is choice.

Though probably not apparent from these photos, most of the time we were in Maine it rained steadily--the sun really only coming out sporadically on our day of departure. It was English weather, actually, where you were dodging showers and couldn't leave shelter without a raincoat and umbrella. Maine had had an extraordinary accumulation of rain during the previous week--some towns recording more than eight inches; and there was a great deal of local flooding.  Herewith some dramatic weather shots:

River water rushing into Camden harbor.

Coastal islands viewed from atop Mt. Battie.  On the left, rain over the ocean.  On the right, clear skies.

On the drive home, we meandered through Damariscotta, Maine, another beautiful seaside hamlet. It was there, surrounded by the loveliest of spring gardens, that I discovered Pine Tree Yarns...which was (sigh) closed.

Note reads:  Open/When the flag is out/Or by appointment./ Call 563-5003./ I might be away in/ Nova Scotia, be/patient. I will return soon with some yarn.

 Oh well...another time. (As if I needed a reason to return....)

Meanwhile, catch my latest article, on the Green Mountain Spinnery in Putney, Vermont, in the just-released issue of Knitscene Accessories.

Vermont Diary: Knit or Dye in Brattleboro

If my life companion hadn't been so famished, I would have spent more time at Knit or Dye, a lovely LYS in the heart of Brattleboro's Main St shopping district.

(Apologies for the oblique angle here, but even as I photographed, I was being dragged off to lunch at Amy's Bakery by Hungry Man.) As it so happened, we'd spent the previous day and night in Putney--

Downtown Putney

--where I did research for an upcoming article, and the folks at Green Mountain Spinnery directed me to Knit or Dye, an affable business colleague as well as purveyor of some of their yarns.

Though my visit was short, I was pleased to meet owner Rachel Stecker and her gorgeous son, Wesley.

You'll notice, at the top of the photo, a partial view of a red sock with a ruffled cuff. I found this so captivating that I bought the pattern from Rachel, one of her exclusive designs. (Some of Rachel's designs are available on the Knit or Dye website) Maybe I'll start the new year by knitting it, if I can only climb out from underneath some of my numerous WIPs.

Apart from Rachel's patterns, the shop offers a strong selection of local and/or hand-dyed yarns, including fiber products from The Spun Monkey. Starry Mountain Alpaca, and Frabjous Fibers (in addition to yarns from Green Mountain Spinnery). This is what distinguishes it, IMHO, from a run-of-the-mill (as it were) kind of LYS.

So, I was dragged away reluctantly, but am planning to return before too long, I hope, I hope.

Postcards

I've been bopping around New England, as always with knitting in tow.

This particular pair of socks has been a drag, in more ways than one.

This particular pair of socks has been a drag in more ways than one. Because I'm too lazy to use point protectors, and I've been carrying the sock everywhere in the hope of of finishing it quickly, it's always coming off the needles and I constantly have to frog and re-find my way. Oy. Why am I doing this to myself? Needless (indeed) to say, I can't wait till I'm done with these.

We stopped in Putney, Vermont at the Green Mountain Spinnery. While H listened to his audiobook in the parked car, I was having a great time touring this amazing mill, as director of Marketing Margaret Atkinson led me through the process from raw fleece to finished skeins.

I highly recommend the tour if you happen to be in the area, and if you aren't, it's worth a detour or a destination trip. Besides, at the end you can buy some of the Spinnery's beautiful yarn, or their patterns, including The Green Mountain Spinnery Knitting Book, and 99 Yarns and Counting.

Fast forward a few days, and it's my annual journey into the time-warp of baroque music at the Amherst Early Music workshop. This means my other life goes on hold while I spend my days on the beautiful Connecticut College campus in New London, in Harpsichord Masterclass (works of Italian composers, although bending the rules, I also played a Couperin two-harpsichord piece with another devotée of the French baroque) and Baroque Ensemble (Vivaldi trio sonata for bassoon, recorder, oboe, and harpsichord). But wait...there's more: I was invited by Neuroknitter to a weekly gathering of the Camel Knitters of Conn College. (The camel is the mascot of this college.  Don't ask.) Meeting in the Oasis Snack Bar (where else?) every Wednesday at noon, the group is comprised of creative spirits dedicated to elegant knitting, high quality materials, and droll conversation. Needles flew, discussion flowed, time flew. This was indeed a pleasant interlude.

hand-knitted, felted fair isle bag

lace shawl in progress, lace cardigan completed and modeled