Solstice in Maine

I've been down in New Haven meeting with yarn reps to select new fall yarns. It can be intoxicating, looking at and feeling all that yarn. As one of our customers said, "I haven't met a yarn I didn't like!" I know what she means. But now I am back home in Maine. Just in time for the Solstice. I think dawn comes early here in the Pine Tree State. The birds start singing about 4:30 or 5am. If I just ignore the clock, getting up seems natural. But there is something ungodly about getting out of bed this early. Who would choose to get up at this time? Maybe if I had to, to get to the airport or get ready to work the dawn shift somewhere. But, hey, this is Maine and it is gorgeous. So I'm up, and making coffee or knitting, or reading, or checking out the garden. Here is a picture of some of the flowers outside my front door. Peonies have always been one of my favorites. And this fuchsia is luscious.






Here is the Michael Kors sweater from Vogue Knitting Summer 2007 in Noro's Cash Iroha from KFI. Finished! I love it. It hits just below the hip and is slightly oversized. The open raglan sleeve is very flattering. It is a great summer sweater to take along to lunch or dinner in case the AC is cranked up to freezing.



I wish hubby had gotten a little more of the sweater and a little less of me in the photo. But.... I'm grateful for this. Anyway, you get the idea. It's a great piece. What do you think?



Lupines are a beautiful purple flower that seem to grown wild by the roadside here in Maine.
I'm working on a pair of socks using Regia Bamboo Color sock yarn in a pattern called "Lupine Lace" by Evelyn Clark. I love how the pattern looks like little flowers twining up a stem in the sock. The repeat is really quite simple. I memorized it as I was knitting. I know it's a little hard to see in this image. Take a look at this terrific sock yarn in our downtown store. Or join us knitting at our "Make Socks Not War" sock camp this summer. You'll be wearing your own "Lupine Lace" socks in no time. Check it out on our website at http://www.yarnllc.com/ or come see us. Now...I just have to knit that second sock!

Message from Maine

Wow! I can't believe we are finally blogging from our web site! Linda & I have talked about this for over a year, and you know.....yada, yada, yada....... But here we are hoping to share with you what's new at yarn LLC, what our talented staff are creating, and news from you.

I've been knitting the Michael Kors sweater from Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2007 in Cash Iroha 95, a luscious cinnamon color. It's going well. Basically easy knitting: stockinette stitch with raglan armholes...great for working on the read while traveling in Maine. We are on a lake in Mid Coast Maine. And everything is about 20 miles from us.

Good thing hubby, Lenny, loves to do the driving.

Just one more sleeve and the front neck border to go. I think this will be a great summer into fall piece because of the short sleeves.

Check out our Summer Sock Knit Kamp (aka "Make socks not war") in our Downtown store--55 Whitney Ave.

We've got some great new yarns for sock knitting including
SouthWest Trading Company's Tofutsie, color # 793 featured here.

This yarn is made of Soysilk, superwash wool, cotton and Chitin. What is chitin you say? Chitin is fiber from shrimp and crab shells! And, it's naturally antibacterial! Great for keeping feet cool, dry and healthy. Pattern is from Interweave Knits Magazine Summer 2005 "Go with the Flow Socks" by Evelyn Clark.
What d'ya think?


click on image to enlarge