Knitting hobby creates new shopping yarns

Let me spin you a yarn.

Once upon a time, a fair-haired maiden showed up at her magical place of employment to find a cheerfully wrapped package on her cluttered desk. “Open me,” it said. So she did.

Inside were simple things – two sticks, a book and a ball of wool – but to our heroine, it was everything. Over the course of a weekend, she taught herself to knit, and soon, she was turning out fluffy and elegant scarves for all of her stylish friends. She made sweaters for chilly dogs, mittens for cold hands and bootees for bouncing babies.

The people were warm, and the village rejoiced! In time, the maiden knitted a long, striped scarf for her beloved. He wore it proudly. The two wed, and they lived happily ever after.

The End.

Not surprisingly, the protagonist in this happy tale bears a striking resemblance to ShopGirl (whose hair, though chemically enhanced, was originally fair).

I took up knitting three years ago because I have a ton of nervous energy. I was tired of fidgeting in front of the TV and I get carsick reading on trips. Little did I know I was opening myself up to a whole new range of shopping possibilities.

If you like clothes, color and texture, knitting is the ultimate hobby. The yarns are amazing – whether you’re partial to cashmere or high-tech synthetics – the needles are pretty (especially the handmade ones at Shirley’s in Hancock), and you get to make beautiful things for all your friends.

People always say knitting isn’t just for grandmothers anymore, and I believe it. But take a closer look. Some of those vintage patterns in your gram’s knitting library are pretty cool. If you want something a little more current, there are great knitting magazines out there, including the brand-new Knit.1 from Vogue Knitting (available at Craft World in Bangor), geared toward the young, urban set. I’m addicted to the elegant patterns in Interweave Knits, but Family Circle Easy Knitting, Vogue Knitting and Knit It! also have great designs.

Speaking of great designs, there are several books the stylish knitter can’t live without. I love the fabulous sweaters in “The Yarn Girls’ Guide to Simple Knits,” the simple beauty of “Last-Minute Knitted Gifts,” the innovation in “Weekend Knits” and the whimsical patterns in any of Portland designer Jil Eaton’s books.

And the yarn. Oh, the yarn. I can’t get enough. I vary between simple wools and mohairs (Rowan is my favorite brand for its luscious colors) and crazy novelty yarns. Those wild scarves you see everyone wearing? Hand-knit. And you can do it, too. Just be sure to start out with something simple and work your way up to the frilly yarn, not because it’s hard to knit, but it’s hard to see your stitches.

This is a column about shopping, however, so let me cut to the chase. If you want to buy yarn or supplies here are a few of my favorite places to visit:

In Bangor, CitySide Yarn Co. can’t be beat. The yarn selection is amazing. The sample knits are inspiring. And the staff is extremely helpful. They’ve talked me through a dropped stitch or two in my day. Among the highlights are the richly dyed Maine-made yarns by Done Roving Farm and Carding Mill, the vast array of hard-to-find novelty yarns, and the huge pattern library. On Feb. 16, they’ll open in their new location on Outer Hammond Street.

Also in Bangor, I like Craft World, which has great prices on Lion Brand yarns, and Jo-Ann, which expanded its yarn department about a year ago.

But sometimes a girl wants to hit the road. When I travel, I always seek out a local yarn shop.

In Hancock, I love Shirley’s on Route 1. The number of choices here can be daunting, but all of the options are tempting. They carry Rowan yarns (and hundreds of other brands), which is a real draw for me, but I also love the notions – their selection of needles is unrivaled in my experience.

The Yardgoods Center in Waterville is a knitter’s paradise – huge selection, good prices, helpful service. When in Camden, I visit Stitchery Square on Elm Street for its gorgeous, higher-end yarns and pretty knitting bags by Vera Bradley. I also love UniqueOne in Camden, especially the kits for children’s hats and sweaters.

One of my favorite destinations is the tiny but fabulous Blue Hill Yarn Shop. The selection here is small but well-edited, and the sample knits are among the most beautiful I’ve seen anywhere.

When I hit the outlets in Freeport, I always stop at Grace Robinson & Co. on Route 1. The prices are a bit high, but the amazing yarns there make me want to quit my magical day job and become a professional knitter. Central Yarn Shop on Congress Street in Portland is a wonderful place to visit – the huge selection of Reynolds Lopi is reason enough to make the trip south.

In Belfast, Heavenly Socks Yarns carries a wide range of Maine-made yarns, including Coastal Cashmere, Bartlett and Peace Fleece, as well as the farther flung but much desired Manos Del Uruguay. Another little gem is Purple Fleece in Stockton Springs. This small, out-of-the-way shop is full of unique treasures. Call before you go, because winter hours are limited (323-1871).

When I feel like a couch potato, I love to leaf through the Knit Picks catalog, which offers luxury yarns at ridiculously low prices. An alpaca-silk blend for $4.79 and worsted wool for $1.79 are among the highlights (www.knitpicks.com). Then I drool over the Halcyon Yarn catalog (www.halcyonyarn.com).

Then I pick up my needles and start knitting again, curled up on the couch with my two sweaterless dogs, my cat (who occasionally bats at my yarn but mostly sleeps) and my sweetie, who doubles as my mitten tester.

Sounds like a happy ending to me.

ShopNotes

Are you seeing red? You should be wearing it, instead. Debbie Pickering wrote in to inform ShopGirl readers that Feb. 4 is National Wear Red Day for Women. Whether you choose crimson or scarlet or vermillion, you’ll be doing your part to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease in women. Visit http://www.americanheart.org to learn more about Go Red for Women, to order a free red dress pin or to use your buying power to help the cause at the “Shop Go Red.”

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329, or by fax to: 941-9476. Tune in to ShopGirl at 5 p.m. Fridays on WLBZ-2.