Knitting in Maine is keeping its devotees in stitches, say yarn store owners. Knitters are building their skills, letting themselves be challenged and asking for high-end yarns such as silk, cashmere and hand-dyed wools. Store owners are optimistic that interest in the craft will continue.

“We’re seeing people knitting a lot of sweaters,” said Heidi Campbell of Pieces of Eight Knitting Store in Presque Isle. “Scarves [in novelty yarns] got people knitting,” she said. Now they are moving on to the other things, a good sign that knitting has laced itself firmly into the landscape of life.

One of the trends cropping up at Pieces of Eight, Campbell said, is the use of embellishments such as beads on knitted pieces, or incorporating small areas of novelty yarn as an embellishment. “I see women having a really good time with it,” she said. “So many people are knitting now.”

Kiana Moran of Shirley’s in Hancock said the hot thing at her shop is leg warmers. “Everyone is looking for patterns for leg warmers,” she said. “The old styles are coming back, too.”

She thinks young people will continue to want to learn the skill.

Charity knitting is the big trend at the Yard Goods Center in Waterville, said Joyce Vlodek Atkins. “9-11 got people knitting to help others,” she said. Her shop holds charity knitting sessions noon-4 p.m. the second and fourth Sundays of each month. Participants may bring their own yarn or use yarn provided by the store. Patterns also are provided. Knitters make items for newborns, mittens and hats for children attending local schools, caps for cancer patients and prayer shawls.

“Knitting for others illuminates your life,” Atkins said. Store employee Roberta Corey coordinates the store’s charity knitting program.

Another trend at the store, Atkins said, is the expansion of services to knitters with handicapping conditions. “Everyone can knit,” no matter what the handicap, she said.

Shrinkage, anyone? “Felting is hot right now,” said Kathy Harmon, owner of Cityside Yarn Co. in Bangor. Wool yarn is in high demand because of the interest in felting, she said, and felted bags are a popular item.

She sees an increased interest in variegated yarns for scarves, mittens and socks. “Color,” she said. “Everyone wants lots of color.”

Like other shop owners, Harmon has noticed that new knitters start with novelty yarns, then move on to “nicer yarns” after they master the basics. They also move on to lace knitting techniques.

Harmon predicts that after-school knitting programs will gain in popularity in 2007. “We’re seeing children as young as 7 or 8 learning to knit,” she said.

Chloe Hatcher, owner of The Lilac Lily in Southwest Harbor used one word to describe a trend she’s seeing at her yarn shop – “coats.” Challenging projects are definitely in among knitters in her area.

Felting as embellishment for knitted pieces also is popular, as are collars, cuffs and felted flowers. “Romantic styles with ruffles, the romantic European look” are attractive to many knitters, she said.

Hatcher believes that lace techniques will be a strong trend for 2007. “Lace-type stitches are being knit in all yarn weights on all sorts of garments,” she said.

Men knitting is a trend she also expects to continue. “In some areas, real men knit,” she said, referring to the growing numbers of men who are turning to knitting as a means of creative expression and camaraderie.

Another growing trend, she said, is the advent of “more and more wonderful fibers produced in Maine, especially hand-dyed and hand-spun wool and alpaca.”

“Our mission is to teach our customers that a yarn-over won’t bite them,” said Michele Goldman, owner of Fiberphilia in Orono. The yarn-over is a basic move in knitting lace, and Goldman, like Hatcher and Harmon, sees lace as the trend for 2007. “Knitters have gone beyond scarves. Scarves brought them into knitting – now they are doing harder techniques like lace,” she said.

Goldman expects natural fibers such as wool and high-end fibers such as cashmere to be in demand in 2007. “The college crowd wants the natural fibers,” she said.

Twentysomething male college students are learning to knit in increasing numbers in her area, she said. She expects to see more men take up knitting.

The store owners also pointed to social aspects as an important factor in the continuing interest in knitting.

Knit two, yarn over, purl seven. Happy Knitting New Year.

Call Ardeana Hamlin at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.