…Girl with a purl yearning As it does with many Maine residents, winter has a crafty, introspective effect that turns ShopGirl into a …

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As soon as the temperature dips below 20 degrees, I go into hibernation mode. Long underwear, wool socks and a fur-lined hoodie become my unofficial uniform. When I arrive home after a day’s work, I migrate toward the couch, where a comforter, “Grey’s Anatomy” and two snuggling dogs await.

Well, that and my knitting. Cozy times call for cozy hobbies, and cozy hobbies call for cozy shopping. Lately, the only retail establishments I’ve been frequenting are yarn shops.

Must be the season of the stitch.

It seems the fates have been smiling on me, because a few new yarn shops have opened to fuel my passion for purls.

The first – and most aptly named – store opened in my very own hometown: Orono. Fiberphilia is an elegant yet homey space with a glassed-in side room that just screams out for a stitch-and-bitch session. And its owner, Michele Goldman, has exceptional taste. I’m drawn to the alpaca-silk yarn from Blue Sky Alpacas (perfect for knitting a scarf for my wool-allergic sister) as well as the richly hued wools from Sheep Shop Yarns – I’ve already made myself a scarf – on birch needles topped with miniature rubber duckies with devil horns. Mittens are next.

I’m a bit of an ADD knitter, which is why I knit so many scarves, hats, mittens and baby clothes (well, that and everyone I know is either pregnant or just had a baby). If I could pay attention long enough to focus on a sweater, I’d be tempted to join the Hanne Falkenberg club that’s starting up at Fiberphilia. If I’m going to spend weeks (and more than $100) to make a sweater, it might as well be a high-end knit kit designed by this Danish dynamo.

Instead, I’m stuck in babyland. And though I’m talking about Julie’s child and Faith’s child, rather than Destiny’s Child, I might as well make my shower gifts bootielicious. This calls for soft-as-polar-fleece yarn from the Maine-based Knit One Crochet Two, or the cashmere blend I picked up at Heavenly Socks yarn in Belfast – now that’s decadent.

Speaking of decadence, there are still plenty of wild synthetics on the market – Jolene’s Originals in Jonesport specializes in furry eyelash yarns, and it seems you can pick up novelty yarns everywhere these days, from the luxurious offerings at Cityside Yarn Co. in Bangor to the affordable options at A.C. Moore and Wal-Mart.

However, I’ve been knitting for a while now, and there are only so many fluffy garter-stitch scarves one can make before she gets bored. Hence my obsession with fine fibers.

I recently indulged at another new shop, String Theory in Blue Hill. If only the best will do, this is the shop for you. Its owners, Karen Grover and Tannis Williams, are both nurses with a passion for beautiful fibers. Karen spins her own, and they both dye and paint wool and alpaca yarns that are to die for. I picked up a skein of hand-dyed washable wool for – what else? – a sweater for my best friend’s baby-to-be. I also drooled over the gorgeous needle holders from Lantern Moon and lampwork glass-topped needles from Beverly Lamoreux of Shipyard Point Glassworks in Franklin.

The space – a restored historic home with lovely stained-glass windows created by Grover’s husband, Kris – is as inspiring as the yarns. You’ll want to pop into the “library” of magazines and knitting books, including my favorite, “One Skein,” which is ideal for the easily distracted knitter.

Fiberphilia and String Theory may be two new discoveries, but that’s not to say I’ve forgotten my old favorites. While I was in the neighborhood I stopped into Blue Hill Yarn Shop, where I picked up a plush ball of alpaca baby yarn and a supersoft skein of Lush angora-wool from Classic Elite. Shirley’s on Route 1 in Hancock is a great destination that carries my favorite yarn brand of all time, Rowan.

Freeport’s Grace Robinson is a sensory overload waiting to happen. There, you’ll find luxurious yarn in every color of the rainbow. In Belfast, I always try to stop at Heavenly Socks, a tiny shop packed with beautiful yarns and great conversation. In Presque Isle, Pieces of Eight should be called “pieces of great” – if it weren’t for this store, I never would have started making felted handbags. And I mustn’t forget Bangor’s own Cityside, which is still fabulous even if it’s a little farther away – it moved from Main Street to Chapel Hill Plaza on Outer Hammond Street a while back.

I also have luscious yarns from a few local yarn-spinners in my stash. I adore Nanney Kennedy’s Seacolors (www.getwool.com) yarn, and the Washington wool whiz now offers Wool Gatherings, which are like Tupperware parties for yarn lovers. I’m also crazy about the hand-painted wool-mohair blends from Done Roving Farm and Carding Mill in Charlotte (www.doneroving.com).

After this latest shopping blitz, I have way too much yarn, but if the weather stays cold, I may make a dent in it. I’ll just curl up on the couch with my dogs and my comforter, watching TV and hibernating. Perhaps I’ll even knit my way through the Super Bowl – now that the Pats are out, the only thing that will hold my interest are the commercials. Well, that and Prince.

Maybe he’ll sing “Diamonds and Purls.” Just for me.

Destination: Yarn

Knitters will travel far and wide for unique yarn. Here are a few shops that are worth the trip:

Blue Hill Yarn Shop, Route 178, Blue Hill, 374-5631

Cityside Yarn Co., 1460 Hammond St. (Outer Hammond), Bangor, 990-1455

Fiberphilia, 32 Mill St., Orono, 866-3423

Grace Robinson & Co., 208 U.S. Route 1, Freeport, 865-6110

Heavenly Socks Yarns, 82 Main St., Belfast 338-8388

Pieces of Eight, 650 Main St., Presque Isle, 762-5437

Shirley’s, 677 U.S. Route 1, Hancock, 667-7158

String Theory, 132 Beech Hill Road, Blue Hill, 374-9990

ShopNotes

You’re stylish and savvy – so why not log on to the ShopBlog? There, you can ask questions, post your favorite shopping destinations and share stories about your best bargain ever. Think of it as chatting with your best girlfriends – only online. Visit www.bangordailynews.com and follow the link halfway down the home page, under the Lifestyle & Arts heading.

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 04402-1329, or by fax to 941-9476. Tune in to ShopGirl at 5 p.m. every other Friday on WLBZ-2.