Heavenly Socks Yarns

Welcome to Heavenly Socks Yarns!

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The Comings and Goings of Summer

Welcome, summer!

Just in case you haven't been here since last summer, you may notice that our shopfront looks different. We have changed our outside colors to coordinate with our logo and Web site.

Belfast is always a pleasant place to live, work in and visit, but some people think it is particularly nice in the summer because there is so much to do. We will try to keep you abreast of all the comings and goings of summer in this newsletter and the next two.

Here are some of Belfast's many summer events and activities. Mark your calendar!

• Please Be Seated: "Street art to recline upon" everywhere downtown: Mid-June till October.
• Belfast Summer Nights: Thursday evenings, live music 5-8 pm, starting June 21.
• Belfast Farmers Market: Every Friday, First Friday on Main Street and the rest at Waterfall Arts.
• Belfast Historical Society and Museum: Mid-June to September, Tuesday-Saturday, 11 am-4 pm, visit the museum and learn about Belfast's past.
• Belfast Maskers: Theater productions at Steamboat Landing throughout summer.
• Museum in the Streets: Take the self-guided tour.
• First Friday Night Art Walks: Every Friday night in July and August, First Fridays June, September-December.
• Bike Trek Across Maine: Thousands of bikes end their ride on June 17.
• Belfast Arts in the Park: July 7 and 8.
• Maine Celtic Celebration: July 20-22.
• Belfast Bound Book Festival: July 27-29.
• Maine Boat Yard Days: August 6.
• The 4th Annual Belfast Street Party: August 6 or the next sunny day.
• The HMS Bounty: "Tall ship" visits Belfast, August 10-12.
• Belfast Harbor Walk: "Under construction" August 15.
• Belfast Co-op Customer Appreciation Day: August 18.
• Belfast Harbor Fest: August 17-19.
• Waldo County Best of the Best and Business Showcase: August 20, 5-8 pm.

For more information, phone 207-323-9100 or visit Our Town Belfast or Belfast Creative Coalition.

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Washing Wool Sweaters

It is said that in Maine, you never have to put away your wool sweaters. (Think of a clear summer night in the great north woods or a cloudy summer day along the coast.) But you should wash them once in a while! We have some customers who think that they are treating their sweaters well when they send them to the dry cleaners every year. However, this is not good for sweaters, and occasionally we have people bringing in these dry-cleaned sweaters for repair. Often the sweater needs repair because the yarn has gotten so brittle from the solvents in the dry-cleaning process. Instead of dry cleaning, we recommend using a product we sell called Eucalan. Simply put the sweater in a wash tub or your washer with a little Eucalan and let it soak. Then spin it out on the gentle cycle of your washing machine. That's it -- no need to rinse! You can dry your sweater by laying it out flat on a towel or hanging it on a drying rack.

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Little Sister's Dress

After seeing this pattern completed by a customer (thank you, Brennan!) and while guiding another customer through knitting it (thank you, Mary!) Helen just had to knit this dress! The pattern, Little Sister's Dress, was written for a fingering-weight yarn, and many knitters on Ravelry used a wool-based yarn. But Helen wanted to use a sport-weight cotton. Using the needle sizes recommended on the SMC Catania Cotton label (size 4 needles) she began knitting knowing that the dress would come out larger than the three-month size she cast on for. The beauty of this free pattern however, is that a schematic is included for five sizes. She measured the width of the bodice and it measured to the twelve-month size, so she continued to knit for the twelve-month length. Because she loves to find a way to use "leftover" skeins of yarns, she envisioned knitting another one using different yarns (of the same gauge) in the knitting rounds of the bodice and hem. The possibilities are endless! This dress can also be knit shorter as a vest.

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Burnett Baby Sweater

One of our newest shop samples is this cute baby sweater called Burnett, which is free on Berroco's Web site. It's knit in one piece, and seamed on the sides, making it a fairly easy project. The basketweave pattern jazzes up what would be a rather plain sweater, and is quite simple to do! We used less than two skeins of machine-washable Vintage to make the six-month size, with plenty of yarn left over for a matching hat or booties.

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New Items

Knitter's Pride Needles -- We have carried Knitter's Pride Needles for about six months now. We began with the wood Cubics (square knitting needles), and then added the wood Dreamz. (These needles are a favorite of one of our staff.) But we didn't dive right into the metal Nova needles since we already carry Susan Bates, Inox and Addi Turbo. However, Helen needed a 24-inch #4 needle to knit the Little Sister's Dress. She decided to order a Nova, and to her surprise, she discovered they are not just good, they are fabulous. They are not as pointed as an Addi Lace, but almost. The connection from the needle shaft to the cord is extremely smooth. And the price? Most popular sizes are in the $6.50-$9.50 range. You can be sure that we will be increasing our Nova selection!

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Discount Bin

New to the discount bin:

Daylily, from Nashua Handknits, is an aran-weight cotton-blend yarn. It is multicolored yarn that does not pattern or pool. It knits at 4-4 1/2 sts. per inch on an 8 needle. Now $4.50 for 87 yards.

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Good Karma's Crank-In

Come to Belfast on June 23-24 for a Crank-In. Learn how a circular sock machine knits socks. All experience levels are welcome. Good Karma has an antique sock machine as well as a brand-new state-of-the-art machine. If you already have a csm, join them to crank out some socks. Here is a chance for hands-on time with a csm. They will have people to help you with any problems with your machine or knitting. They look forward to getting together with fellow crankers.

Good Karma Farm is a working farm with alpacas, sheep and llamas a few chickens and a duck. They have a fiber-processing mill and make their own brands of yarn. They also make Carrabassett Soap on their farm.

Schedule:
Saturday: Cranking from 9 am-4 pm. Coffee, tea and dessert provided.
Sunday: Cranking from 9 am-12:30 pm. Coffee, tea and dessert provided.
Please bring a savory potluck dish or salad to share. Their kitchen can be open for reheating or simple preparation. Belfast also offers a wide range of dining opportunities.

This is a rain-or-shine event. They have a big deck if it's sunny or lots of room inside if it's not. Please RSVP jim@karmayarn.com if you are planning to attend. They would be happy to e-mail a list of local lodgings. There are several B-and-Bs in town as well as a Comfort Inn. There is an RV campground within a few miles. Please call 207-322-0170 with any questions.

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Pleasant Mountain Fiber Arts Workshops

Pleasant Mountain Fiber presents a three-day instructional fiber arts event on June 22-24 in their new location in Brownfield, Me. The program consists of thirty-five wonderful workshops and includes spinning, dyeing, knitting, crocheting, felting techniques, tapestry weaving, rug techniques, doll making, basketry, book binding and punch needle. Nationally known felter Nancy Dorian and knitter Donna Kay are the featured artists this year. Full details about the workshops and registration information can be found at Pleasant Mountain Fiber.

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New Business: Eat More Cheese

"Eat more cheese." That's the pronouncement they've given to Belfast -- they hope everyone concurs. Coincidentally, it's also the name of their cheese shop, located at 33 Main St., in the rear of the building just behind the Northern Lights Gallery. They've been open for just over a month now and they've had a blast. The reception Belfastians have given them has been amazingly supportive, and they're very grateful for it.

Tony, his wife Natalia and their little daughter Sophia (2 1/2 years old) hold down the fort. They've always loved cheese, and also Belfast. They visited the town for their first anniversary five years ago and have been coming back ever since. It's been a real dream come true for them to be able to set up shop in such a great city.

For those that haven't yet paid them a visit, the shop stocks cheeses from around the state, country and abroad (over forty varieties at last count) and a variety of chocolates, salami, honeys and jams, and other specialty foods that pair well with cheese.

They love sharing their passion for cheese and they're confident they'll have something you love. The best way to figure out what you like in cheese is eating lots of it ... so come on by and sample to your heart's content. For those of you that have already visited, make sure to stop by every now and then. They bring in new cheeses on a weekly basis, so the selection is never stale.

For more information, visit Eat More Cheese, find them on Facebook, phone 207-358-9701 or e-mail tony@eatmorecheese.me.

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Belfast, the "City of Books"

After losing two bookstores in the past couple of years, one through retirement (The Fertile Mind), and one as another brick-and-mortar small-bookshop casualty to the times (Mr. Paperback), Belfast will emerge this June with a net gain. To add to the existing two bookshops (The Old Professor's Bookshop and Beyond the Sea), two new bookshops opened in downtown Belfast in 2011: Artisan Books and Bindery, and Bellabooks; and another, Left Bank Books, is moving to downtown this month.

So Belfast has actually gained, and now has five bookshops within two blocks. And then there is the beautiful Book Lovers' Attic just across the river in East Belfast. Through these six bookshops we cover new, secondhand, collectable and antiquarian books.

Additionally, thirteen other businesses in downtown Belfast sell their own particular niche in books -- for example, knitting and fiber-arts books at Heavenly Socks Yarns!

Join Belfast in June to celebrate the City of Books!

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Karaoke Party at First Church in Belfast

Think you can sing? Want a chance at winning some great prizes for those singing talents? Then come to the Cap'n John's Karaoke Party hosted by the First Church in Belfast, UCC on June 2, from 5-9 pm. This rockin' fun time will be held in the church's upstairs Fellowship Hall, which is handicapped-accessible using the Spring Street entrance. Refreshments will be available for sale throughout the evening, and non-singers are encouraged to attend to dance, enjoy the music and support those wonderful singers. Prizes to be awarded for best female and male solos ($50.00 gift certificates to Darby's); best duet (trip for two on the Belfast tugboat as she escorts the State of Maine to her home port in Castine); and best group (maritime-themed BBQ aprons). Cost is $5.00 cover and $5.00 per karaoke song. Proceeds will benefit the church's general fund. You may bring your own CD-and-Gs, or use theirs, which have music from the Fifties to the Seventies in most genres. The First Church is located on the corner of Spring and Court streets. All are welcomed. For more information, phone 207-338-2282.

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Out of the Woods' 10th Anniversary

Out of the Woods will celebrate their 10th anniversary on Father's Day weekend, June 16-17, with storewide specials on all sorts of Maine-made goodies, from toys to jewelry to furniture. Visit their W.A. Mitchell Furniture Tent Sale on the lawn beside the store for terrific deals on heirloom-quality hardwood furniture including dining tables and chairs, rockers, stepstools and barstools. They only sell products made in Maine, and are delighted to support Maine businesses and craftspeople in any way they can. Enter their raffle to win one of three great prizes, and stop in on either day to sample some smoked delicacies courtesy of Maine Grilling Woods in Searsmont. Come in to see "Maine Made, America's Best"!

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Aarhus Gallery Celebrates its Fifth Anniversary

Over the past five years, hundreds of artists have shown their view of the world on Aarhus Gallery's white walls and the heart-pine floor. In celebration of their fifth anniversary, they invite the public to join them, with all five senses, on Friday, June 1 for an anniversary-show reception, from 5-8 pm.

The show runs from May 31 through July 1 and features artwork by Aarhus partners: Kevin Johnson, Mark Kelly, Richard Mann, Wesley Reddick and Willy Reddick.

Aarhus Gallery, 50 Main St., Belfast, will resume summer hours with this show starting in June and will be open 11 am-5:30 pm, Tuesday-Sunday, or by chance or appointment. For more information, visit Aarhus Gallery or phone 207-338-0001.

Words and Music

The gallery is pleased to present an inspiring evening of music and poetry on Saturday, June 9, at 7:30 pm. Words and Music is an evening of collaboration between four area poets and the electro-acoustic duo Algorithm.

The wordsmiths for the evening are Ellen Sander, author of Back to the Garden and the blog Crackpot Chronicles, Lauren Murray, author of the recently published Hear if You Dare, Joel Lipman, a professor at University of Toledo, the author of Chicago You Got A Wide Stance and current Belfast Poet Laureate Jacob Fricke, author of This Book of Poems You Found.

Algorithm is a new electro-acoustic duo comprised of Mike Whitehead, on trumpet and flugelhorn, and Tom Luther on keyboards. The basic form of the group is supplemented by substantial use of electronic instruments, both live and sequenced. Both musicians are experienced jazz performers, and use their improvising skills in the context of modern electronica and ambient music. The music itself is an amalgam of improvised material and electronic soundscapes crafted by both performers.

There is an $8.00 suggested donation at the door which includes light refreshments.

William Pint and Felicia Dale

The gallery is very happy to welcome back the exceptional William Pint and Felicia Dale, to once again dazzle and delight listeners with their masterful interpretations of music of the sea.

Along with William's energetic guitar style and evocative voice, one of the attractions of their performances is Felicia's hurdy-gurdy, an instrument whose origins date back to the 12th century (basically a hand-cranked violin with a keyboard) which, in Felicia's practiced hands, can gently roll like a deep-sea swell, or wail like bagpipes and send you 'round the briny Horn.

Come and share life at sea with them for a few spellbinding hours on Saturday, June 23, at 7:30 pm. Suggested donation $10.00, refreshments will be served and CDs will be available for purchase.

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STILL LIFE Show at Betts Gallery

Betts Gallery at The Belfast Framer will be hosting its kickoff exhibit of the 2012 season on June 1. STILL LIFE is an exhibit of four artists: Stephanie Bartron-Miscione, Kerstin Engman, Kathleen Mack and Dina Petrillo. Their interpretation of the phrase "still life" ranges from images of beautiful eggs to a water faucet, and the work encompasses each artist's individual style. The opening reception for the artists is on Friday, June 1, 5:30-8 pm.

About Petrillo's work, poet Rick Benjamin writes, "Dina creates new pedagogies, new processes and forms that suit and accommodate her impulses and predilections as an artist-thinker. She consistently puts her hands in the earth -- in the muck and the mire of animals, plants, minerals -- in order to develop practices that are fully in touch and alive with the rest of the sentient world."

Bartron-Miscione says, "I want my subjects to come alive with rich detail, layers of color that glow against contrasting values and textures, and more information than a single light source can provide."

Engman has been painting for the past decade, although her artistic focus for twenty-five years was as a sculptor. She has painted the Maine landscape and worked from what she defines as "the simplest of still lifes." Her work is an expression of color and pattern in a balance that connects to daily routines and events.

Mack, a self-taught artist, began her professional painting career in 1993. She works in oil and water media. Her primary interest is in the human form, alone and in relationship to other figures and surroundings. "The gesture is all-important."

STILL LIFE can be viewed June 1-30, Monday-Friday, 10 am-5 pm and Saturday, 10 am-2 pm.

Betts Gallery at The Belfast Framer is located at 96 Main St. in Belfast. For more information, phone 207-338-6465 or visit The Belfast Framer.

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Ponds Show at High Street Studio and Gallery

High Street Studio and Gallery will be having an opening on Friday, June 1 from 5-8 pm as part of the Belfast Friday Night Gallery Walk. A theme of Ponds will be featured with paintings by Julie Cyr and Sheep Jones, clay work by Gail Savitz and Blue Moon Clay Carvers, and sculpture by Claude O'Donnell. Susan Tobey White will be showing new work continuing her Food and Dance series. Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 10 am-5 pm; Saturday, 10 am-4 pm; Sundays by appointment or chance.

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David McLaughlin: the Art of Salvage at Waterfall Arts

Waterfall Arts opens new exhibits on Friday, June 1 with a reception from 5 to 8 pm. David McLaughlin: the Art of Salvage, in the Clifford Gallery, is an ambitious show featuring many of McLaughlin's sculptures, assemblages and handmade useful objects, along with an installation re-creating a portion of the Liberty Corn Cannery, where he worked and lived.

McLaughlin, an icon of midcoast Maine, passed away in 2010. He was a prolific artist in metal and wood, an ingenious designer, a builder of sophisticated woodstoves, and a passionate collector, visionary and rigger of very large objects. His aesthetic eye and artistry, dry wit, knowledge of tools and practices, and willingness to help his friends are greatly missed. He was a founding board member of Waterfall Arts and was very involved in his local and more wide-flung community.

The show continues through August 24 at Waterfall Arts Belfast, 256 High St. While the exhibit is an appreciation of McLaughlin's life and work, it also introduces his aesthetic and practice to new audiences and is hoped to spark an appreciation for New England's industrial history and tools, the strong Maine work ethic, and the role artists and designers play in keeping these traditions alive in local communities and economies.

Concurrent to the exhibit, Waterfall Arts has scheduled affordable classes in metalwork, assemblage and creative re-use of materials at the Waldo County Technical Center and at their Montville campus. In collaboration with the Town of Liberty, its library, and historical society, and the Davistown Museum, Waterfall Arts will bring longtime Waldo County residents together with the new crop of farmers, entrepreneurs and artists to discuss the continuing use of historic industrial buildings and the role of the Liberty Cannery in the community from its early days to the present. Historical talks on the canning industry, story telling and video presentations are planned as well, both in Belfast and Liberty. Please check Waterfall Arts for the complete schedule.

Also opening on June 1 is a wheat-paste art installation by Maine artist Pigeon. Wheat paste is used to put up street art and posters, usually in urban settings, but in this case Pigeon is installing his artwork in an interior stairwell. In addition, BCOPE students working with Eleni Murphy will show photographs from their Photo Justice Series and a selection of work from the 100 Hammers project will be exhibited.

Gallery hours at Waterfall Arts are Tuesday-Thursday, 10 am-5 pm and Friday, 10 am-7 pm in July and August, and by appointment. For more information, visit Waterfall Arts or phone 207-338-2222.

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Belfast Flying Shoes Contradance with Agnostic Fiddle Insurgency

On Friday, June 1, Belfast Flying Shoes Contradance at American Legion Post #43, 143 Church St., Belfast. Come with or without a partner, no experience necessary. Bring a second pair of shoes to dance in (other than your street shoes -- a soft sole works best) and a water bottle.

6:30 pm: Community Dance. Chrissy Fowler calling with the All Comers Band. (All musicians welcome to sit in.) $2.00 adults and $1.00 kids. Fun and simple dances. Brush up on and learn new skills. Fun for the whole community. Both beginning and experienced dancers are encouraged to participate.

7:30 pm: Tasty Treat Potluck. Savory or sweet finger foods for an after-dinner treat.

8 pm: Contradance. Will Mentor (Vermont) calling with Agnostic Fiddle Insurgency: Cedar Stanistreet, fiddle; Edward Wallace, fiddle; Julie Metcalf, fiddle and viola; Bethany Waickman, guitar. $10.00 for age 21+, $7.00 for age 13-20 as well as adult All-Comers, $4.00 for kids.

Belfast Flying Shoes Dance Series happens First Fridays under the disco ball. Find them on Facebook.

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Belfast Co-op June Schedule

June Featured Artist: Lori Davis

The Nature of Maine photography exhibit shares moments captured while exploring the Maine outdoors. Visit the artist's Web site at Lori Davis Photography. On display in the Belfast Co-op Cafe for the month of June.

Quarterly Member-Owner Super Sale Day

Thursday, June 1: Members receive 10% off purchases except alcohol, tobacco and periodicals.

Belfast Farmers' Market

Fridays, 9 am-1 pm, Waterfall Arts, 256 High St., Belfast; first Friday of the month, upper Main Street between Church and High streets, twenty-six vendors. Belfast Farmers' Market.

Common Ground Radio

Friday, June 1 (first Friday of the month), 10-11 am: Live and call-in radio program on WERU with MOFGA at 89.9 FM and WERU.

Senior Discount Day

Every Tuesday, Belfast Co-op customers 62 years young and up receive a discount if they inform the cashier of their eligibility. Co-op members receive a 10% discount; non-members, 5%.

Wine Tasting and Art Opening

Friday, June 1, 7-9 pm, Co-op Cafe: Free monthly wine tasting of highlighted seasonal wines, gourmet cheeses and crackers and the opening of The Nature of Maine. Heidi Martin of South Portland Wines, Co-op wine manager Ron Poirier and photographer Lori Davis will be available to answer questions. Featured wines are 10% off during the tasting. Must be 21 years of age or older to attend.

How Agriculture and Factory Farming Objectives Influence Our Health

Tuesday, June 5, 6:30 pm, Belfast Free Library: Free presentation by nutritionist John Bagnulo MPH, Ph.D. Co-sponsored by the Belfast Free Library and the Belfast Co-op.

Winterport Winery and Penobscot Bay Brewery Tour

Saturday, June 16, 1-4 pm: Meet at Co-op, transportation provided, $10.00 pre-registration, limited seating. Winery and brewery tour, beer, wine and ice cream tastings. Reserve your seat at the Co-op or call 207-338-2532 with a credit or debit card.

Third Thursday Donation Day

Thursday, June 19: Every third Thursday of the month, the Belfast Co-op donates 1% of the day's sales to a community organization whose work helps build local resilience. The Pollinator Partnership has been selected as our June recipient.

June LOCAL Food Day

Tuesday, June 26, 11 am-3 pm: Local producers will provide free samples of their products at the Belfast Co-op, the Deli will feature local products in their lunch special and select local products will be on sale throughout the store.

For more information about Belfast Co-op events, visit The Belfast Co-op, e-mail kate@belfast.coop or phone 207-338-2532.

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Our Shipping Policy

Even though our Web site is not designed with a shopping cart, we will happily ship anything to you.

At this time, we only ask for the exact cost of the shipping; there is no handling charge.

By the way, the man in the photo is our well-loved UPS deliveryman. He is always smiling and happy, even when hauling heavy boxes down the stairs. (He must be a secret wannabe knitter.)

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