We had an opportunity to pick up a limited batch of naturally dyed, dk weight, superwash wool mini skeins from Yarn Time Knits here in Maine.  

Because we know that the process of making a wool machine washable actually softens the yarn by reducing  the wool's "scales," we decided to write a cowl pattern for this yarn. (Our pattern is free with the purchase of the yarn.)  After writing the pattern, we found a very similar one on Ravelry, F628 Cowl.

We are linking the Ravelry pattern -- just because it is a nice pattern for mini-skein bundles, small skeins, or bits and pieces of yarn.  However, if you would like to see the yarn, or try on our model, or get the pattern that is specific for Yarn Time Knits yarn, come see us!

Puddle Duck is a top-down girls' tunic that is quick to knit and simple to wear. Perfect for the shoulder season, the 3/4" sleeves will keep your favorite girl warm while she has fall adventures, and the little pockets will keep her small treasures safe. Sizes available range from 2T to 12. Liz knit the 2T with slightly less than two skeins of Jaggerspun's Mousam Falls, a machine-washable Maine wool yarn, but even the largest size will take less than four skeins. The pattern is available as a digital download for $6 through Ravelry.

We have so many new yarns to share with you, but we often find it difficult to keep up with social media.

We love the new colors of Brown Sheep Company's Prairie Spun DK -- particularly the Anaheim Pepper red! This 100% wool yarn is made in the United States and has a great price point of $9.95 for 256 yards. It is suitable for just about any project.

As we write, the weather is warm, but it is a great time to start a fall sweater if you are in an air-conditioned room, or riding in a car. A little stockinette knitting here and there on a sweater will eventually come to fruition just in time.

	Electra Lite (click to zoom)

If a sweater is not your thing or just too bulky for your summer schedule, we also received some beautiful sparkly sock yarn from Plymouth Yarns called Electra Lite. We love the wrap of metallic and the sophisticated color palette with a decent price point of $18.95 for 425 yards.

Bartlettyarns is having their annual open house and mill tour on August 2-3 in Harmony, Maine. Please consider going to this historic mill that houses the last spinning mule operating for production in the United Sates. We are sure you will think it was worthwhile. They actually have their own yarn shop. We recently visited Bartlettyarns and wrote about their new wool washing facility on our Fiber of Maine blog.

There is information about their open house and a link to their website toward the end of our blog posts.

We recently visited Lana Plantae Yarns in Buxton, Maine. Read about our visit there on our Fiber of Maine blog.

Fiber College of Maine is an annual fiber festival whose sole reason for being is to celebrate the fiber arts in all forms. Each year, the weekend after Labor Day, fiber artists, crafters and students gather together for a weekend of casual fiber classes, time with friends old and new, live animals and good food.

This year, the festival takes place September 4-8. The location is Searsport Shores Ocean Park and Campground, Searsport, Maine.

For more information, visit Fiber College of Maine or phone 207-548-6059.

The Second Annual Machias Fiber Festival will take place on Friday, September 13, 4-8 pm, and on Saturday, 9 am-3 pm, at the Lee/Pellon Center, 90 Main St., Machias, Maine.

Celebrate fiber arts in downeast Maine, including the traditional crafts of knitting, crochet, spinning, rug hooking, and more. The event will be held in conjunction with the Machias Harvest Festival, which boasts delicious food, exciting vendors, and activities for both adults and children.

The Fiber Festival will include many fiber vendors, fiber demos, live animals, a knit and spin lounge, Doctors Are In (help from knit/crochet "doctors"), Classes, fiber-related raffle, a historical handcraft display, and a historical skirmish by reenactors.

The Festival offers free parking and admission, and is sponsored by Home Spun Girls. For more information, find them on Facebook.

On Sunday, August 18, at 3 pm, The First Church in Belfast, UCC, at 104 Church St., presents Music for Asylum Seekers, featuring local musicians and vocalists performing music by Gershwin, Bernstein, show tunes and works written for two pianos. The highlight is a piano piece for eight hands!

Musicians include: Vocalists Isaac Bray, Katelyn Parker-Bray, Maggie Goscinski and John Sage; Maho Hisakawa, Flute; Jon Burroughs and Barbara Kemp, Piano; and Amy Kercsmar, Piano and Harp. Suggested Donation: $10.00. Proceeds to benefit the Asylum Seekers in Portland, Maine.

For more information, phone 207-338-2282 or find them on Facebook. First Church is an open and affirming congregation, and is ADA accessible.

The Belfast Rotary Club invites you to celebrate the boating traditions of Belfast, Maine at the 12th Annual Belfast Harbor Fest and Classic Boat Show, Friday through Sunday, August 16-18, at Steamboat Landing and Heritage Park, Front Street between Main and Commercial streets.

Festivities include:
Special Appearance by Carolyn Brady (Miss Maine 2019), Evening by the Bay Charity Art Auction, 5K Bug Run/Walk, Pancake Breakfast, National Boat Building Challenge, Music, Boat Tours, Rotary Charity Gala, Kids' Activities (Face Painting, Stick Puppets, Bubble Machine, Touch-a-Truck, and more), Front Street Shipyard Tours, Classic Boat Show, Come Boating! 19th Annual Regatta, Free Harbor Rows from ComeBoating!, Barbecue Dinner, Cardboard Boat Challenge, and Habitat for Humanity Lobster Gala.

For more information, visit Belfast Harbor Fest.

Join Belfast Flying Shoes on Friday, August 2, for an evening of contra dancing at American Legion Post #43, 143 Church St. in Belfast. The evening begins at 6:30 pm with a community dance called by Chrissy Fowler. The contra dance begins at 8 pm.

This month's caller is Luke Donforth. Based in Burlington, Vermont, Luke is a contra dance caller, a choreographer and a founder of The Mad Robin's Callers Collective.

Sharing the Flying Shoes stage with Luke will be: Shandy.

Shandy features Eileen Nicholson Kalfass on fiddle, Rebecca McCallum on fiddle, and Jane Knoeck on piano. After years of playing together in such bands as the Groovemongers (Rebecca and Jane) and New Brew (Jane and Eileen), these three skilled, energetic dance musicians have finally come together as a trio, and the result is electrifying.

Sound provided by Eric Weest Johnson.

For more information, phone 207-338-0979, email belfastflyingshoes@gmail.com, visit Belfast Flying Shoes or find them on Facebook.

Senior College at Belfast announces that there is still space available on Thursday, August 22 for Safe Online Dating for Mature Beginners. Taught by Wendy Kasten, with special guest Sheriff Jeff Trafton, this course is designed to help you maneuver online dating sites safely and with ease. The one-day course, which meets 9:30 am-3 pm (90-minute lunch break) will help with all aspects of this growing activity and show the pitfalls to avoid. A longtime teacher, Wendy chairs Aging Well in Waldo County, and met her husband online!

To register online, visit Senior College at Belfast.

The Belfast Free Library features ongoing programs for all ages, art shows and presentations on a wide range of topics. See their August calendar for details.

For more events happening in Belfast in August, please see Our Town Belfast's events page and the Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce's August calendar.