We will be participating in Belfast's Annual Cabin Fever Sale this Saturday, February 1. Because we realize some people work on Saturday, or have prior commitments, we are having the sale on Sunday too. We will be giving 20% off (excluding sale items) on all purchases all weekend! Read more about this event below.

During the month of February, all cotton and linen yarns will be on sale at 20% off. We have a variety of plant-based yarns, from cotton yarn used to make dishcloths to Shibui linen and linen blends. This is a good time to start a summer top or to make a baby gift or two.

We will have new cotton yarns arriving too. We just put out Plymouth's new Sea Isle Cotton. This is an incredibly soft, worsted weight yarn made of 50% organic pima cotton and 50% fine wool. It is put up in a generous 329-yard hank. You will just have to come in and feel how lovely it is!

Helen here ...
I wasn't planning to knit a hat, but for some reason I looked at the crown decrease in the free pattern of Isidia Beanie and wondered why they began the first decrease round with an ssk and ended it with an ssk. The gauge seemed wonky to me too, so I just had to knit it, figuring that a dk weight yarn would work. I was home, so I went stash diving for the three colors needed: The green yarn is Encore DK, the gold is handspun, and the white is undyed Swans Island yarn -- what a combination! The knit was pleasurable and I highly recommend knitting it. From my experience, you will likely need at least 75 yards of three different colors. This is a slip stitch design requiring the knitter to work just a single color at a time, making this a quick colorwork project!

Cheryl here ...
Well readers, here's the deal: Elizabeth Doherty is one of my very favorite designers, and Tiny Boats looked like a cute hat, Socks Yeah DK is a new favorite yarn and was the right gauge for the pattern. Win, win, win. I just couldn't walk away. One skein each of two different colors will get you this hat. Three skeins will get you two hats. Socks Yeah DK has a beautiful and tastefully different palette, so you'll have great fun picking colors. I've knit three projects with this yarn and I'm anxious to do another.

Again, this is a slip stitch design requiring the knitter to work just a single color at a time, making this a quick colorwork project! It is available for sale from Ravelry or in the shop.

It is fun to make something out of "nothing," and who doesn't like the challenge of putting colors together to create something beautiful! We have gathered enough "scraps" of yarn for participants to create a hat; however, participants are welcome to bring their own scraps of yarn, any weight from fingering through worsted weight (even novelty yarn!), if they would like to add to the scrap pool or to use them in creating their own hat.

Participants need to know how to cast on, knit and purl. They will need to bring a 16-inch #5, #6 or #7 circular needle. Enough free yarn scraps for one hat will be provided.

Though the hat instructions are simple, this workshop will offer an exchange of ideas with other knitters, and participants will likely learn a technique tip or two.

This workshop will be offered twice this month:
Saturday, February 8 at 9:30 am, or
Monday, February 17 at 10:30 am.

Though this is a free workshop, please contact the shop to sign up, as space is limited. Also, if a participant would like to line the inside of their hat (a wide hem of smooth yarn can create a partial lining), there is homework prior to coming to the workshop.

Date: Saturday, February 15 OR Tuesday, February 18 (two classes available, sign up for one).
Time: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Cost: $25 per person
Instructor: Reah Janise Kauffman
Skills Required: ability to knit and purl
Description: This two-hour workshop will focus on knitting a pair of leg warmers in the round. The leg warmers feature bobbles, cables, increases, decreases and Norwegian long-tail cast-on. The pattern is free to all who sign up for the class.
Materials to bring:
-- US #8 double-pointed needles (8" long) or 32" circular needle for Magic Loop
-- Lamb's Pride Worsted (85% wool/15% mohair), 190 yds/4 oz per skein: 2 skeins (or approx. 250 yds of any worsted weight yarn)
-- Cable needle
-- Stitch marker

No preparation necessary. Please contact the shop to sign up, as space is limited.

On Saturday, February 1, the annual Belfast Cabin Fever Sale will take place throughout downtown. Find great deals at 30 retailers and restaurants (including Heavenly Yarns!). We will offer 20% off storewide, including already discounted yarn, both Saturday and Sunday.

For full list, sale details and hours, visit Our Town Belfast's Cabin Fever Sale page.

On the weekend of May 15-17, Snow Pond Center for the Arts will provide fiber-filled fun; enjoy the company of fellow fiber enthusiasts in the picturesque town of Sidney, Maine.

You can learn the art of weaving from start to finish, as well as other fiber-related arts such as spinning, dyeing, wet and needle felting, knitting, rug hooking, punch hooking and soap making/felting.

Participants can also take a hike around Snow Pond's scenic campus, kayak along Lake Messalonskee, or just relax on the expansive front porch, overlooking the lake. Dormitory rooms right on campus are available for overnight stays. Book your accommodations now!

Please see the Classes page for the full description of each class and a bio of our instructors.

For the most current information about the NEW Snow Pond Fiber Arts Festival, find them on Facebook.

Artists/knitters/dancers/craftspeople/working people/people of all ages are needed!

The Farm and Forest Fiber Flannel Runway Fashion show, scheduled for February 14, 4-11 pm, at the American Legion Hall, 143 Church St., is a celebration of the working people, land and water of midcoast Maine. The show will open with someone offering a land and water blessing, and sharing about the history of Wabanaki people on this land. There will be a giant snail moving across the runway verrrrry slowly with a sign reading "Slow Fashion" ... when the snail reaches the other side, the show will be over. There will be people wearing flannel shirts and pajamas dancing, farmers and artists carrying tools of their trades, folks in deerskin, an Evergreen Queen, giant vegetables, local knitted woolens, bark, shells, seaweed ... whatever we dream up.

Come be part of the fun! There are two more Costume Creation days, February 1 and 8, 1-4 pm, at Belfast Fiberarts, 171 High St. For more information on the Costume Creation event, find them on Facebook.

If you're interested in making a costume on your own, or already have a hand-knitted or hide garment you'd like to be part of the show, please contact Chelsea at joyfulbodies@gmail.com, 207-504-0813. Our focus for knitted garments is on local yarns and natural dyes. Are you an artist, craftsperson, farmer or fisherman? We would love to have you model a flannel shirt or bark skirt and walk down the runway with a tool of your trade! If you are interested in submitting a garment, or interested in modeling, we would love to have you participate.

The Fashion Show is part of a February FUNraiser for the Belfast Adventure Education program, a three-day-a-week homeschool enrichment program for kids 7-11 years old beginning in October 2020. The event includes work songs, the fashion show, a contra dance, a live funk band, local and foraged foods, a poetry booth, foraged finger foods and chocolates made by kids. Don't miss the fun! Family friendly.

For more information on the FUNraiser event, find them on Facebook.

Repair Cafe
On Saturday, February 1, 9 am-1 pm, Belfast Community Works' free Repair Cafe will be in session. A team of tinkerers and repair wizards will be available to work with you to fix small electrical appliances or clothing; bring replacement parts if you have them.

Make Your Own Drop Spindle and Learn To Use It to Spin Wool
Instructor: Betsy Alspach. Saturday, February 1, 10 am-noon. $58.00. Learn how to create drop spindles and spin yarn with them. You will take home your drop spindle, your spun fiber, some extra wool and the ability to spin on your own! All materials will be provided.

Valentine Workshop
Rose Whitehead and other Instructors. February 9, Drop-in, noon-2 pm. $8.00/valentine. The Maker Space will be set up with everything you need to create Valentines for your sweetie. Instructors will be on hand to teach, and offer ideas to create something unique to let your honey know how much you love them! Hearts, hearts and more hearts! Felted, Penny Wool, Woven Swedish Hearts. Drop in and create!

Four-Harness Weaving
Instructor: Alice Seeger. Saturday, Sunday, Monday, February 15-17, 9 am-4 pm each day. $350 includes class notes and project materials. In this intensive beginning-level class, you will learn and experience the basics of weaving on a 4-harness loom, and weave several different weave structures.

Introduction to Decorative Sashiko Stitching
Instructor: Kathleen Goddu. February 22, 10 am-2 pm. $98.00 includes materials. Learn how to achieve a uniform running stitch, transfer a pattern onto indigo fabric, and stitch the pattern using sashiko thread in the traditional Japanese manner. Materials include: set of sashiko needles, sashiko thread, indigo fabric and stitch samples.

Belfast Fiberarts is located at 171 High St., Belfast, just past the Colonial Theatre. Store hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am-6 pm; Sunday, noon-5 pm; closed Mondays.

Local Color Gallery in Belfast is looking forward to their third season featuring the work of 15 local artists working in a wide variety of mediums. The gallery is accepting applications for new artists until March 1. Applications and details can be found at Local Color Gallery and at the gallery at 135 High St. Jurying will be finalized by March 17.

Belfast's Third Annual Winter Whoopla! will chase the winter blahs away with fun events, both indoor and outdoor.

Friday, January 31, 7-10 pm:

Frost and Flannel Dance at the Belfast Boathouse, with Whippoorwill Wood Band, beer and wine offered by Delvino's Grill and Pasta House

Saturday, February 1, 8 am-5 pm:

• Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser, hosted by the Waldo County YMCA
• Our Town Belfast Cabin Fever Sale (downtown Belfast)
• Build a Snowman Photo Contest (runs December 14-January 30) with prizes from ALL PLAY
• Sledding on Belfast Common
• Snowshoeing and Obstacle Course with Hot Chocolate and S'mores, hosted by Coastal Mountains Land Trust
• FREE Movies at the Colonial Theatre, sponsored by The Belfast Co-op
• Tropical Mini Golf Fundraiser to benefit Overlock Skatepark
• Scavenger Hunt Bingo, sponsored by Green Home Solutions/Belfast -- win two lift passes to Camden Snow Bowl
• Third Annual Chili Cook-off, adding Chowder this year, sponsored by Hannaford Supermarket
• Second Annual Corn-Hole Tournament, sponsored by Hannaford Supermarket
• Christmas Tree Bonfire and Ice Bar, 5 pm, sponsored by Rollie's

Events will continue to be added, so for the most up-to-date information, find them on Facebook.

A number of vendors at at United Farmers Market, 18 Spring St., will hold a special Valentine's Pop-up on Valentine's Day, February 14, 10 am-6 pm. Vendors include Aimee Leclerc Designs, Ancestral French Soaps, Beading Spirits, CupKate's, Dan Bennett Jewelry, Maine Cheesecake Co., Many Hands Farm, Midsummer Night's Meadow Farm, The Smallest Gap, Sonhado and Willow Moon Florist.

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

On Tuesday, February 4, 6:30 pm, Dr. Jeffrey Wells will present Climate Change and the Decline of Birds: What Can Be Done? A recently published study in Science reports that there are nearly three billion fewer birds in North America than there were in the 1970s. This news follows reports of declining insect populations and the overwhelming, far-reaching effects of climate change. What does it mean for Maine birds? How can we help?

Join National Audubon's Dr. Wells for a closer look at these subjects, stories of hope, and how all of us can push for positive changes that deal with these issues.

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