As we started to put this newsletter together, we were amazed at all the fiber-related events happening this month! There are three weekends in a row where you can touch, learn about and purchase Maine fiber and yarn. We listed the events separately below: Fiber College, Machias Fiber Festival and the Common Ground Country Fair. These events also make a great excuse to go out and explore the great state of Maine.

If you cannot attend these events and/or you love to visit Belfast, we will be having a celebration of fiber -- along with Fiddlehead Artisan Supply.

Both shops will be offering 10% off your entire purchase on Friday, September 6, through Sunday the 8th. Our shop will also have a drawing for door prizes during these sale days. We have so many new yarns on the shelves that we would love you to come in to see them and let us know what you think.

We will be open Labor Day from 11 am-4 pm. Most other shops in Belfast are open too, and if the weather is nice you may want to plan a visit to see Passy Pete -- the summer-predicting lobster -- on the waterfront at 10 am.

We hope to see you this month!

Cheryl loves seed stitch and loves String Theory Caper Sock Yarn ... that combination led her to Alchemy.

This asymmetric shawl uses two skeins of fingering weight or dk weight yarns. Our sample has two coordinating colors; one is the previously mentioned Caper Sock and the other is Manos' Alegria.

If you're the sort that throws caution to the winds, only you can guess the wild and wonderful combination you might be able to come up with. The original pattern picture reminds us of houndstooth. Clearly you can do almost anything and have a lovely shawl in the end!

The beautiful Ebel shawl is fun and fast! It's an interesting variation of a crescent shawl. Our shop sample is knit with Juniper Moon Farm's Herriot Fine in three different colors and the bobbles were worked in Incan Spice from Plymouth.

This is a great pattern to use if you've been curious about lace or fingering weight yarns, but were deterred because they had a recommended needle size that was tiny and daunting. The Ebel Shawl was worked on #5 needles!

Picking your colors will be great fun as well as striping them together. The bobble edge is crocheted on and is a meant to be a contrast and a bit of a pop. That being said, more subtle colors prove to work very well too.

Do you have a skein or two of fingering or sock yarn in your stash? Bring them in and we'll help you find another yarn or two to work with what you have -- and then away you'll go, because this shawl moves quickly!

More than a thousand makers will be descending on Searsport on September 4-8 for the 13th Fiber College of Maine. This annual event attracts spinners, weavers, quilters, woodworkers, stitchers, knitters, rug, basket and jewelry makers, and artists from up and down the east coast for a unique festival celebrating Maine's rich tradition of handcrafts.

Keynote teachers and speakers this year include renowned tapestry weaver Barbara Burns. A sought-after teacher across the US and Canada, Barbara uses intricate traditional techniques to explore challenging modern subjects.

Widely acclaimed interpretive knitter Katharine Cobey also explores serious modern themes using traditional and modern fibers in new and surprising ways to create objects such as masks, hangings and large 3D installations. Another wonderful knitting opportunity is with sisters Anna Kessler and Kris Bridges, who are offering a two-day class on designing a traditional cabled aran sweater for those who want to create an original piece steeped in tradition but absolutely contemporary.

In addition to the scheduled two-to-12-hour classes, which may be booked in advance, there are one-hour drop-in sessions on a variety of crafts including turning pens on a wood lathe, 3D printing, knitting and surface design all day Friday-Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday, the $12 gate fee covers a free one-hour class of your choice, and there will be free demonstrations on a variety of topics including weaving plus care and feeding of Angora bunnies throughout the weekend.

The College takes place at the beautiful oceanfront campground, Searsport Shores, with its dedicated studios, indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, spinning tent, fiber animals and dye garden. As well as the full daily program, participants enjoy the organic gardens, beach and surrounding woodlands. Local food will be provided by Chef on the Run, and in the evenings there will be live music by local musicians, including the Belfast Bay Fiddlers.

The Makers Market is hosted on Friday, noon-7 pm. All local crafters and farmers are invited to take part. Tables are $10 and admission is free. The College also donates 1% of registration fees to KIVA.

A unique feature of this year's Fiber College is the opportunity to join a session designed to help shape Fiber College's participation in Maine's Bicentennial 2020.

For more information, contact Astrig Tanguay at 207-548-6059, director@fibercollege.org.

The Second Annual Machias Fiber Festival will take place on Friday, September 13, 4-8 pm, and on Saturday, September 14, 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.

Always the third weekend after Labor Day, the Common Ground Country Fair takes place this year on September 20, 21 and 22. Gates open at 9 am each day. Vendors open until 6 pm on Friday and Saturday, 5 pm on Sunday.

Of special interest to the Heavenly Yarns community:

• Fiber Marketplace: Vendors who cater to small fiber producers and fiber users. This area also has the Sheep Dog Demos.
• Fleece Tent: Fleeces of all varieties are for sale each day -- plus resources on local fiber producers, scheduled demonstrations about selecting fleeces to suit specific needs and a Fleece Show celebrating the best of the Fair.
• Maine Fiber Farms: Livestock owners demonstrate and sell useful and beautiful products of their animals. Animals displayed as part of educational exhibits include llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats and rabbits.
• Wednesday Spinners: With more than 700 years of cumulative experience, expert fiber spinners demonstrate traditional and modern spinning, dyeing and weaving techniques using a variety of fibers.

For more information, visit MOFGA's The Fair.

More than 50 works by Maine fiber artists will be featured in the exhibit Hanging by a Thread, September 6-November 22 in the H. Allen and Sally Fernald Gallery at the UMaine Hutchinson Center, 80 Belmont Ave., Rte. 3, Belfast. Works demonstrating techniques and forms will include wall hangings, wearable art, vessels and more.

An opening reception will be held on Friday, September 6, 5:30-7 pm. The reception and exhibit are open to the public and are free of charge. The Gallery is open Monday-Friday, 8 am-7 pm.

Artists represented in the show include: Kathleen Bird, Laurie Brooks, Barbara Burns, Sandi Cirillo, John Clark, Stephanie Crossman, Bette Edl, Kathleen Goddu, Sara Hotchkiss, Natasha Kempers-Cullen, Allegra Kuhn, Alice Lee, Susan Mills, Arlene Morris, Leanne Nickon, Jeanne Seronde Perkins, Linda Perkins, Jude Spacks, Joanne Swift and Peter Walls.

For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, phone Nancy Bergerson, 207-338-8049.

The Tenth Annual KnitMaine-ia Fashion Show will take place on Saturday, October 12, at 2 pm, at the Belfast Boathouse on Steamboat Landing. Tickets are $12, available at the door. All proceeds benefit New Hope for Women. For more information, visit Knit the Community or find them on Facebook.

There will be a free screening of the National Geographic film Paris to Pittsburgh, which highlights the issue of global climate change, on Friday, September 6, 6:30 pm. at Belfast Area High School. The event is sponsored by the Belfast Climate Change Committee, Belfast Area High School Ocean Sciences Bowl Team and The First Church in Belfast, UCC Social Justice Team.

For more information, phone 207-338-2282. All are welcome.

Maine Wienerfest is a celebration of dachshunds and the people who love them. The 16th annual Maine Wienerfest will be held on Sunday, September 8, from 11 am-3 pm at Steamboat Landing Park in Belfast.

Maine Wienerfest originated as an informal picnic and gathering for families who lived with these adorable, tiny dogs. Gradually, it grew to include other activities with the number of dogs and dog lovers increasing each year. This year, P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center continues the tradition with all proceeds benefiting the shelter.

In addition to the picnic social, organized events include a Grand Parade of Dachshunds, Canine Costume Contest, Doxie Derby and raffle opportunities.

The Maine Wienerfest will be held rain or shine with gates opening at 10:30 am. Admission is $3 for adults; free for children (12 and under) and dogs. Food and pet-related vendors will be available on-site. Don't forget to tag your photos from Maine Wienerfest 2018 on social media with #mainewienerfest.

For more information, visit Maine Wienerfest.

The Senior College at Belfast's Fall 2019 curriculum includes classes on literature, history, language, gardening, the environment, music, art, political science, religion and world events. Those over age 50 are encouraged to take part. Senior College is more than just a learning experience, for it offers an opportunity to make new friends as well as catch up with neighbors in the community.
 
The Fall 2019 session begins on Thursday, September 19 and runs for six consecutive Thursdays, ending October 24. In addition there are three one-day classes scheduled this year featuring opera, Maine's working waterfront and a birthday celebration for Leonardo da Vinci. The cost for each six-week class is $35.00 plus a yearly membership fee of $25.00 per person. All classes are offered at the Hutchinson Center on Route 3 in Belfast.

For a detailed course description and to register, visit Fall Course Offerings 2019 or download a registration form online and mail it to Senior College, The Hutchinson Center, 80 Belmont Avenue, Belfast, ME 04915. For more information, phone 207-338-8033. In addition to the regular weekly courses, Senior College offers organized special events as well as interesting brown bag lunches open to all members.

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

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