Welcome to Heavenly Socks Yarns!
Our shop on Lower Main Street
Eileen (with baby boy Cedar) modeling the Rikke Hat by Madeline Tosh
Madeline Tosh Rikke Hat Pattern
It was hard in December to knit new samples for the shop while trying to knit holiday gifts. However, Liz managed to get a wonderful hat made out of Madeline Tosh DK. Here is a link to the Rikke Hat pattern, with the only adjustment being that Liz knit the length 1 inch shorter than the pattern to be sure she had plenty of yarn for this one-skein project. Madeline Tosh is an extremely soft 100% superwash hand-dyed merino.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Donation Day
In recognition of the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 10% of our sales on Monday, January 16, will be given to Waldo County Community Action Partners -- or any other local non-profit of your choice whose work helps improve the lives of people.
Sale Yarns
Again, we will have an "indoor yard sale" beginning on Monday, January 2, and ending when everything is sold out. Most stores and restaurants in Belfast will also be open on that date.
Yarn lines include, but are not limited to:
- Artful Yarns' Crystal -- a mohair blend with a subtle sparkle, 158 yards, $4.00
- Cascade's Kid Seta/ Kid Seta Noir -- lace-weight mohair, 232 yards, $7.00
- Cascade's Sierra Quatro -- a worsted multicolor cotton blend, 191 yards, $5.00
- Ester Bitran's Olme -- a sport-weight cotton/rayon hand-dyed, 399 yards, $6.50
- Frog Tree's Pediboo -- sport-weight superwash merino/bamboo, 225 yards, $8.00
- Kramer Yarns Tatamy Tweed -- a DK cotton/acrylic (great for kids) 250 yards, $3.75
- Nashua's Daylily -- an aran-weight, multicolor cotton blend, 87 yards, $4.75
- OnLine's Linie 135 (Goby) -- a DK cotton/viscose, 93 yards, $4.00
- OnLine's Linie 163 (Java Color) -- a fingering cotton/viscose, 171 yards, $4.00
- Plymouth's Nazca Wind -- an alpaca/silk boucle, 142 yards, $8.00
- Schachenmayr's Micro Bamboo Spray -- a sport-weight bamboo/acrylic, 158 yards, $3.50
- Skacel's Merino Lace -- 1375 yards, $9.00
- Sublime's Woolly Merino -- a chunky merino boucle, 96 yards, $4.50
- Tilli Tomas' beaded and sequined silk -- sport weight, $20.00
- Viking's Milk and Honey -- a sport-weight cotton/milk fiber blend, 155 yards, $3.75
and Anchor embroidery floss -- three skeins for $1.00!
We will be rearranging our shelving in the book area and so we will have a lot of books on sale as well!
Helen's beaded version of Malabrigo Hand Thingies, knit with Araucania's Toconao, a Chilean hand-dyed 100% merino yarn, and size 5 (E) beads
Expanded Selection of Beads
We are planning to increase our seed bead selection as well as other beads, and a limited selection of jewelry findings. Helen's goal is to knit all shop models with beads this year. Please feel free to offer your suggestions and requests, as well as bringing in any of your beaded-knit creations.
A customer brought in a pair of fingerless mitts that were fabulous. Helen wanted to try out the pattern, so of course she had to add beads. The pattern is Malabrigo Hand Thingies; however, you can use any heavy worsted-weight yarn.
200 Fair Isle Motifs, by Mary Jane Mucklestone
Book Signing with Mary Jane Mucklestone
We are still hoping to host a book signing this winter for Mary Jane's debut book, 200 Fair Isle Motifs, published by Interweave. At this moment, we do not have a confirmed date and time. We will post the event on our Web site as soon as we know, as well as on our Facebook page. In the meantime, you can enjoy the book, and if you haven't purchased one yet, we will continue to sell it 20% off list price until the signing event!
Peace Fleece Trunk Show
Peace Fleece Trunk Show
Have you admired our wall of Peace Fleece but been unsure what to knit with it? We recently received a trunk show of several Peace Fleece designs so you can see and feel first-hand just how soft this yarn can become after knitting and washing. In fact, the more Peace Fleece is worn and washed, the better it becomes. And along with being soft and warm, Peace Fleece is surprisingly rugged ... it barely pills!
The trunk show includes patterns for men, women and tots, and will be here for the month, so you can learn why Peace Fleece is a shop favorite!
New Year's By the Bay 2012
Celebrate the 15th Anniversary of New Year's By The Bay 2012 (NYBB) in downtown Belfast, Maine, on Saturday, December 31, 2011, from 1:30 pm till midnight. NYBB is a cultural, family-oriented, chemical-free celebration held at a dozen venues throughout historic downtown Belfast. There will be over forty performances to enjoy live, including Maine musicians playing and singing gritty blues, traditional bluegrass, Celtic favorites, sea shanties, spiritual flute, lively folk, jazz, swing, American roots music and standards, brilliant brass, fiddling and rock that sizzles and burns! In addition, enjoy magical illusions, balloon fantasies, a bounce house, horse-and-wagon rides, ice curling demonstrations, and storytelling and poetry, or have your caricature drawn. There will be four dance bands, including steel drums, reggae, rockin' 80's and 90's favorites, and blues/swing/R-and-B. Rounding out the schedule will be the Rabble Rousing Procession to the Bonfire By The Bay at Midnight.
Chem-free eateries will be selling affordable, hearty and homemade food, including soups, stews, sandwiches, chili, pizza, diner fare, kettle corn, desserts, ice cream, hot drinks and a New Year's Eve Breakfast from 9 pm till midnight.
To participate, come to Belfast on December 31 and enjoy an event for all ages, from tots to seniors. Purchase an admittance button that will allow you entry to all the events. Adult buttons are $15.00 through December 29, 2011, and $18.00 afterwards, students K-12 are $5.00 and under 5 years are free. Buttons may be purchased in advance at NYBB Headquarters, The Parent Gallery, Belfast Co-op, Mr. Paperback, Hannaford in Belfast (Service Desk) or online. For more information, including a schedule and map, visit NYBB. Buttons may also be purchased during the event at most performance venues.
Rural Electric's CD cover for Fess Point, artwork by Kenny Cole
Local Rock Band Rural Electric Announces CD Release Party
On January 14, local recording group Rural Electric will play original, alternative rock music to celebrate the release of its third CD, Fess Point, at Aarhus Gallery in downtown Belfast. Opening the show will be Alex McGregor of Ponies in the Surf.
Since its first release in 2002, Rural Electric (Alan Gibson, piano, guitar, vocals; Andrew Carpenter, guitar, bass, vocals; Mike Bahner, drums; Amy Arnett, violin) has seen some changes in lineup and instrumentation but has not strayed from its output of quirky, pop-infused rock songs that treat lost love, family history, and the nature of reality with ironic tongues in cheek. Fess Point was recorded and engineered by Rushmore DeNooyer of Southpaw Studios, who added his own artistic and technical signature. DeNooyer will join the band for a few tunes at the release party.
Opening act Ponies in the Surf has garnered much-deserved critical acclaim for its original, Latin-tinged pop songs, melodic guitar arrangements and delicate harmonies. Alex McGregor is a Belfast resident who is often joined on stage by his sister Camille.
The CD release party starts at 7 pm, and a suggested $8.00 donation is requested to benefit Aarhus Gallery and the musicians. The gallery is located at 50 Main St., Belfast. For more information, phone 207-338-0001.
Frigate of Maine
Frigate and Chrissy Fowler Light Up the New Year
On Friday, January 6, the Belfast Flying Shoes Contradance features Chrissy Fowler calling (from Belfast, Me.) with Frigate (Maine); Steve Muise -- fiddle, button accordion; Glen Loper -- mandolin, tenor banjo; and Steve White -- guitar, percussion.
The Belfast Flying Shoes dance series features contra- and community dances at the American Legion Hall, 143 Church St. in Belfast with a community dance (bring your instruments and join in with the All-Comer's Band!), potluck snack break and contradance: . Everyone is welcome, come with or without partner.
Community dance at 6:30 pm, $2.00/$1.00 children. Afterward, for the first time since the series' inception in 2005, the admission price for the main contradance will increase. As of January 6, admission will be $10.00 for age 21+, $7.00 for age 13-20 as well as adult All-Comers, and $4.00 for kids. ($1.00 off for anyone who brings a box fan for the window!)
For more information, visit Belfast Flying Shoes.
Game Loft kids receiving volunteer recognition this fall
The Game Loft Needs Your Help
What makes a great community? For those of you who are fans of Heavenly Socks Yarns, you will first think that this store is a component. Others may say a marina, a hardware store, a food co-op or a library. Certainly all of these things contribute to making Belfast a great community, and one further element is The Game Loft. The Game Loft is a place in downtown Belfast where youth come together to play non-electronic games, to eat nutritious food and to grow up in positive ways. The program has been around for fourteen years and gets better every year. In the past year they served 160+ kids on a regular basis with food, friendship, and most important, a space where they can be free from ridicule to grow up to be caring, competent, confident, contributing and connected adults.
Recent funding cuts are hurting this program. Kids who spent every day after school at The Loft will now be able to attend only on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. To make an impact on kids, you need consistency and time. There are plenty of competing forces for negative youth development; the media, the streets, drugs, alcohol and family disintegration can all be counted on to work negatively in the lives of kids. If you can help The Game Loft spread its work to helping kids grow up, you would be making an investment in the improvement of Belfast as a whole. Please consider making a gift to The Game Loft for the restoration of its funding cuts.
For more information, please call Patricia Estabrook at 207-322-3229 (cell phone) or visit The Game Loft at 78A Main St. in Belfast. Please use your time, your talent or your treasure to spread hope to kids in need.
Downtown Shops Offer Savings
Molly Amber Gifts is having a HUGE Closing Sale on December 30 and 31, with savings up to 50% off, and the Belfast Framer is having a 15-20% off sale on select readymade frames.
Beets, by Elsie Gawler
Belfast Co-op January Schedule
January Featured Artist -- Elsie Gawler
"From the Farm," oil-on-canvas paintings by Monroe artist Elsie Gawler, inspired by her life as a farmer. On display in the Belfast Co-op Cafe for the month of January. Don't miss the musical opening on January 6!
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. Belfast Co-op members receive a 10% discount; non-members: 5%.
Common Ground Radio -- January 6 (first Friday/month)
Friday, 10-11 am -- Live and call-in radio program on WERU with MOFGA, at 89.9 FM and WERU.
Art Opening with music by the Gawlers! -- January 6
Friday, 6:30-8 pm, Belfast Co-op Cafe -- Art opening for Elsie Gawler's show of oil-on-canvas paintings titled "From the Farm," inspired by her life as a farmer. Free refreshments. Elsie and her parents, John and Ellen Gawler, will bring their instruments.
Living Gluten-Free Talk -- January 11
Wednesday, 6:30 pm, Belfast Free Library -- Free presentation by Dr. Kerri Vacher, of Belfast Natural Medicine. Dr. Vacher will discuss gluten intolerance and celiac disease. She will share the complexities of gluten intolerance, diagnosis and treatment as well as the complications of food buying, food preparation and lifestyle changes necessitated by this condition. Sponsored by the Belfast Co-op.
Third Thursday Donation Day -- January 19
Every third Thursday of the month, the Belfast Co-op donates 1% of the day's sales to a nonprofit community organization whose work helps build local resilience. Belfast Institute for Lifelong Learning's Waldo County Family to Family Fund has been selected to be our January 19th recipient. The Waldo County Family to Family Fund supports the financial needs of one Waldo County family or individual in temporary crisis due to illness or tragedy.
Gluten-Free Cooking Demo -- January 24
Tuesday, 6-8 pm, Waterfall Arts, 256 High St., Belfast -- Join the Belfast Co-op for a gluten-free cooking demonstration with natural-foods chef Pam McKeen. McKeen will demonstrate how to make great gluten-free bread, gluten-free crackers and portobello mushroom tapenade with samples for tasting. Pre-registration required; a $10.00 materials fee, twelve-participant limit. Pre-register at any register or call 207-338-2532 to pre-register with a credit/debit card.
For more information, visit the Belfast Co-op.
Shop Closed on New Year's Day
We will be closed January 1, 2012, for inventory and cleaning.
We thank you for your continued support. We wish you peace and health in the new year.
Troy, midcoast Maine's friendly UPS man
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.)
Inside our shop, with yarn lovers examining a tempting skein.