If you are headed to Southern Maine this summer {or you just live in the area} and like to knit or crochet, I have a store for you!
The Yarn Seller in York.
Holy canolies this place has SO MUCH cool yarn.
I don’t even knit and I had a great time wandering around looking at all the different skeins of yarn and possible projects.
I am a firm believer that everyone needs a hobby.
Something to keep their hands busy. Gardening and rug hooking are my main hobbies and both of them keep me busy pretty much all year long.
I actually went to The Yarn Seller with a friend who offered to make me a granny square blanket if I hooked her a rug.
All I had to do was buy the yarn.
How lucky am I? I tried crochet several years ago and while I LOVE handmade things… I will never be someone who will enjoy the process of making a granny square. Or anything else that requires yarn.
Which is kind of a shame because something tells me yarn takes up much less room than rug hooking wool and all the hoops and frames that come along with it.
But then again… Maybe not???
Maybe knitters and those that work with yarn have just as much stuff as hookers?
Seriously! There were so many different kinds of yarn to choose from at The Yarn Seller.
And interesting projects too! A knitted chicken. Oh my.
It took me a while, but I eventually found the yarn {superwash merino wool} I wanted my granny square blanket made out of.
The wool is crazy soft and apparently I’ll be able to toss the blanket in the washing machine.
I thought I was on the hunt for some light pastel type colors. But once I spotted these Malabrigo Rios jeweled tone skeins, I knew I had found my blanket colors.
Now comes the hard part. Deciding which granny square blanket design I like the best.
The Meadow Flowers pattern by Mama In a Stitch, or the Island Time pattern by NautiKrall. It’s a tough choice.
Have you ever made a granny square blanket before? Do you have a favorite brand/type of yarn that you use?
I hope I picked out something that’s easy to work with. I was going 100% on texture and color.
~Mavis
Nancy Settel says
Oh my goodness if there was ever a place to lose your mind this would be the place. Just unreal. I would go for the Island Time for myself for sure. I learned to crochet when I was 10 years old by my grandmother on my mom’s side. She was not know for patience so that was a pretty big deal. I have probably made a good 50 afgans over the years and now I don’t even have one for myself. I always loved it and have even made 3 coats but now I just don’t do it anymore even though I love it. Your colors are beautiful for sure. Hard to make a decision. Good luck.
Linda says
Absolutely the Meadow Flowers! Bring your flower garden indoors to enjoy all winter long. Such beautiful colors that will compliment your mostly white walls.
Diana Ellis says
I agree. meadow flowers just speaks to me and I love flowers and gardening.
JulieP says
Wow what a fantastic place! The jewel colours are beautiful. Island time pattern for me!
Deb W says
My Daughter knits & crochets and malabrigo is one of her favorite brands for yarn. She says it works up beautifully!
Lisa Lundgren says
Great colors! I’d go with Meadow Flowers!
Barb says
Meadow flowers. The other one looks too “granny” for my taste.
Mallory Lemieux says
Meadow Flowers if you want a stronger “base” color – I’d probably go with a green or cream though, as white white while a nice contrast, might show wear/dirt more.
If you want more color/the flowers to be the bigger focus, I think Island Time!
I’ve made a few granny square afghans over the years. I strongly suggest keeping at minimum a few yards of each color used for future repairs. The nice thing about granny squares is that they can be taken back apart for fixes, or in some cases with crochet, mended in place.
Jen says
Meadow Flowers for sure!
Emily says
That shop looks fabulous! The chicken you spotted is the viral “emotional support chicken” pattern. It has taken off in knitting circles all over the country. My local yarn shop hosted a special get together just for making them. I have mine sitting on my couch right now.
Samantha says
I agree on the Meadow Flowers. Such a pretty afghan!
CPMass says
I love those shades of color! The Island Time pattern looks very pretty to me.
LauraS says
You know, yarn, especially bulky yarn, is great to hook with.
Bonnie in GA says
What a coincidence…I have been organizing my yarn today. Lol. That store has beautiful yarn! Both of those blankets are pretty. I guess it depends how many different colors you want to use.
Sue S. says
Yes I’ve crocheted a granny square afghan and several that were just one big square with yarn leftovers. But I do prefer knitting over crochet, preferably with 100%wool yarn like Rauma, Jamieson and Smith, and my favorite of all is that which Rachel from Bee Croft on Fair Isle sells.
Not only does she shear her flock by hand with manual clippers but she prepares the fleeces for the mill, then takes it all to the mill herself. This is quite a process so the yarn is limited but very special. I just started the Halibut Cowl with 2 of her colors, which by the way are all natural, under. It’s hard to say which I love best-knitting or rug hooking. And I have big stashes of both yarn and wool fabric.
Sue S. says
That should read “undyed”.
Sue S. says
Oh nuts I forgot to hit the post button on my comment. I’ve made numerous crocheted afghans but I prefer knitting, with 100 percent wool like Rauma or Jamieson and Smith
My favorite is Rachel from Fair Isle “s Bee Croft yarn which clips by hand, processes and takes to the mill herself
It’s all natural undyed wool. I just started the Halibut Cowl in 2 of her colors. It’s hard to say which I like best, knitting or hooking. I have large stashes of patterns and wool for each
Susan Williams says
I’m not a knitter, but the sign applies to quilters as well. The BUYING of fabric and the USING of fabric are two different hobbies!!!
sandy says
Malibrigo is my favorite yarn. Soft and beautiful colorways. I also saw a “sophie scarf” being knitted in the second photo-peach color yarn. It is a petite knit pattern scarf-almost a neckerchief type. I have made so many because I can watch you tube or a movie or listen to a podcast while knitting, it is that easy. Try it-you will love it.
Ohhhh-I want to visit that yarn shop!
Virginia says
I prefer Meadow Flowers as well, although I would choose an off-white base color instead of bright white, as someone else also mentioned. Meadow Flowers is a much lighter looking blanket with a relaxing color palette, and I love the contrasting trim. Plenty of color, but not too much.
Angela Weiland says
My vote goes towards The Meadow Flowers pattern by Mama In a Stitch.
Vy in Seattle says
Danger, danger! That store is waaaaay too tempting! You are a very good friend to give someone an excuse to crochet something beautiful. Buying the yarn is the cherry on the sundae 🙂
Bee says
Both a knitter and occasional spinster here, and I will never admit to the size of my stash, especially having worked part time in a knitting store for years. Suffice it to say, SABLE (stash accumulation beyond life expectancy) is likely real. If any one asks, I just say the yarn is doubling as home insulation. Spinning is another beast in itself- once you acquire one wheel, others inevitably find you and the wheel flock grows.
I absolutely adore working with Rios, but bear in mind that when washed some of the deeper jewel tones may bleed into paler colors. I had planned quite a large afghan but when test washing I found there was quite a bit of bleeding. Malabrigo in general is a great brand that’s affordable for the quality. I’ll also confess that I love working with natural colors and some of the “rougher” non-merio & non-superwash wools. Bluefaced Leicester is one of my favorite sheep breeds to both knit and spin. Once you go down the rabbit hole of learning about different fiber types, you know you’re hooked (no pun intended.)
Linda Sand says
I crocheted all the squares but hated sewing them together. I wound up selling them as is.
My ad blocker wouldn’t let me see the garden pattern so I’m not voting.
Katy @ Practical Walk says
When I was a girl I started crocheting, but simple rows. So for a few days I went and stayed with my Grandparents while my Grandma taught me to do granny squares…I mean who better to learn them from than granny herself! We made a blanket together and I cherish those fond memories with her.
Also….rather coincidently….I haven’t crocheted in probably a decade or more, bit just this week I bought some clearance cotton yarn….might make some dishcloths or make up washcloths while on an upcoming camping trip.
Cecile Hoare says
I vote for Meadow Flowers, the Island one is nice but for you I can see it being too busy! I would caution you on popping it in the washer, make sure you use cool water and delicate cycle. Air dry or cool tumble. I know they say you can do the washer and dryer but the real question is should you? My daughter shrunk a hand knit sweater I made for my grandson, yes it was superwash! It’s going to be gorgeous!
Joyce says
I knit and crochet and make lots of blankets. A good yarn store is such a treat for the senses with all the colors and textures! I buy occasionally, but try to focus on yarn given away or thrifted. Recycling yarn is my small bit for the planet.
I’ve made the garden flower pattern as a sweater, I think. It’s more subtle than island time. If you have mostly one color, choose garden flowers, and if you have a lot of colors, choose island time. Sometimes the yarn tells you what to do.