Before heading out to Maine, I had one final shop to visit in Newburyport, MA. A Loom with a View is a small yarn shop with a big presence. I arrived at opening time on Thursday morning and enjoyed a few minutes with Elaine and Betsy before their morning class arrived.

In addition to a diverse collection of yarn, they also offer a selection of vintage buttons. One of their customers shops estate and antique sales hunting for unusual buttons and provides them to the store. I ended up buying this gorgeous button with red glass.

After leaving A Loom with a View, I drove to Kennebunk, ME for a quick stop at The Ball and Skein. I arrived just as the morning UFO / Pick-Your-Own-Project class finished. I was impressed with the bright, natural light in the class area and selection of local yarns.

My next stop was Portland, ME and Knitwit Yarn Shop. This unique shop reminds me of an old general store. The long, narrow shop is lined with tall, wood shelving and at the back is a knitting bar with stools (love!). Knitwit, as the original flagship store for Quince & Co. yarns, carries the full range of yarns and colours. It was a delight to meet Suzie who was so enthusiastic about the Flower Bell Stole that she wore it around the store for a while. I left with a skein of Swans Island fingering and a commemorative Knitwit project bag printed with their “yarn on the brain” artwork.

A few blocks away is Portland Fiber Gallery, a spinning and weaving studio and gallery space. If you can’t make it in person, you can purchase their hand-dyed fibers and yarn through their etsy shop.

Several avid spinners were on-site while I visited, including Ray who also makes stunning metal buttons. I couldn’t leave without these gorgeous copper hearts.

My final stop of the day was at Purl Diva in Brunswick, ME. I was welcomed by owner Ellen and Loki (the friendly shop dog). Ellen shared her difficult decision to close her shop after running it for the past seven years. She’s moving on to new adventures and is currently running her closing out sale. You can stay up-to-date on the store’s Facebook page. Wishing you all the best in your next endeavors Ellen!