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RANGELEY – On Saturday July 17, the women of the Rangeley region will show their knit, crochet, and craft talents at the 14th Knit and Crafts Show and Sale at the Rangeley Lakes Region Logging Museum from 9am to 3pm at the Museum building on Route 16, one mile east of Rangeley. Admission is free.
Celebrating the creativity of Maine fiber artists, the show introduces visitors to the history of knitting in the logging woods of the Rangeley region. The Museum also invites people to bring their current knit and craft projects, and sit and enjoy the company of other crafters during this event.
Margaret Yezil of Oquossoc will offer a variety of handmade items such as fanciful moose, Christmas items, and more. Quilter April Grant, knitter Daria Babbitt, and rug hooker and braider Arbeth “Petie” Coffren will attend, along with several talented friends from the Salem area; they will offer free demonstrations and lessons to Museum visitors. Knit goods fashioned by the ladies of the Church of the Good Shepherd will be available, as will afghans donated to the Museum by Barbara Priest.
On display is the Museum’s exhibit on knitting in the timberwoods of Maine: Hand in Hand: Logging and Knitting in Maine, with gloves worn by local loggers as well as a pair of gray woolen double-thumb mittens from New Brunswick. Worn by woodsmen, these unique mittens made by thrifty women could be turned over and used on the other side once the palm-side had been worn out. Many of the Museum=s photography exhibits also show the sweaters and mittens made by women, and sometimes mended by men, that were used in the logging camps.
The Rangeley region also has a colorful knitting story to tell. Many of its native daughters, such as Lucille Haley Richard, Virginia Haley White, and Bertha Lamb Haines, began knitting as girls, and some cared for and dressed the dolls their mothers made for them. Once Rangeley=s hills were dotted with sheep from the 12 to 15 local sheep farms. The exhibit Knit by Heart: The Art of Lucille Richard (1926-2006) honors this knitter who also founded this Museum event.
Also on display will be sweaters knitted by Gladys Yocom Metka for the Guidepost Magazine project Knit For Kids that sends sweaters to children in need in the USA, Romania, Turkey, and throughout the world. Ecopelagicon, the nature store in Rangeley, will bring books about knitting, crafts, and textile arts.
With interest in knitting on the rise in Maine and throughout the country, the Museum invites knitters, crocheters, and other crafters who would like to include their handiwork in the show and sale to call Peggy Yocom at 864-3421.
The Logging Museum opens every Saturday and Sunday in July and August from 11am to 2pm, and by appointment. Call Pres. Ron Haines (864-5551) or Vice-Pres. Steve Richard (864-5595). The Logging Festival, celebrating its 30th year, will be held Friday and Saturday, July 23rd and 24th.
Do you have knitted goods; patched clothing; or needles, thread, or wax used in the logging camps? Photographs of knitting or woolen goods in the camps? Memories of knitting in the camps? The Logging Museum would love to hear from you. Call Peggy at 864-3421.
