About Us

It all started in 1984. One day I actually saw that my extra bedroom was filled with what seemed like hundreds of skeins of Bartlettyarn in every possible weight and color.  It was basically a beautiful sight -- color everywhere -- but this was my "extra/guest" bedroom.

I had been raising sheep for about five years then and had always sent each year's shearing of wool to the mill in Harmony, Maine. It wasn't so bad when I had my original 8 registered Suffolk sheep, but finding I adored sheep, I kept buying and breeding more and more and getting rid of few.

The lambs born from Christmas through to Easter were just irresistible gifts from Mother Nature and each one was cuter and more precious than the next. They came in all colors. Two years in a rows they gave birth to several spotted or piebald lambs. Mixed in with the other solid gray, white, and black lambs, they seemed to add a special joy and humor to the picture, especially when they all were frolicking about, jumping over and on each other while the moms gluttonously ate their food twice a day. 

That indelible picture of bliss remains in my mind now even a year after having retired from the world of sheep. Twenty five years intimately connected to the lives and community of my various Suffolk, Rambouliet, Finn, Targhee, Romney, Cottswold, and crossbred ewes, rams, and lambs -- oh yea, there were Angora and Cashmere goats, as well as the alpacas, Darth Vader and Yoda along the way too -- left me a full range of experiences from exhilarating to tragic that most people never have an opportunity to have. But then, these experiences can't be too different from giving birth to and raising human kids. I missed that, but love every minute of being a grandmother and the "mom" to three cats, one adorable Shetland Sheepdog named Emily, and my wool shop.

That was a long, but necessary, digression. The overloaded, colorful guest room let me to imagine how wonderful it would be to spread out and share these beautiful yarns with others. I did spin, but I didn't knit or crochet. Somehow, it seemed perfectly logical after selling my yarns to knitters at the local farmers' market every summer, to open a yarn shop in the unused, walk- out basement garage of our home. Perhaps, my Mom's love of knitting had something to do with the "logic."

I was a full-time high school teacher at the time, but the summer of 1984 gave my husband and me time to panel the garage in rough-cut pine planks from the local saw mill. We built tables and racks and shelves and I ordered other things I thought a yarn shop should have. In November I had a grand opening and thus began my dream business. Within two years, I took over one bay of our new three car garage for classes, hired outstanding teachers, and offered a wide range of classes in knitting, weaving, spinning, dyeing, and felting.

The shop is open on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday evenings from 7 - 9 PM and Friday and Saturday from 9:30 AM – 5 PM. Monday evenings feel free to drop in and join us for Open Beading and Tuesday evenings join us for a relaxing time of knitting and fellowship.

With lots of chairs and tables, as well as samples, books, patterns, magazines, supplies, and friendly people, you'll appreciate the helpful and creative atmosphere of the Sheep & Wool Shop!