Fashion Friday: Coastal Maine

I’ve said, before, that I think fashion should serve us, rather than the other way around. I think style should be something that we define for ourselves personally, shaped by our own needs and lifestyle. If something doesn’t work for you, don’t do it! If you love something, do it! Whether or not it “follows the rules”.

(I am so not the “what not to wear” lady.)

This Fashion Friday, I have some sweaters to share with you. But more importantly, they came from my own personal sense of style and I wanted to share a bit about that with you, too.

I grew up in Mid-Coast Maine, and spent nearly all of my childhood either exploring the woods, combing the beach for sand dollars, or scrambling around on a boat. There’s something very special about this place, and I never really appreciated it until I left. (Isn’t that always the way?)

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When I was ready to plan the first make. wear. love. retreat, I knew I wanted to share the small part of Maine where I come from with all of the retreat attendees. We chose the Sebasco Harbor Resort as our location, and I designed three special sweaters using some of my very favorite yarns.

These sweaters grew out of my own personal style, which was heavily influenced by the kinds of clothes I saw growing up. Clothing here can be stylish or not… but stylish or not, everything here is practical. Nothing too fussy, nothing too uncomfortable. You should be able to walk on the beach, or hike in the woods, or go out on a boat in it. We have a lot of sweaters, because it’s cold here for 9 months out of the year. (Some would say 12.)

Together, these three sweaters form The Sebasco Collection, which you can purchase for $15.00 from my Ravelry store. You can also purchase each design individually for $7.00.

Here’s my inspiration for each.

Birch Bark is the “fanciest” of the three sweaters, and is inspired by the fact that here, you can walk through the woods even “in town”. (Translation for those ‘from away’: “In town” is when you leave where you live, and go somewhere with a store.)

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It’s comfortable, functional, and pretty. The yarn (Woolen Rabbit Frolic, in color “Autumn Aster”) is the same: gorgeous color depth, but a nice solid hand that will wear well, and that takes to cabling beautifully.

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Cushman is my pick for those beach evenings in Maine, when the sun is setting in a riot of pink and you’re frantically racing for that last sand dollar.

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As Jackie can attest, I’ll run barefoot on the beach even in late September… but bare arms is a different story. Even in July, things can get a bit chilly and you need a layer!

I love how the gorgeous String Theory Blue Faced Sport works with the easy, unpretentious texture pattern of this cardigan. The yarn is a dream, and the cardigan is pure Maine. Classic, interesting, and clean all at the same time.

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Shore Ledges is special to me, because it’s what I dreamed up while remembering all of the sunny days I spent out in a boat on the water, as a kid. All of my mom’s many brothers and her father were fishermen, and I spent a lot of time on the water. I love being on the water, and miss it tremendously.

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It’s usually 5 – 10 degrees colder out there, and breezier. You want something to snuggle up in, something cozy and soft and warm. Between the long, slightly-belled sleeves, and the incredible fabric, this sweater is the next best thing to feeling the waves beneath your feet. (That fabric is thanks to the incredible Merino Silk DK from Indigodragonfly. The drape, the softness, the strength, and the color are exquisite.)

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I was so thrilled by the reception to these sweaters at the retreat. The samples got lots of love, and I can’t wait to see my own little stamp of Maine out in the sweater wild.

I tried something different with this pattern release, as well. Since CustomFit is almost out in the wild, I decided to include a “CustomFit recipe” in each of the patterns. These instructions will give you your own version of these three sweaters, but in your size, gauge, and yarn. (With no math!)

I miss living in Maine, and come back here every chance I get. I’ve been wearing the sweaters at home, though, and they give me a wonderful reminder of the place I love most.

14 thoughts on “Fashion Friday: Coastal Maine

  1. I love Maine! As a child and teen, we vacationed in the inland lakes area, Bridgeton, Sebago, Thompson Lake, etc. Two weeks at the end of July, it was the best! I do not think I could handle the winter driving though. I live in eastern PA, and sometimes have trouble! LOL

  2. Beautiful designs…and thanks for sharing your stories!

  3. I love every one of these designs, Amy! My dad was a Mainer — from Calais, up in Washington County. He married a girl from away, and so we missed out on growing up in Maine. I’ll think of him when I knit these sweaters.

  4. What a fabulous collection Amy! Love the inspiration behind each of them. Wish I could have gone to the retreat….. such a beautiful part of NE.

  5. These are lovely – I would especially like to try Birch Bark.

    I looked at the website but could not find where to order the individual patterns. If I purchase the pattern from your Ravelry store, does the CustomFit option apply?

  6. Lovely new collection, Amy. That last blue colour really makes your eyes pop!

  7. I love these three sweaters and. Midcoast Maine is a perfect place. Wish I could have joined you on the retreat but having spent a week at Popham in August it would have been a bit much to return again in September (from Virginia!) looking forward to knitting at least one or two of these.

  8. The retreat was awesome as are the sweaters. Mid-coast Maine in September was perfect for relaxing, learning and knitting among great views. I loved that the sessions were designed to inspire creativity. Thanks for a fabulous weekend.

  9. I agree wholeheartedly that fashion should serve us.

    These 3 sweaters are beautiful and classic. The stories behind them are very inspiring. Thanks for sharing your post.

  10. my inlaws have a lovely little cabin in ocean park. last summer was the first summer in 3 years that my husband and i didn’t spend a week there but with good reason: we were off on our honeymoon in hawaii! looking forward to gracing all my fave maine spots in summer 2014.

  11. I’m curious about the CustomFit “recipes”. I’ve always wanted to make Petrea but aren’t completely comfortable with the math yet. Will there be a recipe for all of your patterns in CustomFit?

  12. Your Maine home is beautiful and I was so happy to spend time with you here as you launched Custom Fit. I have printed out my Custom Fit Birch Bark and will be starting tomorrow. Thank you for your comfortable and fitting designs!

  13. Beautiful patterns! While I have not been to Maine (yet!), your description of home and Maine were very familiar. 🙂 I especially loved your definition of ‘in town’. I live outside of a small town on Lake Superior and wouldn’t trade it for anything.

  14. I was at the retreat and loved your sweaters. And I loved Maine. My sweaters are a little fancier and less outdoor funtional because I am from Oklahoma and made my sweaters to wear to work with business clothes, inside with too much AC in the summer and not enough heat in the winter. Thanks for putting on the retreat and I hope you have recovered!

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