Fiber Arts

Maine has always inspired the best from local and visiting artists for centuries and it is no surprise that the state has an incredibly rich community of fiber artists. This art form includes spinning, knitting, weaving, sewing, embroidery, quilting, beadwork, and basket making. Fiber arts range from the functional to the thought provoking. Many artists raise their own sheep and alpacas for wool and you can visit the farms, see the animals and learn how the wool is turned into beautiful skeins of color.

Renowned fiber artists, like Angela Adams, have made their mark on Maine. Adam’s makes handwoven or hand-knotted rugs that are functional pieces of art in her Portland shop. Jill McGowan, of the famed “white shirt,” has been making fine women’s clothing in Maine since the 1990s.

Maine Fiberarts has a statewide digital self-guided tour, listing dozens of craftspeople, fiber-producing farms, and galleries and exhibits so you can see all there is in this diverse craft.

If you’re short on time, go on the Fiber Art Mini Tour of Midcoast Maine, with top artists’ studios, fiber farms, shops and galleries and a locally owned restaurant.

The Maine Fiberarts gallery in Topsham features a new exhibit every two to three months with a stunning variety of pieces.

The Bates Mill Store is a family-owned and operated retailer of high-quality American-made textiles in Monmouth. The small store offers steep discounts on many products, including a selection of iconic Bates bedspreads, blankets and throws, now made by the Maine Heritage Weavers. Open Monday-Thursday, 9:00 – 2:00 pm. There is also a small musuem to learn about the textile mill’s history.

Expand your knowledge with a fiber arts retreat in Maine at the Medomak Retreat Center where you can hone your skills in courses like knitting, felting, and weaving, or at Pleasant Mountain Fiber Arts Workshops with many disciplines like rug braiding and basket making