cottageknits.com Blog

Yesterday i was once again reminded of how Cottage Knits has become so much more than a retail yarn shop. It is a place of refuge to those who grieve, to those who have concerns over health, families and friends. It is a place to celebrate victories and blessings.
Harry Wilson, the husband of Inge passed yesterday morning after suffering a massive heart attack. Harry and Inge were on a weekend trip to Kentucky.
I noticed that many of Inge’s friends gathered here yesterday…to comfort each other and to stand in wait for what might be done to help her and the kids. As one of her buddies said “I just had to come…I’m so sad.” I also took note that it was a day of tribute to Harry and Inge. Those who knew Harry know what a hard working man he was. He had a easy smile and a zest for life. Harry and Inge Wilson were a great team. They raised three terrific kids, owned a successful business, were proud grandparents, and built a good life together.
Inge’s faith and friends will bring her through the coming days, weeks and months ahead. She will find comfort in knowing that she can count on her knitting buddies to be there for her.
It’s been nearly four years since the doors to Cottage Knits opened for business. I remember that day fondly. I anticipated sharing my love of the craft with others…and while i knew relationships and trust are a foundation for building a business i underestimated the sense of family that would develop.
So as we continue on this journey…sales will be made, bills and taxes will be paid, losses will be mourned and life will go on.
We celebrate with Janet Poe and family at the birth of Zoe…after a very complicated and often seemingly hopeless pregnancy, Janet’s daughter Carla delivered Zoe early August. Even when things looked dim, we watched Janet diligently working on a blanket she was knitting for her first grandchild. It was her prayer blanket for Zoe…finished just in time…for a tiny little girl who came into this world to be cherished and loved.
Full circle and knitted together…and stronger together than we could ever be by ourselves.

They are here! The first grouping of Flat Feet Sock of the Month flats. Let me explain….when i was at market in June i met up with the owner of Conjoined Creations. She gave me a bit of history of the company and told me about their sock of the month program. Since this is a relatively small business, only 50 retail yarn shops qualify to enroll in the program…and here’s how it works…Every month each shop would receive 8 flats of a unique theme and color scheme. (Collecting unique sock yarn is what we sock knitters love to do…so i was hooked immediately and have been looking forward to the first shipment.)

Here is the challenge, how to offer these 8 flats giving all an opportunity to purchase them. I was told that some shops conduct a lottery…some have their folks pre-pay for the upcoming month, some have a drawing and some simply leave it to chance.
Well, I decided that until supply and demand become a problem I would place them on the shelf and see what happened. That’s what i did on Saturday afternoon…and 5 sold within an hour.
There are 3 left and if you want to get in on this months collection you might want to pop in today!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Conjoined Creations Flat Feet you may want to check it out at www.conjoinedcreations.com.
I’ll be back tomorrow to let you know of some coming events around Cottage Knits…so stay tuned! (and have a good one)
cathi

I am impressed by all the of Holiday knitting i see in progress! Your season is sure to be a bit merrier knowing you don’t have to race around looking for “that perfect gift” if you plan ahead…and even i have the bug to get some things tucked away to gift in a few months. (You don’t even want me to tell you how many knitting days until Christmas.)
There is a nice selection of the ever popular Mini Mochi on the shelves once again. This is a wonderful self striping yarn…and the colors are as wonderful as the touch.to work with it. There is a class in the works for a scarf to “Knit One Below”…a new technique that you will want to learn. Or, you might want to use the Simple Scarf Pattern” using any sock yarn…free to you with purchase of your yarn…and then there are socks..always socks!
All kinds of projects are on needles and in the process of becoming brand new shop models…they will be arriving all throughout the next couple of months…so if you need inspiration you know where to come!
Speaking of inspiration, i love the knitting magazines that have arrived for the Fall Season! They just keep getting better and better and offer a wide variety of projects for folks of all skill levels and budgets.
I’m signing off for now and hoping this finds you healthy, happy and ready to greet another day with a smile in your heart!