cottageknits.com Blog

Just when i begin to think “It doesn’t get any better than this” something new comes our way.
The Cottage Knits adventure took a new turn….On Sunday afternoon 12 women joined me at the Inn at Irwin Gardens for an overnight retreat.
We arrived with our bags packed with knitting projects, pj’s and plenty of midnight snacks to share.
The Inn at Irwin Gardens opened as a registered Bed and Breakfast in Febuary 2010. Located in the heart of downtown Columbus, IN across from my home church, i have long been intriqued by this wonderful corner of Columbus.
So imagine my excitement as i walked through the gate, knowing i was about to spend time with a group of my friends who were gathering for a knitting retreat!
Inside the garden walls…
Eve and Jim Jackson call themselves the Innkeepers, but they are so much more than that. They have done their homework in learning the history of this wonderful place. We gathered in the library and after brief introductions we were taken on an informal tour of the magnificent property. Built in 1864 and updated in 1910 it has been wonderfully maintained. The character of the home is unique and the modern architecture and wonderful gardens was inviting and a perfect retreat for those of us who came together for a night of knitting and fellowship.
We were given our room assignments, wandered around the vast hallways and nooks…and then came together in the garden. We brought our knitting to the veranda and spent much of the evening there. It was a perfect setting, overlooking the gardens while listening to the sounds of the fountains and laughter as friends began to unwind and settle in. Eve, also a knitter, was able to join us. We shared stories and got acquainted.
We stayed up too late, ate too much, told tales we have heard before and knitted through the night into the wee hours of the morning. Then, one by one we headed off to bed for a restful night of sleep.
We woke to the smell of coffee and breakfast and again gathered on the veranda for a bit more socializing before we headed to our homes and work, feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world.
The first “Knit-Inn” was a success! And just watch out for what comes next! Lucky me!

“We build things with string.” How’s that for a resume? I think however, we do so much more than that. We give of our time and talents to those who may never know how many hours it actually took to make that pair of socks or sweater. It doesn’t really matter, though. We are constantly paying it forward and ask for no applause.
Janet Bay, Jean Huff and Donna Higgins have knitted and crocheted more baby hats and adult slippers than i could keep track of. They continue to place them behind the glass doors of the case designated for charity knitting, entrusting me to see that they are gifted to those who are in need of a little comfort and cheer.
Often i am talking with a customer or doing other chores around the shop and may only give a nod or whisper “thanks”. They don’t care. They do these acts of kindness because it gives them pleasure to do for others.
Over the past few months we have lost three of our own. Just last week Shirley Hiner (Lori Vogt’s mother) passed. Shirley was often seen at the cottage with a group of ladies who met on Monday’s to knit together until she was diagnosed with cancer. Both Nancy Adams and Barb Lee (better known as “Aunt Jo”), avid knitters who shared their lives with us at the cottage have passed away in the past seven weeks. Honestly, it’s alot to take in. It’s tough to see these families suffer losses and it’s sad for us who have lost friends.
So we do what we do to help one another through life’s sad times and try to comfort one another with what we do best.
I have seen countless folks gather to knit prayer shawls and lap blankets for those who may just need a little “fiber hug” and a reminder that they are important to us, that they are not alone in the situation they are in. Life is kinda like the yarn we work with. Sometimes it gets tangled, sometimes we find a knot or even (gasp) it’s tied together! But really we know it’s OK…we do what we do because we care and we want to share a piece of ourselves with others.
That, my friends, warms my heart and blesses me daily.

It’s been too long since i last sat down with some knitting reflections. So as i sit here with my first cup of coffee, wearing my favorite pj’s thinking i should head for the treadmill …. i ponder the following:
Are Cottage Knitters Knitting it Forward? (Would love to hear some of your stories!)
When Oh When will 17th Street once again be filled with cars buzzing by, and sirens passing by the shop on the way to the hospital (leading me to say a quick prayer)?
Will i really be ready to put on a bathing suit at the end of this month as we head to my favorite place in all the earth?
TNNA Yarn Market is fast approaching…what to buy for fall…and what need i buy to fill the shelves beforehand?
Balance….it’s about right timing and balance….
We knitters (yes, and those who crochet too) know that our craft encourages us on so many levels. We pause to do what we love. We realize we are giving a little piece of ourselves when we gift others with our completed projects. We practice problem solving, even when we don’t want to. We share our knowledge with others….without expecting something in return. We allow our creative side out…with no fear, or excuses.
We hoard yarn, have projects lined up (if only in our minds) and carve out time in our busy schedules to wrap our fingers around fiber and begin to breathe a little more slowly and realize “life is good~can’t wait to see this when it’s finished….OH WAIT! Is that a dropped stitch???”
I used to love to visit flea markets and auctions to see what hidden treasure i might find there. I would always be looking for hankies with tatting, linens, and of course yarn and knitting notions. I was saddened to see unfinished projects, a reminder that life is short.
After owning a yarn shop for nearly five years i have a new perspective. You have taught me the how much pleasure one has in beginning a fresh project…some of you don’t even care when (or if) it will be completed. Your joy is in the process. You have taught me that it’s not a crime to tuck away those projects for another day…to begin something that catches your fancy. You have taught me that each day can bring about choices that come about sometimes unexpectedly.
My self-imposed knitting rules were just that….yes, i am a recovering one project at a time knitter. So instead of finding sadness in those unfinished sweaters, gloves, hats and what-might-have-beens, i see there was a passion for the “next thing”. I like that.
Coming full circle…balance and timing. OK, time for that treadmill.

It’s March…and the madness begins!
As promised, here are the details for the Knit-it Forward Project designed as a random act of knitted kindness.
After watching the movie, “Pay it Forward” last month (this movie is 10 years old…i’m a little behind on my movie reviews) it occurred to me … knitters are most likely the most generous people i know, why not blitz Columbus and surrounding areas with a little knitted something?
I know, many of you have been knitting for various charities for years and that is wonderful. You have kept the shelves full of baby hats, slippers, scarves, blankets and even sweaters for me to pass on as there is need. I have been so incredibly blessed by that and even get to witness the joy those acts of kindness brings when those items are delivered. So i got thinking….there are nearly one thousand folks who are on my email list…what kind of impact would we have on the community should we knit for complete strangers…and then you would randomly hand out little treasures as you go about your daily business. Can you imagine? How fun could that be?
So i began creating a plan, that i have pondered and have not revealed until yesterday. You are invited to come along this adventure…i can’t wait!
The Knit-It-Forward Project Blitz begins Sunday March 21 (giving you time to get a few little things knitted up). There is no particular item recommended. If you love to knit dishcloths or kids hats, that’s what you can do. Not much knitting time? Knit a bookmark or a coffee cup sleeve. Doesn’t matter what you do, just do something! Here’s how it works:
*Pick up insert cards from Cottage Knits or download the Knit-It-Forward Project from the website to enclose with your knitted/crocheted item in a zip lock bag.
*Sunday, March 21 is the first day to randomly hand out your projects. Choose folks you don’t know, people who just happen to be where you are at the time.
*This will be a year long project, not intended to replace other charity knitting that we do here, but an addition to what we do.
*The idea here is not to sell yarn, not for recognition for Cottage Knits, but to bring some unexpected joy to complete strangers…and to see what happens when we take time to bring kindness in an unexpected way.

To keep you all motivated throughout the year as we Knit-It-Forward, i encourage you to share your stories. You could email them to me and i will relay them on my blog and in newsletters.
During the next months you can watch the DVD Pay It Forward in the “Peanut Gallery” at the cottage. We will show the inspiring story upon your request…and at appointed times when we gather for some great new knit-along projects!
Sure hope you will join in and stay tuned for how we can bring a bit of kindness to our corner of the world….Have fun and keep those needle busy!
Knittingly, cathi

Charities benefit from your generosity:
Last week we sent dozens of baby hats to CRH that you have knitted and crocheted for the Birthing Center!
Nearly $900 was raised for the Haiti Relief Effort (and that dollar amount will be matched by Knitting Fever International)!
Thanks to all of you for constantly sharing your talents and resources….you are awesome!

There are so many needs out there that it truly is overwhelming….understanding that i simply share a couple more ideas with you…these are the current projects we are working on:
A Cat on A Matt~patterns for Kira Casevane’s senior project is available at Cottage Knits. Calling all animal lovers! This is a fast and easy project…and uses up some of your stash!

Baby Blankets for Haiti~a local church is assembling medical boxes to be sent to Haiti…the pattern is simple …if you can knit a dishcloth…you can knit this blanket! Patterns available upon request. Knit these blankets in cotton or acrylics. They will be collected and shipped Feb 5.

Resolutions…we love to make them and are so quick to break them. Before year 2010 even began i broke the agenda i had planned for months. Like many of you i have knitted for years and have very little to show for it as i gift most of my knitting…so i decided this year i would knit only for me…my grandchildren to be my only accepted exception…then something happened that would cause me to pause and re-evaluate and this is where my story begins.
With only a week before Christmas i was barely keeping up with the demands, eating on the run, trying to keep up with paperwork and helping my customers with last minute problems and purchases. Let’s face it…i was having a grumpy evening when one of the knitters in the “Peanut Gallery” (knitting area) called me to come in and take a seat.
“Sorry, no time for fun and games for me…too much to do.” They were relentless, so after some coaxing i agreed. That’s when i gulped a bit of humble pie…you see the room was filled with friends who had gathered to give me something they had been planning and plotting…and knitting since June.
For months over twenty good people had been working on a afghan worked in squares from the Great American Afghan and Great Aran Afghan books. These friends had even custom knitted it just for me. It is a masterpiece! I am so proud many of those who had never even knitted before Cottage Knits opened nearly 4 1/2 years ago! (And they didn’t even come for help!) I can’t even tell you how much i appreciate all the time and efforts that went into this gift….all the hard work and scheming leaves me nearly speechless. A lesson was taught to me with this gesture…i was reminded how much i love to knit for others. I feel like it is giving a little piece of me when i knit for someone else and i makes me happy to do that…so back to my resolution..i decided right then and there that one would be broken. I may knit something for me in 2010..but i have a long list of things i want to knit for others including a little more charity knitting.
So thanks to all of you who keep me grounded and remind me that we are better together and we are all knitted together in so many ways. I’m leaving it in the shop for a couple of weeks so you might have a peek and be inspired to knit one for someone in your life….then it goes home for my family to enjoy and use.
The Cottage Knits story continues…. and you make it a great place to work and play!

Where do i begin?
I am thrilled to report to you that baby Drew is home and doing well. Big brother Conner is enchanted with him and the Hoffman family are easing in to the life changes and challenges a new baby brings. After two weeks of sleepless nights, too much fast food and continuous updates to those of us at home, daughter Jamie and her husband Matt have come thru this experience a little wiser and so much stronger. I am proud of them. We are all better educated on the challenges and concerns of preemies. Frankly, i always thought it more about size (and Drew weighed in at 7.1 lbs)…now i know better.
We have all coveted the many prayers, notes and kind words sent our way. Each were treasured and we are grateful for every one… and humbled that so many would show concern for our family.
We celebrated the 2nd birthday of granddaughter Abilene last weekend. She’s growing like a weed…and she has overcome the challenges and concerns that doctors and specialists predicted after learning she had a tear and then a cyst on her tiny spinal cord. We were told she would not walk without surgery…she proved them wrong on that and continues to develop as any other two year old. We were reminded of how far she has come while viewing a slide show of the past year at her birthday party. Again, we are filled with gratitude for the prayers for her. Yes, it was a good reminder of the miracle we have seen in her life.
Our family is no different from any of yours. Never quite sure of what is just around the corner. We can do all the planning we want, but that doesn’t guarantee that is what will be. But one thing is for sure… It’s love that makes it hurt so much. It’s love that keeps us going. It’s love that keeps us together and it’s love that i feel for all of you who have shown my family so much compassion.
Thanks for letting me share my life with you….Now let’s see….what shall we plan next???

Just about the time you think you have everything “in order” things begin to (at best) tangle…or even unravel…and we are quickly reminded of what is really important in this life. You have to embrace these moments as a time to realize how much we really are blessed by friends and family.
As many of you know the Yarn Tasting 2009 was scheduled for Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. The trunk shows arrived as scheduled and i felt like things were in order for a smooth, fun and relaxing evening.
Several of you were planning your day around a certain yarn shipment due to be delivered today..(.Friday)
Turns out our brand new grandson Drew Jameson Hoffman had other ideas…Daughter Jamie was expecting her second son due to arrive on November 27. We were fairly certain he would come early…but didn’t have a clue of what would happen next.
Drew was born on Tuesday, November 3 at 8:40 PM. He weighed in at 7.1 lbs. and 20 inches long. The delivery was fast and just as swiftly as he came he was whisked away to the intensive care nursery at CRH. He was the largest baby there and we kept thinking he would “turn the corner” and wean himself off of the oxygen he was given at that point.
But, that was not to happen…even at 7.1 lbs and only 3 1/2 weeks early his lungs weren’t ready. After a couple of scares it was determined he needed to be transported to Riley’s Children Hospital in Indy.
Once again he was whisked away…but the great news is that he made the trip with ease and things look a bit brighter today. He even held Jamie’s finger and opened his eyes to take a peek at his momma!
And about as quickly as he was moved, i made a decision that the shop needed to be closed for a day, that the much anticipated Yarn Tasting needed to be re-scheduled and i needed to focus on my family…who has made so many sacrifices in the past four years as i have tended to my “baby” Cottage Knits.
I apologize to all that have been inconvenienced by these decisions…but i trust you will all understand.
Cottage Knits will be open for business, as usual tomorrow (Saturday, November 7) and the Yarn Tasting will be re-scheduled as soon as things stabilize with Drew.
The Cascade shipment has arrived, thanks to some very helpful folks who made that happen….
There really are lots of things i want to tell you concerning upcoming classes, new inventory and upcoming events..and hopefully i will be able to get you caught up on all those things in the next few days. I thank you for your patience …and thank you for hanging in there with me…you’ve heard it before…we really are all better together!
Happy Knitting!
~cathi

A Promise, A Commitment and A Plan.

No, it’s not a wedding….October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and together we can do something to help!
Every year the Breast Health Center collects and sells handmade ornaments off the Christmas Tree that is in the main lobby. This money will help those who need a mammogram and have no means to get one. It is a wonderful idea and we are committed to help! Last year many of you rallied and dropped off ornaments of all kinds. Every one of them was sold.

Breast Cancer strikes 1 out of every 8 women. That is sobering. Think of 8 women you know, and realize that it is possible one will be in the battle. Early detection is the key. Mammograms are the essential. I made a promise to the staff at the center that i would encourage you to help.

Each Wednesday now thru November you are invited to come in to Cottage Knits and knit/crochet a simple ornament. I’m dragging out my stash and will have patterns for you to choose what you would like to make…and will provide a cosy cottage atmosphere with helpful friends to get you started. Bring a friend and commit to help us! Stop in from 1:00-4:30PM and join us!
That’s the plan.
If you would prefer to knit at home that’s OK too…just drop off your finished ornaments through the end of November and we will take care of the rest!
And don’t forget to schedule your mammogram!

In honor of the many women we know who have battled this disease we are offering you an incentive to take care of your health. Simply ask for a stamped receipt to bring in and we will give you a 10% discount on purchases you make for the day of your choice. It’s our way of letting you know that we value your good health! Don’t worry! This will be an on-going program….no matter if you are due for an exam now or next September…all will be able to take advantage of this offer!
Hope to see you at the cottage…You should see all the new merchandise lining the walls!
>~cathi

It’s here! Some call it Fall, some call it Autumn and we all know it’s Knitting Season! (No license required!) And you all know what that means…out with the summer weights and in with the new wools, alpacas, silk blends and new projects to keep your hands busy and minds racing with what do knit/crochet next! I love this time of year….give me a sunny October day and i can’t help to marvel at the color and scents of the season.

This week we have been celebrating the 4 years since Cottage Knits was “born”…and congrats to all who won the daily drawings for Cottage Knits Gift Certificates! Thanks to Cakes for All Occasions we feasted on sweet treats all week (yum yum) and of course, we will wrap it all up on Sunday at KnitFest. Looks like the weather will be good and i can’t wait to get outside for the afternoon to enjoy the day. It’s another tradition that is good to share with you. Last year we had a pretty good crowd and we hope that we see even more of you fiber artists Sunday….join us as we celebrate our friendships and crafts as we boldly KIP (knit in public)!

The UPS man brought us some great new books this week!
Lorna Miser’s new book Faith, Hope, Love and Knitting is beautifully done and would be a great addition to your library. There are 20 projects to knit and treasure. Her insights are as refreshing as the patterns are charming.
Long awaited, and here finally after being back ordered for weeks is Booties, Blankets and Bear’s by Debbie Bliss. The projects in this book will not disappoint…and as always, the babies are as darling as the knitted masterpieces they model. Always fresh and fun, Debbie Bliss patterns are simply stunning. If you knit for babies you must have a Debbie Bliss book on your bookshelf!
Back in stock are the Mason Dixon Books for those of you who are waiting…Barbara Walker’s Top Down Sweater Book and more….not to mention the books that are due to arrive next week!

Classes are posted for October…be sure to check the website often…we are constantly adding new classes ….you still have plenty of time to knit Christmas Stockings for kids of all ages…hats, mittens, sweaters and blankets….

Two KnitAlong groups are beginning. There is no charge for these sessions..they are not classes, but you will find helpful tips as you knit these projects along with others. We would ask that you support Cottage Knits by purchasing your materials here. “Support your Local Yarn Shop and get more than just yarn”. Your continued support enables us to keep the doors open

Consider joining the Log Cabin Blanket group on Wednesday afternoons. Come anytime between 1-5PM and knit with us! The beauty of this project is that you can knit any size you choose from baby to full size afghan. It’s a fun project and one of those things you can work on while relaxing and watching a movie, or visiting with friends.

Leave your name and phone # if you are interested in knitting the Grandma Corn’s Baby Sweater or the Baby Hooded Cardigan. Looks like this will be a Friday group and the times will be announced shortly.

Hope to see you soon! Thanks again for sharing a few minutes with me…and wishing you a great weekend…and as always…
Happy Knitting! ~cathi