cottageknits.com Blog

and three years later…

Administrator — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:01:51 +0000

In some ways it seems only yesterday…we choose Labor Day Weekend 2007 to move Cottage Knits to Pennsylvania Street.
The little shop on 7th Street was bursting at the seams and it was time to find a larger space~but Cottage Knits couldn’t move just anywhere. When Mark and I first looked at the space located on the corner of 17th and Pennsylvania i knew it was the perfect place to set up shop….and that’s what we did with some help of family and friends (and lots of hard work). Without missing a beat we re-located and opened the doors on the Tuesday following the Holiday.
Three years later i have the itch for a new look….so i have been scheming and dreaming and i think i have a plan. Once again it involves a little help of a few friends and family, some hard work…After all, it’s Labor Day Weekend, right???
And in just a couple of days, i will open those doors and greet all who stop by, refreshed and excited to show you what we have been up to…and the party begins. After all, it’s birthday month for the Cottage Knits Adventure!

School Buses, Class Schedules and Sack Lunches

Administrator — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:53:40 +0000

It’s here again. School is in session, the pool is closed, and before long we will begin to hear Christmas music in the mall. Ugh. Don’t get me wrong…i love Christmas. It IS the most wonderful time of the year, but the older i get, the quicker the months fly by. I wonder, is it my age? Probably so. No matter, i shall embrace the day and attempt to make the most of one of my most precious commodities…time.
Do you even want to know that there are only 122 days until Christmas? That’s how many waking hours? Yikes!
With that in mind, i ponder how i might simplify the coming season in order to actually enjoy the sights and sounds of the season. Experience has told me that it all begins much sooner than when the cold winds blow….i have observed many wise and wonderful folks working steadily on their knitted projects throughout the year. They make their list in January and they seem to actually stick to it!
You will recognize them. They are the ones that are smiling and relaxed from Thanksgiving thru New Years Eve….no all-night knitting for these folks. Oh no, they have their cards addressed and gifts wrapped before December 24th. And for once, i want to be like them….just once!
So i have begun to make my list…and for a change, i will not try to be SuperKnitter and i’ll knit only for those who will appreciate my efforts and will not spread myself so thin that my family will wish to send me away for the months of December and January. Hey! It’s a realistic goal….now where are those pattern books?

Knitted Helmet Liners

Administrator — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 11:36:16 +0000

I will admit it, the focus on knitting helmet liners for soldiers came from guilt on my part, due to a promise broken.
Last fall i was contacted by my home church and asked that Cottage Knits “adopt” a soldier and his family. Chris Allen had just recently been deployed to Afghanistan. Chris left his family and home to serve his country and protect this nation. I readily agreed, with visions of all sorts of comforts we might knit for not only Chris, but also his wife and children.
Not long after that commitment we learned that one of our own, Barb Lee had been diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer and had only a couple of months to live. My best friend Teresa was the niece of “Aunt Jo” and our concern was for Teresa as well.
We had adopted Aunt Jo as our own. Cottage Knitters fell into action doing what we do…attempting to comfort her, Teresa and ourselves by knitting up prayer shawls and blankets, fixing meals, sending cards and flowers and anything else we could think to do to make her final days the best they might be.
Meanwhile Chris was doing his duty by serving his country. His family continued to keep on keeping on… My promise to care for this family went unfulfilled. Actually, i realized that i needed to contact the church and explain the situation at hand and then something would happen, and my attention would be elsewhere.
The days and weeks passed by, Aunt Jo lived for six more short months. In the meantime Cottage Knits lost another “lady of the knit” unexpectedly. We were barely able to take it all in and then i remembered the promise once again. By then i was past the point of embarrassment and resolved to contact the church and retrieve the contact information. I planned on calling Chris’s wife and explain to her what had happened.
And just when i thought i had it all figured out i heard that Chris was home. That was wonderful news for sure. I made a vow that somehow i would attempt to find a way to honor him.
Knitted helmet liners seemed to be the answer. My goal is to gather 100 which are to be taken to Camp Atterbury during Labor Day weekend. I posted the free pattern on the Cottage Knits website during the month of July and have hosted knit-ins each week.
Every afternoon during July and August a roomful of women have gathered at the yarn shop to knit together and watch “war movies” such as Kelly’s Heroes, The Wackiest Ship in the Army, eat popcorn and knit these gifts for our soldiers. They have been faithful and the stack of liners continues to grow.
By chance i have come to meet a Floyd Crouse, a veteran whose sister has knitted, upon his request, dozens of helmet liners as well. I have been inspired by his commitment to see these liners made and then delivered for use. He is determined to see that as many soldiers as possible receive a hand knitted liner. You could say we have united forces to see this through.
Another group of volunteers have come together to tag each liner with a “stay warm” tag. You see, it’s really not about me…or any one of us…it’s a community of people who care, a vow to honor, in some way, those who serve our country…. and a way for me to say “Chris, thanks for a job well done.”

A Knit-Inn~at Irwin Gardens!

Administrator — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:14:02 +0000

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!

Why we do what we do….

Administrator — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:33:14 +0000

“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.

Knitting Reflections

Administrator — Sat, 01 May 2010 20:35:55 +0000

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.

Knit-It-Forward

Administrator — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:11:46 +0000

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

Administrator — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 04:08:16 +0000

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

Administrator — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:03:12 +0000

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!

Family

Administrator — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:07:16 +0000

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???