Shopping the Hop.

Is your calendar marked for the sixth annual Atlanta Shop Hop? It starts next weekend (Saturday, September 29) and continues through the following weekend (Sunday, October 7). You can read more about the Hop and see a sampling of prizes offered by the participating stores on the Shop Hop blog. We also shared a preview of our three prizes here last month.

But if you still need convincing...or maybe you're planning to participate and you need some shopping ideas - here you go! My short list of the yarn goodness you'll find at Cast-on Cottage.

Habu...and Soak (love the new Lace "flavor")

Dream in Color's September club installment (open to everyone)

the newest from Kidsilk Haze - Trio and the accompanying pattern book

Sock yarn! a new shipment from Claudia Handpaints, and plenty of Malabrigo's Finito and Sock

Shibui. Swan's Island. Madelinetosh. (enough said!)

Marlowe and Herriot, new from Juniper Moon Farm

and last but not least (and it's right by the front door)...lots and lots of  yarn to knit those quick ruffle scarves.

What's on your shopping list for the Hop?

Shop Hop the Sixth.

If you saw our announcement on Facebook this weekend, you know the dates have been set for the Sixth Annual Greater Atlanta Yarn Shop Hop. Saturday, September 29th through Sunday, October 7th.

Like Pat commented on our post, yes, it is that time of year again...and yes, Cast-on Cottage is participating for the sixth time!

The rules haven't changed, but in case you don't remember, or this is your first time to participate, here's the run down*:

1. Purchase a passport for $1 (they're on sale now) - don't forget to fill in your name, address, phone and email on the back!
2. Visit any - or all! - of the nine participating shops during the Hop week; spend $10 and you'll get a stamp on your passport and an original pattern.
3. Turn in your passport at any of the participating shops by closing time on Sunday, October 7th.
4. Check out the Shop Hop blog on October 14th to see if you've won!

Completed passports (those with stamps from all nine shops) are eligible for the Grand Prize - $900 in  gift certificates ($100 from each shop). All passports (even those with just one stamp) are eligible for the 27 other knitterly prizes. Each shop contributes three - and truly, these are worthwhile! Check out our three prizes below to see what I mean!  Please note - even if you don't think you can make it to all nine shops, it's still worth buying the passport (remember, it's just $1) and getting it stamped at the shop - you only need to spend $10 during the Shop Hop week to get a stamp.

So without further ado...a first peek at our three prizes.

A Measure for Measure kit, including the pattern and three skeins of Swan's Island Fingering in the Oatmeal colorway (if you've seen our shop sample, it's knit in Oatmeal...and it's absolutely lovely!)

Four skeins of Shibui Silk Cloud in colorways Camel, Flaxen, Rust and Watermelon to knit the Gradient Cowl (a free pattern Shibui published a few months back).

And last, but certainly not least, an Insouciant kit, including the pattern and four cones of Habu Tsumugi Silk in colorway 38 (wine...and I promise - we picked the color without knowing what it was called!)

*Please visit the Shop Hop blog for more details and remember, the official rules are listed on the passports.

Hoppin' in Style.

My last post didn't generate a lot of any feedback, but after working a 6+ hour shift in the shop today, I know there are a LOT of shop hoppers!

And no offense to any of the others (really - it was a pleasure to meet you and I do hope you'll come back to visit!), but these two were my favorites. They arrived with big smiles on their faces - Cast-on Cottage being shop #7 on their list! - and had these great bags to store their newly acquired stash...

Robin and Donna, with the shop hop bags that Donna created (her pictures are much better than mine!)

and passport portfolios to record today*'s journey.

(and they happily agreed to be photographed for our blog - THANK YOU!!)

*Yes, they are planning to turn in their completed - all NINE shops! - passports at The Whole Nine Yarns this evening. They said they set off at 8 a.m. this morning, visited the shop that was farthest away first and enjoyed a picnic lunch in Duluth. They seemed well-matched for such an adventure - we wish them the best in the grand prize drawing!

P.S. Even if you don't think you can make all nine shops, it's still worth buying the passport (remember, it's just $1) and getting it stamped at the shop - you only need to spend $10 to get a stamp. Turn in your stamped passport to the shop by next Sunday (September 25) to be eligible for all the prizes (except the $900 grand prize). It's the best raffle ticket I've bought lately :-)

Are You Planning to Hop?

As in "Shop Hop"? The 5th Annual Atlanta Shop Hop starts tomorrow (Saturday, September 17) and continues through next Sunday (September 25). Nine shops in the metro area - including Cast-on Cottage - are participating.

To join in the fun, all you need to do is purchase a passport (just $1.00 - we have them on sale at the shop) and then visit one, two, or all nine! of the participating shops. Spend $10 at the shop and you'll receive a pattern and a stamp on your passport. If you get all nine stamps, you're eligible for the grand prize - nine $100 gift certificates (one from each shop). If you don't get all nine, you're still eligible for great prizes.

Here's a look at our prizes (and of course they're great - Marci and I picked them out!)

perfect for a lace shawl, complete with a pin!

who doesn't covet a lantern moon bag filled with notions?

and my personal favorite - a kit to knit the Stacey shawl (and yes, that's the Pewter colorway)

...and our stamp - of course it's a paw print!

Check out the official Shop Hop blog to see all the prizes and the passport for the Official Rules.

And have fun hopping!!

Shop Hop.

Yes, the 4th annual Atlanta Shop Hop is coming soon! Saturday, September 25 through Sunday, October 3. Cast-on Cottage is participating for the 4th year, and I'm sure this one will be the best yet - we have a lot more (parking!) space, and bins and racks full of pretty yarn. I've heard a rumor that the very talented Wendy Petitti designed the complimentary pattern that we'll be giving away with Shop Hop purchases. Yes, this is definitely the year that Cast-on Cottage should be a must stop on your shop hop list!

All you need to do to participate is purchase a passport (they're just $1 and you can purchase them at Cast-on Cottage or any of the other participating shops) and visit one - or more! - of the shops. When you make a $10 purchase at a participating shop, you'll get a stamp in your passport and an original complimentary pattern. If you get stamps from all 10 shops, you're eligible for the grand prize - ten $100 gift certificates (that's one from each shop for a total of $1,000 - and yes, that's a lot of yarn!!) Even if you don't visit all ten shops, you're still eligible for prizes (here's a link to last year's prizes and winners)

Honestly, visiting all 10 shops will require some planning - and a good bit of driving - but it would make a very fun day or two with a few of your knitting friends. And if you're not the driver, that could be some great car-knitting time, too!

There's more information about Shop Hop, including a list of all ten participating shops, on the Shop Hop blog.  We've started a thread in our Ravelry forum - if you have any questions, comments, etc., please feel free to post them there or on Facebook.

Happy Hopping!!