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!!

One More Look and a KAL Update.

I can't promise this will be the last post about our new location, but I think we're getting close! There have been a few additions since we opened and I thought you'd like to see them.

first, I'm sure everyone knew Theresa would want a dog out front to greet customers - well he's here!

did you know there's a computer (with a printer) up front so you can browse patterns on-line

And check out the stunning painting hanging above. This is one of three Juanita Kauffman originals in the shop; they add a perfect touch of whimsy and color, don't you think?

here's the second one

and the third (way back there in the back)

Finally, for the needlepointers, there's a new cabinet, full of canvases.

see it there under the window?

And in KAL news, we're planning fingerless mitts next, to start on Friday, October 1. There's a thread in our Ravelry group to suggest patterns. We'd love a few more suggestions and then we'll pick a few for you to vote here on the blog for the final selection. You can also leave pattern suggestions in the comments here.

Happy Friday. Happy Knitting!

New Yarn.

My apologies for posting about fabulous new yarn on a day when the shop is closed! Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday weekend and knitting!

If you visited the shop on our opening day, you might've noticed that the front row of cubbies was empty. Well, it's full now - the Spud & Chloe yarn has arrived! We've got all the colorways in Fine, Sweater and Outer.

This line is one that Theresa has wanted to carry, and now that we've got more space, she can! I've read a lot about it (their blog is curated by the very talented Susan B. Anderson and publishes great free patterns) and seen plenty of gorgeous FOs on Ravelry, but truly, it's even better in person. The colors are saturated and fun - and there are so many. But my favorite part is the way the yarns feel.

Fine (the fingering weight) is a blend of 80% superwash wool and 20% silk - yes, silk. The put-up is 248 yards per skein, so you'd need two to knit a pair of socks (and wouldn't socks with silk be nice?) or most shawlettes, but one would be plenty for a pair of fingerless mitts.

Sweater (the worsted weight) is a superwash blend of 55% wool and 45% organic cotton. It's super soft and while I know it will make great accessories, it's really ideal for ... sweaters! Susan is hosting a top-down raglan knit-along on the blog - and one of my favorite seamless sweater designers, Wendy Bernard, is offering tips on fitting. The pattern page on Ravelry summarizes all directions.

Outer (the super bulky weight) is a superwash blend of 65% wool and 45% organic cotton. I think it might be even softer than the Sweater (maybe because it's thicker) and seems perfect for cool weather accessories like hats, scarves and mittens. Leaf (a free scarf pattern from the blog) would be perfect - and think how quickly it would knit up!

Happy knitting everyone!

FO Friday.

This is a favorite topic for many of the knitting blogs I read and I'm happy to be able to use it! (not to mention it helps me feel better about the fact I took the photos two days ago...but what "beautiful finished object" word goes with Wednesday?)

Shirley was in the shop - yes, on Wednesday - wearing her lovely new sweater.

It's Blossom, knit up in Hempathy.

...and she was shopping for yarn for another Linen Stitch Scarf, but was happy to let me photograph the one she'd finished.  Wow!

(apologies to Shirley - this scarf really deserves a Jared Flood style photoshoot!)

Finally, if you haven't found our new location yet, it's even easier now. The last two new signs have been installed. This one is above the front door.

And there's an even bigger one on the Marietta Highway side. I think we're pretty hard to miss!

Welcome!

...to our new home!

We enjoyed a steady stream of customers all day - many thanks to everyone who stopped by and/or left comments on facebook and ravelry. It's so much fun to see all of you having fun in the shop!

We celebrated in real style (yes, those are pink and green balls of yarn on top of the petit fours :-) And especially love that the yellow table was full of knitters...

There will be signs posted on the building itself later this week (maybe even today), but the sign from the Canton Street yard has been moved. The new Cast-on Cottage is hard to miss (and finding a parking space is easy, too!)

We're Ready!

Many (many!!) working hours later, and what seemed impossible has been accomplished!

there's a lovely spot in the front of the shop for stitching

the yellow table looks completely at home surrounded by comfortable chairs

the patterns and books are on display

needlepoint threads, too

the central seating area is complete with pillows

so we've turned out the lights and gone home for some sleep!

The shop opens today - Tuesday, August 31 at 10:00 a.m. Hope to see you soon in our new location!!

More Progress.

They say that the key to getting a lot done in a short period of time is to have many hands to help. And it's true! Theresa, the Cast-on Cottage staff and a few of our friends have been working nearly round the clock this past week.

Everyone's hard work is paying off! Yes, it's starting to look like a yarn and needlepoint store!

canvases have been hung on the cork walls

threads have been hung

the cascade wall is done!

as is the wall - this one holds blue sky, misti alpaca, lorna's laces and louet - and the malabrigo worsted and twist is in those cubbies to the left

Classes start today in the new location... and in case you're wondering why we're not opening for everyone til Tuesday?

It's because there is still a lot to do!

the library - pretty empty

and the rest of the shop!

Yep, a lot!!