Wednesday 12 September 2018

And The WINNERS are....

Without further ado.....


CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR PRIZE WINNERS!

Teresa Samuel- Kawartha Yarn and Fibre Festival Prize Basket

Mary Lou Hemphill- Runner Up Prize Basket
Chris Blaymires- Runner Up Prize Basket
Wendy Lenters- Runner Up Prize Basket
 Julie Gilmour- Grand Prize Basket



All winners have been notified by email.



Monday 10 September 2018

LIVE @ FIVE PRIZE DRAWS

Are you ready crawlers? .... Do you have your lucky shoes on? 
It has been a long wait to find out who the winners are and the good news is that all the ballots have been received and tallied as of today! 


We really hope you can join in the fun when we do a LIVE @ FIVE DRAW on our Facebook page-


Its happening on Tuesday Sept. 11th at 5 pm!!


Winners will be contacted by email and names will be announce on Instagram, Ravelry, and Facebook


Here is a sneak peek at what is up for grabs-










Monday 3 September 2018

Final Day

Well folks... we have reached the finish line!  Its time to hang up the tote bags and just relish in the memories made with new friends and old.  Plus enjoy all of that squishy YARN HAUL (of course)!!


As of midnight on September 3rd 2018, your PASSPORT must be handed in to the closest participating shop in order to be eligible to win ONE of the awesome prize baskets.
It has been a fabulous summer adventure and we would like to thank everyone for their participation.  We couldn't have done it without your support and all your wonderful comments have been well-received.   
The crawl passports will now be recorded and organized into the appropriate draw buckets over the course of this week.
Stay tuned for the LIVE FACEBOOK draw date to be announced later this week and a sneak peek at the awesome prize baskets up for grabs!



Best of luck crawlers in winning!



Saturday 18 August 2018

A Summer Adventure

By all reports our COTTAGE COUNTRY YARN CRAWL has been a blast and it isn't quite over yet...  Not until the last sheep sings its b-a-a-a  b-a-a-a song on September 3rd 2018!


If you haven't had a chance to get out on the open road this summer and experience the unique yarn shops in cottage country (and ice cream), plan a day trip with a friend or two.  You won't be disappointed! 


Here are a few tips from our crawlers-


1. Crawling is more fun in numbers, plan to car pool and share the gas expenses.


2. Pack your latest WIP, each shop will have a place to sit and knit for a break from travel.  Plus its fun to show off your work in progress!


3. The lunch recommendations listed on our bio post are a huge hit with rave reviews!  Be sure to try them out and mention which shop directed you.


4. Take pics of your visits to each shop. We love to see the fun you are having plus all those gorgeous MYSTERY COWLS. Pics can be posted on our facebook page or emailed to ccyarncrawl@gmail.com


A few of the fun memories made this summer-


Happenstance Books & Yarn Shop in Lakefield


Mother & Daughter Crawlers at Muskoka Yarn Connection in Bracebridge


Between 2 Lakes Yarn & Crafts in Fenelon Falls




Mystery Cowl Completed at Happenstance Books & Yarn Shop

Wednesday 18 July 2018

NOTE To ALL Crawlers

CRAWLERS PLEASE TAKE NOTE:


Sheldridge Yarns will be CLOSED at present location and in the process of moving as of July 22nd. If you have not received your passport stamp from this location by the 22nd, please add an X to the square and it will be deemed as a stamp upon presentation at end of crawl. 


You may pick up your FREE Mystery Cowl CLUE at your next stop on CRAWL. 


We wish Lyn well in her big move.

Friday 8 June 2018

Its A Mystery Cowl

Every summer road trip needs a little mystery, .....right? Well, we have one that will keep you busy searching for clues. All EIGHT CLUES!!  Its a bit like a treasure hunt, you have a map (see link in post below), and a list of our group of eight yarn shops (see list in post below). 
The trick is to locate the first CLUE so you can get started on your COTTAGE COUNTRY MYSTERY COWL. Once you have that CLUE in hand, its cast on time!! 
All the other CLUES can be knit in random order. 
This mystery cowl has been designed for crawlers to sample and experience any fingering weight yarn whether its a feisty fun hand dyed or a subdued specialty yarn as a keepsake of this amazing summer road trip, and may be knit in ONE colourway, or TWO, or THREE... or EIGHT!  The choice is entirely up to you.  As the cowl pattern will specify each clue will require 68 m/ 75 yds or 20 grams of yarn.  Be sure to ask at every shop on the COTTAGE COUNTRY YARN CRAWL for your free CLUE which is specific to that scenic location.
Be sure to share a picture of your cowl WIP with the hashtag #ccyarncrawl.


Thursday 17 May 2018

Cottage Country Yarn Crawl Shop Stops

Hey crawlers! Have you printed out your passport yet?  The link is located in the post below, so why not print out a few more and share with your knitting friends.  Spread all that yarnie goodness around!
We are in our final flurry of activity at CCYC Central, getting all the info out about the yarn crawl and yikes.. we have not forgotten (as promised) to pass along individual bios on our group of eight yarn shops including a few interesting sidenotes on sightseeing spots that you won't want to miss and/or lunch recommendations to whet your appetite after all that yarn crawling.  
Aberdeen's Wool Company has been in business for just over five years, and offers a fabulous collection of yarns from primarily Canadian sources, along with Tangled Gypsies, unique hand dyed yarns made in house with a fun musical twist... ask to squish a skein of Tangled Up In Ewe. Located in a Victorian building with a cosy knitting porch, this charming shop is connected to a FREE parking lot. Please note this location is not fully accessible due to stairs at entrance.  Stop by Olympia for lunch, located a few blocks from the shop, or check out Mikael's for a cup of java and word has it, on Saturdays locals swoon over their cheese bagels.
Between 2 Lakes Yarn & Crafts is brand-spanking new and carries an array of beautiful yarns to suit all budgets, with fun accessories inspired by the owner's love of animals, from sheep aprons to mugs, umbrellas and totes. For kids there are some great summer craft ideas too.  This shop is fully accessible with parking located at front and back.  Check out the great line up of classes available too.  Take time for a browse through town and drop in at the L'll Wee Quilt store and The Village Shop. When your yarn haul is complete just steps from the front door you can cool off with a Kawartha Dairy ice cream cone or cross the road to sit and knit awhile, watching the boats go through the locks.
Granny Birds Wool Shoppe celebrated its first anniversary on May 17th! Named after the owner's quirky nickname for her grandmother (Granny Bird), this shop has a lovely community feel and carries a wide variety of man made, blended and natural fibre yarns plus a large selection of needles, hooks, buttons and accessories. Watch for free parking throughout the village and please note that there is a six inch rise at the front door.  Shoe collectors will want to stop in at Bigley's Shoes & Clothing, after all doesn't every new WIP need a fab pair of shoes? See if you can find this hidden gem for the best grilled cheese sandwiches and homemade soup in town- Grilled Cheese Hideaway. 
Happenstance Books & Yarns has been in business for over thirty-five years, situated in an enchanting heritage building in the tiny town of Lakefield. Look for free street parking and also the municipal lot located across the street. There are two steps at store front or back to navigate, with helpful hand grips for accessibility.  Uniquely charming, this shop doubles your browsing pleasure with a carefully curated collection of books and yarns, a particular fondness for alpaca, and extensive selection in all weights and fibre types from suppliers such as- Amano, Berroco, Cascade, Debbie Bliss, Estelle, King Cole, Opal, Rowan... Take a wander down Queen Street for these two lunch suggestions- The Nutty Bean CafĂ© with outdoor dining verandah or Cassis Bistro.
JanKnit's Studio has been a mainstay in the village of Haliburton for eleven years. Located across from CIBC, Jan carries an array of specialty yarns, knitting accessories, Husqvarna sewing machines, and an exclusive collection of real fur yarns which she sells worldwide.  The store entrance has two steps to navigate and metered parking is available along the main street.  When your trunk is full of yarn, check out Glee Park with its winding trail of artisan sculptures on display and the Haliburton Forest Wolf Centre for a really wild experience.  Feed your appetite at McKeck's across the street from Jan's or UpRiver Trading with its awesome coffee bar.
Muskoka Yarn Connection is celebrating twenty-five years of keeping knitters in stitches with lots of fun events this summer.  Located in an old factory, this bright and airy cottage country shop offers knitters a selection of natural fibres and blended yarns complimented with original designed sweater and accessory knitting kits.  Free parking is right at storefront and this shop is fully accessible.  Ask to see custom-dyed colourway Muskoka Magic, inspired by twilight on the water, one of the specialty yarns in the local yarn dye-it. Mouth-watering taste temptations are hard to resist right out front at Sully's, Muskoka's gourmet food truck experience.  Treat yourself to an afternoon cruise down the river on Lady Muskoka, scenic boat tours, or wander along the walking trail at the Bracebridge Falls with its quiet spots to sit and knit.
Needles In The Hay has been a downtown fixture in one of Peterborough's historical buildings for eight years and focuses on good quality, high value, natural fibres for knitting and crochet.  The two flagship brands are Brooklyn Tweed and The Fibre Co. featured on the twelve foot wall of wool.  Plenty of metered parking is available on the street or in adjacent municipal lots, and the store entrance has one step up.  Hang out with kindred spirits in one of NITH knitting circles on Tuesday eve 7-9 or Wednesday aft 2-4.  Set the mood for yarn shopping with lunch at Electric City Bread CompanySt. Veronus for lunch and dinner, or Le Petit Bar for snacks and wine. Don't miss the Peterborough Lift Lock for an engineering marvel, largest hydraulic boat lift in the world.
Sheldridge Yarns is located in Woodville and has been in business for six years, featuring an enormous inventory of in house hand dyed yarns, ..... more than seventy shades to drool over in fingering, lace, dk, worsted, and bulky weights.  Plus Cabin Fever 'no-sew' patterns and books to complement the extensive selection of yarns.  Free parking is available right at storefront. Please note the entrance is not fully accessible.  Stop for lunch in Lindsay and visit the Olde Gaol Museum for an interesting bit of area history. 


Happy Crawling!               

Wednesday 9 May 2018

A Passport To Cottage Country

Now that we are getting closer to the kick off date, the excitement is building and its time to announce that your COTTAGE COUNTRY PASSPORT is ready for printing! 


Just click on the link below to print in colour or black and white, remember to click two-sided under options.


Bring it with you to the Kawartha Yarn and Fibre Festival on June 9th for a
~ B O N U S ~ stamp and receive an entry ballot for a chance to win a special prize just for crawlers which will be drawn the same day!  Keep your passport handy for whenever you are out and about in cottage country on the crawl route and just ask the yarn shop to stamp it for you plus receive a FREE limited edition crawl button to add to your bag bling collection.  Each shop will also have a CLUE for you to knit our 'Group Of Eight'  MYSTERY CRAWL COWL. Collect all the clues and choose some of the unique colourways available in each shop for your project.







Click here for your CCYC passport.


Happy Crawling!


Tuesday 17 April 2018

We Are A Group Of Eight

Without further adieu ... let's get right to it and give you a heads up on WHO will be participating in our upcoming COTTAGE COUNTRY YARN CRAWL!



We are a 'group of eight' yarn shops nestled in picturesque cottage country, the ideal setting for a relaxing road trip this summer through the back roads of Ontario.  From shimmering shorelines to towering pine forests, quiet historic villages, wide open farmlands, and breathtaking vistas at every turn of the road, this is where summertime begins.  So plan out your route, lather on the sunscreen, pack a few snacks and grab a few backseat knitting friends to explore what we have to offer.




To kick things off, we will be coordinating our yarn crawl start date with the Kawartha Yarn & Fibre Festival in Fenelon Falls on Saturday June 9th.  This is the inaugural year for the exciting one-day event showcasing a marketplace with seventy vendors and fibre artists as well as classes available for pre-registering.  Event tickets can be purchased in advance by clicking on the KYAFF link provided.  We have added an  'extra' spot on our yarn crawl passport for anyone attending this event to be automatically entered in the KYAFF crawl draw on June 9th. That's just a little extra bonus draw on top of what we have planned at the end of the summer!


Stay tuned for our next post highlighting a bit more about each of our 'group of eight' yarn shops. In the meantime, take some time to check out the following list of websites and locations for each of our participating members of the CCYC-




228 Kent St W.
Lindsay, ON

8A Water St.
Fenelon Falls, ON

5 King St E.
Bobcaygeon, ON

44 Queen St.
Lakefield, ON

214 Highland St.
Haliburton, ON

Fenelon Falls Secondary School
66 Lindsay St.
Fenelon Falls, ON

345 Ecclestone Dr.
Unit 46
Bracebridge, ON

385 Water St.
Peterborough, ON


Sheldridge Yarns
8 Windmere Rd
Woodville



Thursday 12 April 2018

Welcome to Cottage Country

This is our inaugural YARN CRAWL and we couldn't be more excited!  We have a fresh and shiny NEW logo which you will see more of in the coming months. 


But first... the burning question- Why did we decide to host a yarn crawl?

Yarn crawls are a fun way to introduce you to all the wonderful shops within a certain radius, to experience the unique ambience each one has to offer, while discovering new products, connecting with other fibre enthusiasts, all the while exploring the area with yarny friends and family who decide to join you on the journey.


We are a group of local yarn shop owners who happen to live and work in some of the most scenic areas of Ontario's cottage country! So, it only made sense to connect the dots (or stitches) for yarn seekers and create a fun road trip!


Its a self-guided tour, which will allow you to take your time and really plan out the route to suit your schedule.  We don't expect you to do the crawl all in ONE day!  That's why it has been set up over the summer months, so you can enjoy the laidback easy breezy lifestyle that is part of the charm in cottage country. No rushing from store to store, just fit one or two into a day trip and then come back for more. After all, how MUCH yarn can you really fit into your trunk?


So now you know the WHY and the WHEN... and in our next post we will list the WHO.