Confessions of a Yarn Shop Owner – WIPs, YouTube Rebrands & Retreat Preparations

Hello my lovelies, and welcome back to another weekly wander through the woolly, wonderful and occasionally completely unhinged world of Over The Hook.

This week has been a proper mixture of WIPs, finished projects, exciting plans, customers making beautiful things, and me trying to remember why I walked into a room. So, basically, business as usual.

The Block Party scarf is still partying

I am currently working on the Block Party scarf, although “working on” may be doing a little too much heavy lifting in that sentence. I have been picking it up on and off between other projects, which means it has reached that very special stage where it is both a current project and part of the furniture.

You know the sort of thing. It lives nearby, it gets moved around the house, it is occasionally worked on, and every time I see it I say, “I really must get back to that.” It is a scarf with a social life of its own at this point.

 

One finished blanket and one very happy blanket owner

On the finished-project front, I have completed the baby blanket I was working on. It is the Bridgerton blanket by Kerry Jayne Designs, made using Stylecraft Bambino Dotty, and I absolutely love how it has turned out.

There is something very satisfying about finishing a blanket, especially when you have been working on other things in between. You get that final end woven in, look at the whole thing properly, and suddenly remember why you started it in the first place. It is soft, cheerful and just the right amount of fancy. Very Bridgerton, without the need for a dramatic staircase or a gossip column.

If you are looking for your next project, have a browse around the Over The Hook shop. There is always something tempting waiting for you, and I cannot be held responsible for the sudden appearance of new yarn in your basket.

The YouTube rebrand is going wild

If you have not seen already, my YouTube channel has had a bit of a rebrand, and it is going absolutely crazy. I am thrilled, slightly overwhelmed and trying to act like I know exactly what I am doing.

Helen has suggested a series called On the Sofa with Adie, where we talk about people’s WIPs. I think this could be a very long episode with Helen and her piles...

Of WIPs, obviously. What did you think I meant?

And honestly, who would like to see a YouTube series like that? We could talk about the projects that are flying along, the projects that have been abandoned in a bag for three years, the projects that have mysteriously changed colour halfway through, and the ones that are technically still WIPs even though we have all accepted they are never being finished.

I have also been thinking about turning the Confessions blog into a YouTube series too. Perhaps a Confessions Couch, where we have a proper natter about what has been happening in the shop, the projects on the go, the things that have gone wrong, and the yarn we absolutely did not need but somehow bought anyway.

Let me know what you think. Would you watch an On the Sofa with Adie WIP series? Would you like a Confessions Couch? Should Helen bring her piles of WIPs and defend every single one? Head over to the Over The Hook YouTube channel, subscribe if you have not already, and let me know in the comments what you want to see.

http://www.youtube.com/@overthehook

The Welcome to Autumn Retreat is nearly here

The Welcome to Autumn Retreat is fast approaching, and the excitement in the shop is becoming difficult to contain. If you did not manage to get tickets this time, please do not worry. We will be hosting more retreats next year, so keep watching this space.

We have been busy ordering lots of goodies for the retreat pop-up shop, and there will be some super offers available exclusively to retreat guests. Do not worry if you are not coming along, though. The offers and goodies will be making their way into the shop after the retreat too, because it would be deeply unfair to keep all the lovely things hidden away forever.

If you are joining us, get ready for a brilliant day of workshops, yarn, cake, good company and the sort of shopping where you say, “I am only having a look,” before walking away with a bag in each hand.

You can keep an eye on future retreat news and everything happening at Over The Hook through the website.

Workshops are filling up

The Sashiko workshop is filling up fast, so if you have been thinking about joining us, now is the time to have a look before the spaces disappear. Sashiko is such a beautiful technique, and I love the combination of calm, careful stitching and the slightly wonky, wonderfully human result.

And once the retreat is behind us, keep your eyes peeled because we have more workshops coming to Over The Hook. We are thinking about socks, a project bag, and of course yarn journaling. There is something very satisfying about recording your projects, your colour choices and all the things you swear you will remember later but absolutely will not.

Workshops are a lovely way to learn something new, meet other crafters and spend time making without having to explain to anyone why there is yarn in every room of your house. Keep checking the shop and our social channels for new dates.

What has been happening at Knit and Natter?

As you know, we run lots of sessions at Over The Hook so our customers can get together and craft together. This week we have seen blankets, jumpers, socks, hats and plenty more projects underway. There is always something new appearing, and usually somebody saying, “I am just going to finish this one before I start anything else.”

We all know how that ends.

Paula has started a snowman bobble blanket, which is going to be fantastic. Angie has started an amigurumi Jemima Puddle-Duck, and if you remember the ladybird doll, you will know this is going to be amazing. I cannot wait to see her come together.

We will not see Paula and Angie in the shop for a few days because they are off to London to see Paddington Bear for Paula’s birthday. Happy birthday, Paula! I hope you have a brilliant time, eat something delicious and do not bring Paddington back with you. We are already quite full.

If you would like to join one of our friendly crafting groups, keep an eye on the Knit and Natter sessions at Over The Hook. Bring your project, bring your questions and bring your best stories. The kettle will be involved.

Quiet Sky, new colours and changing your mind

Debbie has had a change of mind about one of her colours for the Quiet Sky blanket. A few of you have chosen to make your own version of this blanket after I finished mine, and Debbie put together an amazing colourway.

She had started one of the panels using Stylecraft Parchment, but decided to change it and go for Mushroom instead. From what we have seen in the shop, it is going to look absolutely amazing. Sometimes changing your mind is not abandoning a project. Sometimes it is simply giving the project the colour it was waiting for.

If you missed the original blanket, you can read more about the Quiet Sky project here.

Finished projects and things worth celebrating

On the finished-project front, Bonnie has made a beautiful crochet project bag from her own design. I love seeing people create exactly what they need, especially when the result is both practical and gorgeous.

Helen has another WIP finished too, and it is a stunning jumper. At this rate, she may have to start a new pile just for finished garments.

Shannon has finished her very chic granny square cardigan, ready for her three-day wedding. Three days! I am not sure whether that is a wedding or a small royal tour, but either way the cardigan is ready and looks fabulous.

The Loose Ends are also planning their Christmas window. We mentioned it last week, but they are now in full force, making, crocheting and knitting away ready for the big reveal. I cannot wait to see it all come together. Christmas may still feel a little way off, but yarn people know that Christmas projects need to begin roughly yesterday.

And I have welcomed a new member to my very crazy Friday evening group. Welcome, Becca! Please come back next week. We promise nothing except plenty of chat and the possibility of cake.

My confession: the shop was closed on Saturday

Now for this week’s confession.

We had to close the shop on Saturday because David and I had to complete our paediatric first-aid course as part of fostering. This was a struggle for me, not because the course was not important, but because I was constantly thinking about my customers rattling on the doors.

I had made a post to let everyone know we were closed, but I knew there would still be people who had not seen it and had popped along for their weekly fix of yarn and cake, only to find locked doors and the lights off. I am sorry if that was you. Normal yarn-and-cake service has resumed, and I promise the wool has been told to behave itself.

Kim, the Stylecraft enabler

And finally, I need to make you all aware that Kim, my Stylecraft rep, is an enabler.

She sees my weakness for new wool or a deal and takes advantage. Well, I confess, she does not have to try very hard. Show me a new colour, a new range or a tempting winter yarn and I am suddenly saying, “That would look lovely in the shop.”

So watch this space. We have some new lines planned for winter, and hopefully we will see some of them at the retreat too. I will share more as soon as I am allowed, or as soon as I accidentally let it slip while talking too much.

So, what do you think?

Would you watch an On the Sofa with Adie series? Do you want to see Helen’s piles of WIPs? Would a Confessions Couch work on YouTube? I genuinely want to know what you would enjoy watching, so please subscribe to the channel and tell me what you think.

Until next week, keep making, keep laughing, keep changing your colours when you feel like it, and remember: a WIP is not a failure. It is simply a project waiting for its next dramatic entrance.

Love,

Adie
Over The Hook