Hello!

It's Casper. It's been a while! But, it's not you, it's me. 

It's been just over two and a half years since I started working at Knit Nottingham. I'd never worked retail properly, I had crippling social anxiety and every time the shop phone rang I would stare at it and pray that Eleanor wasn't too busy and could answer it for me. 

I think at that point I'd only been crocheting properly for just under a year, but I was completely addicted and figured instead of annoying my family with constant yarn talk, it would be better to come and annoy you lot instead. And I was right! I'm still fuzzy on the details of why Eleanor actually reached out to talk about working here, because I'm fairly certain we hadn't spoken a word to each other outside of Instagram, but I am SO THANKFUL SHE DID.

The time I've spent here has done so much to me. I feel like a completely different person. I've met so many amazing people who make so many amazing things and so many of you don't realise the effect you can have on people. I can actually answer phones now, I can talk to complete strangers and leave feeling like I've known them for years, I've been inspired to make some amazing things just from quick conversations I've had here. We've had some crazy shop parties, we've dealt with a Damp Downstairs, we've got a deep-seated hatred for a certain point of sale system provider... and it's never really felt like work. Not properly.

Every day, even on bad days, it's felt like I'm just coming in to info-dump about yarn and crocheting and knitting and I genuinely don't know how I'm going to work in any other job because I don't think anyone other than Eleanor could put up with me.

I genuinely cannot express how much I love this shop and Eleanor and the community she's built. It's an absolute privilege to have been a part of it for as long as I have. At the risk of sounding incredibly cliche, all good things must come to an end, though!

I've decided to start doing uni full time, rather than part time, and I did make the right decision in not working and studying because honestly I am drowning in work! I do miss this, though. A lot. 

This isn't the last you'll see of me, though! I pop in from time to time whenever I'm in town, and Eleanor knows she can reach out if she needs a day covering. So who knows - we may bump into each other once again. If you'd like to keep up with my adventures, I do have a yarny Instagram @casperalixander where I post the things I (slowly) make. 

However, don't drown yourself in tears just yet. Obviously you've got Eleanor, but you've also got the wonderful Saharan. If you haven't met them yet, pop in on a Wednesday or a Saturday. They're bloomin' lovely and I can tell they're a great fit for the shop.

To all of you, thank you. To Eleanor, you're a boss ass business b*tch. Thank you, too.

Okay. For my last blog post sign off, I shall leave you with a few choice words.

I adore you all. Every single one of you.

Riot DK is still the funkiest yarn in the shop.

Live laugh love.

Slay.

Love Casper <3