Geek-A-Long
2015 Prize Baskets: Cascade Yarns
Cascade Yarns is a company that is near and dear to my heart. Cascade 220 was the first yarn I bought from an LYS when I made the jump from big box stores to local yarn stores — I crocheted a hat and scarf set as a Christmas present for my grandmother. Cascade Yarns was also the first to believe in the Geek-A-Long project. Along with the prizes they donated in 2014, they also donated the yarn for us to knit that first blanket as well as this years Mad Scientist themed blanket. So, I suppose it comes as no surprise that they sent over more prizes for you!
But before I tell you more about the awesome prizes they donated, here is a quick reminder for those of you just joining the Geek-A-Long:
We’re raffling off four prizes again this year and in order to be eligible to win one of the three prizes, you must post a picture of your completed 2015 blanket to the Ravelry GAL group by January 31, 2016. The blanket must contain 24 of the 48 squares released in 2015, be joined and edged. Just like last year, the fourth prize will be raffled off for just being a member of the group. If you’re not a member, however, it isn’t too late to join and get in on the fun! You can find everything you’ll need to know about the Geek-A-Long on the FAQ page.
Cascade sent over more sweater kits this year! Each of our four prize winners will receive a printed copy of Vladimira Ilkovicova’s Cardigan Heathers knitting pattern as well as six pretty skeins of Cascade 220 in one of the four heather colorways shown above.
About Cascade Yarns
Cascade Yarns began in 1987, founded by Bob and Jean Dunbabin. The two of them had a background in importing, through their business wholesaling and retailing oriental carpets. The opportunity presented itself, when Bob was on a business trip in Canada on an effort to acquire a warehouse for investment. There he met the sales manager from a British mill, and thus Cascade was begun. That mill has since closed, but Cascade continued to grow over the years to become the company that it is now.
Bob and Jean’s mission was simple: work directly with spinning mills to bring high-quality knitting yarns to knitters. The two of them believed that if you offered a better product at a better price that eventually people would buy it. Bob and Jean had hoped that it would have been faster, but after 20 years the public began to recognize and trust Cascade as a brand it could trust. A lot has changed since that time, but Cascade’s mission has remained the same: high-quality yarn at competitive prices.
When the mill they worked with in England closed in the 1990’s Bob Dunbabin went to Peru and found a mill that would make the yarn that became Cascade 220. Other companies were importing yarns from Italy, Turkey, and Canada. Peru was not known as a supplier of yarn. People told Bob and Jean that this was odd and that yarn was best sourced from Italy. Willing to stand out from the crowd, Cascade put aside preconceptions and went where a superior product, at better price, could be found.
Bob and Jean Dunbabin’s daughter-in-law Shannon joined the business in 2003. Their son, Rob, followed about a year later. Bob, Jean, Shannon, and Rob continue to run the business as a family, making most of their decisions over frequent family dinners.
There have been challenges. One of these was the Nisqually earthquake of 2001, which happened while Bob and Jean were visiting the spinning mill in Peru and forced the immediate relocation of the Cascade warehouse and headquarters. However, Cascade has continued to grow from its humble beginnings of a storefront in Historic Pioneer Square, a space currently occupied by a thrift shop. Again, Cascade’s mission has remained as offering the highest quality yarns at affordable prices.
Thank you for your generous donation to the Geek-A-Long participants, Cascade Yarns!
You can find Cascade Yarns on their website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you’d like to view the other Geek-A-Long benefactors and prizes, you can find them here.
~ Jac
One of these years, I will dump all of the GAL yarn into a kiddie pool first and luxuriate in it before we put it to good use.