Want to know the best Valentine’s Day gift I ever received? It was in 1990 when Knitting Daughter was born! Can you imagine a more wonderful gift? She continues to be such a blessing to us in so many ways and I love that she has her birthday on Valentine’s Day. It’s so appropriate for this sweetheart! She hasn’t opened her gifts yet – we’ll do that at dinner. But I can tell you what her favorite gift will be. Can you keep a secret? Shhhh. She’s getting a beautiful “created in honor of Julia” colorway, called “Sweet Jules”. I think I have already shared in here that Yarn Pirate is her favorite yarn, and Georgia created this in Knitting Daughter’s favorite colors. I can’t wait for her to see it! I’ll show you a photo of the new colorway on Friday, after she has seen it. (And now I have to make sure she doesn’t read the blog until after dinner.)

Look at the fun gift that arrived in the mail this week from my Sockret Pal. Isn’t she the best? Wonder Husband just doesn’t get the “swap” thing. “You mean you spend hours and hours knitting socks for someone you don’t even know? And you spend money buying things for them and send them packages …. and you don’t even know them?” Of course last night he got home from work and saw this fun package on the table and said, “Oh, that’s cool!” so maybe he gets it now. Maybe I’ll have to sign him up for the next exchange. Want to know something weird? I have had the Knit Picks catalog by my computer for over a week, with a sticky note on the front to order the Chart Keeper – and just haven’t done it yet. What arrived in this wonderful package? The Chart Keeper from Knit Picks. Amazing. Thank you, thank you, Sockret Pal!

A little bit of shop news – Cherry Tree Hill is coming out with a DK weight in their Supersock. For those of you who like knitting with a heavier yarn – and love Cherry Tree Hill’s tight twist – I think you’ll really like this. We anticipate getting this in the first or second week of March. You’ll notice that we have also added a huge stash of Fleece Artist back in this morning. There are “old favorites” as well as new colors. I found several in that order that are going into my stash. Coming in the next couple of days, a big order of Lorna’s Laces, including the new colors and solids. (It’s here, and in the process of being photo-ed.) Brand new this week – Yarn Pirate’s amazing BFL yarn (Bluefaced Leicester) in her best-selling semi-solid colors. I ordered as much as she could spare (she’s only letting a couple of us have this line) and we will continue to get more. I know you’ll love it. There are new colorways of her merino/tencel on their way to us right now, including Sweet Jules! Watch for that up next week. I also added new Zelda bags in their new spring line of fabrics. So new, that several of them don’t even have photos to go with them – just the fabric swatch. But I have the completed, gorgeous bags here, ready to ship out to your house. Don’t you need to buy yourself a nice Valentine’s gift today? And finally, more of the Crystal Palace Panda Cotton came in. (Still some on backorder, so we will continue to add to this line.) I am working on a sock with this yarn and just love how it is knitting up. I’m using the Faded Jeans colorway and this is being knit on size 1′s with 60 stitches. Since I wear a size 11 shoe, you can see that there is plenty of yarn in two skeins for a pair of socks. (I’m using Wildhorse Farm Savannah Socks pattern. It’s going to be one of my new favorites.)

On order – well, pretty much everything! More Interlacements, more Scarlet Fleece, even more Lorna’s Laces and some new fun lines as well. We aim to keep you happy and motivated in your sock knitting, so check back often. We’re always up to something around here!

Sheri andaveryHappyValentine’sDayandhugstoallofyoufromallofusatTheLoopyEwe!

There are so many fun needlearts out there, and I was thinking back on all of the things that I have done, this past weekend. It might’ve had something to do with cleaning out basement shelves and coming across a ridiculous amount of cross-stitch materials that I’m fairly sure I’ll never use again. I thought I’d share with you what I used to do, and you can share with me what other needlearts you have done or still do.

I started with knitting. I took a stab at it in junior high and I remember the ugly maroon scarf that grew in width as I worked on it. I also remember the ugly yellow and green sweater that my mom cast on for me. I knitted the body, and she did the arms and finished it up. I don’t ever remember wearing it. Then in high school I was in a production of “To Kill A Mockingbird.” It was a BIG part. I was a member of the jury in the courtroom. I also had a side-part as a wandering towns-person. My line (that’s singular) was, “Yonder are some townfolk.” Like I said, it was a big part. But what does this have to do with knitting? I had to sit and knit in the courtroom. I guess that made me look like a typical town lady doing jury duty. I think I was knitting with that same ugly maroon yarn and I’m pretty sure whatever I made was thrown away after the play. The knitting bug never stuck back then.

In college I moved on to counted cross-stitch and was a huge fan of that for years and years. Here’s a picture of the quickest thing I could find for a photo today. I cross-stitched for enjoyment, and I cross-stitched for pay. For several years, I stitched many cover models for the Cross-Eyed Cricket Collection. Here is a picture of my very first leaflet – I did the stitching on the denim jumper. I think I stitched for 25 or more of these leaflets and I always thought the best part of that was getting the leaflet for free. I would’ve bought it anyway. Very nice gals to work for. I don’t know how they keep coming up with designs, several times a year. It was fun to be at the TNNA Market this summer, and find their booth! We had a good time catching up.

My next hobby in the needlearts was needlepointing. I liked this a lot, as there were no charts to follow and everything came out so great looking. What I didn’t like was how costly it was to have it finished off. Yikes! I kept thinking how much less I’d be spending if it were cross-stitching, but I was enjoying the needlepointing too much. I think I have two or three belts that are done but not “finished off”. Oh well. I enjoyed doing them. I will probably do more needlepointing someday.

And then of course, came the knitting again. I started back up because a friend was doing it and I thought, “Hey – I used to do that!” I went out and bought the “Teach Yourself How to Knit” book and just couldn’t get the hang of it. Finally I realized the problem. It was teaching me how to knit by throwing the yarn, and I had learned (ooooh so many years ago) by picking the yarn. I made the switch and it was as easy as pie. Isn’t that funny that after all those years, my brain remembered the other way and refused to learn a new method?

I have also tried my hand at quilting (which I enjoyed briefly) and sewing (which I enjoyed a little longer than briefly), but not rughooking. There is a nice rug hooking/knitting store in town, and the rug patterns look very enticing. But I am not adding another thing to my plate. At least not until I have knit up my sock stash.

So – I’m interested in hearing which different areas you have tried and enjoyed. Is knitting your favorite? Or something else? And have you evolved from one to another, or do you just keep adding more in and keeping the old hobbies, too?

Sheri gladthatIhavesettledonknittingandnotplanningtomoveawayfromthisone!

I’ve been waiting for this yarn forever! It has finally arrived from Germany (via the US distributor’s warehouse) and we have it up and available at The Loopy Ewe. There are some fun colors and patterns in here! If you’re not used to knitting with patterned yarn – give it a try. I find that I seem to knit faster on this type of yarn. Either that, or the emerging patterns just keep me more entertained. Maybe I’m just simple. I think you’ll have fun with it, too.

Guess what else arrived? Zoe’s Cozy Cushion. I set it down and she immediately claimed it as her own. I was so glad. (Because haven’t you spent money on something for a pet before, just sure they’d like it, and they turn their nose up at it?) Well Zoe’s sold on this cushion and now has warm toes and tummy. I haven’t seen her on the registers once since it arrived.

I wanted to give another big welcome and shout out to the newest members of The Loopy Groupies! Remember, you get to be a Loopy Groupie when you have placed your 6th order with us. We’ll send you a fun Gift Bag and include you in all of the Loopy Heads Up emails (advance notice when new yarns go up, advance notice for the Sock Club), specials once in a while, and other things. (Psst – the Yarn Pirate and I are talking about an exclusive Loopy Groupie colorway. Anyone want to give color suggestions?) I’m happy to welcome these gals, who have become Loopy Groupies in the last couple of weeks: Shelly in MI, Janice in IA, Willi in OH, Kristi in OH, Laura in MI, Josiane in Switzerland, Mary Ellen in VA, Carol in OR, Christy in NC, Robin in MN, Allison in FL, Lisa in TX, Kimberly in AL, Karen in NY, Erika in AZ, Kathleen in CA, Joan in MN and Rachel in NY. We love having you as Loopies!

As promised, here are the frosted sugar cookie cutouts that I make for most holidays. I first found this recipe in the newspaper when I was (I thought) about 2 weeks away from having Knitting Daughter. College Boy (then “Cute Little Two Year Old Boy”) and I made these together and were going to give them to the neighbors for Valentine’s Day. We were able to deliver all but one plate. One of the neighbors wasn’t home. (This is an important detail.) Knitting Daughter decided to come 2 weeks early (that night) and, well …. you know how cravings go. The next day, I was in that hospital bed and just kept thinking about how I really wanted another one of those wonderful sugar cookies. So, I sent Wonder Husband back home to raid the plate designated for the not-at-home neighbors, just so I could have another one. I guess I still owe a plate to those neighbors? I’m taking plates of these to my neighbors today to make up for it. I have called these “Julia’s Sugar Cookies” ever since, because we first made them the day before she was born. Now, they’re a family tradition!

Julia’s Sugar Cookies

2 sticks margarine (1 cup)
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
4 Tbl. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
4 cups flour
4 tsp. baking powder
Frosting Glaze

Beat together margarine and sugar. Add eggs, milk and vanilla until light and fluffy. Stir in flour and baking powder and mix well. Chill in plastic wrap for 4 hours (or overnight is even better).

Roll out on well-floured surface. Cut and bake on lightly greased cookie sheet (or baking stone.) 375 degrees for 9 minutes. Cool and frost.

Frosting Glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
food coloring
milk to desired consistency

Let glaze set until dry.

I liked Kim’s suggestion in the comments about you all sending me your best recipes – and my family would very enthusiastically support this idea. They would love to be taste testers. If you have a family favorite, send it along and we’ll test it out. In fact, next week I’m sharing a recipe for pork that came from one of you and was absolutely delicious!

Have a great weekend and make time for your knitting!

Sheri ItookaballoftheOpalRainforestToucanoutformyselfandIwanttostartonit….

Remember when I took 150 people into our first ever Loopy Ewe Seasonal Sock Club? Several of you said (with affection and humor…. I think …..) that I was nuts? And I assured you that it was all well (albeit quickly) thought out and we’d be fine? Well. After putting up a few new yarn lines on Monday and then having a taste of getting soooo many orders out in a day, I think you’re right. I’m afraid that I might be a little nuts. (Never fear – I have a whole list of reasons why the Sock Club is going to be so much easier, not the least of which is that we will have plenty of time to assemble the kits. And oooooohhh – I have the first skeins of the summer colorway of yarn and I LOVE IT! But I digress.)

Today’s post will be a top ten list of proof that our whole family may be just a little nuts from the wool fumes:

1. The Head Loopy (that would be me) thinks that 150 people in a Sock Club for our first year is just a fine idea. Totally do-able.

2. Wonder Husband mentioned the other night at dinner that he likes “fingering weight” spaghetti noodles, while the rest of us like “sport weight” noodles.

3. Cute Little Zoe has resorted to sitting on the heat registers and burning her toes in a quest to get warm, because Head Loopy has not had time to order her a Cozy Cushion like her friend Lucy has. (Note – I ordered it this week when I saw her sitting there and licking one paw and then the other to cool them off as they heated up. jeez.)

4. College Boy aka Web Guy knows several Loopy customers by first name. (As in, “Did you see the fun stuff that Sharon bought today?” or “Ha – Wendy and L-B’s comments on the blog were funny!” or …. well, you get the gist.)

5. Everyone cheers when the UPS guy brings boxes of yarn to our house. (Even the dog, who always gets a dog biscuit from the UPS guy when he stops here.)

6. Casey The Dog has resorted to sitting longingly at the top of the steps and whining while we’re packing up orders in the Loopy Room. Maybe I ought to knit her a dog sweater.

7. Wonder Husband might finally be believing me when I say that knitting socks counts as WORK time, because I have to experience all of this wonderful yarn and show it on the blog. He no longer thinks that I’m just sitting there “relaxing” and watching a movie with Knitting Daughter. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

8. Knitting Daughter comes home from her shift as a Starbucks Barista and then puts in a shift of packing Loopy orders (which she claims is fun, so I’m going to believe her on that one.)

9. Everyone has strong opinions on which yarn line they like the best. Knitting Daughter likes Yarn Pirate, Wonder Husband likes anything with beautiful, muted colors that are easier to color correct on the computer photos, and College Boy … well, ok. He doesn’t have a favorite yarn. But I bet he will by the end of the summer when he has lived with it for several months!

10. We all have fun making The Loopy Ewe a place that you can come visit and enjoy often, and there’s nothing nuts about that!

Sheri makingValentinecookiestodaysothatIcansharetherecipewithyouonFriday!

Oh, I wish you could be here with me and all of this yarn! It is just fun, fun, fun. Today, we have added some great new lines, and re-stocked some of the regulars. If you miss out on any of the colors, don’t fret. I will continue to keep them in stock, so we will have them back in asap.

New lines added today:

J-Knits – Julie at J-Knits in Massachusetts has done a great job of coming up with some beautiful and unique color combinations. She says that they get a lot of inspiration from their diverse seasons in their region and you will see some wonderful combinations.

Scarlet Fleece – Kathy at Holly Spring Homespun in Virginia has created her own line of hand-dyed sock yarns, under the name Scarlet Fleece. The colors in the skeins are rich and muted and beautiful and each comes in a large skein with 480 yds, perfect for socks, scarves, or shawls.

Crystal Palace Cotton Panda – For those of you with wool allergies, you will love this yarn! (Also perfect for summer socks for everyone.) Made with 55% bamboo, 24% cotton, and 21% elastic nylon, it comes 170 yds. to the ball. Lots of colors to choose from (and as always, more on the way).

Apple Laine – Cindy at Apple Laine has been busy busy busy! After a well-loved knitter raved about this yarn, sales went sky high. We will eventually be carrying the entire color line of Apple Laine, as Cindy is able to get more dyed up and out to us. This is wonderful yarn – 50% Superwash Merino, 20% Silk, 20% Kid Mohair, and 10% Nylon with 190 yds. per skein.

Back in stock as of today:

All sizes of Crystal Palace DPN’s, all scents of SOAK, another great size tote with Loopy on the front, and new colorways (solids and variegated) of All Things Heather.

Now, hop on over to The Loopy Ewe and pick your favorites!

Sheri whopromisestopackordersasquicklyaspossibleandgetthemtoyoujustasfast

Today I have been buried in yarn. Again. (Just in case you were wondering why I have not blogged yet. Some of you keep track of such things. ) So, since it’s late and Knitting Daughter is thinking I need to come knit with her and watch a movie (and frankly, that sounds like a marvelous idea), I’ll just give you the bare essentials:

This is what I will be doing this weekend. No, not knitting lace. One step at a time. I bought the book and it arrived in the mail today, so this weekend I will be reading it and making plans for my very first shawl project. I have several colors of Schaefer Anne that are calling to me and I have been thinking more and more about knitting something fun like this. I’m sure it comes from being influenced by lace-knitting bloggers. I always come away from blog reading with grand ideas and inspirations.

I might also be doing this this weekend – making Snickerdoodles. These are Wonder Husband’s favorite cookies and I really like this recipe because they are crisp on the outside but soft and chewy on the inside. Mmmmmm. They are delicious. It’d be nice of me to make these for him. Here is the recipe:

Snickerdoodles

1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cup sifted flour
2 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

For rolling dough balls in:
2 Tbl. sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and beat until light. Sift together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Form into walnut-sized balls and roll in cinnamon/sugar mix. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, 2″ apart. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

This is what WH will be doing this weekend. Photographing and computer adjusting Scarlet Fleece in 11 colors (most of these colors remind me of a rich tapestry … but then there are a couple of real eye-poppers in there, too), All Things Heather in 10 colors (some of Heather’s amazing solids, plus some gorgeous variegated colors), J-Knits in 15 colors (oh, we are SO getting more of her colors in because I love this yarn), and Crystal Palace Panda Cotton in 12 colors (in the cutest little balls – they just make me want to knit it up). I’ll put it all up at The Loopy Ewe on Monday, around mid-morning. And all I can say, is ohhhhh, you are going to love this stuff.

Sheri keepingitalltomyselfthisweekendbutspendingalldayMondaypackingitupforYOU!