Today is the day!**  Day One of Project One for Camp Loopy. Are you camping with us? Remember, it’s a bug-free, travel-free opportunity to participate in some fun this summer. You can knit up one project with us, or do all three. The Project One information can be found here, and answers to your questions can be found here. We’ll have information on Project Two in the July 1st blog. It has been fun to see all of the wonderful color combinations shipping out of here for the first project.

I have been eyeing the Pamuya Shawl since I saw it in person (on several people) at our Spring Fling. Since it uses about 575 yds, it’s definitely a two-skein project and perfect for doing up in two colors. I picked these two Madelinetosh Merino Light colors this week – shown here in Celadon and Mansfield Garden Party. Two color projects are fun. These two skeins alllllmost don’t go together. The Mansfield has more olive greens mixed in. However, it also contains a version of blue that combines just right with the Celadon and I think it will turn out great. But … we’ll see. I’m just going to jump in and do it. I haven’t started it yet, but I did bring it to Loopy with me today, in case I can squeeze in a few stitches at lunch. (The fact that this project needs to be done in 4 weeks and I’m moving in 4 1/2 weeks and need to pack up the whole house? I’m ignoring that.)

We have winners from last week’s Camp Contest! The following people won a copy of the Winter Rhythm Capelet pattern that I knit up and featured on last Wednesday’s blog: Sherry from AK, Pat from OH, Debbie from TN, Linda from New Brunswick, and Sue from WY. All winners have been contacted. We’ll have another Camp Contest soon.

The Project One Photo Gallery will be going up at The Loopy Ewe, sometime next week. Will anyone be done the first week? I know there were a bunch of you who were starting at 12:01 this morning. Maybe you’re done already. Me? It’s going to take me the whole month.

Sheri hotinSt.LouistodayandCicadabuzzingisalmostgone!

** no turtles were harmed in the photography process. (Harmed? Are you kidding? The little guy said, “WHEEEE!!” the whole way across the room …..)

Guess what came in last week? Boxes and boxes and boxes of Madelinetosh Merino Light. So much beauty! We got them all photo-ed and we’ve added/re-stocked 93 colors in tonight’s Update for you, 29 of which are new to us. (Shown here in Wood Violet). I used Merino Light in the Whippoorwill Shawl I made last fall and really enjoyed knitting with it. In addition to the Madtosh, we’ve also added in:

Socktopus – a new indie dyer from the UK. Here’s a scarf I knit up in one of the sample skeins that Alice sent me this winter. (Pattern is 28′s Cousin 53 by Lynne Ashton.)
Cascade – re-stocked in 220, Heritage, Fixation, and Ultra Pima (as well as new colors in Ultra Pima)
Universal - a re-stock plus new colors in Cotton Supreme Solids and Batiks
Schoppel Walle Zauberball - a re-stock plus new colors in Lace and Starke 6
Trekking – a re-stock and new colors in XXL and Hand Art
Three Irish Girls – our June exclusive colorways (one a muti, one a semi-solid to match the multi) in the Glenhaven Cashmerino Fingering blend.
Addi needles – re-stocked

Hop on over and pick up some new things for your summer knitting!

Speaking of summer knitting, if you’re participating in Camp Loopy (or if you’d like to participate), I started a thread on Ravelry in our Loopy Groupie group to answer some of the questions that have come up. I know not everyone is on Ravelry, so I’ve copied the Q&A’s below as well. We’re excited that so many of you are camping with us this summer! Be sure to get in on last week’s Camp Contest, if you didn’t already. We’ll draw winners this week and will announce them in Wednesday’s blog post.

Q. I didn’t get a cabin number.
A. Honestly, this started as the Elves randomly doing that for fun on a few orders! But I did start a thread on Ravelry last week with cabin descriptions and I encourage you to pick a cabin, if you weren’t assigned one. We don’t want anyone to feel left out.

Cabin 1: reserved for those who snore
Cabin 2: reserved for the get-up-early people
Cabin 3: reserved for the stay-up-late people
Cabin 4: reserved for the bug-haters
Cabin 5: reserved for the campers who keep changing their mind about what they want to knit.
Cabin 6: reserved for the light sleepers.
Hotel: reserved for those who don’t do cabins or tents or outdoor bathrooms.

Q. I am assigned to Cabin 4 but I think I belong in Cabin 5. Can I switch?
A. Absolutely.

Q. Do the Cabin numbers mean anything?
A. No – it’s all in good fun. But if you order for next month’s project during July Camp Store Week (7/1 – 7/8), you’ll be assigned a specific Trail Guide on your order form, and that will mean something.

Q. Can we participate with weaving instead of knitting or crochet?
A. For this summer’s Camp Loopy, we’re sticking with knitting and crochet. We’ll think about a weaving option for next summer.

Q. I ordered two colors and I don’t like how they go together. Can I substitute a color from my stash for one of the colors, or can I order a different color now?
A. Yes.

Q. If I substitute a color, will it still count towards Camp Loopy benefits?
A. If you use at least one color that you ordered from us during Camp Store Week (6/3 – 6/10), your project will still be eligible, if you finish by the deadlines. (Deadlines for Project One: finish your project by 7/15 and upload your photo to the Camp Loopy Project One Gallery by 7/17). We will then add a second FSB amount to your totals for the project yarn that was ordered during Camp Store Week and used in your project. So if you ordered two colors and used both in your final project, done by the deadlines, we will add the amount of both yarns as a bonus. If you ordered two but only used one of those for your final project, we will add the amount of the one yarn that was used.

Q. I didn’t get to order during Camp Store Week, but if I order this week and complete the project by the deadline, does that still count, even though I know I don’t get the Camp Loopy discount?
A. Yes! Mostly. Make sure that you add a “Camp Loopy” note to your order, so that we know you’re participating. You’ll still be eligible for the Project One drawings and prizes for the month, and if you finish all three projects by the deadlines, you’ll still get the bonus – a free skein of Wollmeise and pattern this fall. You won’t be eligible for double FSB credits for this project, since the yarn wasn’t ordered during Camp Store Week.

Q. I want to participate using two colors from my stash. Does that still count?
A. You are welcome to participate and knit from stash and upload it to the gallery, if it’s yarn that we carry at The Loopy Ewe. (We always require projects in our Photo Galleries to be from yarn that we carry at TLE.) You will still be eligible for drawings and prizes for the month, but not the FSB double credits or the free Wollmeise + pattern at the end.

Q. When you say to knit the project between 6/15 and 7/15, when EXACTLY does the timing start?
A. You can start at 12:01 am your time on 6/15 if you’d like, although a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast might be a better idea. The project needs to be done by 11:59 pm on 7/15, your time. The photos need to be uploaded by 11:59 pm OUR time (Central Time) on 7/17. International participants need to be finished by 7/22 and uploaded by 7/24, due to extra shipping time.

Q. Should we be starting a new Camp Loopy Group here on Ravelry?
A. No. Since it’s an activity through The Loopy Ewe, I’d like to keep it as a part of our regular Loopy Groupies group.

Q. Are you and the Elves still alive and kicking after the craziness of Camp Loopy last week?
A. Barely! But we expect to be revived via a good kick of caffeine today. And maybe we’ll make some Happy Camper Crunch. No worries.

Sheri whowillbecampinginthehotelforsure.

I found the easiest (yet yummiest) camping recipe to share with you today. Perfect for our Camp Loopy snacking. Do check out this link to the original photos from TSJ Photography, as the whole birthday idea is brilliant and the photography is stunning. (Photos used with permission. If you’re in the North Carolina area, I’m jealous that you have the opportunity to use Tracie’s photography service firsthand. What beautiful work.)

Happy Camper Crunch

4 cups Golden Grahams cereal
3 cups mini marshmallows
2 cups milk chocolate chips (or M&M’s, if you want to add in more color)

Mix and serve in a big bowl, or package it up in single-size serving bags. Put on a family movie and gather ’round for a night of fun. (Note – you get to knit on your Campfire Night project while the rest of the family enjoys the movie with you. That way, everyone is happy!)

Enjoy your weekend. I am at our TNNA Market, scouting out new products and lines to add in at The Loopy Ewe. I’ll keep you posted on what I find. I might also need to make sure that Jeni’s Ice Cream still tastes good. That’s one of the best parts of heading to Columbus, OH for Market.

What are your favorite family movies? Maybe a weekly Family Movie Night is in order for the summer. What do you think? (And then maybe a Weekly Family Reading Night, too, just to make sure that books get at least equal billing.)

Sheri wishingIhadabagofthisHappyCamperCrunchtoday

I really loved knitting this capelet. Did you see the latest issue of Vogue Knitting – so many cute capelet/cape patterns. I’m thinking I will enjoy wearing this in the fall, out and about, as well as in the evenings when I’m sitting and knitting or reading and just a bit chilly. And the nice thing about this – the colorwork is all achieved by slipping stitches. You never knit two colors in a single row. Easy! The pattern is Winter’s Rhythm by Kelly Jensen. I made the larger size and used 3 skeins each of 2 different colors of Three Irish Girls Cashmerino Worsted. I think it would also be beautiful in Madelinetosh Vintage, Dream in Color Classy, Malabrigo Worsted, or Cascade 220. I like the collar points in front, but you can see that by just turning the capelet a half-turn right or left, you get an asymmetrical collar look. (Check the photos on the pattern link.)

If you read Friday’s blog post, then you know all about this summer’s Camp Loopy. I hope you’re participating with us! For today’s Camp Contest, tell us if you have a favorite camp that you (or your kids) attended. If you didn’t attend any, you can enter the contest by just saying that – you didn’t go to camp. I’ll randomly draw 5 names from today’s blog comments, to win a copy of this Winter’s Rhythm pattern. Growing up, I went to Camp Barakel in Michigan, Camp Conestoga in Iowa, Honey Rock Camp in Wisconsin, and Castaway Club in Minnesota. Castaway was my favorite. How about you?

Sheri wantingcoldweathersothatIcanwearmycapelet

Ok, it’s really just Cicadas. But it sure sounds like there are 982 people lined up and down my street, each vigorously shaking a set of maracas. (Is Cicada Season over yet?) Some areas – and I’m betting our neighborhood is one of those – can have up to a million cicadas in a one acre area. Isn’t that a lovely thought? Guess what flew down into our fireplace? It has kept both cats highly entertained. Fortunately, the fireplace is very well sealed and that bug is not going to be getting out into my house.

I walked into work the other morning and darned if there wasn’t a really LOUD cicada buzz. In my office. Seriously? I went to get Elves Karen and Donna to help me look for it (I was sure it was in my ceiling tiles) but as we were walking back to my office, Karen said, “Wait a minute. It’s on your back.”  At which point I jumped up and down yelling “Get it off! Get it off!” and Karen kept saying, “Well hang on just a minute…”. I wasn’t really in the mood to “hang on just a minute”. I had visions of it flying up into my hair or buzzing around me face. She finally flicked it off (I’m sure it took her several minutes to work up the courage – or at least 15 seconds), I continued jumping up and down and screeching, “ew ew ew ew” (because apparently having a bug on my back turns me into a 10 year old sissy girl), and Elf Donna killed it. Mission accomplished. (For you bug lovers who think we should have taken it back outside? Sorry.)

Of course then I started thinking about the alternative. I’m pretty sure it must’ve rode over to Loopy in the car with me. There are more cicadas on my street than in the Loopy parking lot. I’m just thankful that it didn’t start buzzing on my shoulder during the ride over, because I’m thinking I might have caused an accident.

No Update for tonight, just because we didn’t get much in this past week. We do, however, have a ton of stuff on order and arriving soon! And in the meantime, we’ll keep getting your Camp Loopy orders packed up and shipped out. I’m glad so many of you are camping along with us. It will be fun! If you haven’t yet picked out the yarn and pattern for your first project, pop over and shop. We’ve already sent out some really gorgeous color combinations for this two-color project. Watch for our first Camp Contest in Wednesday’s blog.

Sheri whoisprettysureyoudon’twanttoseeanymorecicadaphotos.
Icouldtakeabunch,butI’llspareyou.

Did you ever attend summer camp when you were growing up? I went to camps in Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota in my early years and enjoyed all of them. In honor of summertime and camping, we’d like to invite you to Camp Loopy this summer! Here’s what you can expect:

No traveling to get here, no bugs, no tents and no camping fee.

Plus:

- fun monthly project challenges
- a few various sales on “camping” equipment during the summer
- bonuses for completing your camping (knitting) projects
- camp contests, camp songs, camp stories, camp recipes, etc!

So – do you want to be a Camp Loopy Camper this summer? Our first Camping Project – “Campfire Nights” – starts soon!

Here are the specifics for your first project:

- knit between June 15 and July 15

- a two-color project in either a cape, a shawl, or a scarf. (Things that would keep you warm, when sitting around the campfire in the cool of the night. See ideas and links below.)

- you can get 20% off of the yarn for this project by adding “Camp Loopy” to the order notes and letting us know which yarn in that order you will be using for your project. We’ll adjust the cost down when we print  your order. (Offer is good on any orders placed 6/3 – 6/10. Make sure that the discount does not take you below the free shipping amount on U.S. orders, if you’re going for free shipping.)

The rewards:

- for each project you finish on time (and upload a photo to the Loopy Gallery within two days of the end-date), we’ll double your Frequent Shopper Credits on that yarn purchase (if purchased 6/3 – 6/10). So if you spend $50 for yarn for the first project, we’ll add another $50 to your FSB total if you turn in a picture of the completed project by 7/17. (International Campers get an extra week, due to the time it takes for your yarn to get to you.) Remember, each time you accumulate $250 in orders here at The Loopy Ewe, you get a $25 Loopy Ewe credit in your account. This finishing bonus helps you to get there even faster!

- You can do one, two or all three of the projects that we’ll introduce this summer. As an added bonus, if you do complete all three (with photos uploaded by the due dates), we’ll send you a free Fall Project in September.** (1 skein of fingering weight yarn, plus a pattern of our choosing. And this isn’t going to be “what yarn can we get rid of” yarn. We don’t do that. We’re sending Wollmeise in these kits!)

(**Please note – you’re welcome to knit the projects using yarn from your stash and camp along with us. However, we’re unable to offer the Double Credits Finishing Bonus or the Free Fall Kit in those instances.)

Here are a few pattern ideas for your Campfire Nights project (although any two-color cape/shrug/shawl/scarf will qualify):

Winter’s Rhythm (I just finished this out of Three Irish Girls Cashmerino Worsted. Photo next week. Another good option – Cascade 220.)
Catkin (fingering weight)
Whippoorwill (fingering weight. I used Madtosh Merino Light.)
Daybreak (fingering weight)
Andrea’s Shawl (sport weight)
Ulmus (fingering weight)
Roma Shawl (fingering weight)
Cladonia (fingering weight)
Skewed Shawl (worsted weight)
Sedna’s Shawl (sport weight)

Or be creative and take one of your favorite one-color shawl/cape/shrug/scarf patterns and turn it into a two-color pattern. Maybe a ruffle in a different color? Or certain middle sections? I saw a couple Pamuya’s done up in two colors at our Spring Fling and they were so beautiful.

As the summer progresses, watch for:

Camp Loopy fun on the blog, special contests, project announcements as we go along, and a few surprises. The second Camping Project – “Hiking in the Mountains” – will run from 7/15 – 8/15, with more details about that in the July 1st blog post.

(Edit: For Q & A’s that have come up since this original post, please see the blog post I did here.)

Who wants to be a Camp Loopy Camper this summer?

Sheri especiallyenjoyingthisno-bugversionofcamping