The wind is whipping itself around today and it’s bringing down a whole bunch of leaves. It looks like someone is going to have to sweep off the back deck. (Or maybe if we wait awhile, the wind will blow the leaves all the way back to the common ground? One can dream.) One thing I know for sure, a blustery cool day calls for knitting, new projects, hot cocoa, and a fire in the fireplace. Or at least that’s what a blustery fall day means to me!

Fortunately, it’s Monday and you know what that means? More new things at The Loopy Ewe! We’ve just added:

Dream in Color Classy – in all 11 new colors and lots of re-stocks. We’ve had to wait awhile for this yarn (wool shortage – have you heard? EEEK!!) and we couldn’t get enough to get it in all colors, but we re-stocked as many as we could.  I used Classy for my Mr. Greenjeans Sweater way-back-when and it still looks great. We actually have a photo gallery of sweaters done in Classy, since we used it as a knit-a-long. You can see them here. (Classy shown here in Fierce Scarlet. I really wanted to show you Aqua Jet, but I try not to force my teal obsession onto you too often.)

Lorna’s Laces Solemate - the temperature-controlled yarn in new colors and re-stocks. I have two skeins of this in my stash and can’t decide on which sock pattern I want to make. I’m thinking this one or this one. What do you think?

Sweet Georgia’s Cashsilk Lace - pure luxury in a skein. Seriously. This heavy laceweight/light fingering weight yarn is 45% Cashmere and 55% Silk, with 400 yards per skein. I’d like it around my neck (think cowls) but it’s also beautiful in one-skein shawls that have some stitching interest (like 22 Leaves or Taj-Mahal). Shown here in Coastal.

Amy Butler Belle Organic – re-stocked in DK and Aran, as well as 3 new colors in each. This is a great yarn for sweaters (adults, kids, and babies) as well as scarves and hats.

Austermann Step – the yarn with the Jojoba Oil and Aloe Vera mixed into the super wash merino and nylon. Feels good knitting it up, and feels good on your feet or hands (for mittens and gloves).

Schoppel Wolle Zauberball – the long color changes in this yarn make it a fun one to knit up. Here’s a stunning shawl to try – Crowning Glory Lace Shawl. I’ve set aside a ball of this to make the Lazy Katy for myself. Shown here in Fuchsia. (And why is Fuchsia not spelled Fuschia like it sounds?)

Zitron Filigran – single-ply lace weight with a generous 656 yards per skein, perfect for those larger shawls that don’t work with the typical skein of sock yarn. How about the gorgeous Echo Flower Shawl or the open weave Easy Lace Stole?

Trendsetter Cashwolle – 16 new colors, which makes 32 in stock. The yardage is great (1650 yds.) and the price is great ($19.00). This used to be Lane Borgosesia Cashwool, but has been rebranded and packaged into a larger skein, balled and ready to knit.

Three Bags Full - a variety of Project and Tall Mia bags in cupcakes, monkeys, sheep, and peonies, handmade by Michele in Maine. Shown here in the Sock Monkey Mia bag.

Addi Needles and Crochet hooks - re-stocked and ready for your new projects.

String Theory, Sanguine Gryphon Bugga, and The Loopy Ewe Solid Series all re-stocked in a couple of colors that were low or out.

I think that’s it for tonight. It was a busy week of photoing (thanks, Sharon!) and checking in and stocking (thanks, Sue!) and we’re already working on those same tasks for next week.

Sheri whosawtheBIGGESTraccoononourbackdeckthispastweekend.
Iwasn’tquickenoughforaphoto.

It might just be the perfect fall day, today. The sun is shining, the wind is blowing a bit, and there is a nip in the air. Not too much. Just enough for you to know that it’s fall and not spring. I think I’ll call it “National I Love Fall Day” today. That means you should get out and do something to celebrate fall. Jump in some leaves. Enjoy a Pumpkin Spice Latte. Take a walk before dinner. (It’s ok if you don’t have fall weather where you live. Celebrate anyway.)

Or we could call it “National I Love Yarn Day”, as The Crafty Council has suggested. That means you get to buy some new yarn, start a new project, and leave work early to celebrate and knit. I suspect we might need to extend that throughout the entire weekend. How can you celebrate all of that in just one day?

As long as we’re making holidays, let’s also call today “National I Love Chocolate Day” so that I have an excuse to share a decadent dessert with you. (Not that I need an excuse to do that, I know.) I found this on Pinterest, and it comes from Kevin & Amanda’s blog. I do like the way she stacks two bars for each serving. Not sure I could eat that much since it’s so rich, but it looks impressive!

Oreo Brownie Chocolate Chip Dessert

1 brownie mix (for 9 x 13 size pan)
1 batch of chocolate chip cookie dough (or 1 tube of slice and bake)
1 package of chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreo’s)

Press the chocolate chip cookie dough into the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan. (Or, if using slice and bake – slice the cookies, layer them so that they cover the bottom of the pan, and then press them together to seal any openings.)

Put a single layer of chocolate sandwich cookies on top of the cookie dough batter.

Mix the brownie mix as directed and pour that over the top of the chocolate sandwich cookies.

Bake at 350 for 45-55 minutes.

Let cool slightly and then slice and enjoy with ice cream.

There you go. A triple dessert celebration for a triple national celebration day. Fall, yarn and chocolate. Yum.

What else should we be celebrating today? Since I made up two days (chocolate and fall), you get to make some up, too.  National I Love …. what?

Sheri  hopingyouhaveagreatweekend!

My Fourth Quarter Challenge project is done! Done pretty quickly because I was enjoying the project and yarn so much, that I just kept working on it. That, plus I’m still on a knitting streak and I’m trying to get as much done as I can while this lasts. This is the “And So Are You” shawl by Rose Beck, knit with two skeins of Madelinetosh Sport. It’s the first time I’ve knit with Madtosh Sport and I like the weight and feel of it. I have two more skeins of another color of this in my stash, and am trying to decide if I want to knit one of these for myself (this one is for a friend), or if I want to make something else. Decisions, decisions. I really like the texture in this shawl (made with a P3tog/YO/P3tog in the same stitch), and the shape of the shawl is such that it curves around your shoulders and stays put.

One thing I’ve realized about my stash – I have a lot of single skeins. In fact, it’s mostly full of single skeins. There are projects that I want to make (like Sothia and another Whippoorwill) that are multi-color projects, but they require two skeins of one color, plus one of a coordinating color. I need to start getting 2 skeins of some of my more favorite colorways. I used to just get one skein, because I was making socks or one skein shawlettes. After seeing all of the fun 2-color shawls that you all did for Camp Loopy, my knitting preferences have changed a bit. I need to go Loopy shopping again.

Do you add mostly single skeins to your stash? Do you always have a plan for the yarn you’re buying? Because frequently, I add single skeins to my stash without knowing for sure what they will become. I need to start doubling up on the ones I think might become a larger shawl.  (Also? I need to start wearing shawls. I have such fun making them, but I don’t wear them all that often.)

Sheri enjoyingabeautifuldayhere.Seethemorningsuninmyphotos?

We have lots of new yarn up for you in today’s Monday Update, as well as more cute bags for your projects. Check out:

String Theory Caper Sock: One of my favorite ever sock yarn bases. Here’s one (of a pair) that I knit a couple of summers ago in the Celebratory Socks pattern, free here on my blog. I love these socks – so comfortable to wear. (I think this was a lighter skein of Tavikki. Looks like Agave or Light Teal a bit, too.)

String Theory DK: More of their beautiful colors in a weight that is perfect for sweaters, vests, and scarves. (Or quick socks, hats, and mitts).

JulieSpins – Silky 435: You might remember my bright, happy yellow Ishbel that I made with this yarn.  I loved it so much that I tucked away several more skeins for my stash. This silk/merino blend is great for gift knitting, because it’s so impressive looking (and feeling). Shown here in Sweet Corn.

Chic-A Bags - re-stocked in the popular single and double yarn keepers, as well as their new Triads (which comes with a small project bag, an accessory bag, and a pattern holder.)

Baggu Bags – re-stocked, new colors, and new styles. They’re always changing things up at Baggu and adding new choices, and we love that. You’ll like the Alpaca print. And the Daypack. I use these for projects in progress and for storing upcoming projects as well.

Fiesta Baby Boom – in their new Spirit of the Southwest line. Fun colors and interesting names. This fingering weight yarn is great for socks and cowls. Shown here in Boogyman Ogre, just because the name cracks me up. You might try it in this Francie pattern. It looks fun and unique. (Although if I was wearing these, I’d be tempted to prop my feet up so that everyone could see the pretty stitching…)

The Sanguine Gryphon – in their heavy fingering, light sport weight Bugga base.

Heather Zoppetti Patterns – socks, hats, shawls in beautiful designs. In keeping with last week’s post on cowls, you might check out Heather’s Not a Cowl Neckwarmer (shown here). I like that it buttons on, and it would be beautiful in a skein of that String Theory Hand Dyed DK that we just put up. Also cozy in a skein of Blue Sky Royal, which is 100% royal alpaca.

Have fun checking out the new stuff and the Elves will be busy getting all of your orders packed up and shipped out tomorrow and Wednesday!

Sheri finished4thqtr.challenge,startedanotherSummerWindCowl

It’s time! Time to start interviewing for Colorado Loopy Elf positions. It has taken us longer than we thought to find a new spot for Loopy here in Fort Collins, but we’re finishing up the final lease details and hope to be able to tell you about that soon. In the meantime, we are ready to find a group of people who would love to work with us here in Colorado.

Details: We will be hiring an Office Manager, an Inventory Manager, and several Customer Service people (aka: Elves). For all positions, we are looking for people who are comfortable on the computer, able to do a lot of standing and walking while working, and able to lift up to 40 lb. boxes of yarn, when our inventory arrives each week. We’re looking for upbeat, detail-oriented people who are great at communication and value top-notch customer service.

While we do want to hire some people with knit/crochet experience, it’s not necessary for all positions. If you have non-knitting friends that you think would be a great fit for one of these positions, please pass this job information on to them. We’d love to meet them. (Although you might delete the “Elf” title when you tell them about these positions, as anyone not familiar with The Loopy Ewe might not get the whole Elf thing ….)

The positions will officially begin the first full week in December, but we will have a training session before that. The Office Manager position will require more training time before the shop gets here that first week in December as well.

If you’d like to apply for one of these positions or have further questions, please email me. (sheri@theloopyewe.com) We’ll be conducting interviews in the next couple of weeks. Our Founding Elves in St. Louis have set a high bar with their awesome service, and we’re looking forward to finding a team here in Colorado that can do the same.

Sheri enjoyingthedownrightCOLDhereinFt.Collinsthismorning

(P.S. Monday is Columbus Day here in the States, which means a No-Mail Monday. We’ll be back in the shop for your calls on Tuesday. Of course you know the website is open 24/7 – that never closes!)

Last year, I did a few posts with holiday knitting ideas and pattern links. (You can find those posts here, here, and here.) I thought I’d share some more ideas with you this year as well. If you haven’t started any holiday gift knitting yet, now might be the time. I’m starting with Cowls, because I think that they might just be the perfect knitted gift in the winter time. Why?

1. Cowls are something that most people don’t buy for themselves. (I think this is partly because you don’t see too many for sale in the stores.)
2.  Most cowls are relatively quick and easy to knit. You can finish one in a couple of nights.
3.  Many of these patterns take just one skein of yarn, so it’s a project that doesn’t break the bank.
4.  It’s a fun way to try out new stitch patterns and techniques, without committing to a large project.

Here are some ideas, along with some of the cowls I have knit up. (The only repeat link from last year is the Irish Cabled Neckwarmer, because it’s one of my favorites and I wanted to include the photo!) After researching these patterns, I’m ready to make some more.

Fingering Weight Cowls (these tend to be drapier and lighter):

Summer Wind (hot off my needles, shown here in Alisha Goes Around)
Cream and Sugar Cowl
Miss Doolittle
Less is More Cowl (pull it up when the wind gets cold)
Mimzi Cowl

Yarn suggestions for fingering weight cowls: Alisha Goes Around, Claudia Hand Painted, Done Roving, Dragonfly Fibers Djinni, Dream in Color Smooshy, Fiberphile MCN, Hand Maiden Casbah, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, Madelinetosh Sock, Shibui Staccato, Spud and Chloe Fine, Studio June Super Cash Sock, Swan’s Island Fingering, The Loopy Ewe Solid Series, Three Irish Girls Adorn, and Trekking XXL.

Sport and DK Weight Cowls (these tend to be a bit warmer):

Gyre
Stacked Eyelet Cowl
Caera Cowl
Polyphylla Cowl
Julia Neckwarmer
Trickledown Neckwarmer & Mitts
Lava Flow Cowl (shown here in Lorna’s Laces Honor)

Yarn Suggestions for sport/dk weight cowls: Alpaca with a Twist Baby Twist, Amy Butler Belle Organic DK, Blue Sky Royal, Cascade Epiphany, Fiesta Ballet, Hand Maiden Camel Spin, Madelinetosh Pashmina, Madelinetosh Sport, Malabrigo Silky Merino, and String Theory DK.

Worsted Weight Cowls (these tend to be warmest of all and quickest to knit:
Irish Cabled Neckwarmer (Shown here in Malabrigo Rios)
Herringbone Neck Warmer
Lady Jessica
Fern Neckwarmer
Simply Soft Cowl
Cable Crush Cowl
Lace Twists Neckwarmer
Snow Drift
Eternity Scarf

Yarn suggestions for worsted weight cowls: Amy Butler Belle Organic Aran, Blue Sky Worsted Hand Dyes, Cascade 220, Cascade Eco Alpaca, Dream in Color Classy, Fiesta Boomerang, Lang Yak, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted, Malabrigo Rios, Spud and Chloe Sweater, Three Irish Girls Glenhaven Cashmerino Worsted, and Universal Cotton Supreme.

I hope you found a few fun patterns in this batch! Have you started on gift-knitting yet? Or are you not knitting for gifts this year? I’m still undecided about making gifts this year, but I’m definitely going to be making some of these cowls, either way.

Sheri who-apparently-getsalittletooattachedtotheknittingonceitisalldone