Check out my new pair of socks. (Shown here in Grincheux.) Nope – I didn’t photoshop it to get the second one. Both are knit, fair and square! I just had such a good time watching the stripes come along that I wanted to do another one when the first sock was done. And now I’m planning two more pairs, because there are other colors I want to work on, too. My socks are a plain vanilla toe-up sock with 2 x 2 ribbing for the cuff. This is a gorgeous self-striping line from Biscottie and Cie in Canada.  (Here’s a free pattern on Knitty.com, if you’d like to tackle some spiral socks.) If socks aren’t your thing, self-striping yarn also looks really cute in hats, gloves, and mitts or mittens. We’re really happy to be able to add Biscotte and Cie to our lineup of indie-dyed yarns at The Loopy Ewe!

In addition to the Biscotte & Cie line, we’ve also just added:

Madelinetosh – Sock. Now in stock in over 100 colors. This has been a popular line for socks, but we also see people using it a lot for one skein shawls. Kirsten Kapur’s Nefertem Shawl was done with a skein of this. It would also be beautiful for this drapey Ecuador cardigan by Joji Locatelli, which would be a fun spring/summer wear. Or how about picking three colors for a Color Affection shawl? (I am working on a Color Affection this week, because someone wore one in last week and I decided I had to have one. Story of my life here at Loopy.)

Done Roving – Frolicking Feet. The color combinations are always so fun in this line. Shown here in Cozy Cove and available in 30 different color combinations. Multi colors are great for sock patterns that let the colors show well, like Yarnissima’s Brainless, Gail Marracci’s Intrepid Traveler, and Dena Stelly’s Dalekanium.

Dream in Color – Smooshy. This is another yarn that is good for socks, but also for shawls. How about Rose Beck’s Sunflower Shawlette, or her Sugared Violets? I also love Marjorie Dussaud’s Calumet, which I think would show off the Smooshy perfectly.

Dream in Color – Everlasting DK. I think this is some of the prettiest yarn colors we’ve gotten from Dream in Color. 32 color choices, perfect for socks and sweaters, but also an easy way to make that little fingering shawlette pattern that you love (whichever one that might be) in a little larger size. (Shown here in Morning Glory.) If you’re in the mood to start your holiday gift knitting, Nadia Elgawarsha’s Winglet is a gorgeous hat that would look pretty in this Everlasting DK. Or how about the Lanata sweater or the Regent Sweater that just came out in the new issue of Twist Collective?

Three Bags Full – Project Bags. When these arrived this week, the Loopy Elves were all over them. We have them in Owls, Sushi, Daisies, Sugar Skulls, Polka Dots, Monkeys, Sheep, and more. Surely you need a new project bag?

Have fun shopping. You can bet we’ll be oohing and aahing over your choices as we pack up your orders in the morning!

Sheri whydidIgetmysockmojobackjustintimeforsummerweather?

Remember Herman? He’s the big mail carrier-cage that transports all of your orders out the Loopy door, down the elevator, and over to the mail truck each day. I don’t think our doors or the elevator in this building were meant to transport Herman on a daily basis. Things are getting a little dinged up, as the mail carrier schleps that heavy cart around.

This week has been especially dingy, as we have a substitute mail carrier who has added more scrapes than usual to the doorways. (I haven’t checked the elevator. I almost don’t want to.) To be fair, Herman was built for post office back rooms – wide open spaces, concrete floors – not yarn shops. He weighs a bunch when he’s filled up, and he’s hard to maneuver. (Click on the photo below to see his space.)

I think it’s time for an intervention. While we can’t get rid of Herman (we need him for all of those daily boxes going out), we can make things a little softer on his edges. Are you up for a Herman-Yarn-Bombing? (Yarn bombing – see examples here and here and here.) If you have any leftover swatches of yarn that you’d like to send us (or if you’d like to knit up a little something for Herman), we’d love to have it. It doesn’t have to be fancy or elaborate. Does he look like a fancy sort of guy? A potholder sized square or a strip of I-cord out of some of your yarn scraps would do. You pop them in the mail to us and we’ll get them attached to Herman. Of course we’ll take a photo when he has been fully bombed.

Herman thanks you, the mail carrier thanks you, and we thank you! (Also: I promise to carefully remove all yarn before we turn Herman back over to the Post Office if we ever move from this location. Just in case any postal workers are tempted to email and tell me we are not allowed to “deface” USPS property. Seriously, you’re going to wish all of your postal cages were yarn bombed when you see Herman done up right.)

Sheri thinkingImightneedtofindasmilingHermanphoto
whenthisisdoneandhe’sallcolorfulandcovered.

1. I’m really excited about a new sock yarn line coming soon (currently being photo-ed in our photo room) and my second sock will be done by next Monday, when we put the yarn up. A PAIR!

2. There are still chocolate Easter eggs in the Loopy Kitchen. I wish those Loopy Elves would eat them up faster.

3.  But most importantly, the lilacs are blooming!!

If you click on the photo to make it bigger, you’ll be able to smell that lovely lilac smell.

(I wish)

What three things are on your mind today?

Sheri thinkingit’dbeniceiflilacswouldbloomallspring&summerlong

The flowers and trees are blooming all over the place here in Colorado, and the yarn is blooming all over the place here at The Loopy Ewe! We have a lot of pretty color up for you tonight. We just added in:

String Theory Hand Dyed – Caper Sock. The last time I made an actual pair of socks was when I was knitting with Caper. It was so wonderful that I knew I wanted to be able to wear them (which involved knitting both socks)! It’s a little sad to see that it was over two years ago. I have made single socks since then, as well as done a lot of other knitting. But no pairs since my last Caper. I’m working on breaking that record, as I’m in the middle of another second sock at the moment. Details on that next week! But in the meantime, scoop up some of the Caper, because it’s wonderful for socks (and shawls and scarves and hats). Going up in 23 colors. (Shown here in Jade.)

String Theory Hand Dyed – Blue Stocking. This 80% BFL wool / 20% Nylon comes in the same range of gorgeous colors from Tanis and Karen, and is perfect for long-wearing socks. We have it in 16 color choices for you. (Shown here in Black Tulip.)

Mountain Colors – Crazyfoot. Another sock yarn I love for the colors. (See what I mean about Loopy being particularly colorful this week?) Seems like every time I walked back to the photo room last week and zeroed in on a different multi-colorway, it was a skein of Crazyfoot. Gorgeous. (Shown here in Winter Sky.)

Lorna’s Laces – Shepherd Sock. My third ever pair of socks was done in Lorna’s Laces and I’m still a bit fan. Looks pretty, wears well, and fun to knit and watch the colors play.

Lorna’s Laces – Wooltop Roving. We’ll continue to add in more roving colors until they’ve dyed up our whole order. These big puffs of roving look colorful on our shelves and they’re fun to pack up and ship off. Even better, they spin up into great looking yarn!

Prism – Delicato. A new yarn for us, and it’s so enticing that it will make you want to cast on a shawl right away. This 100% Tencel laceweight is a 2 ply, and it looks and feels a little like silk. The color combinations are wonderful. Prism is known for its beautiful colors, and it’s easy to see why. I’m tempted to do a shawl with beads with this one. (Shown here in Blue Lagoon.)

The Loopy Ewe – Totes. We have the Red Project Totes, Black Project Totes, Red Medium Square Totes, Project Keepers, and Accessories Pals back in stock.

Baggu Bags – all sizes and colors. Baby Baggus, Classic Baggus, Daypacks, and zippered pouches in all sizes. (Shown here in the Medium Zip Trio in Blues.)

Hiya Hiya – Circs and DPN’s re-stocked.

Lorna’s Laces/Soak kit combo - one more new one to add to the offerings! This one comes with a skein of Kedzie in Lorna’s Laces Solemate and a tub of Soak Heel Creme in Spearmint.

Have fun checking out all of the new things. I think a skein of yarn (or two or three) and a new project bag is just what you need on this pretty spring day. Or on this cold and blustery day … depending on where you live.

Sheri busyplanningmyspringknittingprojects

We’ve had the Webcam up for over a year now, and it has been fun to give you a glimpse into all things Loopy. But of course the Webcam only gives you a little peek into one part of Loopy. This place is big, and there is a lot more to see than what comes across on the Webcam! So today I thought I’d share some pictures with you of the parts of Loopy that aren’t visible on the camera. (Or – here’s a better idea – come visit us in person and explore the nooks and crannies yourself! Even more fun!)

We finally got our sign up on the building. Isn’t Loopy cute up there? He’s pretty proud of himself. He likes it best at night when he gets to be “in lights”. (I know that lighted signs don’t photo well at night, but you get the idea.)

When you walk in the door, this is what you see looking left – the Loopy sign that you can see on the Webcam, plus colorful yarn temptations straight ahead. Looking right – the checkout counter and the Packing Station where we wrap up all of your orders and get them shipped out. You can see one side of the Packing Station on the Webcam. There is always someone else (or two) packing orders on the other side that you can’t see, too.

Here’s what it looks like after you’ve walked all the way in and turned around to the door you just walked in. Also, please note Herman in the corner. That’s where he hangs out.

The first row (you can see down that on the Webcam) is the Worsted aisle. Doesn’t that Cascade wall look colorful? And the Stonehedge Fiber Shepherd’s Wool on the right?

The next aisle over has our Sport/DK weights and all of the needles. People spend a lot of time in that row, contemplating needle choices.

After that comes an aisle with Fingering weights and Lace weights. You’ll also catch a lot of pretty bags up on the tops of the shelves, as well as knitted shawls, hats and scarves further down.

And then the row opposite the long wall of windows, with more fingering weight. (We have tons and tons of sock yarn, although you all use the yarn just as often for shawls.) Plus bins and bins of extra yarn. In case we run out.

At the very back of the store, we have more sock yarn, more fun bags, roving, our Hadley Pottery line, and a table for classes. (And my office is behind the wall with that Loopy sign on it.)

Finally – the Loopy Elf Break room (where we all eat lunch). Aren’t those yarn-bucket-lights fun? Ikea.

Do you feel like you’ve had a good virtual visit? We’ll keep doing the personal shopping for your online orders, but do come visit in person if you ever get the chance!

We have winners from last week’s blog contest. A big congratulations to Retha in CT and Paula in IA. Both of you have won a $25 credit at The Loopy Ewe, which we’ve added to your account, ready for spending when you find something fun you’d like! Thanks to everyone who participated. We’ll do another contest sometime this month.

Have a blessed Easter Weekend!

Sheri hopingtofinishupmyPagonathisweekend

Ever since our first month’s Camp Loopy Challenge last summer, I have been a bit taken with two-color shawls. First of all, it’s really fun to pick the colors. Secondly, they look so darned fun, knit up. I finished my Sothia Shawl, which has been on my “Want to Make” list since I approved so many of your Sothia Shawls last summer for the challenge! I like shawls with ruffles (although I’m so not a ruffle-y person). I knit this with 2 skeins of String Theory Caper Cobalt and 1 skein of Hand Maiden Casbah Smoke.

What I like about the pattern: It fits really well. I like how the ends are designed to curve in around you. Nice shape. Also, a very cute ruffle on the end. However ….

What I didn’t like about the pattern: Knitting the never-ending ruffle. I’ve made quite a few things with ruffles (like this Mara Shawl and that Mara Shawl, this Shawl that Jazz and that Shawl that Jazz, this 28′s Cousin 53 and that 28′s Cousin 53, this And So Are You and that And So Are You, and Pleiades. Just one of those). I’m used to ruffles. I can get into a zone and K2P2 like nobodies business. This one, however, went on and on, and had two increases as you went on. Granted, this makes the ruffle flare out a bit (which is nice), but holy cow, I never thought I’d finish that ruffle. Glad it’s done. Maybe I should steer clear of ruffles for awhile.

Now I have picked out three more sets of colors for two-color shawls and I’m going through different patterns, trying to decide what I want to do. I am thinking about: Skewed Shawl, Dancette, Pamuya, Whippoorwill, Amalia, Spectra, Scalene, Ulmus, Taygete, Daybreak, Lakedale, and Ishbel. Decisions, decisions.

Here are the colors (all in Madelinetosh Merino Light, because we have shelves and shelves and shelves full of it, enticing me.)

There’s the Envy/Baltic Combo:

The Charcoal/Black Velvet Combo:

And the Mansfield Garden Party/Fragrant Combo:

Doesn’t that make you want to knit a two-color shawl? Have you tried one yet?

Sheri yes,IknowIhavetheQuarterlyChallengeSweatertodo,too