We’ve been busy getting your Camp Store Week orders out, but we’ve also been busy in the stock room, unpacking boxes and getting photos done! For tonight’s Monday Update, we added in:

Malabrigo Rios – this superwash worsted weight has been very popular for sweaters, vest, and baby things. Remember, Malabrigo is hand-dyed in lots of 5, and sometimes even those 5 don’t match exactly right! If you’re making a multi-skein project with this yarn, it’s always important to alternate rows and skeins. The beauty of the colors and softness of the yarn makes it totally worthwhile. How about the Arroyo Shawl? Or a pair of Vancouver Fog fingerless mitts for a holiday gift? Or the Bella Baby Sweater? (Shown here in Solis.)

Malabrigo Silky Merino - a single-ply DK weight which is perfect for shawls, scarves, hats, etc. The silk adds a bit of sheen to anything you knit with it. Try it with the Verdure Shawl, or the Silver Bells Shawl.

Stonehedge Fiber Shepherd’s Wool - Re-stocks in DK and Worsted weights. This continues to be a really popular choice for sweaters. People in-store always pick it up and comment on how soft it is. Try the Delancey Cardigan out of the DK weight. Cute for Fall! (Shown here in Berries.)

Kauni - re-stocks in solids and multi-colors. We have continued to weigh each skein that comes in, so that we can adjust the gram weight more accurately for you. I made this Citron out of a skein and loved seeing the colors progress. You could also do theSynchrony Shawl, the Chou Cowl (love that), or a Vortex Shawl/blanket.

Blue Sky Alpacas – re-stocks and new colors, including a brand new base called Metalico. This 50% Baby Alpaca / 50% Raw Silk blend is truly luscious and comes in naturally occuring shades of baby alpaca. 147 yards per skein in Sport weight. I’d use this for cowls, scarves or gloves/mitts, but we also have patterns going up on the website tonight that include a poncho and a sweater (in addition to other things). Try The Political Process Mitts, or a Norden Cowl. (Shown here in Silver.)

Spud and Chloe – re-stocks and new colors. How about the Old Bones Shawl in Outer?

Three Irish Girls – re-stocks in Cashmerino Fingering and Adorn Sock. Beautiful color combinations for socks and shawls. Need some new sock pattern ideas? Maybe Charybdis Socks, Stepping Stones Socks, or Lavendar Fields Forever Socks.

Yarn Caddies – George brought another big batch of Yarn Caddies in at the end of last week. We have them in Red Cedar, Oak, Cherry, Maple, White Ash, and Brown Ash. And let me just say that it’s impossible to pick just one. Speaking from personal experience. (Shown here in Walnut.) Remember, due to the size and weight of the Yarn Caddies, we’re unable to ship them outside of the 48 contiguous States. I think that means that some of you might just have to hop a jet and visit us in person, don’t you think?

Speaking of hopping a jet – we have the dates set for our first Colorado Spring Fling! We’ll be Flinging April 18-21, 2013. Details and signups to come sometime in November (watch the blog and Loopy Email Newsletter for details this fall), but I know some of you like to plan ahead. We’re so looking forward to having you here!

Now – off to shop. We’ll get your orders packed up and shipped out asap!

Sheri needtofinishProjectTwobutanxioustostartinonProjectThree
(IsitJuly27yet?)

I learned to knit when I was young, but it wasn’t a hobby that stuck with me at the time. I was quickly off to something else. When Knitting Daughter reached the age of 13 or so, I really wanted her to find a hobby. I have enjoyed different hobbies all my life, and wanted the same enjoyment and relaxation for her as she grew up. We went to Michaels and I said, “Pick anything you want to try. We’ll see which hobby you enjoy the most!” We went through rug hooking, counted cross stitch, needlepointing, and finally knitting. Knitting was the one that stuck with her, so I took it up again as well. (And then two years later we started Loopy!)

She really likes knitting that she doesn’t have to think about too much. (That is a direct result of her busy life, I think!) She likes scarves. This one is my favorite, because she made it for me and it’s so toasty and wonderful. But awhile back, she decided to try a Girasole. This week it came off the needles and we blocked it, and I’m really proud of her! I think she just might make another one sometime. (This one done in Cascade Heritage Sock.) It sure is fun to share a love of knitting with her. I’ve taught a lot of people to knit, but she’s my favorite knitter. Who’s your favorite knitter?

Sheri hopingyouhavefunthingsplannedfortheweekend!

How in the world did we get to Project Three for Camp Loopy already? This summer is flying by. I hope you’re having fun camping along with us! Today begins Camp Store Week for Project Three, and here are the details:

The Project Three Dates: Starting date is 7/27 and ending date is 8/27, with photos uploaded to the Project Three Gallery at The Loopy Ewe by 8/29.

The Challenge for Project Three: This project should:
1. contain two or more colors (because the Olympics are about working together in harmony, right?) plus,
2. must be at least 500 yds. single knit (not 250 yards doubled), plus,
3. be a pattern that you have not done before.

(Note – two colors meaning two different skeins, not two colors within one colorway/skein).

Camp Store Week for Project Three: If you need to purchase yarn for your project, we are offering a 20% Camp Loopy discount for the yarn during this month’s “Camp Loopy Store Week”.The discount for Project Three, is valid on one camp project’s worth of yarn purchased during Camp Store Week Two (Wednesday, July 11 – Tuesday, July 17). To get the discount, you will need to leave us an order note on the order, telling us which yarn will be used for your Camp Project. We can only apply the discount to one order, so you’ll need to calculate carefully and order what you need in a single order. We’ll apply the discount when your order comes through to us. If you’re going for free shipping in the U.S., please make sure that your discount won’t take you below the $75 level, or the website will add the shipping charge back in after we do the discount.

Another benefit: In addition to the 20% discount on your yarn during Camp Store Week, we’ll also double your Frequent Shopper Benefits from that yarn purchase, if your project is done and a photo of it is uploaded to our Camp Loopy Photo Gallery by the deadline. (Yarn must be purchased during this month’s Camp Store Week, 7/11-17, for the double credits benefit.)

Please review the other details and FAQ’s on the May 9, 2012 blog post to insure that you know the ins and outs of how all of this camp stuff works.

Camping Groups on Ravelry – if you’re on Ravelry and would like to chat about your Camp Projects, pop into the Loopy Groupie board and jump in! For Project Three, we’ll be dividing you into different Tents. Your Tent Number can be found on your Loopy receipt from your Camp Store Week purchase (on Loopy’s luggage tag in the drawing). If you’re using stash yarn, you’ll be in Tent 6. Those groups will go up on the Loopy Groupie board sometime within the next week. Right now, the bug groups for Project Two continue!

A reminder – to earn the free extra bonus yarn at the end, each project yarn needs to have been purchased during Camp Store Week or after, for that project.
Yarn used for Project One purchased: May 9 – June 25
Yarn used for Project Two purchased: June 11 – July 25
Yarn used for Project Three purchased: July 11 – August 25
Plus, all three finished project photos need to have been uploaded to our Loopy gallery by the due dates for each project.

It does take us an extra day or two to get all of the orders out during Camp Store Week. Just know that everyone is working extra days and hours in order to get your yarn to you as quickly as possible. We know you’re anxious to get it! (Although that’s always the case, right? Not just during Camp Loopy.)

So – what’re you going to make for Project Three? Thoughts? Ideas?

Sheri hopingoneofyourideasinspiresme.Stillundecided!

(Loopy has been outfitted for Camp, all summer long. He and his pal Socks oversee all Camp Loopy order packing. Socks is an old friend. He came from St. Louis Elf Susan’s mom’s childhood, and Loopy is glad to have Socks by his side at all times!)

It’s Monday. That means it’s time to show you what has enticed me all week is new at Loopy Central this week! Just up, you’ll find:

Lorna’s Laces – new colors for the season, as well as some popular re-stocks in Solemate, Sportmate, and Shepherd Sock. (Shown here in Spats.) Have you tried one of the “mates” – Solemate or Sportmate? This is made with 30% Outlast®. Outlast is “the original, proactive heat and moisture management technology, and is also the only phase change material that is a Certified Space Technology. It’s proactive and uses phase changing materials to absorb excess heat from your skin when you are warm, and then releases the heat back to you when you need it most.” As you can imagine, this is a great base for socks, mitts, scarves, hats, and shawls. You can find more info on Outlast, here. Solemate is made up of 55%  Superwash Merino, 30% Outlast and 15% Nylon. Sportmate is made up of 70% Superwash Merino and 30% Outlast.

Laura Nelkin Designs – Laura has come up with some really fun beaded jewelry kits, and I’d like to make just about every one of them. You’ll find bracelets, necklaces and earrings, with great instructions and all yarn and bead materials included in the kits. (Shown here in the Black Ribband Kit).

Lantern Moon – We picked up some fun new accessory and project bags and tape measures at Market this year, from Lantern Moon. Lantern Moon works with groups from Vietnam, Cambodia and Bali, providing Fair Trade work, and continuity of training and employment for women and families. Their designs are beautiful and we’re glad to support them.

HiyaHiya – We have our first batch of Kitty Snips in! I know many of you have enjoyed the Puppy Snips, but for all of us cat lovers out there, Kitty Snips were important, too. We also added in Knitter’s Safety Pins (which I use for stitchmarkers) and Small Interchangeable Needle Sets.

Namaste – The new Pumpkin Spice colors have started arriving. We have the Mini Messenger and the Monroe bags in (shown here), with Circular Needle cases in Pumpkin Spice, still to come. Such a pretty color for the fall.

Nancy’s Knit Knacks – More organizing tools, re-stocked! We have their Perfect Notion Case, the DPN Needle Tubes, the WIP Tubes, the WPI Tools, and the Knit-Kard sets back. Do you have a set of the Knit-Kards? Each one is laminated, and there are 14 in the set, held together with a ring. You’ll get cards for: Yarn Classification Chart, Yarn Yardage Estimator, Yarn Label/Washing Guide, Kitchener Stitch, Perfect One Row Buttonholes, Knitting Needle and Crochet Hook Inventory, Knitting Abbreviations, Rate of Increase/Decrease, Long Tail Cast On, Perfect Gauge Swatch, Yarn Yardage Table, and more. Great reference set for your favorite knitting bag.

Loopy Notebooks – We had some cute little notebooks made up for in-store classes (for knitting notes) and decided we should share them with all of you, too. It’s a great size to keep in your knitting bag.

Have fun checking out the new things, and we’ll get your orders out to you quickly!

Sheri listeningto”DancingQueen”ontheradio.
HaveasuddenurgetowatchMamaMiaagain.

P.S. It’s time to vote for the Second Quarter Challenge! All photos were due in on July 1st. Please head over to the photo gallery and then email us with your favorite project: support@theloopyewe.com.  We’ll announce the Reader’s Choice winner next week. (And stay tuned for voting on Camp Loopy’s Project One, too. That will come later this week.)

I have another project off the needles and this one went quickly and was a lot of fun. (Also? It’s another case where someone wore one in and I decided then and there that I had to make it. I need to stop doing that.) This is the TGV and I used two skeins of Madelinetosh Sport in the Lowland color. One skein for the body and one skein for the ruffle. It went super fast because it’s just garter stitch until you get to the ruffle. I really like these shallow-shawl-scarf kinds of pattern, because it’s easy to wear them wrapped around your shoulders. Do you have any other cute pattern suggestions for shawl/scarves like that?

You can get this pattern individually, or in an e-book of 4 patterns. When I saw that one of the other patterns was the Hogwart’s Express, I got the whole set of them. Elf Vickie made that for Camp Loopy Project One and didn’t it turn out cute?  The beads for the eyes really pop on this blue. She used Lorna’s Laces Solemate (Bigger on the Inside), and size 6 beads (I think in the Ice color). I haven’t seen the other two patterns in the e-book knit up, but they both look like something I’d like to make.

We’re in for some big rainstorms here this weekend. It poured last night for about 30 minutes. I don’t think I’ve seen a downpour like that in the whole year that we’ve lived here! And we’re getting more rain right now. It’s good for the residual hot spots from the wildfires, as long as there is no thunder and lightening to go along with it. Keeping our fingers crossed. We’ve really needed the rain.

Have a great weekend and I hope you get lots of knitting time in. I’m working away on my Camp Loopy Project Two shawl. It’s a new kind of technique and I’m anxious to get done so that I can share it with you! Have you tried anything new lately?

Sheri alsoworkingonacowl,atank,adinosaur,and
itchingtostart2otherthings.Prettynormalforme.

Happy Monday, Happy Canada Day, and Happy Independence Day Week! We put lots of yarn up in tonight’s Update, and there are some fun pattern links for you to check out, below! Just a note – we will be closed on Wednesday so that the Elves can spend time with their families. We’ll be back in the shop on Thursday again!

Just up:

Madelinetosh Sock – 90+ colors available. This 100% Superwash Merino fingering weight is great for socks, shawls and lightweight sweaters (like Folded or a striped Elfe, or the beautiful Iolanthe.)

Madelinetosh Pashmina – 90+ colors available on this one, too! This 3-ply sportweight yarn is 75% Superwash Merino, 15% Silk and 10% Cashmere. I like using it for things that are going to wrap around you, like shawls (try Shaelyn or Wandering the Moor) or cowls (try the Eleanor Cowl or Looped Loop) or scarves (try the Squinch Shawl, which is more like a scarf, or the Sempiternity Scarf) or even fingerless mitts (try Adumbrate or Reune Fingerless Mitts). (Shown here in Black Currant.)

Shalimar’s Zoe Sock - Brand new to the shop and up in 30+ colors tonight. This 3-ply 100% superwash merino comes with a hefty 450 yards per skein and knits up beautifully. Great for socks, of course, but also nice for scarves (like the Into the Woods Scarf) or shawls (like Henslowe or Maluka). (Shown here in Scarab.)

Cascade 220 Superwash – a few more new colors (from our backordered bunch). This is a great yarn for babies, blankets, and anything else that needs to be tossed into the washer and dryer. I want to make the Pine Forest Baby Blanket or the Baby Chalice Blanket, but I don’t know of any baby to give it to. (Or maybe your cat need’s a lion mane for stalking and daydreaming and playing?)

Soak’s New Soakbox Sets – Each set comes with a small bottle of Soak wash, their new Handmaid Luxury Creme (for your hands), a bottle of coordinated Essie nail polish, a matching skein of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport, and a fun Fiona Ellis pattern for a pair of fingerless mitts. (Each kit contains a different and unique fingerless mitts pattern.) There’s a red version, a peach/buff version, a teal blue/green version, and a tan version. (Thanks to Soak for the photo.)

Have fun shopping tonight, and we’ll look forward to sending you a Box of Fun tomorrow!

Sheri thinkingIneedtosendmyselfaboxoffun.Forfun.

P.S. If you’re local and interested in working at The Loopy Ewe, we’re looking to hire a part-time inventory person. Elf Roberta has evolved into our main Customer Service person (many of you have talked to her on the phone!) and helps with on-the-floor inventory, but we need someone else for unpacking, checking in, pulling for photos, and other back end responsibilities. Must be very detail oriented, organized, have a good eye for color, able to lift heavy boxes of yarn, and available to work 3-4 days per week including Saturdays. If interested, email me for an application:  sheri@theloopyewe.com.