We’re ready to tally up your votes for our first quarter challenge! Take a peek at the photo gallery, where you’ll find 65+ entries, and then send us your vote for your favorite. (support @ theloopyewe.com). We’ll be drawing for two Loopy gift certificates – one for the project that gets the most votes, and one for a random drawing from all participants. I hope you all had fun working on cables during First Quarter.

That means that we’re also ready for the Second Quarter Challenge, which runs from now until the end of June. I asked for input in the blog a week or two ago, and I appreciate those of you who left comments and sent emails. It’s clear that the plight of Japan continues to be in our hearts and on our minds, and I liked the charity knitting thoughts that several of you suggested. So our Second Quarter Challenge is all about charity knitting. But there are several different ways to participate. You pick the one that feels right to you. You can:

1. Knit a pattern where the pattern proceeds go to a charity relief effort (whether to Japan or other areas) – like one of these, or other patterns:

Wendy’s Japanese Garden Shawl
Kay’s Mitered Crosses Blanket
Janel’s Eiki Shawl

2. Or knit something to give to someone who is going through a tough time and needs a little extra love and support, like:

a shawl, or a pair of socks, or a sweater.

3. Or knit something and donate it to one of the many charities that need such items, like one of these, or other worthy causes:

preemie hats
blankets for animals in shelters
chemo caps

To participate in the challenge, please be sure that the yarn is one that is available for sale at The Loopy Ewe (or one that you have purchased from us in the past.) Stash yarn is great!  But if you do need to purchase a skein of something to use for the challenge, you are welcome to a 20% discount on the yarn for this project. You must leave us an order note on your order, letting us know which yarn you are using for the challenge and how it will be used for some type of charity knitting. The discount offer is good from Friday, April 8th through Friday, April 15th at midnight. If you are going for free shipping (over $75) in the U.S., make sure that your 20% discount does not take you under the $75 amount.

Projects need to be completed (and photos uploaded to our Second Quarter Challenge Gallery) by July 5th, in order to be eligible for the drawings. Please share what you’ve done – we’re all inspired by it!

So who is in? And what are you going to make?

Sheri wholikesachallengethatsharesthelove

When people say “the third time’s a charm!” in an irritatingly cheerful voice, don’t believe them. At least it didn’t work that way for me. I re-started my Hollygrove Scarf four times, and it looks like I have finally gotten it. But FPS. Really? I think this is the most times I’ve re-started something.

The first time - I mis-counted something in one of the early cable rows, and couldn’t tink or frog it back. (The Cascade Eco Alpaca is a little fuzzy, but it’s definitely tink-able if need be. Just not by me, that first time.)

The second time – I messed up the “cable without a needle” thing. I’m still not sure how. But what I did decide is that I like the version where you move the stitches first and then plow into the knitting/purling (versus the method I linked to last week that has you moving, then knitting, then moving again. I think that linked-to method is probably faster in the long run, but my way is easier, and still lets you whizz along without a cable needle.) I also took some colored pencils and colored in the different cable symbols on my chart last week. It made a huge difference in the speed of my knitting in those rows.

The third time – I had actually done two pattern repeats and couldn’t figure out why it didn’t look just right. (Note – this photo is the corrected version. Don’t get your glasses out, trying to figure out where I messed up on this one.) The first repeat didn’t look right, either, but in my state of eternal optimism, I figured that it “would all work out”. Then I figured it out.  The cable symbols said to “move 2 stitches to the front, knit two, then knit two from the cable needle” so that’s what I did. I’m literal like that. And I don’t knit charts often enough to be completely comfortable with the whole “this symbol means this if you’re knitting right to left, but it means the exact opposite if you’re knitting left to right, which you will be doing on every other row” thing. In this case, the pattern was happy to remind me that the knit and purl symbols were opposite, depending on which row you were on. But they forgot to tell me that the cables would also be done the opposite way on the back rows. So instead of knitting the stitches when they said to knit them, I needed to be purling the cable stitches, when working the left-to-right wrong side of the chart. And the repeat section only has the big cables on the wrong side of the chart, so I’m thinking a gentle reminder in the key would’ve been helpful. You can imagine how lovely (and glaringly obvious) that mistake was in the knitted fabric, as I went along. Still not sure why I thought it would all work out, but eventually I realized that it would not, and frogged it again.

The fourth time – things are going swimmingly. I think I’ve got it. I love working on it, now that it’s going the way it’s supposed to. Carrying on.

How is your Cable Challenge project coming along?

Sheri whoisstillabigcablingfan,despitethedo-overs

It’s time for a new Loopy Ewe Challenge! One of the things we try to do around here is to move you forward in your knitting, encouraging and inspiring you to try new things. Sometimes it’s a technique, sometimes it’s a new yarn, and sometimes it’s a new type of project. For our First Quarter 2011 Challenge, we’re focusing on Cables. Cables add texture to whatever project you are knitting up. They look impressive, but they are amazingly easy to do. Bottom line – it’s just a matter of knitting your stitches in a different order – that’s what forms the twist. The other nice thing? You usually only do the cable row every 4-8 rows, so it’s not something you do on every row. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is.

The challenge is to pick a project with cables, and jump in. It can be mitts or gloves, hats or scarves, sweaters or vests, etc. Whatever project works best with your timeframe and your interests. Now some of you have been cabling for a long time, so you need to make this challenge a bit more difficult for yourself. Don’t pick an easy-peasy project with a simple cable. You’ll want to do something that lives up to the name “challenge”, for you. (Have you been following Wendy’s cabled sweater in her blog? So gorgeous. If you’re an old hand at cables, try something with multiple cable variations going on, like Wendy is doing with her sweater.)

Here are a few patterns/links to get you thinking, but of course you can pick any pattern with cables.

Socks:
Nine to Five Socks
Firestarter Socks (10th pattern down)
Calendula Cable Socks
Highland Fling Socks

Hats:
Habitat Cabled Beanie
Knotty But Nice
Gretel
Claudia

Mitts/Gloves:
Fetching (this pattern was my first try at cabling)
Knotty Gloves
Linda K’s Yummy Mummy Wristwarmers
Fine Cabled Mitts

Scarves/Cowls:
Cabled Keyhole Scarf
Palindrome Reversible Scarf
Irish Hiking Scarf
Hollygrove Scarf
Irish Cabled Neckwarmer (pictured, finished last week for a gift!)

Sweaters:
Hooray Cardigan
Central Park Hoodie
Tangled Yoke Cardigan
Cassidy Cardigan

If you’ve done cabling before but never tried it without a cable needle, check out Grumperina’s great tutorial on cabling without a needle, found here. (If you have not cabled before, you might first try with a cable needle.)

Final details: Start date is today (or any time thereafter), and your project needs to be completed by 3/31. To be eligible for one of the Quarterly Prizes, photos must be submitted to our Photo Gallery by 4/4, and it needs to be a yarn that is available here at The Loopy Ewe. If you need to purchase yarn for this new challenge, we are offering a 20% off discount, valid until 1/7/11. Simply leave us an order note telling us which yarn you’re using for the challenge, and we’ll manually adjust it to 20% off when your order comes through. (Make sure that the discount doesn’t take you under the $75 level, if you’re going for free shipping in the U.S., otherwise we’ll have to add the shipping back in on that.)

So – who is up for the Cable Challenge? I’m making the Hollygrove Scarf out of Cascade Eco Alpaca and starting it today!

Sheri whowillbelearningtocablewithoutaneedleonthisproject

This summer we encouraged you to photo Loopy (or your Loopy tote, or anything with our Loopy logo on it) in your home, town, or somewhere on vacation. We had fun seeing the entries come in!  Loopy did a lot of things, including:

- Enjoyed time in the Adirondacks with Janice:

- Checked out the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame with Betty:

- Visited the Takayama Inari Shrine in Northern Japan with Sandi:

- And climbed Mt. Lindsey in Colorado with Virginia:

But his very favorite thing (and the winning photo), was to sit and listen to “Oh The Places You’ll Go” at Mary’s house. He thought Mary’s son did an excellent job of reading, and it inspired Loopy to think about new adventures in his future. We’ll be sending a fun prize package to Mary’s house next week!

(Check out more photos from this challenge, here.)

Our next Loopy Photo Challenge: Loopy Loves Animals! We know that many of you have cats, dogs and other special animals that you cherish. Let’s see how many of you can get a photo with Loopy and an animal in it.  We’ll collect the photos (you can upload them via your Loopy account, to our Loopy Loves Animals photo gallery) and we’ll pick a winner sometime later this fall. Here’s one with Loopy and our two cats, Gracie and Zoe, to get you started.

Sheri prettysurethecatswerewatchingthesquirrelon
thebirdfeeder,rightbeforeItookthisphoto

Thanks for all of your well wishes. I am feeling better, and I’m happy to say that I’m back to knitting (so that tells you the TSTK* has passed. At least for now. I’m sure it will show up again sometime, in the middle of a difficult pattern…) A couple of you suggested tea and honey. Even though the cough is in my lungs (not a throat tickle) it still sounded so soothing and restful. What is it about “a cup of tea” that just brings peace to mind? (And peace OF mind!)

On to the blog winners from last week – we have four winners, since we pick one winner for every 250 or so comments. Congratulations to Patty B from MN, Jen A from KS, Maureen G from AL, and Ellen H from CA. All winners have been emailed and have received a $30 Loopy Ewe Gift Certificate! It was fun to see some of the “next two things” that you are going to be working on.

Since tomorrow is July 1st, we have a new Third Quarter Challenge for you. This one is open-ended in many ways.

*You can knit or crochet.
*You can choose one color or many.
*You can make anything you’d like to make, big or small. (Although since the word “challenge” is in there, I hope that you will take that to heart and push yourself a little!)

The part that brings it all together into one challenge – you must use 1 or more colors from our new Loopy Ewe Solid Series line. I realize that many of you may have already started into something with our new line, because we’ve shipped a lot of it out! Since we just started shipping it about a week ago, you’re welcome to count any project started since then, for this Third Quarter Challenge. A couple of other things about the challenge:

* You have until October 1st to finish (and until October 7th to put your photo up in the Loopy Gallery)
* The Challenge Discount is on the back end of the project this time. For each person who finishes (meaning the project is done and you have added a photo of it to our Loopy Gallery), we’ll give you a 20% discount on the next project of your choice. That’s just a little extra incentive to get it done. (And if you get it done in a month, you can have your discount in a month!)
* As always, we will have great prizes to give out (including the Knitter’s Choice award that you all will vote on, the randomly drawn prize winner, and the Loopy’s Pick winner that the Elves and I will choose.)

We are so looking forward to seeing all of your finished projects, and I know you’ll have fun with this!  Who’s in?

Here are photos with two of my color combo choices. The first one shows the Malachite and Whisper Blue that I’m using for my Norwegian Rose Socks. The brown/turquoise combo is one that I have in mind for another project. I’ll keep you posted on that one. (Note – this is what happens when I photo things for the blog without color correcting. That “Surf” blue color is really this color. Not the slightly sick turquoise green that is showing in the above photo . Aren’t you glad that we spend so much time on color-correcting here?)

What are some color combinations that you like, from our new series? We’ll take some of your 2, 3 or 4 color combo suggestions and we’ll photo them for all to see in the weeks to come!

Sheri whowouldliketotakeamonthofftodrinkcoffeeandknit.WheredoIsignup?

*Too Stupid To Knit

Elf Donna and I are back from Maryland Sheep and Wool and I have one word about it: HOT. HOTHOTHOT. HOT. HOT. (And did I mention that it was HOT?) We had a great time visiting vendors, gathering with Loopy Groupies, and talking to the sheep. But in between, we were guzzling massive amounts of Water and Diet Coke. We both looked and felt completely melted by the time we made it back to the hotel that night! I’m not sure what the temperature was on Saturday (in the 90′s), but on Sunday, our car thermometer said it was 99 degrees. Would I go again? Sure. It was fun being there. But it was HOT. (In case you were wondering about the weather. I wanted to be sure to mention the heat. Hot.)

This was our rental car. We agreed that it was the perfect weekend “Loopymobile”. I have lots of fun sheep photos – I’ll post those on Wednesday. In the meantime, I know that your favorite part of Monday blogs would be the part where I tell what new things we have added in to the website for the week. So here is what we added for the week:

- Madelinetosh Vintage (only the first 16 of the 72 colors that we ordered, but we decided that we might as well let you start enjoying them now. We’ll continue to add to the line as they make their way here. They have had a bit of a struggle getting enough of the base yarn in.)

- Studio June 8 Bells (a gorgeous 100% superwash heavy fingering weight in a base that you already love from other dyers.)

- Dream in Color Baby (in the 11 new semi-solid colorways, which will knit up beautifully in shawls. Also a big re-stock on the colors that were sold out.)

- Born to Knit (The Elise mitten pattern that many of you have seen and been waiting for. I set a copy aside for myself and will be picking out two solid colors from our upcoming Loopy Line to use with it.)

- Sajou Scissors (2 new designs that were on backorder from our original order. We’ve already put in a second order to re-stock the designs that sold out the first time around. Those ought to be in again soon.)

- 3 AM Enchantments (2 more fabric choices on the Petite KIP bags. I know these bags are your favorites!)

- Stitchmarkers and Stitchmarker Holders from Dyelectable (great for organizing the ones you have, or starting a new collection.)

I have a new 6 Week Mini Challenge for you! I know that many of you are still working on the sweater/vest challenge that I extended to July 1st. But I also know that some of you are ready for a new Challenge, because you’ve been emailing me and asking about a new one. So here’s a short-term Mini Challenge for you. (Why 6 weeks? That brings us to around July 1st, when the Sweater/Vest challenge will be done, plus it insures that your project is done by mid-summer and ready to wear.) Here’s the Challenge:  Knit a short-sleeved or sleeveless summer sweater/tank between now and July 1st. I already started mine using Universal’s Cotton Supreme. YUM!

As with all of our challenges, you can use any yarn you’d like. If it’s a yarn that we sell at The Loopy Ewe, you are welcome to photo your completed project for the Mini Challenge photo gallery we’ll add in, so that others can see it. If it’s a yarn that we don’t sell, you’re still welcome to take the challenge and knit along with us and we hope that you’ll share your photos on Ravelry. If you need to buy yarn for this challenge, we’re offering you a 20% discount on the yarn for this project, if purchased between tonight and May 14th. (Offer limited to one project per person.) To get the discount, you must leave us an order note telling us that you’re participating in the Mini-Challenge and telling us which yarn in the order is for the challenge. We’ll manually adjust the price to the discounted one, after you put in the order. If you are in the U.S. and are trying to get to the $75 level for free shipping, make sure that the discount won’t dip you below that, as we’ll then need to add the regular shipping cost back in.

Feel free to leave links in the comments for the patterns that you are considering for this challenge. I know others will appreciate the ideas!  Short-sleeved sweaters and tanks are so great for layering throughout the spring, summer and fall. I plan on getting a lot of wear out of mine.

Sheri whothinksSt.Louisweathermightnotbesobadafterall
Todaywasalovely,completelytolerableday