Some of you have emailed to ask about the mannequins we are using in the shop, and where to get them.

WH took the mannequin form that I bought for $10 at a shop going out of business this past summer and used it as a mold. (You can see that mannequin here.) He used a quick-set plaster gauze that you can find at an art or medical supply store or on Amazon. Then a thick primer and drywall compound mix for the overcoat, to smooth it all down. And lastly, a clear latex medium for applying the prints (from old knitting pattern books, or you can find some online for downloading). Lots of work involved. I guess that’s why the ones you find on Etsy are so pricey. After watching the process, I can understand why people charge so much for them.  Here’s a cool one with a Paris flavor. And I’ve always thought the ones from this shop were amazing.

Now I just need to figure out a way to convince my husband that 7 or 8 more would be a piece of cake, now that he has the process down…

Sheri whoalsowantsonewithdifferentyarnlabelsalloverit

Whew – busy day here. Did you have a busy one, too?

Dream in Color Classy and Special Blend Cashmere Worsted – lots of pretty re-stocks. I just started a fun scarf pattern on Friday night out of the Cashmere Worsted (shown here). It’s the Palindrome pattern, free on Rav. It knits up with reversible cables. SO quick and easy, because it’s basically 5 rows of rib (K2, P2) and then one cable row. I am loving it in the Cashmere Worsted (takes 2 skeins). Here you can see it in progress, showing the back and the front. (I cast on 52 stitches and then did 4 cables instead of 3.) And yes I AM also working on a sweater out of this same yarn base. Right now I pretty much want to make everything out of this yarn. Is there anything wrong with that??

Done Roving Yarns – Frolicking Feet (their 100% Superwash base, shown here in Dancing Leprechaun) in stunning colors. And I just got Alice’s Socktopus book and am so ready to cast on a pair of socks. It has been awhile since I worked on socks, but Alice’s book has me itching to work on some. It’s full of sock patterns that I know I will use. I’ll show you more of that later.

Accessories – two new colors of Pattern Holders (pink and yellow), more Soak Mini Sample Packs, DPN Needle Tubes, Work-in-Progress tubes, and Loopy 4-piece stitchmarker sets from Knit Girl in Idaho.

Namaste – Circular Cases and Monroe bags re-stocked, plus their new Boardwalk Backpack Bags. (More on order. We sold out of the Espresso color between the pre-orders and Loopy Elves buying Espresso for themselves! Let us know if you want us to save you one from the next batch. We do have the Eggplant, Red, and Black in stock and just up tonight, though.)

Nutty Creations - lots of fun new patterns from Debbie O’Neill. Many of you know Debbie from the Anniversary Patterns she creates for us every year. We love her work and there are lots of different projects to choose from.

It’s time to vote on the Fourth Quarter Challenge Projects that you all turned in. Last quarter the challenge was to make anything using at least one skein of Madelinetosh yarn, and you all rose to the occasion. Take a wander through the Fourth Quarter Photo Gallery and then email us your vote for your favorite: support@theloopyewe.com  We’ll announce the winner in a week or so!

Sheri headinghomenowtoworkonmyscarfsomemore

Are you ready for some post weekend shopping?

Madelinetosh Pashmina – this update brings our total to 100 colors in stock. Due to a yarn base shortage, we weren’t able to get the quantities that we originally ordered, but those have been backordered so we will get them all eventually. This 3 ply sport weight is 75% superwash merino, 15% silk and 10% cashmere. So it feels good and it looks good, all at the same time. Think scarves, mitts, hats and shawls – things that you can keep close to you. (Shown here in Dusk, which I think would make a wonderful, neutral, wear-with-anything shawl.)

Malabrigo Arroyo, Sock, Lace, Worsted and Silky – Multiple weights, multiple options for you! As with Madelinetosh, we always have orders in the queue with Malabrigo, so the re-stocks come regularly. If there are ever colors you’re waiting for us to get in, pop us an email and we’ll make sure it’s on the next order in. (Shown here in Arroyo Archangel. Hard to match multiple skeins in some of these multi-colored colorways, but so fun for 1-2 skeins projects.)

Schoppel Wolle Zauberball – Sock weight, lace weight, and sport weight. Have you seen some of the fun things that have been done with Zauberball? I have this pattern set aside with a skein. But I also think it would be fun to do Wendy’s Fire and Ice Shawl in Zauberball, since the body of the shawl is knit sideways (and then wouldn’t it look cool in the ruffle, too?).

Trekking XXL and XXL Tweed – These are great workhorse socks yarns, especially for people who don’t want to baby (ie – hand wash) their handknits. If you’re making socks for a friend or family member who doesn’t get the whole “special care” thing, this might be the yarn for you. (Shown here in color 491. Is that not a great faded blue jeans color??)

Addi Needles – We re-stocked the Addi’s mid-week last week in all circular sizes, as well as the sets and the tips.

I’m still working my way through the comments on last week’s blog post about popular patterns. I can guarantee that you’ll find some great news ones in there if you want to take a few minutes and read through some of them!

Sheri whowillbefinishingupacutehattonight

If you’re in Colorado (or can travel to Colorado!) tomorrow, January 28th, please stop in and say hi during our official Grand Opening!

Our address is:

2720 Council Tree Ave. Ste. 255
Fort Collins, CO  80525

Here’s a link to the shopping area where we are located – Front Range Village. You can click on the directions tab there for a map. We’re on the second floor above Verizon (across the hall), so if you see Verizon on the main street, head there and take the door around the corner from their shop (under the archway). Elevator yourself up to the second floor and we’re the first door on the right!

If you can’t make it in, you can still catch a glimpse of it on the Loopy Webcam tomorrow. We also have two door prizes to share with all of you who can’t come in, and you can enter the drawing by leaving a comment on this past Wednesday’s blog post, which is here. While you’re on that blog post, take a look through some of the comments so far. 1000+ people have weighed in on their favorite patterns (the ones they liked so much that they’ve knit them more than once). There is a treasure trove of great pattern ideas there. It’s going to take me some time to go through them all, but I’m looking forward to it.

Happy Weekend!

Sheri 15minutesofnearblizzard-likeconditionsthismorning.
Sunnyanddryagainthisafternoon.

Monday always brings new things to The Loopy Ewe.

Madelinetosh Vintage – at last! We’ve had this on order for a long time, waiting for enough of the base yarn to be in. We put it up in 77 colors tonight. If you’re using it for sweaters, don’t forget to alternate skeins as you knit. We always do the best we can in matching skeins for you (and we’ll let you know if they are way off, before shipping), but with any hand-dyed yarn, it’s still smart to alternate, due to subtle variances. You might try one of these patterns:  Pichu-Pichu Sweater, Black Cherry Lambic Scarf/Cowl, Mo Shawl, or Cranberry Capelet. (Shown here in Terrarium.)

Studio June Eight Bells – Jill’s popular 8-ply heavy fingering weight superwash is back in re-stocks and new colors. This would be a fun one to use for Froot Loop Socks (and every.single.time I try to type “loop”, I type it as “loopy” and have to go back and delete the “y”, FPS), Hitchhiker Scarf, or the Herbivore. (Shown here in Dancing in the Moonlight.)

Atenti Bags – Overnighter Bags - These big bags are great for travel. I always pack mine full of projects when I go out of town (because heaven forbid that I should run out of projects in the middle of a trip). It also makes a great carry on bag, or a pretty place to corral all of your smaller project bags at home.

Atenti Bags – Carpet Bags - This is a new style we’ve added in that’s perfect for single projects, whether it’s small (like socks) or large (like sweaters). Wooden handles, lined inside, and done up in the beautiful fabrics and great workmanship that you know to expect from Atenti. (Shown here in Camellia Sky).

Twentyseven Soap – All of your favorites scents have been re-stocked and they are making our shop smell good.  But we’re ready to share the good smells with you now, so order up and we’ll send them on their way. I’m sure it will make your whole order smell awesome, en route!

ChiaoGoo Needles – Re-stocks on all sizes, all lengths that we carry (24″, 32″, and 40″).

Marie Mayhew Designs – Re-stocks and new patterns from one of our very favorite felting designers. Plenty of sweet things to make for Spring, including two that come as optional kits – a lamb and a bird’s nest.

Pattern Holders – So many of you emailed when I did my blog post on basket/project organizing, and asked if we were going to start carrying the pattern holders that I showed in the photos. We have them for you in three colors – blue, black, and fuchsia. The heavyweight vinyl is great for keepting your patterns wrinkle-free as you knit or store them, and the 9 x 12 size means that your multi-page 8 1/2 x 11 patterns or leaflets will slide in there easily.

Lavishea Bars – Back in all scents, ready to pop in a purse or a knitting bag. This is a good way to keep your winter-dry hands moisturized.

Soak - Still backordered on some scents and sizes, but we have a good stock back on several of the options. I use this for washing all of my handknits.

Loopy Ewe Brown T-shirts - We had these in the late spring of last year, and they went quickly. These chocolate brown shirts have one of our favorite knitting quotes on the front: “In the rhythm of the needles there is music for the soul.”

You might notice us adding a few things mid-week, here and there. Now that we’ve increased our in-store shopping hours and days, we sometimes find ourselves needing to re-stock needles or other accessories at odd times of the week. This week we added the Atenti Overnighters, ChiaoGoo Needles, Soak, Lavishea, and T-shirts mid-week. They’ll always show up under What’s New when they go up (even mid-week), but I’ll also make sure to include them in the Monday blog posts as well, so you don’t miss anything. For new items and big yarn re-stocks (like Madelinetosh, Malabrigo, Dream in Color, etc.), we’ll make sure to hold off on those until a regular Monday Update so that everyone has a chance for those at the same time.

Have fun shopping and we’ll be in bright and early in the morning to get packing things up for you.

Sheri hadtostartacutenewhatthatcuteBabyHazelworeintotheshoplastweek.
HopeitgoesquicklysoIcanshareitwithyou!

Christy and Eileen. Christy has been an online orderer for over a year and is a Loopy Groupie. So fun to meet her in person! Eileen asked me where I went to high school. (Which is a question that only the St. Louis people will understand. Eileen lived in St. Louis before here. I haven’t been asked that question for months. It’s a weird-joke-St.Louis thing…) Eileen’s sister-in-law was watching her on the webcam from Wisconsin. (Hi, Eileen’s sister-in-law!)

Pat who traveled up from Highland’s Ranch with her friend (who did not want to be in the photo, as she was here incognito), and became instant BFF’s with Elf Jody, because she told Jody she’d teach her to knit. Never mind that we’ve offered this to Jody before. Apparently she was waiting for Pat to appear and offer.

Some of the knitters who came for our first Loopy Knit Night, which was fun! I frogged something twice before deciding that I had to find a simpler thing to knit when I’m surrounded by other knitters. There were others there who managed to chat and knit something that takes a brain at the same time, but apparently I was not one of them. (Please note Herman-the-mail-cart eavesdropping in the background there.)

We’re looking forward to more fun shoppers today and tomorrow. Stop in if you’re near us in Colorado! (And I only remind you of the state because we still get a few calls a week from people wanting to know our hours …. and they live in St. Louis.)

Sheri thinkingthereisnothingwrongwithcomingtoshop
evenifyouAREinSt.Louis.Hopaplain/train/automobile!

The long-awaited Cascade 220 re-stock is here! I

Along with that re-stock, we’ve also re-stocked our Fixation, Eco Alpaca, and Eco Duo from Cascade. You know me and Eco Duo. It is one of my all-time favorites, and I’ve used it for my Girasole, for my Never-ending Scarf, and for multiple pairs of fingerless mitts. I am slightly addicted to the stuff.

We added a new yarn base from Georgia at Fiberphile – her Super Squish DK. (Shown here in Bayou). Wonderful colors, wonderful to knit with, and great for sweaters, vests, hats and scarves. Try it for The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief, a Chinook Scarf, or an Everglade Hat.

We added in the new DK line that Stonehedge Fiber Mill has just come out with in their popular Shepherd’s Wool line. I know you all have been loving the Worsted weight that we added in a few weeks ago, so I’m sure you’ll love this as well. The DK weight comes in 120 yard skeins, making it a great choice for colorwork. I’m always drawn to colorwork mittens – such little works of art. Try Bird and Vine Mittens, Rigmore’s Selbum Mittens, or Flower Stars and Net Caps and Mittens. Or hats – how about the Flora Hat, the Norwegian Snowflake Hat, or the Fair Isle Ski Hat? Colorwork. I need to tackle it and get good at it. There are just too many fun patterns out there.

It’s snowing here tonight – maybe that’s why I have mittens and hats on my mind. The more colorful, the better!

Sheri whoenjoyedtoday’sNoMailMonday,
butisreadyforBusyTomorrow

For those of you nearby who have been patiently waiting for us to open up the in-store shopping part of The Loopy Ewe

First shopping day: Thursday, January 19th (10 am – 8:30 pm)

Official Open House: Saturday, January 28th (10 am – 4:30 pm)

Regular Hours (starting January 19th):

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 10 am – 4:30 pm
Thursdays: 10 am – 8:30 pm
Closed Sunday and Monday

In addition to our shopping hours, please feel free to join our Loopy Knit Group on Thursday evenings (usually from 5:30 – 8:30 pm). We’ll set up as many chairs as we can accommodate, but if you come one night and the chairs are full, please do come back a different week and try again. We expect different people, different weeks, and you’re always welcome.

A couple of additional notes: We love dogs, we love coffee, and we love food. However, none of that is allowed in the shop. (Rules of the lease). So enjoy Dazbog coffee and Panera cookies and pastries before or after you pop in!

How to find us: We’re at Front Range Village. You can park down the middle of the two buildings, or you can park in the back lot (Toys R Us is back there, but park up near the Front Range Village buildings, not way over by the toy store). To get up to us, go under the arch between the north buildings (the arch says “The Offices at Front Range Village”), and in that side door, around the corner from Verizon. Take the elevator to the second floor, turn right, and we’re the first door on the right.

We’re looking forward to having you here at the end of next week! (And to all of our online Loopy customers – don’t you want to Road Trip on over??)

Sheri and The Loopy Ewe Crew

Tonight’s Monday Update includes an old favorite and a new soon-to-be favorite!

How about  a new indie dyer? We have our first batch of Skein up for you tonight, in the merino/cashmere fingering weight. (Shown here in Bittersweet. Click on it so that you can see the softness in there.) Oh, this is lovely stuff. So lovely that I popped three skeins right into my own stash. Soft. Gorgeous colors. Fun to work with. Comes straight to us from Australia. The 80% merino/ 20% cashmere skeins come with 427 yards, making them perfect for one-skein shawls and scarves like Favorite Scarf Ever, In the Land of Oz, Crocus Shawlette, and Cinnamon Grace. We have more fun bases and colors planned for Skein in the coming months. Keep watch!

It occurs to me that there are so many wonderful patterns and so much beautiful yarn out there, that we all just need to stop working and enjoy knitting full time. Don’t you think?  Can we find someone to fund that for all of us?

Sheri offtowandertheyarnshelvesandmakesomeplans

Happy New Year to all of you! The yarn budget starts over now, right?

We just added some fun things in tonight’s Update, including a brand new yarn base from one or your favorite companies. Just up:

Dream in Color Special Edition Cashmere Blend Worsted – How’s that for a long name? If you are in their Dream Club, you received a skein of this amazing stuff as the September club yarn. Of course as soon as that September order arrived, I jumped on it and ordered that base in a bunch of colors (including more of the September colorway, shown here, which sold out in a blink last fall). We just now got it in and I know you will love it. I have already set aside enough for a sweater for myself (and I’m thinking Tea Leaves for that). It would also be lovely knit up as a hat (loving this Roscoe Village Hat), mitts (like Treads), a scarf (try Saroyan or Arroyo), or shawl (isn’t Debaser a fun shape?). I am not sure how often they will get this base yarn in, but I will order it as often as I can. It’s just so soft and wonderful.

Dream in Color in Classy and Smooshy – We also replenished the worsted weight in Classy, and the fingering weight in Smooshy in several colors.

Swan’s Island Organic Merino Fingering – re-stocks in a few of the colors that have been sold out (shown here in Raspberry). I love the feel of this yarn and it has great yardage in the skein. I’ve been thinking of a two-color shawl like Sothia, which has been on my list forever. I’ll never be able to afford one of their famous woven blankets, but I can knit a shawl and wrap up in that instead!

Lorna’s Laces Kits – we added in more of the SoleMate/Heel Soak combo kits, since they sold so fast before the holidays. This is always a great gift idea, whether you’re gifting it to yourself or a friend. And have you tried Heel Soak? Whether you get it in the kit or you get our Loopy Soak, it is awesome. I’ve started using it on my dry hands this winter, because it did such a great job on my heels in winters past. I am a big fan of it.

Namaste – We’ve re-stocked the Circular Needle Cases (which I love and use), The Zuma’s, the Hermosa’s, the Mini Messengers, and we’ve added back some Laguna bags. (They stopped making this style for awhile, but had so many people ask for them back that they started up with them again.)

Stonehedge Fibers Shepherd’s Worsted – three more colors have arrived – Denim, Orange, and Baby Blue. We’re just waiting on the last one – green.

Dream in Color’s January Dream Club yarn – we put up our extra skeins of the January color (we order extras each month for you). It’s dyed up on the Everlasting DK yarn in a beautiful blue/green color, shown here. It comes with a pattern for the Carom hat, which we will send you via email within 48 hours of ordering. Just a reminder that we will add MORE skeins to the website next Tuesday (1/10) after our pre-order customers have made final decisions on this yarn. So if you miss it today, we’ll have more available next week.

Did you happen to catch my blog post last Friday, which details the First Quarter Challenge? I hope you’ll join us in knitting up something fun. I am using Lorna’s Laces Pearl in Zombie BBQ (not because I like zombies, but because I love that color combination on Pearl), and I finally settled on a pattern last night. I’m making Mizzle. (Thank goodness for Rav and the “save” feature, because I just tried looking it up as “Whizzle” and I was obviously remembering the name wrong. But now it makes me want to design a pattern called Whizzle ….)

Today was a No-Mail Monday in the U.S., but we will be in first thing in the morning for lots and lots of order packing. It might take us an extra day to get orders out this week, but just know we’re working on them as quickly as possible. Watch us on the Loopy Webcam!

Sheri whoneedstolearntoknitandreadatthesametime.Canyoudothat?