(Caution: long post. Too much to tell. Pour yourself an iced tea before reading on…) I’m back from steamy Ohio and almost caught up on the email situation. 🙂 I thought about all of you so often while I was walking around the floor of the Convention Center in Columbus. I kept finding things that I knew you would like! So I thought I’d do a blog post on most of the things that we’re adding. There are still a few secrets, of course.
I arrived on Friday night, just in time for “Sample It”. This is a crazy hour-long selling event (and the only time that you can actually buy things that you can take home) and it’s not for the Faint of Heart. Each company has the opportunity to sell a “sample” of their products – as long as it’s something new for the season. They get one table in the very large room, and fill it with their samples for sale. (Can you imagine 20+ people crowding around each table, several deep, waving money or checks?) It’s a fun start to the weekend. If you survive the masses, you know the rest of the weekend will be a piece of cake.
The mornings start bright and early. A little too early, since it’s an hour earlier than my time zone. Of course you can opt not to take any 8 am classes, but most people would rather learn than sleep! My first class was “The Best Kept Secrets of the Most Successful Shops”, presented by Christine Bylsma and Kathy Morrow. I had actually visited Kathy’s shop a couple of years ago, so it was fun to see her again. It was a good class with lots of great ideas – I took notes! My second class was on Monday morning at 8 am – Celtic Cables by Melissa Leapman. I learned to do her “amazingly inventive way to increase and decrease before cabling so as not to cause any puckers on your fabric” system. It was a good class, and she was happy to pose with Little Loopy. (Oh – you thought Little Loopy stayed home to work? Well that’s just one of the many mysteries of being “Loopified”. All kinds of things can happen.)
I spent several hours walking around the floor, putting in orders, talking to all of our different yarn companies, and finding new items for our “maybe” list. Pretty soon I was ready for a Latte Break and I took it outside on the patio with this group. There is no shortage of interesting conversation when you have Cat, Janel (check out her new sock book – I got a copy!), Anne, Clara, Stephanie and Franklin at the table. Loopy was glad that Franklin held on to his feet in the photo. It was a precarious situation.
By dinnertime, I was glad to be away from yarn (can you imagine?) and out getting a good meal. I had a lot of fun going out for dinner with Nancy and Veronica, the Dream in Color girls. (Except that they ordered an appetizer that had raw meat in it. The waiter corrected us and assured us that it was “cured”, but it just looked raw to me.) 
We got back to the hotel rather late in the evening and this is important to note. Why? Because when we got back to the hotel to hang out in the lobby with a bunch of knitters, there was this weird thing going on with dry ice in a bowl and knitting things surrounding it. I can’t explain it. The best explanation? The result of a long day of yarn fumes and a late late night, apparently. Is there a “Dry Ice Vibe” that I’m not aware of? Is this some way to hasten the completion of your knitting, or the sales of your new book? Does it make money appear in your totebag? I’m puzzled.
Sunday – more walking and talking and ordering and chatting. I met Dianne from Creatively Dyed, as well as Tricia (one of our brand new indie dyers). I had fun catching up with Cookie A (her hair is blue now. I love how the accent color changes from time to time. It was green at the Spring Fling.) I talked with Jess and Casey and Mary-Heather, and Little Loopy wanted to pose with Bob-the-finger-puppet that the Malabrigo folks made for Jess and Casey. Doesn’t Loopy look happy about that? There is just never any shortage of interesting people to run into at TNNA.
There’s also never any shortage of yarn and products to view, and I picked up some new stuff for us. The new “seasonal color” for the Namaste Bags is this gorgeous blue. Fortunately, I came home with one! Also, fortunately, we will have our Namaste bags completely re-stocked (including the new color) as soon as they get home and can ship them out. Their warehouse has just been re-stocked, and I know that some of you have been waiting to get one. 
We have new colors (and old favorites) coming from Fiesta Baby Boomerang, new colors (and old favorites) from Colinette Jitterbug, 6″ Rosewood Sox Stix (coming from Lantern Moon this fall), brand new Alpaca Blend sock yarn from Alpaca With a Twist, new colors from Mountain Colors Bearfoot, and wonderful Targhee Top Roving from them as well (Little Loopy wrapped up in it). We have Silk/Cashmere laceweight coming from Jade Sapphire, as well as their brand new Cashmere Scarf kits that comes with the yarn and a booklet of 7 patterns designed specifically for men. 
(What a perfect gift to knit up for the holidays.) Lots more colors of lace from Prism (including some subtle blends that I couldn’t leave alone), a new cashmere blend of sock yarn from Pagewood Farms, new patterns from Gardiner Yarnworks and Chic Knits, Beanie Baggies (a weighted sock-holder bag), spinning wheels from Schacht, and needles from HiyaHiya. The biggest order we placed was for all 240+ solid and heather colors of Cascade 220! I went to the show wanting to find a good solid-colored worsted weight line and queried a few sweater pattern designers to see which line was a “must have”. Hands-down, Cascade won. 
Not only is it great for sweaters, but it’s also great for FELTING. (And if you’re going to carry the line, then you might as well “go big” and get it all.) This will round out our worsted weight offerings at The Loopy Ewe for awhile. (For those of you who were here for the Fling – don’t you wonder where all of that yarn is going to go? You know how full Loopy Central is already. We have it covered…..) Watch for these lines and others to trickle in to The Loopy Ewe in the next few weeks and months. We’re happy with everything coming up!
Speaking of that – this week’s Sneak Up went up yesterday morning and contained all kinds of fun things that went like hotcakes. We added Malabrigo Worsted, Cherry Tree Hill’s Summer Sock, Duets Skinny, All Things Heather, Perfect Day Yarns, Indie Dyer Yarns, Tempted Glam Girl, and Berroco Sox. We’ll be re-stocking Crystal Palace, Austermann Step, Trekking and Sockina later
this week, and we have those cool Atenti bags I was telling you about. We unpacked them today and I had the Elves pose with the different fabric options. Those will go up next week. In addition, our Neighborhood Fiber order has shipped, as well as The Sanguine Gryphon, the Large size of GoKnits bags, Dream in Color Classy, new colors of Trekking (including new Hand Art colors), and Yarntini. We’re working on the photos and will have all of that up for you asap.
I know I have taxed your patience with this long post (and you probably ran out of iced tea mid-way through). I’m heading off to take Knitting Daughter up to her college orientation on Thursday night, so no blog post on Friday. After this long post, I don’t think you could’ve handled (or needed) another one this week anyway, right? 😉 I’ll be back with you on Monday! In the meantime, what have you been knitting since I’ve come and gone??
Sheri whostillhasawholelistofthingsonthe”futurepossibilities”listFPS
You can read about the “dry ice vibe” at Stephanie’s blog. It’s really funny.
YAY! HiyaHiya needles are my FAVORITE!
Ooooo fun! All the new goodies look and sound wonderful! It sounds like you had a blast and found lots of neat new things for us! I finished my first pair of Noro socks over the weekend, and they came out really pretty…I did them for a friend, and now I am trying to decide what color I want to do next. I also finally got to start my Swirls socks from the sock club, and I just love the pattern and the yarn! Have fun with KD this weekend!
Oh my gosh, it sounds like Loopy Central is going to be bursting at the seams with yummy new yarns! 🙂 Fantastic! I’m glad you had a fun, safe trip!
Isn’t that new color of Namaste bag just dreamy? I fell in LOVE with it when my LYS owner walked in to the shop with the one she got at TNNA — and I got her to sell it to me. 😉 I didn’t know how long till the color would be widely available, so I was thrilled to get my paws on one. Now I may need to order a needle case to match though… hopefully you’re getting those? 😉
Sounds like you were busy, but having fun. I hate to say, sounds like I really need to get a job, so I can get all this new great stuff coming to Loopy. Have fun w/ KD!
When are the wheels coming? I almost ordered a Schacht Matchless last week… maybe I should wait for Loopy to get them!
Can’t wait to see all of the new goodies you’ve found for us…Loopy Central is going to need an addition to house it all!
I’m afraid I am one of the masses who have fallen hard for the February Lady Sweater on Ravelry, so that’s what I’ve been working on exclusively (believe it or not).
I’m SO excited that TLE will be carrying Cascade 220 in all of those gorgeous colors. It is one of my favorite go-to yarns. Now I truly have no reason whatsoever to shop anywhere else! Thanks Sheri!!
Can’t wait for the Cascade 220 – great stuff. and also the Namaste bags – I have one that I just love and I need an ‘excuse’ for another. and the Neighborhood Fibers – I was lucky to have purchased a colorway here locally when she first started and it is wonderful!
and the Yarn Harlot’s telling of the dry ice – just a hoot.
Little Loopy did a great job telling the “day in the life of Loopy Central” while you were away. (I suspect the difference in height gives him a completely different perspective :^) Perhaps he can report again some time?
Your site and your blog just make me smile. Thanks for sharing!
I FINALLY finished the Opal toe-up socks I was knitting at Fling. (I made a sweater and finished another while knitting them–remember.) Now I’m working on my Into the Mystic Mr Greenjeans socks that I’m “designing” based on the Cookie A class. I’m working on another prayer shawl and a baby surprise jacket which is hibernating because 250 yards is not enough! I’m trying to knit up some stash and get patterns and yarns ready for Summer of Socks.
I’m excited that you are adding more “sweater” lines. Living in a small town forces me to drive 20-30 miles or order on line. With gas prices what they are now. Guess what wins. I hate Hiya-Hiyas (the join isn’t smooth) so you won’t have to worry about my buying those. I will be knitting stash as fast as I can in anticipation of more new stuff.
Now my tea is gone so I gotta go get some more!
When you don’t post I miss it terribly and keep F5ing just to make sure I don’t miss anything. Enjoy your time with KD – see you on Monday.
OMG – you just keep giving me reasons to come back for more and more. And, yes, where will you be putting all the yummy new yarn lines when they come in? If I remember Loopy Central was bursting at the seams (even after we all cleaned it out). You can always store and ship from my apartment in Brooklyn. I won’t mind being Loopy East (though it’s pretty close already!!!) I’m loving the Blue Namaste and I might have to add to my slowly growing collection of knit bags.
Sounds like sooo much fun. I am so glad about the Pagewood Farm yarn, I think that is quickly becoming one of my very favorites.
Have fun at college orientation. I am so glad I have 2 years before that…. I am not ready yet. Although we will start the college crawls this year.
Weekend knitting …. mostly worried about rain, flooding and getting home. But I did manage a little sock knitting
I’m so glad you’re going to carry HiyaHiya needles! They are honestly my favorites. It sounds like a lot of exciting stuff is coming!
Sounds like you had a wonderful time! I can’t wait to see all the new stuff as it goes up. Hope you have sometime to recover this weekend, and that you have a good time with KD.
Now, about that blue bag—LOVE it!
Well, I must be getting used to the long posts because, honestly, it didn’t seem that long to me! hee, hee. : ) Sounds like you had a great time. Those new bags look very tempting!
As far as knitting, I’m still trying to finish a few single socks before SoS starts. I’m about half way done with 2 of them. I also realized I made a mistake on the heel of 1 of the first ones… that’s in addition to two issues I had with 2 second Monkey socks that I recently blogged about. I tried to blame it on tiredness, but really, I think its just spaciness, lol. Hard to say with me. But, really, who’s going to see them when they’re on my feet?!
Enjoy the weekend with KD. : )
Glad you had a great time here in Buckeye land! I’ve seen that view out of the plane window many times, as I’m coming home. Sometimes you get lucky and they fly right over the horseshoe stadium at Ohio State. Super cool for those of us who root for the scarlet and grey.
Cascase 220? I’ve hit the motherlode of yarn. No need to go anywhere else. Now, if I could hit that sneek up timing.
cascade???????? YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cascade 220 is a great choice for basic worsted weight wool! I use it all of the time for all sorts of projects. The color palette is just the best — so many options! And the price is really quite reasonable.
Whew! Good thing my iced tea was BIG! What a whirlwind. I just cast on for the DIC Shrug which will be my trip knitting – Lipstick Lava. Buddy Bill and I leave tomorrow for Washington, DC with yet another group of seventh graders… 90 of them this year. Little Loopy has already arranged to be a stowaway! 🙂
Wow! Cascade 220 and all the colors. Soooo nice. Since you feasted with the Dream in Color ladies, do you know if they will have new colors in the fall? They have my favorite sock yarn.
“The Best Kept Secrets of the Most Successful Shops” — judging by how hard it is for me to resist throwing stuff in my cart every single blasted time I visit your site, I would think you should be teaching this class, not taking it.
Glad to hear about the Cascade. I just got A Fine Fleece and there are a number of gorgeous sweaters in there that you can use Cascade for. My credit card is itching already!
I started (and ripped) my first sweater for me. I also started (and ripped) my socks out of the Bird of Paradise Scarlett Fleece. I did some spinning and got 120 yards of gorgeous handspun that I need to find something to do with.
Oh man! If you’d get koigu and maybe STR, I’m done. Don’t need ANYONE else but you 🙂 LOVE 220. And hiya hiyas. SO THRILLED you’re getting them!
Wise choice to carry Cascade. That was the yarn I did my very first knitting with and it’s marvelous. But where, oh where, dear Sheri are you going to put all those colors????
Yarntini? Did I hear Yarntini??? Very sneaky the way you slipped that one in at the end Sheri! And are those bags like the one NummaNumma had at the Fling? I love the new Laguna bag – can I justify a second one? My daughter is lusting after my green one and tells me how much she likes it every day! Going to a yarn trade show – heaven! Can’t wait to see all the new stuff!
I’m with Sarah R—I wouldn’t think YOU would need to take notes on “The best Kept Secrets of the Most Successful Shops”! I’m so glad you’re back and had a good time, and I didn’t think that post was too long at all! I’m so excited to hear about all the new goodies. That is wonderful that you’re getting the Cascade. And I’m looking forward to checking out the new indie dyers (and re-stocking on some of the old ones)!
Thanks for the incredible TNNA-alog. I feel like I was there and visiting with all the fun knitters, fibers and accessories without ANY of the expense. Excellent!
I echo the sentiment above–you should be TEACHing those classes on how to run a successful yarn shop. Yarntini, huh? My credit cards are melting, melting. . .
Seriously, I was planning to run out to Starbucks for an iced tea, but I wanted to read your blog first! Sounds like TNNA was fun and you have a lot of goodies coming in…how about adding Noni patterns for all that Cascade?
OMG, what a great post! I read each and every word, and great pictures. Very exciting things to be happening at the Loopy Ewe. Cascade is a wonderful addition. I love it for the Felted Clogs.
What am I knitting? I just finished up stepdaughter’s Pillar of Fire footies. Except she was wanted aqua feet instead of red. The pattern is just wonderful. She.Loves.Them! I will post a picture tomorrow..
I’m also making the RPM socks from Knitty, and using the Apple Laine Blue Bayou that’s been sitting in my stash for over a year. And, I’m going to start a shawl with the red Wollmeise for the Red KAL. Whewwwww!
Wow! Those bags that are going up next week look awesome…oh gosh, do I have space for another??? And the new blue…I don’t have one of that brand so I guess there better be space for TWO new bags…sigh…Sheri you are such an enabler!! LOL Glad you had such a great trip.
I’m a Loopy Groupy, and was surprised to read that yesterday had a sneak-up. I didn’t get an email about it. Hope I’m still on the list!
Too many yarns, too little time right?
I’ve been working on socks. (Gasp! Shocking!) I’m about to finish up another Hazel Knits pair. Can’t wait ’til you stock so I can inundate your gallery with my photos! 🙂
Great! All the colors of Cascade 220 in one place! I have a project I want to do that calls for Cascade 220 but I’ve never found all the colors needed from one vendor. The project is a felted tote bag. I found the instructions on an author’s web site.
*Grins.* I heard a snippet of the conversation of where the Cascade will go. Loopy’s going to take over the building! =)
I’ve been working on a pair of socks for my sister out of Interlacements – looks great! I also started a pair for myselt out of some Duet that I purchased last fall. Not to mention the Pillars of Fire socks are a WIP. Keeping busy.
Glad you had fun at TNN. I’m excited to see all the new products. The new bags look fab!
Have a good weekend with KD and try and get some rest after your travels.
Take Care!
So now I can just order everthing from you! I finally got the Lucy pattern, so I want to make my first felted bag. Are you going to do DIC Tulip sweater kits becasue I just found out that I am going to be an aunt again! Big suprise for my brother, his youngest starts college in the fall!
Yow. I think I almost fainted when I read about your Cascade order 🙂 that’s fantastic! And I scored one of the Namaste sets at the sample it – in green 🙂
What fun you must have had at TNNA. Loved this post, am planning to go through it again more slowly. New needles, I’m always up for that, and I don’t think you need to go to a class on successful shops-I agree, you should be teaching one!
Finished a Jaywalker in Shibui, and cast on my second Chevron anniversary sock in Claudia Handpainted’s Watermelon that I got at the Fling.
I have 4 single socks awaiting mates, but I know I’ll keep starting new ones, anyway!
I was convinced Addi circs were the best ever. Last time I went to my LYS, they were phasing in HiyaHiya – and I really NEEDED a certain needle size. Went with the new brand, and honestly, I can’t tell the difference unless I look at the cable really closely – it’s a slightly different color. Oh, and my wallet noticed a big difference!! Glad you’ll be carrying them, because I’ll need longer needles if I’m going to get hooked on lace now, in addition to socks!
Sherri, it was great to meet you in person! I’m mailing you the new brochure and order form in just a minute. Also, I got some of the silk laceweight from Neighborhood Fiber Co. and I’ll be designing a shawl with it after I finish the current shawl design.
M
Sounds like you and Little Loopy had a great time at TNNA. I’d love to go sometime so I guess I have to work on writing a knitting book or owning a shop or yarn related business. :o)
And sounds like Loopy Central will be busting at the seams with all that yummy yarn coming! Can’t wait to see what’s coming our way!
TNNA must have been a blast! Can’t wait to see the Cascade 220 line. I’m gather my patterns and yarns to take on vacation…lots of knitting and reading time. You and KD have a great weekend.
What fun! Will you take me with you next year?
I’ve been bad with the new wips while you were gone – a new sweater (the Apres Surf Hoodie), a new summer top, and I haven’t finished the socks, scarf, felted slippers, or Autumn Rose sweater yet… Ah well, the summer is yet ahead of us!
Can’t wait for all the new stuff! A question, though…is it possible to search your website by yarn weight and come up with just the yarns in stock? I found the search area that brings up everything and it’s fun to see, but it would be nice, for instance, if I’m looking for lace yarn, to be able to see all the lace yarn in stock from the different vendors. All I can figure to do now is to look under the names of those vendors who I think might have a lace yarn, and I’m sure I miss some.
Thanks! Glad your trip was fun.
Looks like you and little Loopy had a great time at TNNA . The new Atenti bags look very pretty. I definitely see some I’d like to have. Have a great time with Knitting Daughter this weekend 🙂
And here I thought you were the cat’s pajamas already…and you went and ordered HiyaHiya needles. *dances with joy*
They are some of the BEST ones out there, and did you know? EVERY set comes with a gift. Every. Single. One.
Sarah R. expressed my thoughts exactly! (Actually, a little better. 😉 ) Your work ethic and creativity are amazing.
Darn you Sheri. Now I have to have at least one or two of those beautiful bags!!!! Why are you torturing us like this?
It sounds like quite an intense and exciting weekend (and I saw a cute picture of you on Anne’s blog). Can’t wait to see all those new things!
Right now I’m working on Father’s Day socks, one pair for my husband and one for my father-in-law. I’m almost done the second pair and really craving some bright girly colours after all this brown and gray yarn.
OMG I can’t believe you are going to carry Cascade!! I have 4 major bag projects lined up and kept saying a secret prayer Cascade would show up in a sneakup. Oh boy, I feel a credit coming when I place that order. Sounds like wonderful things in the future.