You all have made it a very very (very very) busy month for us here at The Loopy Ewe. And we SO appreciate it! We’ve had fun packing up your orders. You might notice that we’ve sent out some of the sale orders sans tissue paper. It was either that, or take an extra 2 days to get all of the orders out. We figured you’d just as soon have the yarn quicker. Once these anniversary sales are over, we’ll get back to orders as usual around here. Although if you want to keep up this pace, I can always hire more Elves. We’re up for it!
Wow – 1800+ comments on last week’s contest blog. How fun is that? It was interesting to see where you heard about us. Yes, we DO love and appreciate Wendy an awful lot. And Lime & Violet. And the Yarn Harlot. And … well every single one of you who have ever passed our website on to your friends and knitting groups via podcasts, blogs, emails, Ravelry posts, and word of mouth. Our goal is to always live up to the positive things that you have said about us, and we promise to take good care of your friends, here, too. 🙂 We are sending out 8 prize packages, from randomly selected comments off of last week’s blog. The winner’s are: Janice in VA, Laura in UT, Maria in MN, Natasha in VA, Meredith in MI, Ann in OH, Melissa in UT, and Rachel in VA. (I think that Virginia and Utah were well represented this time.) I’ve sent emails to the 8 of you, so check your email in-box if you think it might be you. We’ll pick the last round of winners from this post, and we’ll announce them next week.
Today’s Anniversary Sale (our last one) includes 20% off all Fiesta Yarns, 20% off all Monica Knits Patterns, and 20% off all Loopy Ewe Accessories. (In stock items only.) We hope you have fun picking out some new things. We’ll be including a free sock pattern if you purchase 2 skeins of Baby Boom (the sock is shown here), and a free scarf pattern if you purchase a skein of Ballet. All free patterns are while supplies last.
In addition to the Sale, we’ve also added in a whole bunch of stuff for the regular weekly update. Just in, you’ll find:
Polar Knits Worsted Weight
Dream in Color Classy re-stocked (including our exclusive Don’t Be Blue colorway)
Dream in Color Smooshy re-stocked
Dream in Color Smooshy Sock Summit Exclusives
Lorna’s Laces Whidbey Island (exclusive Sock Summit Colorway)
Ella Rae Lace Merino
String Theory Caper Sock
Hand Maiden Casbah (so many great colors in stock)
Tempted Luxe Girl (new cashmere line)
Opal Rainforest Five
Addi Lace Turbo 16″ circulars
Addi Click Tips and Connectors
Fiesta Baby Boom in new colors
So hop over to shop! But before you go, answer this question in the comments for your chance to win a prize package in our last anniversary contest. (Of course we’ll be back with our September Blog Contest before you know it.) Question: Who has had the biggest influence on your knitting? It might be a pattern designer, or a blogger, or a friend, or a group on Ravelry, or a podcaster or … even yourself. Maybe you’re good at poking around and inspiring yourself to learn new things and branch out. Food for thought. And then for a blog comment. 🙂
We’re taking pre-orders on the new Namaste bag colors, which we expect in within the next week or two. If you’d like a RED Hermosa, or a BLACK Zuma, or a BLACK Laguna, simply send us an email (support AT theloopyewe DOT com) and we’ll reserve one for you. The Hermosa’s are $75 and the Zuma’s and Laguna’s are $69.
We’re heading up to Indiana to take Knitting Daughter back to college this week, so I won’t be blogging again until next Monday. Maybe I can get some of these half-finished socks done enroute so that I’ll have photos to share by then. Or maybe I’ll be too busy shedding tears. You know how that goes. I’m hopeless.
Sheri thinkingthatfallisintheair
eventhoughLaborDayisstill
twoweeksaway
Wow, this question required some thought — Ravelry, my Monday night knitting group, and a variety of knitting podcasts have all been both influence and inspiration for me. Your shop; however, with its wonderful variety of yarns and colorways, is so very tempting. I have to look for new things to try so that I can use the gorgeous yarns. You all are such enablers. (And I do appreciate it!)
I have been a solitary knitter, finding my way through libraries and blogs, and Ravelry, of course! Perhaps the greatest influence was my friend Carol, who is not a knitter, but who has a love of lace, and is a wonderful home decorater — mostly her own home!
So when I realized how much I adored lace, I learned to do it, too. And now that’s all I really want to knit, but I do make other things for friends and family.
I’ve been knitting for almost 50 years (gulp!) so there’s been lots of time for lots of influences. I am forever grateful to m godmother Dodie who taught me to knit as a child, but I then learned (or didn’t!) a lot of the details of knitting on my own. It has only been in the past few years, thanks to wonderful podcasters and now Ravelry that my knitting has really become so much better. So, I’d say that these new tech-delivered members of the knitting community have been my greatest influences.
I am a country girl at heart. My mom took every opportunity to see that I was involved in every 4-H opportunity available. I am positive the reason for that is she could mend a mean sock on a light bulb but she always knew there should be a better way! And how convenient that my leader lived just right next door! she even raised her own sheep for her wool projects! My 4-H cooking leader didn’t live to far just a few short miles down the dusty roads. Oh I began sewing too at age 8. And of course in 4-H everything went to the 4-H fair. Clothing was not only sewn but you had to model it too! So we all learned to walk gracefully and we were taught to pivot on a dime! I can remember driving in through the gate at the fair grounds just binding off a project to enter hoping for that blue ribbon! I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. She loved to crochet and you guessed it I can remember to this day sitting in her living room with a crochet hook in one hand and my yarn in the other and listening to my grandma say “ok Pammie now insert your needle into this whole here and by wrapping your yarn around the needle you can create double and triple crochets. And at 98 this October, she is still crocheting today making sure all her grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, and her great-great grandchildren have afghans. Oh so back to the question who has the biggest influence in my gift of knitting I would have to say the environment my mom created for me. Thanks mom!
My mother was my greatest influence when I was younger. Not only did she teach me to knit, but she also taught me “no fear” and to use quality yarns. She was always a proponent of not wasting your precious time knitting something you wouldn’t be happy with because you chose a yarn based on price point only, instead of a combination of both or quality. She also never suggested that anything was above me. When I picked a pattern that used a circular or double pointed needles, she simply told me how without the slightest hint that it might be hard or difficult to do. As a beginner knitter I did projects that would probably have been beyond my abilities had I known any better. LOL
My mum, though perhaps only as a conduit for my grandmother’s legendary knitting skills. Mum’s mum died before I was born, but any time the subject of knitting came up, she was there and part of it.
I have had several different influences. Elizabeth Zimmerman, Yarn Harlot and the ladies in my LYS (too many to name). Sometimes it has just been other knitters and I never knew their names-we were just chatting.
It seems a bit of a cop-out, but I have to say the online knitting community, from WendyKnits to the Yarn Harlot, from Ravelry to KnittingHelp. This world of knitting possibilities has been the greatest influence on me.
Have a safe trip!
My greatest influence has probably been two people jointly: my mother and Elizabeth Zimmermann! And my mother introduced me to EZ, so they’re connected. When I was in college and starting to knit seriously, my mother saw EZ’s TV show on Wisconsin Public Television, apparently. Not only did my mother problem solve from a distance and at holidays with my early knitting projects, and offer helpful advice and support, but she also gave me the confidence to tackle my second project after the seed stitch vest which was my first garment: a Lopi color work sweater! Before that, though, she gave me “Knitting Without Tears” by EZ and suggested I learn to knit continental if I was going to do a colorwork project, to make it easier to carry one color in each hand. I taught myself from the book while also absorbing EZ’s (and my mother’s) ‘can do’ approach, the sweater turned out well, and two sweaters later I was designing (and knitting everything continental on circs…).
The rest was history.
The biggest influence on my knitting has been my weekly knitting group. I had been knitting over a year when I started attending and almost all I had attempted at that point had been scarves, hats and dishcloths. After seeing everyone else’s projects, I’ve branched out into sweaters, socks, bags, lace, a lot of stranding and many more things.
The biggest influence on my knitting was probably Mrs Borelli who taught me how to knit. 🙂
This is tough to answer. The biggest influence may be the nice lady in Earth Guild who directed me to a pattern written by a local employee. The pattern is for a basic crew sock and it is formula-based. The formula concept helped me get socks that fit right every time. I almost never follow the CO number given in full patterns – I figure out the right CO number for the yarn and the foot, and adjust the pattern as needed. This has freed me from the worst part of some patterns but allowed me to take the best part and create a sock that really works.
I’d have say to Ravelry has been most influential. After teaching myself to knit via the internet, Ravelry gave me the inspiration and encouragement to keep growing and trying new things. I’d also have to say my husband has been an amazing source of encouragement. He has actually taken the time to learn a bit about it himself and will offer ideas and suggestions whenever I get stuck. I’m quite a lucky gal!
I think my biggest knitting influence is Ravelry in general. From the patterns to the yarn enablers to all of the various groups they all influence me in different ways. I don’t know what I’d do without Ravelry!
I am a self taught knitter, so I will go with Elizabeth Zimmerman, the fearless one!
The biggest influence originally – was probably the local yarn shop. The owner is a lot of fun and I enjoyed taking classes. Once my skills developed – I fell in love with socks, ravelry and blogs and my queue just grows endlessly from there…. :O)
Strangely enough, the person who technically has had the most influence on my knitting (in the sense that without her, I wouldn’t *be* knitting) was my third grade teacher who no one liked (including myself). This is the teacher whose chalk we habitually flushed down the toilet. She decided one day that we were all going to learn how to knit. Mom really taught me the basics, but I probably wouldn’t have thought to ask her to teach me if it hadn’t been a class project.
So if I could spell her last name, I would thank my strange, crotchity third grade teacher! Knitting was probably the best thing that came out of her class.
Taking the time to look around has had the biggest influence on my knitting. By looking at machine knit/mass produced garments I’ve purchased, items others have created (both in person and via Rav), reading lots (and lots and lots) and always being open to trying something new and trying it again, I think my knitting has improved. Most of my colour/design influences are nature inspired but Life is probably the answer you are looking for. 😉
(or coffee. what on earth would we do without coffee and tea?)
My biggest influence was the knitting group I started in our town. I had to keep learning new techniques so that I could teach them to the group. We were all novice knitters and I was forced to expand my horizons in order to keep them interested.
My mom, she’s the one who taught me how to knit.
I think Sandy and Kathy at my LYS are the two people that have most influenced my knitting. They are very encouraging and offer classes that have improved my skills so that I feel up to the challenge of taking on any project that I can find.
The internet has also had a huge influence on my knitting. When I discovered podcasts and blogs, a whole new knitting world opened up. Every time I hear about a new yarn, fiber or desinger on a podcast or read about them in a blog, I have to go and check them out. I don’t think I would have ever tried spinning if I hadn’t heard several podcasters talking about their adventures in creating yarn.
My biggest influence was my mother. She taught me how to knit three times before I finally caught on. I’m very thankful for her patience!
I’ve always been kind of a loner in my hobbies & crafts. I learned to knit from books. I’d have to say Maggie Righetti’s book, “Knitting in Plain English” gave me the confidence to try new patterns and figure out things for myself.
My biggest influence has been the internet and all the fabulous knitters that have posted free sock patterns . I didn’t start knitting until my mid 50’s – none of my family knitted although they were talented artists in other areas. I took lessons to learn the basic techniques but in the early days I shied away from sock knitting books because all the instructions and charts looked like greek to me. I improved my skills by joining various knitalongs and by stopping in my favorite LYS when I ran across directions I didn’t understand. Now I can knit socks with the best of them and have even started to add my own variations to patterns. I wouldn’t have gotten as far as I have without the internet and sock knitters across the globe.
My biggest influence has been ravelry: a community that I don’t have in close proximity that challenges me and encourages me in ways I didn’t know was possible.
For a person, I’d probably say a girl who lived next to me in Freshman year at McGill. Natalie bought a sweater kit down at the Bay, and knit herself a sweater. I’d never followed a pattern before, but I thought, “I can do that!”
And I did. The rest is history.
Oh, and Sandra from Austria three years later taught me to knit continental. Invaluable.
I try to push myself with new techniques and designs. Many of the great knitters on Ravelry are a big influence.
I have learned the most about knitting from the Internet, specifically bloggers such as the Yarn Harlot. I got hooked during the first winter knitting Olympics and learned a lot from reading her previous posts. From there, I’ve picked up other bloggers who have been knitting for a long time. You can learn a lot from following the links in a post. This comment from an obsessive knitter who knits whenever possible :).
I started knitting just to feel productive while I was recovering from a major illness. IWhat I knit is influenced by the blogs that I read as well as what I see on Ravelry. Currently I’m into making socks. Can’t wait for the fiesta yarn that I ordered. 🙂
Ravelry. Hands down. I am a serious Rav-stalker. I love that “friends activity” feature, where I can see what everyone else is doing!
I would have to say that Ravelry as a whole is the biggest current influence in my knitting. I can see the various KALs, and join in if I want; I can see the latest and most popular patterns, or delve through the pattern listings to find hidden gems. I can research yarns and see what people like and don’t like. I can learn a new skill, or get advice on bettering my technique. It’s like the biggest and best LYS, knitting group, and S&B all rolled into one!
I think my biggest influence is probably the internet, and more specifically ravelry. I can find patterns, opinions, techniques, etc all in one place. Sometimes I get overwhelmed but I definitely have been influenced a LOT.
Wow. What started me knitting was my grandmother who loved to create with her hands – she didn’t knit, only crocheted, which I learned partially from her, partially in a continuning ed class. After finding limitations in how a crocheted garment looked, I learned to knit. My current biggest influence are the other knitters on Ravelry. Looking at other folks work is inspiring to me. Next to that my inspiration to create comes from the pattern designers and all of the wonderful yarns out there to work with. Lastly, seeing a FO that I have made for someone enjoy it and use it spurs the whole cycle over and over again. Thanks for all the great inspiration.
My mom was my biggest influence with knitting. She always had several projects going at a time, and I’m keeping up the tradition 🙂 Ravelry is a big enabler for me too.
I am a self-taught knitter. I do not know anyone personally who knits. I would have to say Ravelry is my main influence. I love to see all the new patterns and yarns, and hottest projects and what people are knitting. Any help I need, I know I can find the answer on Ravelry.
My Mum and Grandmother when she was alive. If it wasn’t for them I would not be the knitter I am today.
I’ve always wanted to knit, and my great grandmother knit. Unfortunately she died before I was born. I guess I channel her. For “live” inspiration I credit the Yarn Harlot — who convinced me that I can take on any project. Everything I knit I challenge myself to use a new technique or stitch pattern.
When I got back into knitting about 8 or 9 years ago, my aunt sent me a newspaper article that talked about blogs and knitting and the featured blog was Bonne Marie Burns’, Chicknits. I’ve been a fan and have followed her ever since. Previous to that, I was mostly self-taught by trial and error and through books. That one blog opened up a whole new world for me-knitting on the internet. Virtually any question could be answered and technique demonstrated. And a huge community of other knitters was at my finger tips.
I think my knitting group has the biggest influence on what I knit. They inspire me all the time with how they challenge themselves, and we embark on the occasional knit-along. I got into socks because of them, and always want to make sure my work is up to par! lol
My Icelandic relatives. When they settled in North Dakota, they raised sheep and traded their knitted items for food and supplies! I often wondered what they did all winter long in those quiet cold houses . . . knit and knit and knit. I wish I had some knitting relic from them. What I do have is the same passion for knitting, but I can knit for fun, not for survival. And this yarn ‘aint my grandma’s yarn’.
Without a doubt, Ravelry has been my biggest influence. I can look up patterns and see what they might look like in the yarn I have, since I have a habit of buying with no project in mind. As for individual people, I would have to say Jenny and Nicole from Stash and Burn. I love hearing about what they are knitting and what they think about certain patterns.
My Grandma taught me to knit when I was in fourth grade. I kept at it a couple years but then stopped because I only did garter stitch and only made triangular shaped elf boots. When I was 40 I saw a book in our school book fair about knitting and teaching yourself to knit. There were cute things to make and other stitches than straight knit. I took to it like a duck to water. Then I found the Yarn Girls books(Guide to Simple Knits and Knits for Kids and Guide to more Complex Knits). I loved the idea that I could make a sweater in a weekend. Then one of my teacher friends gave me a basic sock pattern and that was all she wrote. I’ve been hooked on socks ever since. I love the portability and the lack of finishing needed on socks. Now if I just had more time!
Without a doubt it would be Elizabeth Zimmermann. I have her books and DVDs and am constantly reading/watching them over again. Her love of knitting comes through in all her work!
Ravelry and internet forums are big influences currently. I started knitting socks after reading a novel that took place in a yarn shop. They were knitting socks on two circular needles. The concept intrigued me and pushed me to learn more. I was ready for a challenge. I didn’t realize how addictive it would be:-)
I learned to knit when I was 10. My cousin’s wife taught me to knit and purl while I was visiting them. When I got home I wanted to knit more. My mother knew how to knit, but hadn’t in years. We started knitting and learning together. Lucille, who owned a yarn shop in Columbia, MO, was that one who taught me to read patterns.
My Oma would come visit from the Netherlands when I was a little girl, and I would sit and watch her knit for what seemed like hours. Eventually she taught me how to knit despite the language barrier. I hadn’t knitted in years, but, now, as I’m getting back into it, I think of her often!
I had to think about this one and I still haven’t come up with a good answer. I’m currently the only one in my family that knits, but my grandma used to knit dishcloths. She was the one who originally taught me. The only knitters I “hang out” with are on Ravelry.
So, maybe what inspires me the most is just making something with my own hands. Trying out new patterns and techniques, attempting different items just to see if I can do it. And also making things for other people, and seeing their reactions to it.
I don’t have one person, I have crafted my whole life, but I rediscovered knitting and through the web found blogs, Yarn Harlot, Loopy Ewe, The Rainey Sisters and more. Then through books, Elizabeth Zimmerman I’ve jumped head over heels into knitting and now spinning. It just doesn’t get better than this.
My two biggest influences are the Yarn Harlot and The Plucky Knitter. Steph made me want to be an adventurous knitter, and Sarah’s yarn makes my stash and projects really beautiful.
My mother and Jacqueline Fee. Mom taught me to knit as she was learning when I was around 10 and J. Fee’s book The Knitting Workshop freed me from patterns and showed me I had control over what I did. It’s been a joy ever since! Mom’s influence obviously started this game for me many decades ago!
My mom was the reason for me starting to knit and crochet. In fact she was responsible for my interest in many different crafts. She taught me to knit and crochet one summer when I was bored and looking for something to do. Its been a fun adventure in crafting ever since. So much so that I have passed this crafting addiction down to my daughter.
I wish I had a homey story to tell but I don’t. When I was a child I had Norwegian sweaters in every size until I became too “cool” to wear them any more (what was I thinking). Then when I was college and a wanna be hippie, I learned how to knit a fair isle sweater from a friend. I tried knitting on and off for many years but was always slow and frustrated by the process. When I was 46 and my youngest daughter was entering 1st grade I needed a green sweater fot her to match her school uniform (she couldn’t wear the acrylic official sweater because it itched). I set about making her a sweater and her best friend one to match, then I did a bunch of scarfs and more sweaters and fell in love with knitting. Then I took a sock class and fell in love with sock knitting! Everything about knitting I love – the smell, feel and colors of the yarn, the rhythm, the quiet click, the meditative aspect, the entire process. That’s it – a friend, self taught and some classes. I’m a knitter!