It’s that time again – time to be a camper at Camp Loopy this summer! This is our second year hosting you all for Camp, and we anticipate a great summer of knitting.
How does it work? First of all, there is no travel involved. This is Virtual Camp! That also means no bugs, no hard ground to sleep on, no sand in your food, no campfire smoke in your eyes, and no swimming tests to prove that you know how to save yourself if your canoe tips. Just lots of knitting, meeting new friends, contests, challenges, and fun!
We will be knitting a different challenge project each month, for the next 3 months. You can choose to knit for one month, two months, or all three months. There are benefits and prizes for completing your projects on time and an extra bonus for doing all three. I know quite a few of you have mentioned that your Camp Loopy knitting will be used for holiday gifts, which is a great way to get a jump-start on those projects.
Here is our schedule:
Project One: needs to be knit or crocheted between 5/27 and 6/27 (with a photo of the completed project uploaded to our Project One Photo Gallery by 6/29).
The Challenge for Project One – We’re all celebrating the Olympics this summer, so in keeping with the theme of many countries coming together for one event, your challenge for Project One is to knit something using a pattern from a designer who was born in (or currently lives in) a country other than your own. The only other guideline is that the completed project needs to be least 400 yards (370 m). I’ve added some designer links to the bottom of this post, in case you need some ideas!
Project Two: needs to be knit or crocheted between 6/27 and 7/27 (photo uploaded by 7/29).
Challenge Two details coming in June!
Project Three: needs to be knit or crocheted between 7/27 and 8/27 (photo uploaded by 8/29). This coincides with the Olympics, in case you’re knitting for that, too. Although the Olympics end before our Camp deadline ends.
Challenge Three details coming in July!
International knitters/crocheters: Since we started the Camp Loopy Store Week earlier this year, we don’t anticipate that you’ll need extra time on the deadlines. Hopefully your packages will get to you in plenty of time to start on the Project One dates with everyone else. But don’t delay in ordering – get it in as soon as you can.
The benefits:
1. If you need to purchase yarn for your project, we are offering a 20% Camp Loopy discount for the yarn during a designated “Camp Loopy Store Week” each month. The first discount, for Project One, is valid on one camp project’s worth of yarn purchased during Camp Store Week One (May 9 – May 16th). 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, and you’ll need to purchase what you need in one order, so calculate carefully. 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.
2. 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 that month’s Camp Store Week for the double credits benefit.) So if your project yarn costs you $30, you’ll see $30 added to your Frequent Shopper totals after your order ships, and then we’ll add in another $30 to your totals when we approve your photo to the Gallery by the deadline.
3. If you choose to do all three projects with us (photos uploaded by the deadline and yarn for each project purchased during Camp Store Week for that project) we will also be awarding you a special skein of fingering weight cashmere blend, in an exclusive Camp Loopy Colorway. (We will have 3 different exclusive Camp colors for you to choose from, so that you can pick your favorite.) This luscious skein will be perfect for socks, shawls, scarves, cowls, or mitts.
So if you participate in all three months of Camp and follow the guidelines, you’ll get 3 projects done at a discount, you’ll no doubt earn one or more Frequent Shopper Bonuses, and you’ll get a skein of a luxury cashmere blend for yet another project. Cool beans!
Now – here are the answers to your Frequently Asked Questions about Camp Loopy:
Q. Can we participate with weaving instead of knitting or crochet?
A. For Camp Loopy, we’re sticking with knitting or crochet. You can weave for our regular Quarterly Challenges. Just not Camp Loopy.
Q. I ordered two colors for my project and I don’t like how they go together. Can I substitute a color from my stash for one of the colors, or can I order a different color now?
A. Yes.
Q. If I substitute a color, will it still count towards Camp Loopy benefits?
A. If you use at least one color that you ordered from us during Camp Store Week for that project, your project will still be eligible, if you finish by the deadlines. When we approve your project photo in the gallery, we will then add a second FSB amount to your totals for the project yarn that was ordered during Camp Store Week and used in your project. So if you ordered two colors and used both in your final project (done by the deadlines), we will add the amount of both yarns as a bonus. If you ordered two but only used one of those for your final project, we will add the amount of the one yarn that was used.
Q. I didn’t get to order during Camp Store Week, but if I order my project yarn later in that same month and complete the project by the deadline, does that still count, even though I know I don’t get the Camp Loopy discount?
A. Yes! Mostly. 
Make sure that you add a “Camp Loopy” note to your order, so that we know you’re participating. You’ll still be eligible for the project drawings and prizes for that month, and if you finish all three projects by the deadlines, you’ll still get the bonus – a free skein of that luscious cashmere blend. You won’t be eligible for double FSB credits for this project, since the yarn wasn’t ordered during Camp Store Week.
Q. I want to participate using yarn from my stash. Does that still count?
A. You are welcome to participate and knit from stash and upload it to the gallery, as long as it’s yarn that we carry at The Loopy Ewe. (We always require projects in our Photo Galleries to be from yarn that we carry at TLE.) You will still be eligible for drawings and prizes for the month, but you won’t be eligible for the FSB double credits or the free cashmere blend yarn at the end.
Q. When you say to knit the project between 5/27 and 6/27, when EXACTLY does the timing start?
A. You can start at 12:01 am your time on 5/27 if you’d like, although a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast might be a better idea. The project needs to be done by 11:59 pm on 6/27, your time. The photos need to be uploaded by 11:59 pm OUR time (Mountain Time) on 6/29.
Q. Should we be starting a new Camp Loopy Group on Ravelry?
A. No. Since it’s an activity through The Loopy Ewe, I’d like to keep it as a part of our regular Loopy Groupies group. However, you’ll see Camp Loopy threads popping up on the Loopy Groupie board, based on different activities each month.
Q. When you specify yardage in a project, can I use up the yardage by knitting double stranded? So you if say 400 yards, can I do a 200 yard project, holding the yarn double? That would use 400 yards.
A. No, no doubling the yarn to get the yardage. If you’d like to knit something double stranded, you’ll need to use 800 yards so that you end up with a 400 yard project when it’s done.
Q. How do I know if I’m on track for the free yarn bonus, and when will I get it?
A. If you have earned the extra Frequent Shopper points for each project (which you will see as a note added to your Camp Store Week order for that project, once your photo has been uploaded on time and approved), then you are on track. Once Camp is over and the yarn is ready, we’ll send you a notice to let you choose your camp colorway. You will have the option of having your bonus yarn added in the box with your next order from us, or you can choose to pay for shipping to have it sent to you right away on its own.
Q. Why do we have to purchase the yarn during Camp Store Week each month, if we want the bonuses?
A. Two reasons. One – it costs us money to fund this (the contests, the extras, the free yarn at the end) and your purchases help us to be able to afford to do this. Two – it helps us to guarantee that everyone is knitting for the project during the designated time and not simply pulling a finished (or half finished) project out of their pile and saying they did it “for camp”. It keeps an even playing field for all of the people earning the bonuses.
Q. Will we have the chance to buy t-shirts with the Camp Loopy logo, like we did last year?
A. Yes! They’re on order and we’ll put them up on the website as soon as they arrive. And maybe a couple of other fun things, too. 😉
Here are some links for designers currently living in (or from) a few different countries. Don’t forget – you need to pick a designer from a country different than your own! There are so many wonderful designers out there. I wish Ravelry had a way to search designs by country. (Or do they, and I just don’t know about it?) This was a result of my not-so-efficient method of clicking around randomly and finding a few to share with you. Feel free to leave other suggestions in the comments below.
United States: Wendy Johnson, Anne Hanson, Kirstin Kapur
Sweden: Johanne Landin, Asa Tricosa, Anna Dalvi
Canada: Felicia Lo, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Ilga Leja
Finland:Veera Valimaki, Lankakomero
Germany: Birgit Freyer, Martina Behm, Susanna IC
Scotland/UK: Ysolda Teague, Gudrun Johnston, Jane Sowerby, Alice Yu, Helen Stewart
Netherlands: Stephen West
Japan: Olga Buraya-Kefelian
We’re so looking forward to camping with you again this summer, and we have lots of fun things planned. Grab your backpack project bag and your canoe, and hop in. It’s going to be a fun summer!
Sheri thinkingIneedawhistleifI’mgoingtobeaCampLoopyCounselor
I’d like to add Lucy Neatby from Canada.
This is a very interesting idea – knitting from international designers.
I like this!
OHMIGOSH!!! Camp Loopy already???!!! Where’s my duffel bag? My sleeping bag? My stitch markers?????
I’M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!:-D
Yahoo!! Hopefully, we’ll be able to camp out at the virtual Hotel at Camp Loopy and enjoy all those cabana boys!!! Yahooo!!!
If I am British, but living in the United States, can I use a British designer or American designer or neither? lololol. Just want to be sure I get it right!
I realized after my visit last week that I should have asked about Camp Loopy. I guess you heard my unasked question! Can we do an interpretation of a design, for example, turning a scarf into a cowl or a shawl. IOW, as long as we remain true to the design elements and meet the other requirements…
Oh! How about Doris Chan? I love her patterns!
Olwen – whatever country you consider most “your own” – pick a designer from a country other than that. 🙂
Robby – you can do an interpretation of a pattern, as long as you keep the main elements in there.
Hannah – Lucy Neatby – great addition. Thank you! Here’s a link to her patterns on Rav: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/lucy-neatby
Woot! Camp Loopy time! I had so much fun doing this last year. I’m also happy to see the shout out for Alice Yu’s patterns as I mod the KAL group for her book on Ravelry – why not double dip, campers? The May/June pattern is Rumpled, one of my favourites 🙂
Right, I’m off to plan my first project – I think I enjoy this bit almost as much as the knitting!
Thanks, Sheri!
I am turning to one of my other most favourite countries of the world …. Germany. I’ll be doing a Birgit Freyer that I’ve had on my mind for quite some weeks 🙂
Time to celebrate and make my plan for my first project. Can’t wait to explore designers and yarn. Celebrating.
Oh, I have a couple of Asa Tricosa’s patterns in my Favorites. I’ve already begun one but I can start another!
Yes, a whistle and a clipboard!
One other question ….. Does it have to be a yarn that you actually keep in stock? Or just a company? I wanted to work something in Artyarns but you don’t keep the particular yarn thickness that I need …..
I’m looking forward to Camp Loopy…the toughest decision will be what to knit!
Lilygo is another great designer — in Malaysia.
Olwen – it needs to be a yarn that we stock.
Lilygo – gorgeous! Thanks, Sue! http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/lilygo/patterns
Looks like I need to get this crazy pattern written so that I can jump into this! Sounds fun and gives me a reason to buy more yarn! 🙂
I haven’t knit in ages (been on a reading kick), but I’m ready to jump back in to Camp! Woo hoo!
Sheri, any chance we can have a sneak peek at what’s going up next Monday so we can decide if ordering now or waiting is the best decision?
Picked a pattern. It was fun to look at my huge queue and find a non-US designer. Kitman Figueroa who does terrific shawls is from Malaysia.
I didn’t think I was going anywhere this summer how could I have forgotten Camp Loopy!
Liz – we never know what’s going up until the last minute, honestly. We have lots of stuff in the stock room that has come in, and we tend to divide it up for upcoming updates! I do know we have Chic-A bags and Atenti bags for Monday, not that that helps you with yarn decisions, but the bags are cute. Possibly all of the colors of Cascade Sport Superwash, which are due to arrive this week. 🙂
Janine – I love Kitman’s patterns. Maybe I’ll finally do her Batik that I’ve wanted to do forever! http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kitman-figueroa
Is wine permitted at Camp Loopy?
Looking forward to my first project! And s’mores! I grew up on a small farm that sat right at the base of a church camp, which my uncle was the caretaker of so my aunt and uncle actually lived at “camp” within sight of our house. Great fun!
Yay! I can’t wait for camp loopy again. Last year it stretched my boundaries and horizons and has totally made me a braver knitter.
That’s awesome, Aubrey!
Oh wow! I AM SO EXCITED! My first Camp Loopy! I have got to finish my quarterly challenge summer socks! So Sheri, we can knit any over 400 yd item that we choose from an international designer, right? Unlike the quarterly challenges where you tell us what the project needs to be. ? And does all 400 yds need to be in the actual project? Or what if we knit something and it only uses like 3/4 of the skein? I want to make sure I understand correctly. :).
As far as different designers, Martin Storey , Lisa Richardson and Sarah Hatton are all excellent. I believe they are all British. For our international friends, American designers Kristin Ohmdahl, Leigh Radford, Ann Budd, Hannah Fettig, Cocoknits , Pam Allen, Cecily Glowik McDonald and Jane Richmond are all wonderful!!! I believe they are all American.
Thanks so much for doing this awesome Camp! I’m sure a lot of work and thought go into all of the planning! Your Camp Loopy attendees are in much appreciative! 🙂
YAY!!!!! What a great surprise today! Thanks!
I’m in the stripe study shawl is in my queue and I’m in love with Lorna laces solemate so I’m off to order !
Yay yay yay–camp loopy! And even better, the pattern i’ve had my eye on for my next project qualifies! It’s a Ysolda Teague! So excited for camp and Ravalympics! Thank you sheri for hosting it again!
Hi Lisa – the actual project needs to include a minimum of 400 yards.
Found a quick way to find designers…if you do a People search on Ravelry, you can search by country. For each person, it’ll list number of projects, number of posts…and number of designs!
Woo Hoo! camp Loopy, WRavelympics, and Team loopy Herman Tour de Fleece, What a fun sommer! Sheri, you and the elves are the best, love you all!
I just placed my order to make the gorgeous Shattered Sun Shawl by Felicia Lo in Dream in Color Baby Melon Bomb. I can’t wait!
Don’t forget Alice Starmore, Sharon Miller, and EZ!
Can’t believe a whole year has rolled around……!
Another designer I really like….Carol Feller !
Carol Feller- Ireland
PiPiBird – Canada
Yay! It’s time for camp!
Some more non-US designers:
Canada:
Veronik Avery – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/veronik-avery
Deb Barnhill – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/deb-barnhill
Mary Keenan – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/mary-keenan
Shui Kuen Kozinski – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/shui-kuen-kozinski
Judy Marples – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/judy-marples
SpillyJane – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/spillyjane
Finland:
Taina Anttila – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/taina-anttila
Lanakakomero – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/lankakomero
Germany:
Stefanie Bold – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/stefanie-bold
Christine Ebers – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/christine-ebers
Stephanie van der Linden – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/stephanie-van-der-linden
Netherlands:
Yarnissima – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/yarnissima
Norway:
Amanda Bjoerge – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/amanda-bjoerge
Switzerland:
Nicole Masson (Stefanina) – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/nicole-masson
UK:
Anna Bell – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/anna-bell
Kate Blackburn – http://www.ravelry.com/designers/kate-blackburn
Decisions, decisions….
Oh my, Oh my! Camp Loopy 2012! I am so ready for camp this summer. Time to catch up with all the camping knitters from last summer! Time to find some good patterns with a challenge for me!….(not too hard, just a challenge!!!)
Yay camp! I l think Ann Kingstone’s designs amazing UK and I love Meagheen Ryan’s patterns!!! Ireland
I’m totally excited for Camp Loopy! I’m glad you have the discount week soon – I am traveling out of the country for three weeks, and I was afraid I would miss the ordering window for Project One! I also love the Olympic theme. What a great way to celebrate!
I wanted to add another designer to your International list – I knit a shaw by Irish designer Kieran Foley recently, and it was brilliant. I would recommend his designs to all my fellow knitters!
Excited! This was really a challenge last year and I’m looking forward to it this year. Although I admit I’m a little bitter I placed an order earlier this week…before the announcement…Oh well – fun will be had!
Thanks to all of my other Camp Loopy campers for more designer selections! I am going onto Ravelry again and check more out!
Thanks Sheri for answering my question! 400 yds minimum! Got it!
Whoo, exciting!
I’ve placed my order, now to pick the pattern…
I haven’t been to camp in years. Can’t wait to get started!
Here is another UK designer. I had just added Mizzle to my queue yesterday!
http://www.ravelry.com/designers/patricia-clift-martin
I am so ready for this. Last year, there was workshops and writing lesson plans and getting ready for school and all sorts of time users. As of June 1st, I am retired after 40 years of teaching. Camp Loopy—here I come–now to choose yarn and pattern.
Oh my this sounds like fun! I was saving for an “actual” go somewhere camp but my car broke down & I had to use the $$ for that! 🙁
I am so excited I can still participate in a camp this summer!
Going to look for a project & then order some yummy yarn!
I’m planning to knit the Stephen West Akimbo shawl — finally! Or maybe a pair of socks (never knit socks before but have wanted to for awhile).
I would like to add a German designer, Chris or Crizzy (her Ravelry name). You can find her patterns on Ravelry under ursa-major-knits.
Coralette is one that I am considering . . .
Woo hoo! I am doing the Color Affection shawl by Veera Valimaki! I am so excited – I work in Fort Collins, so can I come into the actual store and get my yarn?
I don’t think anyone has asked this question: if the designer now lives in my country, but is originally from somewhere else, does that count as international?