Our first Colorado Spring Fling is over, and we’re left with lots of fun memories (and another full list of things I “must” knit. Sigh.) We had a surprising 22″ of snow the week of the Fling, which caused some interesting delays in travel. But I’m happy to report that the snow didn’t keep anyone from getting here safely. We began the retreat with our annual Dessert Reception on Thursday night. There were lots of wonderful things to choose from. (Click on photos to make them bigger. Or not. It might make you hungry.)
Friday and Saturday were spent in classes, shopping at Loopy Central, and knitting knitting knitting. This year, we decided to transport everyone to The Loopy Ewe in style, with two stretch limos. Each limo could hold 25+ people and I’m pretty sure we totally confused people here at the shopping center when both limos pulled up. (“Who takes a stretch limo to shop??”)
The aisles were full during the shopping times, and after checking out, the knitters enjoyed hanging out on the red couches and knitting, waiting for their limo back to the hotel. (Or – in many instances – checking out what each person bought and then hopping up to get something else and check out a second or third time …)
Cindy from Iowa found the perfect roving to match her phone case. 🙂
We had four awesome teachers at the Fling. We were delighted to have (L-R) Ann Budd, JC Briar, Susan B. Anderson, and Wendy Johnson join us for the weekend.
Susan came in a day early to teach her Fair Isle Hat Design class at the shop on Wednesday night:
and then do a book signing here on Thursday morning. Her new Topsy Turvy book is full of awesomeness. And each of her toys are adorable. I feel a toy-knitting binge coming soon.
We had fun goodie bags for each of the weekend participants. Included – a cute canvas bag, a skein+ mini from our Loopy Ewe Seasoning Series, a skein of yarn from Cascade, a pattern from Shibui, a Loopy Spring Fling mug, and a Soak Heel and Wash sample pack.
We had lots of great door prizes, donated by some of our wonderful yarn and accessory companies. A huge thank you to Cascade (who provided yarn for each attendee, as well as lots of cool door prizes and kits), Malabrigo, Notions Marketing, Dream in Color, Wollmeise, Soak, and Shibui Knits.
Saturday night, there was much knitting going on. (All that new yarn from their shopping trips to Loopy, I’m sure.)
(Look – there’s Web Guy checking out the knitters! He’s always here for Fling weekends, helping check people out at the shop and helping with door prizes on Saturday night.)
(Look – it’s Loopy Office Manager Lynn on the left! And Loopy Honorary Elf Sheryl, who helped out at the hotel the entire weekend. That pretty green shawl is one of several she wore during the weekend, all equally inspiring! Edit: Sheryl’s Shawl is the Kate Shawl pattern. And Loopy Elf Roberta, peeking out behind Sheryl with the purple shawl on. If you’ve called in to Loopy, you’ve no doubt talked to Roberta.)
We always make an oversized sock blocker so that we can get all of the Fling participants to sign it each year. We hang these big socks up at Loopy so that we can remember the fun people we had here! We now have five of these big socks hanging on the walls, from 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2013. (Regular sized sock blocker included in the photo to give you an idea of how big this blocker really is.)
What a wonderful group of Loopy knitters. We were delighted to have everyone here, and so look forward to having you all back again the next time. We did decide to move the Fling to Fall, in order to avoid future snowstorms. (Not that we’re guaranteed not to have them in September, but it’s less likely than April.) So our next one will be the Fall Fling of 2014. I’ll let you know dates as soon as we have the weekend confirmed.
Would you like to win one of our Spring Fling Goodie Bags? I made four extra bags for this blog contest, and we’ll draw names for winners next week. Leave a comment below if you’d like to be entered into the contest!
Sheri whoenjoyedsharingthemountainsandLoopy’snewhomewitheveryone
Looks like lots of fun!
Looks like a good time! Maybe next year…
What a wonderful time everyone had- I can tell by the photos! I would love to come in the fall! We may be driving across country and could stop over. The goodie bag looks lovely! Happy Knitting, Jeanie
Fun, fun, fun!
It looks like everyone had a great time! 🙂
It looks like a wondrous time was had by all. sorry I couldn’t be there.
Especially sad since it was here in town.
Knitting AND all those desserts? My idea of heaven. Spring/Fall fling is on my bucket list, and I would love to have one of the goody bags to tide me over until I can actually get there.
Looks like a great time for everyone! Sure would like to attend an event like this someday!
Sounds fun! Wish I could’ve gone, but there’s always next year!!
What fun! I need to figure out how to attend the Fling
Looks like so much fun. Will put it on my wish list for next year!
Wow! Thanks for sharing all the photos along with the Fling memories. So much fun! I’d love the chance to attend next year.
It looks like so much fun! I’m hoping to be able to attend Spring Fling sometime soon! Thank you for the chance to win a goodie bag 🙂
I’m sorry I missed the opportunity to attend this year. Here’s hoping my name will be picked the next time around!
I love the giant sock blocker! Sure wish I could attend some year.
Oops commented in the wrong spot. Love loopy hope I win
Pick me, pick me!!
Great bag, in my favorite blues and greens!
Sounds like a blast! On my wish list to attend.
Fling looks like so much fun. I’d love to go one day. Winning one of the goodie bags would be awesome. Thanks for the chance to win!
If I am lucky and you select my name to win, please add a slice of that heavenly pie within! Thanks for the chance to win a fabulous gift!
Wow!
Looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing the photos.
One of these years I’ll get there. It always looks like everyone has so much fun.
Ohhhhhh! It looks like everyone had such a good time! I’m so jealous. I would love to be able to attend one year, this event is now on my bucket list. Thank you for the opportunity to win one of your fun goody bags. Cheers!
I’d love to win a bag – please consider me entered! Hoping to get out to CO in a couple of months, so perhaps I can convince the hubby to drop me off at your place for a couple of whiles…
Looks like it was a fun time for all. Sure wish I could go to something like this one day. I would have loved to see those stretch limos pull up to the store! If I ever get to Colorado, I’m definitely going to visit.
I wish I could have been there, but I see my roommate from last Fling and that makes it better!
How did I miss this??? What fun!
I would love a goodie bag to kick off spring knitting on the patio!
I would love the goodie bag since I missed fling so throw my name in the hat!
Looks like and sounds like so much fun!!! I wish……
Not much hope of getting to Loopy other than on the ‘net when you live in New Zealand.I’d love a goodie bag!!
Would love to win a goodie bag! I’m so jealous of all that could attend. I love the giant sock blocker — what a great idea!
I would love to make it back to CO and get to visit the store or attend Spring Fling. Looks like fun and it would be great to meet the elves!
Yes….on my list to attend….now to get onto the “list”. Would love a goodie bag. Thanks for a chance!
want so badly to come to a Spring Fling – maybe in 2014!
*crosses fingers 10 months in advance*
Looks like everyone had a lovely time! Hope to get in on the fun in 2014! Thanks for the chance to win a goodie bag!
It looks like alot of fun! Makes me sad to have missed it.
Looks like so much fun! I WILL be there one day.
What fun! The one time I went to The Fling, I had the best time!
So Jealous of all that get to go. Would love to be able to attend, but it would be nice to win such a cool goodie bag, too.
I live in Virginia Beach but hope to be blue to stop by if I ever head out west!
Jealous!! Wish I could have come!! The goody bag looks scrumptious!!
Looks like a lot of fun. I would like to go. Must put it on my bucket list!
So jealous of those that could attend. I would love to visit the Loopy Ewe in person. On my bucket list!
Penny
It looks like fun was had by all. A loopy goodie bag would be wonderful.
Your pictures sure made me wish I could have gone. I bet everyone had a great time.
That looks like fun!
I would have loved to attend, but a goodie bag would be a nice consolation prize! 🙂