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
Living vicariously through all the knitters in your beautiful pictures. I will never be able to attend a Spring Fling but I am so happy so many knitters are able to attend. I love the goodie bag too. How wonderfully generous of y’all! Knitters are the bet…aren’t they???
Next year!!
What fun! Hopping to make it to the next Fling.
I would love to win one of your tote bags I have a really good friend who lives in Ft. Collins and I told her about your store moving there before you did, she goes there now and loves it. I hope to visit both of you someday….thanks!
I’d love a goodie bag and you can deliver it to me in person.
The “Fling” looks like it was a blast! I do hope I have an opportunity to attend one sometime.
I would love to win a goodie bag! Looks like a great time was had by all. Maybe someday I can join in on the fun 🙂
Loved seeing the photos and hoping to attend next year.
It looks like you all had a great time! I wish I had been able to get there. I also wish you all had more crochet items for ideas, etc. 🙂 Take care!
The fling looked like so much fun, maybe next year I will be able to sign up!
Count me in!
Ooh! May I play, too? Someday I’d love to come to spring fling–so sad when you left STL.
It looks like everyone had a great time at the Fling. Maybe some year I will join you!
Such happy faces – and lovely projects!
Hoping to get to your store someday. Your customer service has been great. Random number please select me!
Wow, wish I could have been there!!! Maybe next time.
such fun! wish i could still travel … would like to have attended such a fling. would love to win a fling bag! thanx for the opportunity to do so.
So jealous. I want to go next year!
I WILL attend your spring fling — perhaps next time. And I LOVE the new website design. I so want to shop in person.
How did you know I’m almost out of yarn? What a temptation! Please, please please with lace on top let me win a bag?
Maybe next year you’ll have to call it the “almost” Spring Fling! 22 inches of snow and more to come. Yikes! I want to attend next year!
WOW! Someday I may make it to Fort Collins!
How nice that 4 lucky people will get a goodie bag. If the goodie bags are any indication, then the spring fling must be fantastic. Maybe I’ll get to participate someday.
Thanks for the contest.
The only thing better than winning a bag would be to get to a Fling someday! Although, I’d totally take the bag!
I wish I was there! Looks like an absolutely fantastic time!!!!
Looked like lots of fun!
Bags are adorable and the Fling looks like so much fun. Must join in the future.
Oh how I would love this bag! First off, I am a bag junkie, any size, shape or form. I can always use an extra mug as I always lose mine. And I am just starting out with sock knitting so I would love the sock wash items. My sister (who got me addicted to yarn and knitting) will have to visit the Fling next time.
Oh of COURSE I have to win one of the bags…my nickname is ‘Elflein’, means “Little Elf” so I am already an honorary Elf!!!!
Really, whether I win or not, the fling looks like a blast and it’s on MY bucket list …actually hope to attend many of them!
It looks like the weekend was a great success and lots of fun. I hope some day I can attend as I recognized several of the gals who podcast and so feel like I missed out on “friends reunion” even if it is a friendship via the internet.
I really wish I could have gone to Spring Fling. Hopefully my name gets drawn so I can experience it vicariously through yarn. 😛
Wow – what a fun time! I would love to win a goodie bag. 🙂
what an awesome event, wish i was closer, the gift is awesome and anyone would love to have it,
Someday when my kids are older I will experience the Fling! Until then I’ll have to live vicariously through others, hopefully with a Fling goody bag to assuage the pain. 😉
Yum, goodies!
I am amazed at all the wonderful shawls people were wearing at one place.
It looks like a a bunch of wonderful people, too.
I close on a condo tomorrow in Ft Collins. Currently living in Dallas.
I plan to live at the Loopy Ewe when I move and be there for the next Fling!
Such a pity the Spring Fling (spring, with snow?) is on the other side of the world. Looks like you all had a great time.
Looks like fun!
Any chance you could pick me??? Please!!! I need some knitting goodness in my life right now.
I wish I had been there!
It sure looks like a lot of fun. How I would love to join in one day
I missed out on this Spring Fling, but I’ll be so ready for the one in the Fall!!! And yes, I’d LOVE a goody bag, as would anyone who wasn’t able to join you all! It looks like you had so much fun. I really hope I can join you at the next one!!!
Oh what a wonderful Spring Fling!! It looks like everyone had such a fabulous time! And let say, I love love love that green and blue Spring Fling tote!
Some time I will be able to join in on the fun! 🙂
Looks like lots of fun was had by everyone
and I could use a new knitting bag… 😉
It looks like everyone had so much fun! I live in Boulder, so I got the snow but not the Spring Fling. Here’s hoping I can attend next year! (And also hoping I might be the lucky winner of a goody bag…) 😀
What fun a weekend of knitting, classes, and friends. Maybe someday (soon?) I’ll make it out
I hope some day to attend Spring Fling! Thanks so much for the opportunity to win this great bag.
22″ of snow was just a bit more than I would want to have but it looks like everyone survived with needles raring to go! Sounds like it was a great long weekend.