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
Thank you for posting about the event. It’s nice to read about it when you can’t attend.
Bit too much snow for this FL gal but it looks like everyone had a lot of fun.
I’m glad the snow didn’t dampen everyone’s week-end, looks like fun was had by one and all. I would love to visit Colorado and Loopy Ewe some day…winning one of your “goodie bags” will be a nice thing since I couldn’t be there then, I can share some of the good times now! 😀
Looks like a lot of fun! (And green is my favourite colour, so I’d love to win a bag! :D)
Looks like it was a lost of fun. I would love to win. THanks for the chance.
Spring Fling looks like soooo much fun. I would love to join you all next time. Winning a goodie bag would be a nice pre-cursor to going.
So many others in this comment list have expressed their wish to win the goodie bag but I feel lucky that someone from little old RI way out on the east coast could win!
Thanks for the chance!
Looks like everyone had a wonderful time!
Looks like so much fun!! So glad to hear that Fling will be in the fall the next time. September is a good time for me!!
Looks like a great weekend. Hoping I can make it next time. Love the bag!!!
Sounds like fun!!
Being afraid to fly puts a damper on lots of good times – and this looked like one of them. If I won then I could pretend!!!
I wish I could have come, it looks like you all had so much fun! Since I wasn’t able to, I would love to win a goodie bag. Thank you for the chance to get one 🙂
I so wish i lived closer!!!!!!!!!! Love your site and your blogs are so fun and informative. You also have a wonderful following and that speaks volumes!!! I would truly love to have the opportunity to win a goodie bag!!!!!!!!!!
I would’ve loved to made it to spring fling. Alas I didn’t sign up for the lottery or for the blog contest because I was due to have my 2nd baby April 24th.
I am still waiting for the lovely babe to be born.
It looks like everyone had such a good time. Maybe I’ll get to go in 2014.
I’m so sorry I had to miss Spring Fling this year, hope to be there next fall. I would love to win the goodie bag!
I enjoyed reading about the Spring Fling and looking at all the pictures. Fun! I sure would love a chance at the bag! Thank you!
I’m fairly new to The Loopy Ewe (only one order so far) but I’ve flung myself wholeheartedly into crocheting (and soon knitting)! I’d love to win one of the extra Spring Fling Bags. Loopy’s logo is fantastic and I love the camaraderie that comes with having similar crafty hobbies. 🙂
I love living vicariously through the blog post. Some day I hope to be able to attend, but don’t think that will be in the next few years. I would love to win the goodie bag!
Looks like fun! Maybe someday…..
Sorry I missed the knitting. Glad I missed the snowstorm.
Looks like a wonderful trip filled with great memories and- of course- great knitting!
sounds as though a good time was had by all, snow notwithstanding!
It looks like ya’ll had TONS of fun! SO jealous 😀
someday…
Wish I had had the time to be there. Thanks for the opportunity to win a gift bag!
Judging by the photos I missed a really great event! Goodie bags look great! Enjoying the snow a few miles south of Ft.C. – it’s still coming down! Lilacs will bloom soon enough!
I will try so hard to come to the next fling. I was jealous when I found out that a good friend from our knitting group attended. It is still snowing here in Wyoming.
Some day when graduate school is completed, I will come and attend. It looks like everyone had a blast in spite of the 22″ of snow.
Can’t believe I missed it. And I live in Loveland. 🙁 Please enter me in your drawing. I’ll pay more attention next fall and make it for sure!
That looked like a lot of fun! I would love to be entered to win one of those awesome gift bags!
What a great time ya’ll had without me…maybe next year!
Looks like I missed a great time. Would love to win the goody bag!
I live in the St Louis, MO area – and was so sad when you moved to Colorado! But your emails and web site are wonderful & I feel more in touch than i did when you were here!
The Spring Fling goody bag would be a great thing to win! (I never win anything, but hey, you can’t if you don’t try, right?) keep the great emails coming! they are so inspirational!!
Kelly
What fun! Wish I could have been there. St. Louis misses you.
WowSounds and looks like tons of fun..would, love to win a goodie bag. Fingers crossed .:)
Looks like fun a great time to make new friends
Gosh that spring fling looks like a lot of fun. I will have to look into the details for the future.
Sounds like lots of fun. I would love to win a goodie bag!
There is something about knitters getting together – some kind of yarn-induced high I think – just looks like everybody is having TOO MUCH FUN! This is the first I’ve heard about your spring fling yarn fest. I will add it to my list of things to do before I turn 60 (I’m just about to turn 49 so I’ve got a few years to fulfill this one…).
Aloha!
Wow, does that look like fun. I would certainly love to attend the next Fling!!
Oh i hope this gets in. This looks like so much fun! We are in NC but trip to Colorado would be so fabulous if i could get to your store! I have been putting orders together for a week and still can’t decide. So many choices! A goodie bag would be lovely!
Luv2CUSmile on ravelry and following this blog along with frequent visits to the online shop.
It was fun looking through the photos and playing “name the knit pattern” from the participants! 😀
I’d love to win a consolation bag–love the color!!!! I couldn’t afford it this year, but hope to make a future Spring Fling! It looks as though it’s a lot of fun–I enjoyed all the pictures!
The Spring Fling looks like it was a lot of fun! Love all the pictures of everyone having a great time. I wish I lived closer.
Spring Fling 2014….I’ll be there….
Sorry I was not able to attend… but I would love one of the goodie bags.
Throwing my name in the hat for the prize! The Spring Fling looks like a ton of fun! Hope to attend in the future.
Lovely gesture
I hope you haven’t pulled the winners yet! I want to win one!! molli