Today we’re celebrating our Ninth Loopy-versary! We can hardly believe that it has been nine years. In August of 2006 we put the website online with a handful of yarn companies represented, and crossed our fingers and said a prayer that it would work.
It sure has been fun to share yarn, fabric, projects, ideas and inspiration with you over the past nine years. YOU ALL are our favorite part of The Loopy Ewe and we love being with you on this adventure. We look forward to many more years of sharing beautiful yarn, fabrics and ideas with you. There are always new things to see, do and share!
For today’s Monday Yarn Update, we have two new Loopy things to share, in celebration of our Loopy-versary.
1. Loopy’s Paintbox Sets – We know you love our Loopy Cake Sets, because we have a hard time keeping them in stock! We took the summer off from winding Loopy Cake Sets in order to focus on Loopy’s Paintbox Sets (available just for our anniversary, while supplies last). These sets come with 9 mini-balls of yarn. Each ball is approx. 50 yards (1/4 of a skein from our Loopy Solid Series yarn), so they are smaller than the balls you get in Loopy Cakes.
We have two different patterns that were designed with these sets in mind, and we’ll email you a copy of both patterns with purchase. The sets come in Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer colors. Shown below: Loopy’s Paintbox Scarf out of 1 1/2 sets of Autumn (shown as scarf, or kitchener the short ends to make an infinity cowl as shown in the last photo). You can also make the Paintbox Scarf/Cowl out of one set – I was just needing to hit the 600 yard mark for my July Camp project, so made it wider! And our SoundWave scarf by Debbie O’Neill, shown below in Winter and Summer colors. Each SoundWave scarf uses one set of Loopy’s Paintbox.
2. Loopy Pattern by Susan B. Anderson – Susan is the best toy-designer we know, and we’ve been working with her for a long time to design a special Loopy toy, just for you! We think it’s her cutest design ever (although we may be a little biased) and we’re excited to share it with you. We have the patterns available for sale now, and we will have kits available soon. The pattern takes one skein each of red and tan and 2 skeins of white in our Loopy Solids Series. We have been waiting on an order of white for oh-so-long, but expect it within the next couple of weeks. Please email us (support@theloopyewe.com) if you’d like us to save you a set of these three skeins to make Loopy. ($48 for just the yarn, or $53 for yarn plus pattern. The pattern is also available on its own.) We are all planning our own little Loopy knitting for the fall. We hope you have fun with him, too!
Loopy-versary Contest: We’re giving away NINE $25 Loopy Ewe Gift Certificates to celebrate our NINE years of being Loopy. (Well, some of us have been loopy a little longer than that, but we don’t count that part.) Leave a comment below and tell us what is the first project you remember knitting, crocheting, quilting or sewing, and we’ll draw the winners next week. The first thing I remember knitting was an ugly yellow sweater when I was in grade school or junior high. I just knit on the front and the back – I don’t remember sleeves, although I think it was supposed to have them ….
Sheri whostillhastroublemakingitallthewaythroughawholesweater
My grandmother tried every year to teach me to knit and it never stuck. When she passed away I was given her knitting needles and a sweater pattern. So I found a local yarn shop and set about knitting that sweater….I even have the sweater she knit from that same pattern. So when I knit now she is always with me for haven given me this wonderful gift of knitting!
My first knitting project was a garter stitch hotpad. It is turquoise acrylic. It is 53 years old and I still have it!!! It has become an art piece for me. (and yes, I still love garter stitch).
I first knit a washcloth. It went really well until I was away from my teacher (my mom). When I brought it to her the next time we were together, she very kindly said, “How about we bind this one off and start again?” It’s a misshapen mess, and I still use it to wash dishes.
I remember when I first learned to crochet. I was about 12 years old and spending the summer at my grandparents’ place in Coatesville, PA. I was reading The Omen (bad choice), and picked up a hook and some yarn, and managed to crank out at least a dozen “worms” (when you increase too rapidly and the piece spirals). Fortunately, I was young enough to use them for both hair ties and bookmarks!
The first project was an 8 inch brown square for Brownies when I was 9 years old. Yellow and brown squares were knit by all the city’s Brownies then sewn together for afghans for seniors in the area. My square(not real sure about the shape) was so holey I know it would have allowed many drafts.
My first project was a HORRIBLE scarf. It was black and orange garter stitch stripe. I didn’t know how to weave in the end, and it was full of accidental yarn over holes. Truly an awful piece!!
I hand sewed some very primitive dresses for my Strawberry Shortcake doll using scraps from my mother’s sewing.
My first crochet project was a scarf. I’m pretty sure I pulled the whole thing apart at some point after it was finished because I had had a lot of trouble with the tension.
The first thing I remember knitting was a beautiful blue sweater when I was first married, 34 years ago. Unfortunately, looks and fit did not match. The arm holes were so small that I couldn’t get my arms in them. It was also too small in general. I put it over a nail barrel to try and stretch it out. No luck. Good experience though and a good memory!
I remember knitting clothes for my Sindy doll as a child x
My mom taught me to crochet when I was in elementary school and I’m sure it was a good old fashion granny square. Many blankets later I learned to knit and my first project was a hat on circular needles. That is when the addiction started.
It’s hard for me to remember my first project, but the one I remember the most is a cabled blanket I made for my grandmother, who taught me to knit. I had never done cables before, but I dove in and did it. It was a full size blanket with cables of different sizes and seed stitch sections. One row in the middle I pulled instead of knitted. Didn’t notice it for several rows. It became a design feature.
The first thing I ever knit was a blue, pink, and white scarf on needles that were way too small. It doesn’t really bend! But my grandmother taught me to knit it, so I keep it!
I started with a simple brown scarf that I gave to my hubby and my daughter now uses as a jump rope… Lol!
The first thing I remember making was a crocheted baby hat/sweater set for my neighbor’s firstborn. I was probably in early high school, so 13 or 14. I had no concept of gauge, so the hat ended up almost fitting me! I’d like to think I’ve improved since then – also, I switched from crocheting to knitting with better results.
I made a battleship gray scarf for my uncle. He was very gracious and said he loved it.
I remember a grandiose plan to crochet a circular shawl that was lace! Never mind that I had never crocheted before and taught myself from a Ben Franklin how to crochet book! I was all of 14! I did finish the shawl and wore it, many, many mistakes and all, I was quite proud of myself.
My first knitted item was a turquoise Aran style afghan. I didn’t know a thing about knitting and wasn’t aware that it wasn’t a beginner project. It turned out beautifully and I use it to this day.
My first project was a pink and purple granny square poncho. I crocheted it when I was 8 and I still have it!
The first thing I ever knit was a triangle shaped shawl when I was pregnant with my first baby. I was almost 18. Someone taught me to knit, but I can’t remember who. Of course, that was in 1959. I did a good job and wore it a long time. At least that’s how I remember it.
I taught myself to crochet first so many years ago I don’t even want to think about it. I believe my first project was something easy such as a washcloth or a scarf.
My first project was a “square” hat – it kind of looked like little ears when you wore it!
My first knitting project was a mitten…. I say one because I got so frustrated that I never bothered to make the second one! I still have it, makes a great oven mitt.
My first knitted item was a baby sweater, I really didn’t know what I was doing so you can imagine what it looked like.
My first project was a tiny knit wallet for my NYC metrocard. It incorporated a button hole and decreases and I thought I was a hardcore knitter for accomplishing it. Of course, it was supposed to be in stockinette and the whole thing came out in garter, but it still holds my card after almost a decade so that’s pretty good!
Count me among your loopy customers!
My first knitting project was back in junior high in the 70’s when I took an 8th period knitting class. We knit a headband and believe it or not, I still use that thing everyday to hold my hair back when washing my face! It’s bright yellow mostly with a few orange stripes. Very stylish! 🙂
Happy Anniversary, to Loopy and all of the Elves, may there be many more.
Happy Anniversary, to Loopy and all of the Elves, may there be many more. My first knitting project was of course just a square. Then she had me make a gigantic Christmas stocking, so I would know how to make socks.
In junior high I made a wrap around skirt. I remember that girls took home economics while the boys took science. Can you believe it!
First sweater I knitted was so big I ripped it apart to start over and never did! What a waste of time and money!!
Learned my lesson
My first project was a long red scarf – garter stitch on size bazillion needles. My great aunt got me started.
Sally Melville’s Best Friend Jacket in Lopi yarn about 10 years ago . After various revisions (shorter sleeves, modified so it’s symmetric in length), it’s my most-frequently winter knit-ware. Sometimes the simplest things are best.
I remember taking a knitting class with Girls Scouts in 5th grade. We made some unbelievably ugly acrylic slippers! I did not knit again for 30 years.
The first thing I knitted was a loopy scarf. The first things I hand saw were doll clothes with scraps of fabric left over from my mom sewing.
finished or attempted? when my grandmother taught me, i had a pinky/purpley multi colored hued acrylic scarf, but it wasn’t even, straight, or finished. I knit a whole pile of wash cloths, and made a felted tote bag kit. it was almost as big as my queen size bed, and i didn’t use all the yarn from the kit, and it felted down to this weird short wide bag that the straps couldn’t support. part of the reason i’m still not a fan of felted. though it was a great learning experience.
I don’t remember my first crochet project. Probably doll clothes. One of my first knitting projects was a sweater for my nephew. I made it from an awful floofy commercial acrylic yarn. He loved it. When I got better at knitting and at reading the fabric, I looked at the sweater and discovered that I had at some point turned one of the pieces in the middle of a row and left a big hole. Luckily, the yarn covered up my mistake and nobody else noticed it.
I remember sewing a apron when I was in 4H. It was very basic and boring!
First knitting project was a white hat with the blue letters
L R Y. Well, that was the goal. I was about 15. My mother who was a good knitter, was less accomplished as a teacher, and very short on patience. I set knitting aside for many, many years, but now it is a joyous part of my life.
my mother and grandmother taught me to knit a scarf – I have loved knitting every since then!
My grandmother taught me to knit when I was 5 years old. I’m left-handed so she taught me to knit continental style. The first thing I knitted was a scarf and turn out to be a triangle scarf with holes all through it!
When I was a teenager, my family was having a baby shower for my cousin who’s family was extremely religious. My cousin wasn’t married at the time and back in those days it was a terrible thing. They made her come to our house and tell us herself. I felt so bad for her, not for being pregnant but for the ridicule they put her through. So I crocheted her a baby blanket. My mother showed me how to crochet and I went for it. It was a verigated pale baby color yarn and I put so much love into it so that the baby and my cousin knew they were loved. That baby is know all grown up with two children of her own. My cousin, at age 62, unfortunately just passed away last week from cancer. I think sometimes our guilt in life gives disease a chance to settle in. I have made everyone I love in this lifetime something to say I love you no matter what. Be it a quilt, a hand knit scarf, a blanket, leg warmers, etc… It’s important to put love into what you create. I know many have cried over things they made someone because they either gave it back or threw it away. It’s ok, because someone else in need will end up with it and feel the love it holds within its strands.
My first serious projects were sweaters for Christmas for my mother and mother-in-law. When I finished, the one I’d knitted for Motther actually fit mr MIL and vice versa!!so I switched them! Wish I coul say that ever happened again – it didn’t!!
I remember trying to knit a pair of slippers out of blue yarn on large white plastic needles… never finished. I also remember the box from the yarn shop- red and white striped. Maybe I should try again??
I learned crochet when I was about 10 years old. A scarf, of course, was my first project!
The first project I can remember was a bright yellow acrylic beret that I never finished. It said to use markers for the decreases, so I tied loops of orange yarn. As far as I know, I hadn’t done decreases or used markers before, but just followed directions and it looked pretty good. The pattern was in an old Workbasket. I must have been 10 or 12. I’m not sure what ever happened to it. It might still be on needles somewhere in my parents’ house!
My first knitting experience was when my husband Joe gave me a gift certificate for knitting classes at Lakeside Fibers in Madison, WI. Before I signed up for the classes, I contacted an old friend of mine who was an experienced knitter. She talked me into exchanging the gift certificate for yarn instead which she helped me pick out, and then she taught me how to knit.
She told me that I was a natural and had perfect gauge! My first project was a sweater for Joe that he still loves to wear (after 8 years!). I’ve knitted many things since then, but will always remember the fun times when I learned how to knit with my old friend.
It must have been a scarf but my first memory of a REAL project was a sweater. I was so bummed when it didn’t fit. I obviously had not heard of a gauge swatch at that point.
The very first thing I remember knitting was a chunky green scarf from a learn to knit kit.
I remember when I was in high school getting ready to graduate and my mother got the bright idea that I should make a 2-piece suit for my graduation luncheon. Oh it came out beautiful, but I was done knitting for a very long time. I finally picked up my needles about 20 yrs. later and have been knitting ever since.
I can’t remember the first time I crocheted, my preferred method of stitching. But I do remember my first knitting projects – 40 years ago. I made sweaters for the 2 kids and myself. My son’s and daughter’s came out good, but mine had sleeves for an orangutang! LOL! I never start with an easy project 🙂