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
The first project I knit, I had no idea what I was doing. I couldn’t read garter stitch, so if I dropped a stitch I didn’t even know what order to pick it back up in. I had barely taught myself to purl, and, I started a this (baby-sized) blanket in November and did not finish until March! It was knit for a charity group which stopped meeting before I finished, but, in the spirit of the thing, it had been knit for an orphan and was gifted to an orphan being adopted by a family in our church.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/LASH/building-blocks
My first project was knitting a pair of slippers.
The first thing I remember knitting was a cardigan of sorts. It was knit with two strands of yarn, one white and one blue. Every row was knitted (up and down) and then there was a blue ribbing across the bottom.
I took a beginning knitting class to make a simple sweater. Like you, Sheri, still have a problem completing those! Thanks for all the fun you provide for us!
My mom taught me how to knit when I was 5 years old but the first items I remember making are two crocheted pillow covers in 8th grade home economics class. Though basic and the color combos aren’t my favorites today, I still have both pillows 🙂
Hmmm…I have to think way back for this…I think my first were some stuffed animals when I was a girl… My momma was a huge seamstress and we had lots of cute patterns!
Congratulations on your success. My first thoughts of sewing an apron in Girl Scouts. Unfortunately I attached some of it to my uniform skirt
My first project was the famous slipper pattern that was “required” in school.
The first project I remember knitting (in middle school) was a turquoise seed stitch tube top with one inch straps! It was cotton. I remember wearing it while mowing the yard so I could work on my tan.
I remember knitting a blanket for my Barbie doll. It was pink fuzzy acrylic, of course, and Barbie loved it!
The first project I remember was when I learned to crochet at 10. I made little change purses for my MOm to give to her co-workers.
The first project I ever crocheted was this wonky scarf that kept getting wider and wider at every row!
My first knitting project was when I was 17 and I made this huge autumn-colored, rusty orange pullover sweater for my boyfriend and decided to add a huge golden yellow colored lightening bolt down the front and the back! I have no recollection of how I figured out how to do intarsia, but oddly enough, my boyfriend thought it was great. LOL
I believe my first knitted project was a winter scarf, that would have been about 50 years ago! I’m 57 now.
I started knitting a long time ago by attempting to knit a large ribbed blanket holding 2 skeins of worsted weight yarn. I never finished it. The first things I remember finishing were felted bags. I went through a long felted knits phase. Thanks for the chance to win a generous give away!
I’m going to guess it was a dishcloth or scarf. My sister had these huge wooden bright green needles and a big ball of hot pink yarn and I would have learned to knit after her on those needles.
First project was a pink scarf when my grandmother tried to teach me to knit when I was around 10 that I never finished. First project I completed was when I learned to knit about 8 yrs ago and was a scarf.
I don’t remember what I practiced knitting on when I was 18, but I really got into it, and I bought a whole bunch of black acrylic yarn to make myself a lovely sweater. Sadly, I never made the sweater. Fifteen years later I made my first pair of socks and haven’t stopped knitting since.
My first knitting project was to knit a scarf like the one I saw in a craft fair that had sold by the time I decided to go back and buy it. My mother-in-law purchased the scarf and was hiding it for Christmas (I didn’t know that at the time!). In the end, I got the scarf I really wanted from the craft fair and learned to knit (a good thing since my first scarf didn’t compare to the craft fair one – I think I decided to wing it so not knowing how to knit and not having a patten, my scarf was the same color but the likeness ended there!). I still have the craft fair scarf and thankfully I finally did finally figure out how to knit.
The first project I knitted was a 3 color block scarf in garter stitch. It actually turned out really well, except that it is so heavy that it stretches INFINITELY and I have to wind it around my neck 3 or 4 times to keep it from dragging on the ground. But I guess with cold weather, that’s not really a bad thing!
The first thing I remember knitting was a scarf. I think I wanted it to be a blanket, but being my first time ever knitting my mother (being the wise woman that she is) recommended a scarf because it was a more managable first time knitting project. It was hideous & made of yellow acrylic but I was so proud to have completed it. 😉
My first project was a scarf from “Stitch & Bitch.” I was so proud of myself because I learned to knit from a book while my 9 month old napped. That was 9 years ago too!
Deanna
The first thing I knit was a long sleeve sweater in a light green cotton yarn.
The first thing I remember knitting was a child’s pullover in purple. My great-aunt picked out the pattern and the yarn for me. I wasn’t that enthused by either; I have no memories of ever finishing the project or wearing it. I did enjoy the process of knitting though. 🙂
The first thing I knitted was a rag sweater.
When I was a kid I made lots of toys out of old socks. I remember making a toy of Casper the Friendly Ghost after the movie (the Christina Ricci one) came out. It didn’t look much like the real thing but I loved it!
My first knitting project was a throw made from a very chunky Colinette Point 5 yarn on enormous needles. Came out great but was a big project to tackle!
Well, I wish I could say I knit something really awesome fory first project….but typical….started with a scarf of course. It was thick and thin yarn…..terrible choice for a first project. No way to tell if your stitches are good.
I seem to remember knitting a huge chunky poncho, which made me look like a cross between the Stay Puff man and a tent, and instantaneously made your temperature spike like crazy due to its heating abilities.
the first project I knitted was a drop stitch scarf made from some novelty thick/thin yarn for my MIL. I figured, well, I’m dropping stitches anyway, so why not make a whole scarf from my “mistakes.” Ugh. It helps that my MIL is mostly blind so she couldn’t see all my mistakes either.
Probably a scarf. My Dad taught me to knit a long time ago.
A garter stitch dishcloth in variegated mint green yarn
I crocheted an orange shawl and it ended up being a table cloth
Age 4: A pink lace jacket for my teddy. My Grandmother was knitting a lace bed jacket and she taught me to knit using some of her leftover yarn. My knitting was full of holes and teddy wore it proudly for some time so I guess you could call it a lace jacket!
My first knitting project was a sweater for my chihuahua, also back in 2006. I thought I could save money instead of paying silly pet boutique prices, and maybe have fun making it too. Well, I did have fun, and I’ve been knitting ever since! (Mostly for myself…turns out longcoat chihuahuas don’t appreciate sweaters all that much. 🙂
My first project was also how I learned to knit. It was a black felted pouch bag with novelty yarn. I loved it since all my boo boos disappeared after felting!
First thing I knit was a cotton dishcloth. Useful item and I got the hang of different stitches.
The first thing I remember crocheting is a blanket for my boyfriend unfortunately I didn’t have tension down and it started out 3 feet wide and ended up 5 feet wide, maybe that is why I primarily knit now
My first project was the classic ribbed scarf which still has the ends hanging off.
I remember getting a learn to knit kit with big wooden needles when I was 10 years old. I made a green and white bag with long shoulder strap for a schoolmate. I made a number of cardigans as a teenager and wore them.
I took a knitting class and we made a pair of mittens, which were supposed to have a purl ridge at the top of the cuff. I took them home and got really excited about knitting and hated purling, and ended up with really long cuffs because the teacher made me put the purl ridge on during our next session.
The first project I officially knitted was one of the Mary Maxim Christmas stockings. I received a snowman and decided that my family each needed a new one. So, one Christmas, when I was in high school (era 1978) I knitted Mr./Mrs. Claus for mom and dad, reindeer for my brothers. Finished the last one on Christmas Eve.
Congratulations Loopy! We love you.
My first knitting project was a collaboration with my Granny. We knit stockings and garters for the front feet of my cat, no kidding. Both stockings and garters were knit flat.
The cat did not appreciate them.
I always think I have two ‘first projects’. For my very first project (30 years ago), I decided I wanted to make a sweater and my sister offered to teach me how to knit. I visited a shop and found a simple pattern, and a chunky purple yarn (really bright purple, that 80s look!). I did learn to knit, but the project was never completed. 25 years later, I returned to knitting with a tea cosy kit, made in a lovely navy blue Noro yarn. The second ‘first project’ was a success, and I still have that tea cosy (and several more!).
The first thing I remember crocheting was a granny square when I was five years old. My best friend’s grandmother was making an afghan and I remember being fascinated by how pretty the colors were. She was so patient and sweet with me.
My first item completed was a classic cardigan in fingering weight skye blue wool. It took 4 years to knit – i started it when i was 8or 9 years old so it did not fit me when finished but my sister who is fours years younger wore it to a friends and left it there – it was never returned
The first thing I knit was a pair of slippers. You know those slippers that everyone made, including your grandmother? On Ravelry there is a very similar pattern called Aunt Maggie’s slippers. We learned to knit them in Girl Scouts. I grew up in south Florida so there was not much need for sweaters, scarves, mittens, etc.
My friend taught me how to knit….and she started me on a felted purse. It was perfect, because I was motivated to make one for our daughter, it was knit in the round, only knit stitch, felting covered all my mistakes. She loved it! It was a fun knitting project!
The first thing I knit was socks, I know, I am an over-achiever. But the toe of the second sock was 90 degress off. I wore them anyway.