Welcome back to the school year, and Loopy Academy! We had so much fun with Loopy Academy last year and saw so many beautiful finished projects. We can’t wait to see what you come up with this year. (And be sure to see the contest info at the bottom of the post. You could win a $50 Loopy Scholarship!)
What is Loopy Academy? A virtual program for trying new things, developing new skills, making new friends, and participating in contests. It’s easy, simple and fun!
How does it work? We started last year with Freshman Year, First and Second Semesters. This fall, we’re introducing Sophomore Year, First Semester (plus the Freshman Year First Semester Fabric Version, see below.) We’ll give you 3 project assignments. You can do all three at once, or one every month, or do them all at the end of the semester. As long as you get them all done within the same semester, you get credit for completing it.
Just like college, you can jump in any time. Busy this fall? You can start in February, after our January Winter break. Or next fall. We have planned out projects/skills/challenges for Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior years, and we’ll roll them out one semester at a time. Again, just like college, the projects get a little more challenging as you go along and build upon your skills. You can take a semester or year off any time that you need to. Just start back up with us when it works with your schedule.
If you’re ready to jump into Sophomore Year, here are your assignments!
Sophomore Year, First Semester Yarn Assignments (each project needs to use at least 225 yards):
1. Pillow in a worsted or bulky weight yarn. Some pattern links to get you started: Whistler Pillow, Winslow, Independence Pillow, Sheep in the Meadow, Fox Cushion, Smushion, Slip Stitch Game Cushion, Hyland Cushions, Stash Buster Cushion, Chunky Fair Aisle Cushion, and Nordic Holiday Pillow.
2. A project that has textured stitches in the body of the pattern. (Textured meaning that it changes the surface from the flatness of just garter or stockinette. Raised ridges, raised stitches, open lace stitches, etc.) Some pattern links to get you started: 3 Color Cashmere Cowl, Adama, Namesake, Hazeline, Geology Shawl, Zilver, Rounded Hem Pullover, Metalouse, Brucie, Hinagiku Hat, Interview With the Vampire, and Great Divide Shawl.
3. A project that has cables in the pattern. Some pattern links to get you started: Forest Park Cowl, Cable Madness, French Cancan, Braidsmaid, Hogwarts Express, Black Cherry Lambic, City Creek Cowl, Knotted Pine, Ishneich, Elementary Watson Socks, Love Me Two Times, and Palindrome.
Project Bags on Sale!! Need a new book bag project bag for school? We’ve marked them 20% off for the next week (today through Wednesday, September 9th). If you’re like me, the start of a new year means school supplies, and a new project bag must top the list. (Or maybe that’s just me. You know how I like project bags!)
For those of you who are new to Loopy Academy and instead want to start with one of the Freshmen year semesters, here are the requirements for those:
Freshman Year, First Semester Yarn Assignments (each project needs to use at least 175 yards):
1. Cowl in a multi-colored (defined as 2 or more distinct colors in the same skein) or self-striping Fingering weight colorway
2. Hat from a designer new to you, in a Sport or DK weight
3. Mittens in a solid or semi-solid colorway in a Worsted weight
Freshman Year, Second Semester Yarn Assignments (each project needs to use at least 175 yards).
1. Striping – knit a project that has stripes of two or more colors somewhere in the design. (Not self-striping yarn.)
2. Felting/Fulling – knit and felt/full a project of your choice.
3. Slipped Stitches – knit a project that includes slipped stitches in the pattern.
And for all of our fabric customers, we promised we’d start Loopy Academy for sewists this year, too. So here is the Freshman Year assignments for sewing, if you’d like to participate with fabric:
Freshman Year, First Semester Fabric Assignments (each project needs to use at least 1.5 yards of fabric)
1. Drawstring Bag or set of bags, depending on size
2. Set of 4 Placemats (these do not have to include quilting, but of course you can quilt them if you’d like to)
3. Seasonal Wall Hanging (including some quilting)
Individual photos of each of the three assignments must be uploaded to our Loopy Photo Gallery on our website by the end of the semester, in order to get credit for finishing. In this case, December 31, 2015.
Yarn and fabric for all Loopy Academy projects needs to be purchased from The Loopy Ewe during the semester in which you’re participating, but they don’t need to all be purchased at the same time. For this semester that means purchases September 2, 2015 through December of this year.
FAQ’s
Q: I am new to Loopy Academy. Can I start with this Sophomore First Semester or do I have to go in order?
A: You don’t have to go in order. You can start in with Sophomore First, or you can go back and start with Freshman First, or you can do Freshman Second. It’s totally up to you. Any time you do complete both semesters of a year (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior) you earn a fun prize from us.
Q: What if I want to do more than one semester at the same time?
A: You can do that as well (you over-achiever, you)!
Q: I completed one project assignment last fall and then got busy with other stuff. Can I finish the other two this semester and have it marked complete?
A: To get a complete for the semester, all of the projects need to be done in the same semester, with yarn or fabric purchased during that semester. Getting them done during the 4 month semester time period is part of the challenge, just like school. If you don’t finish a semester, you need to start over with new yarn and new projects. (Luckily there is no limit to the number of re-do’s you’re allowed!)
Q: I am going to do this semester, but then I’m busy in the spring and won’t be able to do Loopy Academy again until a year from now. Do you have to do it every semester?
A: Nope. You can hop in and hop out as it works with your schedule. We’ll keep track of which semesters you have completed so we know when we owe you prizes.
Q: Is there a way to participate using my stash yarn or stash fabric?
A: For Loopy Academy, we do require you to purchase the project yarn/fabric from us during the semester you’re completing.
Q. I need more pattern ideas. Where can I get them?
A. Log onto Ravelry and pop over to the Loopy Groupies. We have started new threads for LA Freshman Yarn, LA Sophomore Yarn, and LA Freshman Fabric so you can talk about what you’re thinking and get some new ideas!
We do want to award a Loopy Scholarship for this semester! Leave a comment and let us know the first project you’re going to work on this semester, and we’ll draw a name next week to win a $50 Loopy Scholarship. (The $50 credit will go into your Loopy account and can be used any time, on any purchase. It doesn’t have to be related to Loopy Academy projects.)
Pick a new sale bag, get your yarn or fabric, and hop into Loopy Academy with both feet this fall. We can’t wait to knit along with you and see your finished projects by the end of the semester!
Sheri and The Loopy Ewe Crew
I took a year off, after having a hectic work life last fall – you know, sometimes a year off is important in deciding what you want to do with your life! Now I’m starting my freshman year and TRYING to make gifts, though I know the cowl will totally be for me. Maybe the mittens and hat can be gifts….
Having just worked through Camp Loopy, it feels really weird to not have anything on the needles, so I guess I *have* to make an order today!
FINALLY!!!
I’m going to give this a second and third try for Freshman year, if I’m super lucky, I can get two semesters done in one!
Which one first? I bought for Freshman year second semester first so I’ll probably do the slipped stitches project first, Long and Winding Row in DIC Classy. Next is stripes, Gradient Cowl in Loopy Hues (so excited to finally work with this, I forsee a lot of this in my cart in the future) in Teals and Manos Fino in Letter Opener. Then the felting, either the French Press Slippers or a wine carrier in Cascade 220 in a Christmas-y red.
I have wanted to make a Geology Shawl for a long long time and I think the time has come to make it. I love the idea of the pattern and the designer’s name VeryBusyMonkey. I already have a few of her other patterns. I want to make the pattern show up so I will search out a tonal yarn in a light color. Maybe Copper 😉
I ended up dropping in 2nd semester last year due to life getting hectic. Ready to jump back in this fall and will try to get 2 semesters done so I’m caught back up. Sophmore year is a good excuse to make a Geology shawl, which has been on my favorites forever.
I’m so excited to be a Freshman this year!!! My first project is going to be the bandana cowl and making it big enough to fit in the 175 yard minimum.
I have always wanted to make a pillow! I’m starting there!
Now that I’ve retired, I’m going to try to catch up and complete the entire freshman year this fall (and then the entire sophomore year in the spring!).
I’ll be starting my sophomore year, and I think I’ll start with the pillow. My little old man Corona loves to lounge on a pillow so I think it will be a cat pillow!
I like the cables in the Independence Pillow and am leaning towards that for my first project this semester. It seems simple enough to work on after work. I’d also like to try to work in a wall hanging for the fabric project.
YAY! I’ve been stalking the blog for the start of Academy this year for about two weeks. 😉
I’m going to *attempt* Freshman One and Sophomore One this fall. We’ll see what happens! I ended up failing Freshman one twice already. But I’m bound and determined. *puts on war paint*
First on the needles? I’m probably going to start with Freshman One since I have semester two under my belt. I think I’ll star with the multicolored cowl. Fall is here and I need a pretty new cowl. : ) It will go great with the aforementioned war paint.
I’m going to do freshman fabric I think. We’ve just started a knitting group at work, so I’m going to make drawstring project bags for my colleagues as a gift as my first project.
I might think about sophomore knitting, but I’m going to wait and see how much time I have, and if I can make at least some of it work with the Fall Giftables yarn.
Ooh, a pillow project! That is something I’ve never made before, should be lots of fun. So excited to start planning my projects.
Ooh so many ideas! I’m thinking of Brake Cowl by Donna Smith (Ravelry Pattern) on a self striping yarn for my mother in law for xmas. I’m excited. Wait..I have to pick two more right?? uhmm…mittens….do fingerless gloves count? I’ve never done mittens. New skills!
Glad you’re joining in, April! The mittens need to be mittens – not fingerless gloves. And I’m happy to hear you’ve never done mittens – that will be fun!
I’m back to knitting after a long break. Missed out on Loopy Academy last year so I’m jumping in as a freshman. I sent the kids back to school today, seems like I should learn something new too. Freshman semester 1, time to go yarn shopping!
I think I’m going to double major this semester but the first project I work on will be probably the placemats and the pillow – there’s a pillow pattern that I just keep looking at so perfect time to make it.
Yaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!
If I can swing it for this semester, I’d love to start with a textured project. I have a lot of patterns in my queue which would qualify! The temptation is to do another Geology, but I have several other VBM patterns in my basket. There are so many new and luscious yarns to choose from!
So…garter stitch isn’t considered texture? I was planning to knit a cardigan that has garter stitch stripes on the back and pockets while the fronts and sleeves are done in stockinette.
Yay, I’ve been watiting for Loopy Academy! Pillow is up first.
This is my first time tackling Loopy Academy – I’m going to try Freshman year 1st Semester & I’m going to start with a Monster Cowl in fingering weight self striping rather than Worsted.
I’m so excited for Loopy Academy!! My first project is going to be the Winslow pillow! Its so cute and thank you for introducing it to me! I got the little guy an Owl blanket and I’m going to modify Winslow a little bit so that he is an Owl instead of a penguin. 😀
This will be my first year at Loopy Academy, starting off with 1st semester freshman. I think I’ll start of with the Sallah Cowl in the Rockwell colorway. Then the Hinagiku Hat, then possibly the Little Garter Checks Mittens. All of these will likely be gifts as I can’t often cast on a project without one of my children calling dibs.
I am going to work on the Plaindrome scarf, which I had in my queue for years 🙂
Ok, my first year at Loopy Academy. I’m going to tackle Freshman and Sophomore at the same time. Yikes. My first project for Freshman first semester is Three Season Cowl by Jenn Morgan and for my 1st semester Sophomore project it will be the Nordic Holiday Pillow! Wish me luck as boy am I going to need it, but hey, think of all the Christmas gifts I’ll get done. Sorry WIPS will have to get back to you during school break 🙂
My first project is going to be the French CanCan and also a drawstring bag. Hmmm now to go search out for my supplies 🙂
I think the first project I’ll work on is the cables one either a hat or scarf… because while I don’t mind cables they aren’t my favorite.. 🙂
SO glad Academy finally got posted!! I was looking forward to this! I LOVE THE LOOPY EWE!!! 🙂
I spent my lunch hour trolling patterns on Ravelry…I think I’ll start the pillow first. My pattern will be the Lodge pillow which is in the book “Crochet One-Skein Wonders”. I’ll be using Malabrigo Rios in Paris Night.
Sounds like a semester that can be full of pillows. I have been wanting to make some in cotton and this will give me the opportunity to do just that.
I love Loopy Academy. It gives me the extra flexibility I seem to need these days. I keep failing at camp. LOL
I’m going to make that Fox Pillow (although, I am a little concerned about yardage given the finished size) that you linked in your post for my first project. It is too cute not to make it.
I loved going ‘back to school’ last semester. Already planning this semester’s sophomore project. A bolster/tube pillow for our bedroom; but my first project will be a drawstring project bag to hold my sophomore project in.
All ordered & soon on its way. This is going to be so fun.
Very much up in the air on most of the projects for Fabric Semester 1, but at least for the wall hanging, I have a plan! I am working slowly through a year of calendar quilts, so perhaps I’ll target December and work on that one first!
I am starting with Freshman year, and I think I will start with a hat. I need a new one for the winter anyways. . .
I’m planning to do the pillow first. I’ll be designing my project.
I’m ready to start my Sophomore year. I’ve had my eye on Braidsmaid for a long time. I love Martina’s designs and I love to do cables. What a great way to start the year!
My first project is going to be a sweater for my 6 year old daughter. She’s petite and always cold, and one of the sweaters in my queue for her is the Tiny Rocky Coast cardigan, which would satisfy the cable requirement.
Oops, meant to say I’ll be starting sophomore year.
By chance I picked up from my own bookshelf Knitted Gifts by Ann Budd and saw a cabled pillow pattern and decided I wanted to make that. Good timing! I would make that first.
So excited to be starting back at Loopy Academy!!! I have all 3 of my projects planned and yarn ordered. I think my first project will be the Fox Cushion because…how cute!!! I’ll also be knitting Campside for Texture and Millwater for Cables. Can’t wait to get knitting! Thanks so much for all the fun Sheri and Elves!
drawstring bags, you say? What a fun way to start the semester!
I’m going to try Freshman semester again. I will make a cowl, mittens and a hat. The hat will be by Julia Trice (haven’t picked one yet), and the cowl and mittens are also undecided, yet.
I plan to start with the cable project and I have chosen Smushion by emmafolds! I am excited to start my second year…
Definitely a cowl. Deciding between Miraflores, Copilot and Irish Mesh.
I’m knitting the Independence Pillow first. I loved Loopy Academy last year and anxiously awaited for the Sophomore year projects. Now, it’s time to pick the yarns!
I am all in for Sophomore year. After not being able to finish the last camp project, I need to get back in the saddle again! I’m not sure why to do first- probably the pillow though! Do you want us to use a particular weight of yarn for the other 2 projects? Or can we choose ourselves?! Thanks!
this will be my first Loopy Academy and I am doing Dembow hat with an inner lining in ShibuiKnits, Maai in the Suit colorway. I can’t wait.
I’m going to make two pillows for college daughter’s apartment using the Snap, Crackle, and Pop patterns FeistyMuse suggested on the Sophomore Year forum.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snap-crackle-and-pop
They will both be in Cascade 220 Superwash on washable pillowforms, because….college. One will be in Deep Ocean, and the other will be in Green Blue. I don’t know which is which yet, but one will be “Snap” to fulfill the pillow requirement, and the other one is going to be an adaptation of “Snap” to meet the cable requirement. I can’t wait! 🙂
Sorry – I was so overcome with emotion and joy that Loopy Academy was announced. I forgot to tell you my first project.
For LA Yarn – the pillow. I’ve been wanting to make a pillow for awhile.
For LA Fabric – the wall hanging. I figure if I start first with a Christmas project, it will be done in time for my traditional Dec. 1 decorating.
xoxo,
/mk
I am going to do Snap, Crackle, Pop pillows and fulfill all THREE projects!
Hmm…so many great choices for sophomore year…but I think I will have to start with the hinagiku hat. I love slouch hats!
I’m just joining Academy but will start with sophomore year. I will do a Slip Stitch Game cushion for my new living room as my first project.
I haven’t decided if I’m doing second semester of freshman year or first of sophomore, but I have projects in mind for each. For second semester of freshman year, I’d start with the felted/fulled project and make a pair of the wildly popular French Press slippers (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/french-press-felted-slippers). If I do first semester of sophomore year, I’d like to make a couple pillows as a housewarming gift for friends moving into town. One has to be cabled and the other may have to be colorwork with goats on it to match her beloved pets.