It’s time to start planning your August projects for Camp Loopy! (Remember – this is a virtual camp. You can participate from the comfort of your own home. No travel involved. We just like to pretend we’re going somewhere.)
Each month this summer (June, July and August) we have been knitting (or sewing) a different project. You can participate for one month, two months, or all three months. We announce the challenge approx. two weeks before the month starts, to give you time to pick a pattern and order. There is no official sign up – just put your order in and indicate in the order notes that you’re participating in Camp Loopy with us this summer. Of course there are benefits to participating, and we have contests, drawings, and fun going on all summer long surrounding Camp Loopy. We hope you will join us! Here are the details:
Project Three Yarn – The August Challenge: This project needs to be knit or crocheted between 8/1 and 8/31 (with a photo of the completed project uploaded to our Project Three Photo Gallery by 9/1).
Theme: Faraway Lands. The challenge this month is to incorporate a different country into your project. You can do that by using a pattern by a designer who lives in a different country, or you can pick a pattern named for (or celebrating) something in a different country, or you can pick a color that reminds you of a place in a different country. Your project must use a minimum of 800 yards in this single project. (A single project meaning one item, not sets of things like a hat/scarf combo, matching shawls for you and a friend, etc.)
Project Three Fabric – The August Challenge: This project needs to be sewn 8/1 and 8/31 (with a photo of the completed project uploaded to our Project Three Photo Gallery by 9/1).
Theme: Faraway Lands. The challenge this month is to incorporate a different country into your project. You can do that by using a pattern by a designer who lives in a different country, or you can pick a pattern or block named for (or celebrating) something in a different country, or you can pick colors that remind you of a place in a different country. Your project must use a minimum of 4 yards in this single project.
We are offering a 15% Camp Loopy discount for the yarn or fabric you are going to use for your project during “Camp Loopy Store Week” this month. The discount for Project Three, is valid for one project’s worth of yarn/fabric during Camp Store Week Three (July 13 – 20). To get the discount, you will need to leave us an order note on the order, telling us which yarn or fabric will be used for your Camp Project. We’ll apply the discount when your order comes through to us. If you’re going for free shipping in the U.S., please make sure that your discount won’t take you below the $100 free shipping level, or the website will add the shipping charge back in after we do the discount.
For additional Camp Loopy Benefits, Requirements, and FAQ’s please click over to this blog post, which details them all!
For those of you who signed up for Camp Club (new this year!), your Month Three Pirate Pack is in your cart and ready to ship whenever you check out. You are welcome to add your Camp project supplies to the order as well. We do have some extra Pirate Packs from Month Three for anyone who would like to get one while they last!
Ok – pick your pattern and pop over to The Loopy Ewe to get your yarn or fabric order in. We’ll get them shipped right out so that you’re ready to start in on the new project on August 1st. And keep working away on your July projects. We so look forward to seeing your finished photos when they are ready!
Did you see the June Galleries for Knitting and Sewing? Email (support@theloopyewe.com) and tell us which is your favorite and we will award a Reader’s Choice award for June. We’ll also be drawing from the whole June group for an award as well. Winner’s announced next week!
Sheri and The Loopy Ewe Crew
P.S. TODAY’S CONTEST – Share a pattern idea for Project Three in the comments below for a chance to win a $50 Loopy Gift Certificate! We’ll draw the winner next week.
Most of the shawls designed by Helen of Curious Handmade would work for this month. Helen is in England. She usually offers a large size which is great for the 800 yd requirement. Pebble Beach is one of my favorites!
She has new patterns out–the Secret Shawl Society. The first of the group, The Talisman Shawl, used 800+ in the large size.
I spent some time in anticipation yesterday planning some projects for today’s announcement. I am going to use the JOL layer cake with some added fabric to make Jenny Doan’s Sashed Half Hexi Quilt. Christmas themed fabric from Scandinavia – a wonderful faraway place.
And for the knitted project – a chance to use some Wollmeise. DK actually to make a blanket designed by Helen Stewart who is English. A very European month
I’ll be knitting Shrug & More by Martina Behm. Looking forward to a fun August Knit.
Pincha from the Spring Knitty was designed by Pinpilan Wangsai who lives in Thailand.
I am planning on crocheting Feather Grass for my August project; the designer is Katya Novikova, who lives in Moscow!
You can see the project on Ravelry here:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/feather-grass
I like The Girl in Me Shawl by Melanie Berg. According to Rav she lives in Germany and it takes 900 + yards of a sport weight. Looks nice and cozy.
I am planning to knit the Emiliana Shawl by Lisa Hannes, who lives in Germany, and am using Uncommon Threads yard that comes from England.
Congrats on winning the content. I live in St Louis also!
I picked out a pattern (not knowing the theme) this morning. The Arabella Shawl. My original ancestor (who came to this country) came on a tall ship from England. The ship’s name was the Arabella. He wasn’t an immigrant – he was sent here to serve as a magistrate in New Hampshire (hope it counts for a faraway land project.)
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/arabella-shawl
Here are two that I am considering:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/criss-cross-13
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blue-topaz-3
Across the Pond shawl is what I have in mind right now!
I’m thinking of Kompeito by Carol Fellers who is from Ireland:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kompeito
I will definitely be looking at all patterns by Stephen West!
Kate Davies’ new book- The Book of Haps would be great as she is from Scotland and Haps have a European history!!!!
Ambah O’Brien’s Cardinia Wrap has my attention. Now I am just trying to find the right yarn!
I’m planning on making Kallara, a shawl by Ambah O’Brien, who is in Australia. I bought the pattern as soon as it was released and have been thinking about yarn for it. It says it takes 795 – 800 yards, but is resizable, so I’ll be making mine a bit larger, and will be using Shalimar Enzo Sport. I love big shawls!
My idea is Hansel http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hansel-full-version – it’s a full sized version of a traditional Shetland Hap shawl. I did one for a baby blanket and one for a lap blanket for myself, and now I’m considering doing another one!
The pattern that I’m going to knit is by Ambah O’Brien from Australia. It is called Inara Wrap, and I will be using Loopy Hues to knit it.
Joji Locatelli, from Argentina, has several patterns that would work. Her latest Party on My Needles shawl has two sizes and the large would meet/exceed the requirements.
Starstruck by Dieuwke Van Mulligen would be a great project 3. She is from Denmark.
Torquata http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/torquata
by an Australian designer — it’s on my list of things to make but just not my Camp project.
Oooooo! I’d love to visit New Zealand, it just seems like a knitted dream and it’s so beautiful there. Plus all the sheep!
The Churro Sheep Cowl
by Anne Podlesak would be a perfect project for this!
Here is a possibility:
Florence Cardigan
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/florence-cardigan
Designer: Carol Feller who is from Ireland.
The title of the design also suggests another country.
I think I will be making this:http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/irish-crochet-shawl-l10495
But I may still change my mind!
I will go for a Breathing Space by Veera Välimäki. This designer is living in another country than mine (Finland), the pattern is part of a collaboration between 2 designers living in separate hemispheres (Finland and Argentina). Breathing Space sounds like an escape, a vacation. Bonus: this design looks beautiful in speckle yarns, so I’m going to order some Hedgehog Fibres, from Ireland!
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/breathing-space
Hmmm – well that’s a bummer as I am doing Hitofude for July, and it would be PERFECT for August!
Last year I had my heart set on Pointe – a shawl that is based on the iconic Canadian Hudson Bay Company design. Sadly, there literally was no white/off white fingering yarn to be found at TLE, so it passed. That design is only 600 m, but I’m still so drawn to the HBC design that I am looking at either a simple (read: mindless) throw in the same design, or maybe the Colorful Wedges blanket by Purl Soho in those colors, OR some sort of poncho in that design – maybe even felted to be really Canadian!
Transmute by Melanie Berg (in Germany) looks like a super wearable wardrobe staple. I’m planning to knit it without stripes.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/transmute
As for the sewing pattern, I’m planning to sew the lovely top and skirt set from the new Dottie Angel Simplicity pattern.
http://www.simplicity.com/simplicity-pattern-8153-dottie-angel-dress-top-and-skirt/8153.html
Dottie Angel is a Brit (and I’m not!).
Also, I picked some Birch Charley Harper Collection (OK, this guy is not from far away compared to where I’m from!), with a wood / bird theme, which reminds me of faraway whimsical forests.
What a perfect opportunity to try sewing the Rafiki skirt, available on Craftsy!
I have a feeling this contest is going to cause some growth in my Ravelry queue 🙂
As for the pattern, depending upon your size, Hitofude would qualify and would make a nice summer knit!
I nominate Heidi Kirrmaier from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I purchased yarn for either “Peasy” or “Fine Sand” (fortunately, they both required the same amount and weight of yarn! 😀 So I can make up my mind once I have the yarn.)
I looked really hard at “To the Point” as I have leftover yarn from this month (I think)…and with the colors in one of the small Loopy Cakes…
For me, camp has been a true adventure. I am exploring my roots. So a pattern suggestion would be just that. Find a designer or stitch that comes from your ancestry.
Mine is Scotland & Luxembourg. I did the Elizabeth Shawl (Shetland Lace) for my second month of camp & plan to do a Celtic design for the third month. Again, visiting the faraway land of the British Isles, to be more exact Scotland. There are many, many Celtic designs to be found on Ravelry. Just put it into the search
I’m making Tubularity by Martina Behm. I’ve had my eyes on it for a while.
I recently purchased Kallara by Ambah O’Brien. I’m also in the process of knitting her LilliPilli for my Camp Loopy project 2.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/arden-dress
Arden dress is 4T is exactly 800 yards
Charlotte Dress is 800+ sizes 2T and onward
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/charlotte-dress
Because I’ve been trying to choose a blanket/afghan pattern, I would recommend Vivid, Bounce, Fly Away, or POP – all great blanket patterns from Tin Can Knits from Canada. There are so many great ideas in the comments!
I love the patterns by Melanie Berg (Germany). Sunwalker is my favorite right now.
Great prompt. I love Justyna Lorkowska’s patterns and since she is from Poland they will work for this. I’m off to the yarn store!
This is one I’ve been wanting to do so right now, it’s what I’m learning towards and she’s a German designer:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/emiliana
leaning . . not learning!
I plan to do the Japanese Garden Shawl by Jana Huck. Since Jana is German and the shawl is inspired by Japanese gardens, this pattern would work for anyone who isn’t simultaneously in both Japan and Germany.
I’m going to knit Window to My Soul by Joji Locatelli, a designer from Argentina.
I will be using Hedgehog Fibres Sock Yarn in Monarch (made in County Cork, Ireland) to make the Butterfly Wings Shawl. It reminds me of my awesome visit to the Valley of Butterflies in Switzerland where the changes in altitude support many varieties of butterflies in the many different ecosystems.
Hitofude!!!
Melanie Breg of Germany has so many gorgeous shawl patterns! Drachenfels work great with Wollmeise pure or many other fingering yarns.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/emiliana The designer is in Germany and I love her patterns. I finally got yarn to knit this up!
Endless possibilities for combining colors in the ZickZack scarf: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zickzack-scarf
I think I might do Isay by Christelle Nihoul who is in France.
I am really liking Hiraeth by Rae Gronmark. It’s a shawl knit in three colors with sections of garterstitch, lace and stripes. What’s not to love with this? The designers notes say: Hiraeth is a Welsh term that, loosely translated, conveys a homesickness or longing for somewhere you cannot return or that perhaps never was. I designed this wrap with that in mind, the colors conjuring thoughts of ocean, cliffs and sand.
Killorglin by Carol Feller
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/killorglin
I’m planning on knitting Easy Folded Poncho in a new yarn to me – Baa Ram Ewe, Dovestone DK. The yarn is from England. it was tough deciding on the color, but chose Yorkstone.