We’ve had a lot of emails from all of you, anxious to get started back to school! Loopy Academy is our way of encouraging you to learn new things, try different projects, develop new skills, and make new friends. We love seeing the beautiful things that you come up with!
How does it work? We’ll give you 3 assignments each semester. They’re due at the end (in this case, May 31), so you can work at your own pace during the semester.
Just like college, you can jump in any time and sit out a semester any time. You pick the schedule that works for you. We’re just glad to have you join us! (FAQ’s at the bottom of the post.)
To participate:
- Pick the semester you’d like to complete.
- Pick your patterns.
- Pop over to The Loopy Ewe to get your project supplies. (Supplies for the semester need to be purchased for Loopy between February and May, 2017.)
- Start knitting or sewing! All three projects must be started after 2/1 and finished by 5/31.
- Upload your photos to the Loopy Academy Photo Galleries (showing the entire completed project) by 5/31/17.
- When you have successfully completed two semesters of a school year (Freshman or Sophomore or Junior) you get a fun reward from us! We keep track, so we know when it’s time to send you the reward.
Here are the newest challenges, followed by the previous semester challenges. You can pick any semester that you haven’t already completed.
Yarn – Junior Year, Semester 2 (Each project must use a minimum 250 yards):
A project that uses beads.
A project that uses colorwork or fair isle (at least 2 separate colors used in the same row).
A project with buttonholes and buttons.
Fabric – Sophomore Year, Semester 2 (Each project must use a minimum 2 yards):
A lap or baby quilt (including quilting and binding).
A tunic, shirt or dress.
A project with Precuts or Loopy Short Stacks or Loopy’s Maker’s Collection.
Previous Semester Assignments for Yarn
Junior Year Yarn Semester 1 (Each project must use a minimum of 250 yards):
A pair of gloves with full fingers (no fingerless mitts).
A knitted or crocheted toy using more than one color of yarn. (You can add knitted clothes or make a set of toys to get the yardage required.) Some fun ideas at this link!
A project that incorporates bobbles or popcorn or nupps in the pattern.
Sophomore Year Yarn Semester 1 (Each project must use a minimum of 225 yards):
A pillow in a worsted or bulky weight yarn.
A project that has textured stitches in the body.
A project that has cables in the pattern.
Sophomore Year Yarn Semester 2 (Each project must use a minimum of 225 yards):
A project that includes both a solid and a multi-colored yarn in the same project.
A pattern that includes twisted stitches.
A pair of socks knit top down or toe up (whichever you are least familiar with.)
Freshman Year Yarn Semester 1 (Each project must use a minimum of 175 yards)
A cowl in a multi-colored or self-striping fingering weight yarn.
A hat from a designer new to you, in a sport or dk weight yarn.
A pair of mittens in a solid or semi-solid worsted weight yarn.
Freshman Year Yarn Semester 2 (Each project must use a minimum of 175 yards):
A project that has stripes of two or more colors in the design. (Not self-striping yarn.)
A project that has been felted or fulled.
A project that includes slipped stitches in the pattern.
Previous Semester Assignments for Fabric
Sophomore Year Fabric Semester 1 (Each project must use a minimum of 2 yards):
1 or more Zipper Box Bags (you need to use 2 yds. fabric, so a big one or sets of smaller ones).
A wearable project (like an apron or shirt or dress) that has embroidery featured somewhere on it.
A quilt or table topper or wall hanging that uses a mixture of cotton plus wool fabrics (including quilting).
Freshman Year Fabric Semester 1 (Each project must use a minimum of 1.5 yards)
A drawstring bag or bags, depending on size.
A set of 4 placemats.
A seasonal wall hanging (including some quilting).
Freshman Year Fabric Semester 2 (The first two projects must use a minimum of 2 yards each, no min. on the pincushion):
PJ or Lounge Pants, capri length or longer.
A table runner from all solid fabrics (must include quilting).
A pincushion that includes at least two different fabric patterns or colors.
FAQ’s
Q: I am new to Loopy Academy. Can I start with this Junior Second Semester or do I have to go in order?
A: You don’t have to go in order. You can any semester you want to. 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!
Q: I completed one of the three project assignments 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 do-overs you’re allowed!)
Q: I am going to do this semester, but then I’m busy in the fall 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 Loopy Academy Yarn and Loopy Academy Fabric so you can talk about what you’re thinking and get some new ideas!
We can’t wait to see what you do with the challenges this semester!
Sheri and The Loopy Ewe Crew
Squeee! I’m so excited. Now off to patterns to figure out what I’m going to make this semester and then pick out my yarn.
Do buttons and beads need to be purchased from Loopy in order to qualify or can we use some we already have?
Hi Nicki! The buttons and beads do not need to be purchased from us so if you have ones you already like, feel free to use those! Just the yarn you’ll need for those projects needs to be purchased from us.
Two quick questions. What is considered a buttonhole? Knit a couple of stitches yo knit more stitches to the end or is there some other type buttonhole to look for. Also if the buttonholes can be crocheted on the edge, does that count. And second, how do I know if two colors are on the same row for the color work. Is stranded or mosaic what I should look for? Y’all are now beyond my level of knowledge. I’ll be learning some things.