Challenging Knits or Mindless Knits?

Do you manage stress better with mindless or challenging knits? I’ve been contemplating that. But first, we have a new service to offer you.

New Service – Video Shopping with Loopy!

Since fewer people are shopping in person, and many of you never get to come here in person, we’ve added a new service. We’re offering 15 minute video appointments for people who would like to see color options or yarn options by phone. At the end of the call, we’ll take your order and will then get your order sent out that day. (Not all calls will take 15 minutes, but that’s what we block out for you.)

How to sign up?

– Text us that you’d like to set up a video appt (970-568-5290, our regular phone number)
– suggest a day/time that works for you
– tell us if we should Facetime call (for iPhones) or WhatsApp call (for Androids).

We’ll text you back during shop hours with an appt. confirmation and then will video call you at that time. Note – we’re using different phones to call you back, so it won’t say that Loopy is trying to call you when the call comes through. But if it’s the time we set up, just know that it’s us!

Mindless or Challenging Projects?

I’m in the mood to start a big project (seems like a good time), and I started thinking – do I want something that is mindless so I don’t have to think about it too much? Or do I want some challenging knits to keep my mind occupied? (Or do I need one of each? That’s pretty much what I decided. Ha!) I thought I’d share some of the projects I was contemplating, in case you’d like to knit along with me. (All designer photos copyrighted, and have been used here with permission.)

I love Dee O’Keefe’s patterns. They look interesting to knit and beautiful to wear. As I was compiling my list to share with you, I ended up with four of hers on the list of a dozen! Here are some options that caught my eye:

Usonian ©Dee O’Keefe (2 colors fingering weight)
Cascade Heritage Silk, Uncommon Posh Fingering, Knerd Fingering, Fibre Co Canopy Fingering

Quaking Aspen ©Dee O’Keefe (1 color worsted weight)
Uncommon Lush Worsted, Cascade 220, Stonehedge Shepherd’s Wool, Malabrigo Rios

Tendrilly ©Dee O’Keefe (1 color DK weight)
Uncommon Merino DK, Fibre Co Lore, Sandnes Garn Smart/Peer Gynt, Wollmeise DK

Fallston ©Dee O’Keefe (2 colors fingering weight)
Cascade Heritage Silk, Uncommon Everyday Singles, Wollmeise Pure, Fibre Co Canopy Fingering

Here are more beautiful options:

Bitterblues Wrap ©Erin Kurup (2 colors fingering weight)
Cascade Heritage Sock, Uncommon Posh Fingering, Malabrigo Sock

Suburban Wrap ©Joji Locatelli (3 colors fingering weight)
Dream in Color Smooshy Cashmere, JulieSpins Silky 435, Uschitita Merino Sock or Merino Singles

Dream Lake Shawl ©Julia Decker (2-4 colors DK weight, depending on size made)
Malabrigo Dos Tierras, Malabrigo Caprino, Sandnes Garn Smart/Peer Gynt, Fibre Co Luma, Uncommon Merino DK

Out of Darkness ©BooKnits (1 color laceweight)
Malabrigo Lace, Wollmeise Lace, Dream in Color Jilly Lace

Milk Thistle Shawl ©Nat Raedwulf (1 color sport weight yarn)
Walcot Opus, Cascade Superwash Sport, Fibre Co Road to China Light, Wollmeise Blend, Rosy Cheeky Joy

Above the Woods ©Katrin Schneider (1 color DK weight)
Uncommon Merino DK, Malabrigo Dos Tierras, Malabrigo Caprino, Sandnes Garn Smart / Peer Gynt

Gratitude ©Marie-Thé (2 colors lace weight)
Malabrigo Lace, Wollmeise Lace, Dream in Color Jilly Lace

Bradway ©Shannon Cook (3 colors worsted weight)
Cascade 220, Stonehedge Shepherd’s Wool, Blue Sky Woolstok, Uncommon Lush Worsted

Or check out these patterns on Andrea Mowry’s website: 

Wildwood Shawl (fingering weight, try Uncommon Posh Fingering)
Baubles Shawl (fingering weight, try Uncommon Everyday Singles)
What the Fade Shawl (fingering, try Uschitita Merino Singles)
Goldfinch Shawl (sport weight, try Cascade Superwash Sport).

Several of the Loopy Elves are wanting to do a Goldfish Memory Knit a Long (because they see our in-store sample every time they come to work!) This one is mine, but I’d like to make another. So if none of the above patterns catch your eye, maybe you’d like to knit Goldfish with all of us? It takes 3 colors, fingering weight yarn, 1 skein of each (400 or more yard skeins). I used Dream in Color Smooshy Cashmere for this one. It would also be beautiful in Uschitita Merino Singles or Merino Sock, Uncommon Posh Fingering, or any one of our indie dyer fingering weights in multicolors and speckles.

Next week I’ll share some beautiful sweater options with you. Again, with some mindless options and some challenging knits. Somehow wrapping up in handknits (whether it’s a shawl, a wrap, or a sweater) just makes me feel better.

Stay safe and healthy – 

Sheri (and The Loopy Ewe Crew)