Socktopus Archives - The Loopy Ewe Blog

Socktopus, Dream in Color, Seasonings Series, and More!

by Sheri BergerJune 10, 2013July 8, 20157 Comments

Happy Monday! (It’s always a Happy Monday for me by the time the Update gets here. Isn’t that the best part of most Mondays?) We have added in lots of pretty yarn today. Just up, you’ll find:

Socktopus Sokkusu – It’s back! You may have heard that Alice recently sold her Socktopus company. She was contemplating moving it to Hong Kong (where she now lives), but instead decided to sell it to Ling back in London. The great thing is that Ling is the one who has been dyeing up the Socktopus yarn for Alice for the past 18 months anyway. So you get the same great Sokkusu base and the same beautiful dyeing from Ling, who has kept the business in London. We’re glad to have it back in stock again. This is the first part of our order. We’ll have more again later this summer. (Shown here in Triton.)

Dream in Color Classy – We didn’t realize how low we were on Classy colors until we went to place an order and had to order more of just about everything! So now we have a good supply in stock. This is great sweater yarn for adults as well as kid clothes. (It also makes very pretty baby blankets). Dream in Color’s special dye technique prevents striping or pooling, so you get overall beautiful color.

The Loopy Ewe Seasonings Series – More new colorways to add to our Seasonings line! (We’ve even names some of these new colors after the mountain groups we having going for Project One of Camp Loopy). The Seasonings Series comes with a main skein (430 yards) and a mini “seasoning” skein (100 yards). It’s perfect if you want to make socks with contrasting heels and toes, or cute little baby sweaters with contrasting cuffs and button bands, or shawls with contrasting edges.(Check out Lalaknit’s free Julia Grace pattern on my blog. She used the Silver Linings color way. (Shown here in Colorado Sunset.)

Camp Loopy Water Bottles – A 22 oz. bottle that is BPA-free and has a screw-on lid so you don’t risk any spills. Perfect for camping or just hanging out at home and knitting. Plus, I love the happy apple green color, don’t you?

Have fun checking out the new things. It’s always fun to come in the next day to print your orders and see what struck your fancy. Of course you always have excellent taste in yarn. 😉 We’ll get your Boxes of Fun shipped out to you right away!

Sheri pickedoutaColoradoSunsetformyself.Lovingthatcolorcombo.

String Theory, Lorna’s Laces, Swan’s Island and More!

by Sheri BergerJanuary 21, 2013March 4, 20139 Comments

We put lots of pretty yarn up for you in tonight’s Update! We just added in:

Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock – We’ve re-stocked several colors and added in the Christmas in Downton colorway, which we were happy to see had been added to the regular Lorna’s Laces lineup. This fingering weight yarn is 80% Superwash Merino and 20% Nylon. Great for socks, but also fun to knit up in scarves and shawls that look great in multi-colors, like The Age of Brass and Steam Kerchief, the ever-popular Hitchhiker, Willow Cowl, Twinkle Twinkle Blanket, Trillian, Ananke, Mormorio, and Aquaphobia Socks. (Shown here in Flames.)

Lorna’s Laces Worsted – This is a great, soft, durable yarn for all of those projects that you want to toss into the washer and dryer. (Like the baby blanket I did last week.) Kids sweaters, adult sweaters, vests, scarves, hats – it all works up great with this yarn. We’ve re-stocked several colors (shown here in Lakeview) as well as the Christmas in Downton colorway. Here are a few fun patterns that would work well with it – Milanese Lace Topper, Narragansett, Cowboy Cowl, The Dudester Scarf, and Doux.

String Theory Blue Stocking – this fingering weight combination of blue faced leicester (a strong wool) and nylon, makes this yarn great for socks (durable) and shawls (an extra slight sheen). Karen and Tanis do a great job in dyeing up semi-solids and skeins with many layers of depth. It looks great with patterns that have some pretty stitches going on. You might take a look at – Canyonlands Shawl, Zilver, Occitan, Treppenviertel, My Cup of Tea Socks, Truckle, and Treebeard Socks. (Shown here in Canyon).

Swan’s Island Fingering Weight– a great value with 525 yards in the skein. Perfect for shawls, scarves and cowls such as Brandywine Shawl, Aurora Australis, Saltwater, Botanical Garden Shawl, And So Are You, Biscuit, Tilting Ladders Cowl, and No Two Snowflakes Cowl. (Shown here in Beetroot).

We also put one last box of Socktopus up (we think. They keep showing up!) We added the Christmas in Downton colorway in Lorna’s Laces Solemate. And we re-stocked The Loopy Ewe Solid Series in Oyster and Butter.

Have fun checking out the new things and we’ll get your orders out asap. We know you want them quickly!

Sheri whyyesIdidhavefunlookingatpatternstodayonRavelry.
Whydoyouask?

Madelinetosh, Socktopus, String Theory and More!

by Sheri BergerDecember 17, 2012March 5, 201311 Comments

We just added our last official Monday Update of 2012 for you on the website. Since next Monday is Christmas Eve and the Monday after that is New Year’s Eve, this is our final one of the year. (However, we might pop one or two things up sometime between now and the end of the year, just to keep our stock room from exploding before the first Monday Update in 2013.) Just up, you’ll find:

Madelinetosh – Prairie. If you love Madelinetosh Merino Light (and so many of you do), then you will love the laceweight version of it. I am not a big lace knitter and even I am nabbing a few skeins of this gorgeous yarn! Single-ply 100% superwash merino, with a generous 840 yards per skein. Have you tried a Nuvem yet? I think everyone needs one, and it would be gorgeous in this Prairie. (You will need 2 skeins.) Lightweight but warm. Nice as a shawl or scrunched up as a scarf. Great for travel (and you can even use it as a pillow on the plane or in the car.) Other options for Prairie: Assante, Radiance Shawl, Juno Regina Shawl and Wrap, Winter Twilight Mitts, Simple Lines, and Bayfield. (Shown above in Envy.)

Socktopus – Sokkusu. Fingering weight, 100% superwash with a nice springy twist. This yarn is great for socks and shawls with texture going on in the pattern. (Of course you can knit it plain as well. But the springy twist will really make your cables and twists pop.) Some patterns you might try for socks: Angler’s Loop Socks, Flecha Socks, Tidepool Socks, Gansey Girl, and Atticus. (Shown here in Pout.)

String Theory – DK. This 100% superwash merino has 280 yards in the skein and is wonderful for sweaters and vests, hats and scarves, mittens and gloves. You’ll love the beautiful color choices. Do you need some pattern ideas? Effortless Cardigan, Acer, Poema, Cloud Chaser, Spring Garden Tee, and Lente.

Dragonfly Fibers – Merino Silk Roving. Are you ready for some spinning over the holidays? This base is 65% superwash merino and 35% silk and comes 4 oz. to the braid. It will spin up into gorgeous yarn. (Shown here in Admiral Benbow.)

Della Q – Project Bags and Needle organizers. Della comes up with some of the most practical (and beautiful) organizers out there. If you have a jumble of needles that need organizing, invest in one of these so that you’ll be able to quickly find the right needles when you’re ready to start a new project.

Stonehedge Fiber Mill – Shepherd’s Wool Worsted. This line continues to be very popular with our sweater knitters. The wool is soft and knits up beautifully, and there are many colors to choose from. Here are some ideas: Woodburne Cardigan, Vodka Gimlet, and Wrapped Pullover. Of course it’s great for things other than sweaters, too. Try these: One Skein Boot Toppers, Turn a Square Hat, Idalia Shawl, and Jo March Mitts.

Knitifacts – Stitchmarkers. I always like these stitchmarkers, because there is nothing dangling to get in the way of my yarn as I’m knitting. They’re lightweight (made from aluminum) and sealed closed with a seed bead so there are no rough edges to catch on the yarn. Plus, they come in all kinds of fun color sets! (Shown here in Big Top.)

Lantern Moon – Owl and Sock Monkey tape measures. These are too cute. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Thank you again for your wonderful RAK reporting on last Friday’s blog. I know all of us were glad to have some positives to focus on. (If you haven’t read the RAK reports from the first day, check this blog post for more reports of people helping people.) We randomly drew two names to receive their choice of our Loopy Ewe Seasoning Series yarn and those will be going to Debbie in CO and Jennie in PA. Congratulations, you two! Our last RAK blog contest will be this Friday, 12/21 and we’d love to have you participate.

I have been picking up my knitting more than ever over the last few days. When there are things going on in the world over which I have no control (but I worry about any way), the simple act of making loops with yarn seems to help me. One of my favorite quotes on the wall here at Loopy is, “In the rhythm of the needles there is music for the soul.” The Elves and I wish you peace and calm music for your soul this week and throughout the season.

Sheri (and The Loopy Elves)

Madelinetosh, Socktopus, Shibui and More!

by Sheri BergerDecember 10, 2012March 5, 20135 Comments

Happy Monday to you! We just added lots of things to the website for tonight’s Monday Update. Pop on over there and you’ll find:

Madelinetosh Pashmina – the lovely sport weight 3-ply that is 75% superwash merino, 15% silk and 10% cashmere. Since this feels so wonderful, it’s great for scarves, hats, cowls, mitts, gloves, mittens and shawls. (Shown here in Jade.)

Madelinetosh DK – a DK weight in 100% superwash merino re-stocked in just a few of the newer colors tonight. This yarn is beautiful for sweaters and vests (and equally fun for hats and scarves).

Madelinetosh Vintage – a worsted weight in 100% superwash merino in a newer-color re-stock as well.

Shibui Sock – re-stocked in several of your favorite colors. Not only is this fingering weight yarn great for socks, but it also works up nice for shawls.

Shibui Silk Cloud – This light-as-as-feather yarn is great on its own. Try Stephanie’s Pretty Thing Cowl, but it’s also wonderful as a held-along yarn. I’m making a Cabled Rib Wrap using Silk Cloud held with Shibui Baby Alpaca DK. It’s so wonderful to work with. (Shown here in Cranberry.)

ChiaoGoo Needles – re-stocked.

Knitter’s Pride Needles and Sets – re-stocked.

Magma Pattern Holders – re-stocked in small and large sizes.

Reisenthel Bags – these polyester bags are great for your knitting projects and your shopping expeditions. They fold up tiny (2.5″ x 5″) to store in your purse, and they open up to 17″ x 23″ and hold 33 pounds when you need them to. 12 happy colors/fabrics to choose from. (Shown here in Bubbles Ocean Blue).

Lavishea Bars – Don’t you love these moisturizing bars? I keep them in my purse and in my knitting project bags. They make a great add-along gift if you’re giving someone a pair of mitts or gloves as a gift.

Loopy Square Tote Project bags – great for sock/scarf/hat sized projects, or shawl and sweater sized projects.

Socktopus Sokkusu – more of one of your favorite yarns! We have a few more colors going up next week again, and then we won’t have more Socktopus until next summer. They are moving their operations and it will take awhile to get set back up again.

Buttons, buttons, buttons and more buttons – I had fun buying more buttons and you’ll see what I mean when you see all of the varieties that we added in! You can find buttons under the Fun Accessories tab and we have them from Arnhild’s Knitting Studio, Buttons, Etc, Durango Buttons, and JHB Buttons.

Did you read the comments on last Friday’s RAK Reporting blog post? Wow – what fun ideas you all have had! We used the Random Number Generator to pick 3 winners for the week. Congratulations to Marilee in MO, Allison in CA and Melissa in IN. I’ve sent emails to all three of you so that you can pick your free skein from our Loopy Ewe Seasonings Series line. Thank you to everyone who participated. I’ve already had several emails from people who were motivated to do something more because of an idea or two that you shared on the blog. Be on the lookout for some Random Acts of Kindness that you can do this week, because our next reporting day will be this Friday!

Sheri whogotseveralnewideasfromyourpostsandwilltrythemthisweek