Friday, June 22, 2018

My Happy Place

I mentioned before that my main reason for visiting visit Fort Collins is to spend time with Ryan, followed closely by plenty of good eating and drinking around town. There is a third reason, or maybe it's even tied for second place - visiting The Loopy Ewe in person.


I've shopped online at TLE for years, beginning when they were located in St. Louis. I continued to buy yarn from them after they moved to Fort Collins. Five years ago Ryan chose Colorado State University for grad. school, and while I was incredibly happy for him, I was a bit sad that he would be moving 1700 miles away. My sadness was assuaged somewhat after I visited The Loopy Ewe in person. It is truly a marvelous yarn store.


Ryan usually goes with me, and he has turned out to be an excellent yarn-chooser. He pushes me to try new colors and combinations that I would never choose myself. I've bought some yarn just because he picked it out, but still with a bit of doubt. Despite my skepticism, I've always come to love it. The yarn for my Match & Move is the latest example. I was sure that there was no way I would enjoy knitting with the variegated brown, black, and white Wollmeise, but now it's one of my all-time favorites. So what did he choose this time?





Lots of good stuff, and we had loads of fun picking it out!

I bought too much to fit into my suitcase, so Loopy shipped it for me. 
It arrived here at home before I did, and it was like Christmas when I opened the box.



There will be a Hitchhiker or two, possibly with two colors, and maybe the beaded cast-off that Kym used on her One Week/Close to You. There will be a couple pairs of fingerless gloves for Ryan. Some of it will marinate in my stash until it tells me what it wants to be. I might knit another Match & Move with those wild bright pink and variegated pink, green, and black Hedgehog Fibers skeins that Ryan picked out and practically dared me to buy. He even chose a new knitting bag.


It was wonderful, and even though I don't need yarn, I bought plenty that I wanted. No matter what I make with these skeins, the projects will be special because they'll remind me of the terrific time I had with Ryan, yarn-chooser extraordinaire.


17 comments:

  1. Souvenir yarn is just the best! You and Ryan made some great choices and The Loopy Ewe sounds like a really fun place to shop in person!

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  2. Commenting so I receive comments.

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  3. Yarn and bag are gorgeous! Well done Ryan!

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  4. I think you should be relieved to know that if Ryan's current gig doesn't work out, he can get a job with Loopy Ewe helping customers with their choices! ;-)

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  5. how nice that you bought lots of yarn but you were with your son while you bought yarn. My son is good with color choices as well - nice to have around!! Love the bag!!

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  6. Yay! That's so fun. Some of my favorite projects are made with yarn that others have chosen for me. That's a cool bag!

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  7. oh boy - what an awesome haul! Ryan has excellent taste in yarn - bases AND colors (hum, I wonder if that's a math-y thing?! ;-) ... and how great that you'll now have TWO homes to fill with stash!

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  8. I always buy souvenir yarn and love how it reminds me of where and when I bought it. But, to have your son choose the yarn makes it even more special! Ryan has excellent taste!

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  9. I love ALL the colors Ryan picked out! He has a great eye for color and combination. The bright colors are right up my alley. I know you'll have so much fun deciding what to knit next and the colors will be screaming "Me next!".

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  10. What fun!!! I love what Ryan picked out for you. I'm thinking he could do this as a side job...he has excellent taste. And, I love the new bag too. I agree with Mary - remember you now have TWO homes to fill with yarn - lol.

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  11. Have purchased from TLE and appreciate their high quality. Looks like a successful haul!

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  12. I am envious! I would love to see TLE in person. Buying yarn online is certainly fun, but being able to feel it and actually see it in person is so nice. And you are really lucky to have someone in your life who is willing to help you with picks! I bet you both have a lot of fun when you visit TLE.

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  13. I hope to one day reenact your visit with one of my own sons!

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  14. That looks like a marvelous shop and I just LOVE that Ryan will help you pick yarn. I don't think my son would be caught DEAD in a yarn shop. LOL

    You made beautiful yarn choices!

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  15. Oh now I want to go shopping. BUt I have a new blanket to knit!!!!! Your son is awesome. !!! Zach learned to knit as kind of a dare in high school. he hasn't touched a needle since. BUt he loves my hat gifts for him

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    1. You can knit on your new blanket AND go shopping! :-) Both of my sons were curious so I showed them how to knit years ago, but after a few swatches they decided it was easier to let me knit for them. That's a win-win for all of us!

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  16. I LOVE that Ryan shops for yarn with you! He has excellent taste -- plus it makes all the yarn even more meaningful, knowing that he helped you choose it. Such fun! XOXO

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