Keeping You "In the Loop"

2011-06-23T13:36:00.000-07:00

Request for Store Hours

Our hours Tuesday -Friday 12pm-6pm

Saturday 10am-2pm

Hope this helps!

GROUPON!!

2011-03-10T13:29:00.000-08:00

Hello to everyone that bought a Groupon and thank you, thank you, thank you!! I cannot wait to meet all of you non-knitters ready to learn and look forward to seeing all of you that already knit and are looking to learn a little something new. I am adding beginner classes first and then will start adding more projects for you folks already familiar with the wonderful world of yarn! CHECK OUT THE CLASS SCHEDULE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAGE. Again, thanks for for your interest in knitting and glad that you found the Groupon.

2010-05-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

These days we hear a lot about the state of our economy and there are not many people I know that have not been affected by it in some way or another. As hard as it is to believe for some of us, yarn is not considered a necessity. I will give you all a moment to take that statement in.

We can not eat yarn, it does not typically keep your lights on, and cannot be knit in to money we can spend. But lately I have thought a lot about the benefits of knitting and other semi-free pleasures that make day to day life a little more bearable. If you allow yourself a yarn budget, depending on the amount of time each day you squeeze some knitting in, you could afford yourself hours of free joy!

1. Let's say you spend $60 on enough yarn to make a sweater(which is definitely possible) All you need to do is skip a $5 lunch out 15 days this month.

2. The free joy will begin.. 2 hours of fun choosing the pattern, scoping the internet for your favorite new free pattern or perusing you favorite local yarn shops books and individual patterns.

3. Then there is the actually knitting-you yarn is bought and paid for so this pleasure is also now free!
Let's say you allow yourself 1 hour of uninterrupted knitting every night-that would be in my dream land but maybe your reality if a little better than mine. Now you know some days your one hour of knitting will be replaced by work, a soccer game, an obligation, a headache, a phone call or any number of life's little events. So on a relaxing Saturday afternoon you may knit for 3 hours to make up the time! I am simply guessing it will take you 30 hours of knitting to complete the entire project-knit, blocked, and put together. That means for the entire month you have the joy of knitting that you have already paid for.

4. Then the sweater is complete and you are so proud of your new addition to your wardrobe. You can spend at least 30 minutes trying it on, modeling it for your family and patting yourself on the back..AT LEAST 30 MINUTES. I am a big on the back patter!

5.Then the wearing begins, depending upon how often you wear this garment, it not only can keep you clothed but you every time you wear it you have that inner warmth of pride and if you receive a compliment if is just another 10 minutes of free joy!

$60=Smile after smile after smile....

To Do List

2010-03-14T13:52:00.001-07:00

Do you think it is bad that I am now putting "knit" on the To Do list? My knitting has remined untouched for 5 days! Changing my priorities right now...moving knitting to the top of the list. (Blogging may even find a space on this list as well...

Let the Games Begin!

2010-02-12T08:44:00.000-08:00

Don't forget...if you are a knitting athlete and participating in Ravelympics or In the Loopympics or both I have a free training kit for you today! Get ready to cast on during the Opening Ceremony!

One click away from a breakdown!

2010-02-01T16:39:00.000-08:00

How often do you use your computer in an average day? My answer is TOO MANY! My computer went to techno heaven on Thursday and I have been in mourning! First of all, I reach for my computer approximately 88 times a day-just to help a customer, send an email, type up the class schedule, look up an address or a phone number(yes, I know there is a phone book) or even the occasional glance at facebook! That is a lot of "reaching" when there is no computer there. I have debated running In the Loop with a ledger and an abacus. Who thinks my accountant would love that? I mostly just wanted to apologize if I have been out of loop-which I obviously never want to be. If you are emailing me @knitintheloop.com, please know that is still a problem to be solved. The Febuary class schedule is on the blog and I have tried to contact most of you loyal knitters with my personal email! I have spent four days trying to determine what exactly was lost in with the beloved laptop. My insanity might be at the top of that list!

Don't forget In the Loop is turning 3 and we are celebrating on Friday the 5th-have a cupcake and a discount price! Cupcakes and yarn=heaven!

So far, so (pretty) good

2010-01-21T16:09:00.001-08:00

18 days since my resolution...

10 days at the gym-okay

4 trips to the grocery,3 out of 4 trips with reusable bags- I would call that progress.

No idea if I have said no to anything. ..

Oops, pizza and a cupcake for dinner but it is my birthday!

Definitely not as resolved as I had hoped - giving myself a B - for now.

A New Year

2010-01-03T11:59:00.000-08:00

So it is that time again, resolution time. I recently heard you should write down all of your resolutions and then choose one to hyper focus on. Here comes the list, I am going to give them all a valiant effort. Kinda like the throw spaghetti at the wall some of it has to stick. (for some reason, I do not think that is how that saying goes but you get my drift)
Here are my 2010 resolutions.
1. Always carry reusable bags to the grocery store. This is simple. Being married to Mr. In the Loop, a tried and true greenie, this should be an obvious habit. I have have even bought myself cute bags to carry to encourage the environmentally friendly diva in me but it is still a challenge.
2. Learn to say no. This may seem like a little two letter word but for some reason that one syllable often gets stuck in my throat. Mr. In the Loop and I both love to go and do. We have wonderful friends and excellent families. That being said I sometimes feel spread so thin that if my appearance reflected my feelings. I would be a waif thin model. (will definitely blog about this more at a later date)
3. Workout more...duh.
4. Eat better. Seriously, eat healthy. Got it? This is only the 14th year of this resolution.
5. Save more dough. I am not much of a shopper but I can get into a Target Hypnosis where I have no idea what I "neeeded" but it will be $100 or more, I know there are a lot of you out there that have found yourself in this zone. Just cutting a shopping trip like that out and maybe bringing my lunch more than 3 days to work would really give me more money in the bank.
So 5 ideas seem like a manageable number.

The most I can hope for is... if you see me in Target I will be wearing work out clothes, snacking on carrot sticks, and carrying a FEW small purchases in my reusable bag.
Wanna come closer to keeping New Year's resolutions? Put them out there on the worldwide web. Add your resolutions to the comments and I will try to hold you accountable, as I hope you do for me!

Trying Out a Grown Up Toy

2009-12-28T17:25:00.001-08:00

In an effort to increase my blogging availability, Mr. In The Loop got me a fancy phone for Christmas. I often share my blog worthy ramblings with him in the car, in a restaurant, or other computerless times...so here I am using my phone. So one would hope I would be on a bloggin role. Think I will keep this short in case my new toy requires some assembly. Comment if you would so I know I am "keeping you In the Loop."

No Place Like the Road

2009-12-25T07:37:00.001-08:00

Creative Juice All Dried Up...

2009-09-10T02:48:00.000-07:00

Today that is how I feel -all dried up. It is 5am and I am thinking about the shop instead I think I should be sleeping but no- I am trying to milk some creative juices from my little parched brain. What sort of ideas do I need you might ask? Creative class ideas. blog ideas. even some creative accounting ideas...but for now I feel like a little idea raisin. If you have any ideas of classes you would like to see offered at In the Loop, please comment before September 15th! If the class is scheduled and is a success -3 or more people participate-you will get 25% off of your next yarn purchase. Let YOUR juices flow!

Hey-maybe I do still have a few ideas-seem I just had one.

Etiquette for Babies-2 Legged or 4!

2009-08-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

This is not a complaint-as I have decided reading a blog about someone else complaining only is enjoyable to the sick and twisted who take pleasure in other people's pain-this is just some helpful guidelines or gentle suggestions.

When you are the caretaker of a child or dog, there are just some common courtesies you should extend to those who share your space.

Starting with the four -legged kids, be smarter than your dog. It is pretty much that simple. We are people, we do not meet new people and sniff their rears, we do not eat on the floor or drink out of toilets, we do not bite each other when stressed or annoyed-DOGS do all of these things because they are DOGS. It is our job as their owners to anticipate their needs, prevent some disasters, and solve their problems. Last weekend In the Loop's newest family member made a trip to the vet. She entered the vet on a leash with Mr. In the Loop, as she noticed another large lab she excitedly peed on the floor (typical puppy) and rolled over onto her back. The full grown lab stood over the little girl and bit her angrily in the face. Yes, a lab attacked my little Fancy(doing a total disservice to its breed, as everyone knows labs are "nice" dogs) Anyway, $350 later my puppy has stitches in her face and in her mouth and the owner of the other lab still has $350 and did not even offer to help out at all?? I think if your dog is involved in an altercation of any kind you should take some responsibility. If a human child walked up to another human child and punched them in the face, you would spring in to action, right? I can only hope...

This leads to the supervision of 2 legged babies. First of all I LOVE KIDS! My first profession worked with KIDS all day long, I want kids, I love my niece and nephew and my friends' kids, truly I LOVE kids. That being said last week a lovely little 2 year old entered In the Loop. She made a valiant effort to touch EVERY item in the shop. I did not mind until she wanted to hold scissors. I have no kids of my own but I have to believe 2 year olds +scissors = bad idea, right? Anyway, what I witnessed next was what prompted this lengthy blog about parenting suggestions. What I witnessed was adult rationalization with a toddler.
Parent: "You do not want to hold scissors that is the way you get hurt."
Toddler: "No, mine."
Parent:"If you hold the scissors, you may cut your hand and that would be painful. We would need medical attention. I am going to need you to place the scissors on the table. Please.

This dialogue continued throughout the visit to the shop. I am sorry but I think when I was a two year old or when I have a two year old. When it comes to safety or correcting behaviors, adult rationalization does not work. My suggestion:
Parent "No."
Toddler: "No,mine."
Parent:"Put the scissors down now before you get hurt." There may even be some counting involved-"I am giving you to 3...."
If this does not work, you do something truly revolutionary, TAKE THE SCISSORS AWAY!

The scissor scenario is just an example of the continued conversations between parent and child. This child interrupted a business meeting in the shop next door, spent time trying to get in the cash register, and simply felt like my charge the entire time her mom was shopping.

Like I said, just a few common courtesies, that are not so common.

Keep on the Sunny Side!

2009-07-27T12:22:00.000-07:00

I heard in yoga class today that no person could make you happy, it was up to you to make you happy. But if you decided to be happy no one could make you unhappy. I think there is a lot of truth to that statement. So today I am sharing the things over a very lazy weekend that made me happy. Saturday night we had an a tasty cookout with friends. The wonderful hosts used this book http://www.buildabetterburger.com/cookbook/ -great ideas for a twist on a cookout classic! We enjoyed lots of laughing and cold Corona Lights with lime-perfect for a hot summer night! Sunday morning we had breakfast at one of our favorite breakfast spots. We headed over the Gervais Street bridge to Cafe Strudel -if you have never been there- this is a little West Columbia treasure! French toast with a fabulous view of Columbia without breaking the bank-perfect way to start the day. (Sorry about the poor picture quality but it still captures some of the charm!)
Finished up the weekend with the completion of my summer shawlette with only a few yards of yarn to spare! Feeling pretty happy about that too-thinkin' I am going to wake up tomorrow to start the week deciding to be happy!

Doing More T-I-N-K-I-N-G than Knitting!

2009-07-21T08:19:00.000-07:00

I spent much of the weekend in the car. Mr. In the Loop and I are really working on saying the word "no"! It seems we are always agreeing to something no matter how geographically challenging! We were totally unsuccessful this weekend and spent half the weekend in Cashiers, NC before getting in the car Sunday and driving 5 hours to Seabrook Island (past Charleston)I would like to report that I finished the many UFO's (unfinished objects) I have on needles but instead I spent all but the last 2 out of 12 hours in the can ripping out. I had started a summer shawlette months ago and could not seem to pick it back up without making numerous errors so row by row I disassembled this shawlette.

At about Exit 199, I started to knit not tink! This is going to be an upcoming class-do not fear the pattern as I now know it backwards and forwards! Going to work on the shawlette and the August class schedule!

July Class Schedule-just trying to get the word out!

2009-06-29T04:34:00.000-07:00

July Class Schedule

July 1st and July 8th 6pm Norah Gaughan Flower Power Top $30 Summer top that teaches many bobbles and cables.

July 7th and 14th 6pm Beginner Class $25-Learn all of the knitting basics-refer a friend to the class and get 20% off your next purchase. Just tell the new knitter to let me know you referred them.

July 7th and 14th 6:30pm Patchwork Baby Bloomers $30 Adorable baby gift. Learn a cable cast-on, color work, and increases/decreases while making these precious bloomers.

July 15th, 22nd and August 5th 6pm Christmas in July $30 –Two great felting projects this year. Learn to make a wine bag and a dog leash. Start these now-they are easy and you can finish many gifts before December.

Wrap Class July 28th - continued throughout the year
Afghan Class July 29th - continued throughout the year

Movin' on Up...Up Devine Street that is!

2009-06-28T18:03:00.000-07:00

Awfully exhausted to type, but wanted to give a little update on our wonderful new location! Yesterday, we moved the yarn trash bag by trash bag. After every last ball found its way to a new home, we called it a day. Today, with the help of two pick up trucks, we transported every last fixture to the new location 2900 Devine Street! Things are starting to shape up, slowly but surely as moving often is. We called it a day early this evening, to save some sanity. When you are moving, have you ever gotten to that place where everything ends up in the junk drawer? Well, I needed a break before the junk drawer looked more like a back room! Early to bed, one more day before the doors open at a new store!

Belief in Mankind

2009-06-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

So, today my belief in mankind was renewed!!!We are in the process of painting the new store(2900 Devine Street-in case you have not heard) and it is a beast. The walls were the color of a terra cotta pot, making it feel more like an adobe than a delightful store and the ceilings were painted baby food green, like the sky was falling but you were a tiny person on a baby bib and the sky was the mouth of a baby newly on food! Can you picture it?

Anyway, Mrs. Jot, the store I share space with, happened upon a painter yesterday! We could not afford for him to paint the entire store but the ceilings were a job only Mr. In the Loop and Mr. Jot were tall enough to complete, you can only imagine their excitement (can you say not so silent business partners?) This afternoon we went to pay the painter for our brand new ceilings and he had finished the ENTIRE store for no extra charge. Just said he had and slow morning and "wanted to help a sister out." Praise the Lord-what a man!!! If any of you need a painter, I know just the guy!

Big Furry Decision

2009-01-12T12:32:00.000-08:00

How do you make big decisions? Do you make pro and con lists? Research it on the Internet? Ask friends? Take a survey of complete strangers that pass in the park? Flip a coin? At this point I think I have tried them all.

I want a dog, but what kind of dog is the question. Most of you may know that I had a very loyal and durable toy poodle for 18 years. We buried him in September and I miss having that canine connection. The past few weeks we have visited animal shelters, websites, and breeders but are still perplexed. Here is what I know we are looking for a female, puppy that will grow to be a medium to large dog. Other than that we have been pretty open. Through some unusual conversations, we ended up at a Great Pyrenees breeders' house. They are wonderful white puffs. http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/greatpyrenees.htm

But I mean they are BIG WHITE PUFFS! They are called gentle giants-pro. They shed a ton-con. They are very calm creature-pro. They are very loyal and great protectors-this can be a pro or con depending upon the website you read. My new way of making a decision... Ask blog readers to weigh in-come on leave me a comment about what you think!

These are my knitting projects right now-they are neither big nor furry. I just finished the darkside cowl-great quick project and I really appreciate when someone has written a pattern that just involves knitting and purling but turn out visually interesting.

I am also in the middle of the February Lady Sweater-many of you may have already made this but if not it is definitely the modern/trendy look that inspired me to start knitting years ago.

What to knit next??...a dog sweater, perhaps!!!!

Liar Liar Pants on Fire

2008-12-30T19:44:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe it has been over a year since my last blog-no blog, no pictures and nothing but lies, all hopes and dreams of posting pictures dashed by a digital camera thief. That trip to the beach my digital camera took with the husband never made the trip back-it must be swimming with the fishes.

Good news and hopeful redemption: new digital camera came for Christmas and it is resolution time. Mine-blogging and the very unoriginal but with the best of intentions "be healthy." Bloggin' should feel pretty special since it has ranked up there with the #1 resolution of all time!

Wouldn't it be nice to assign New Year's resolutions? You know-let's say "pretty good husband" says his new year's resolution is to workout but you really wish it would be hang up the suits that he wears every day that end up in the floor... every day. Or that the "pretty nice skinny friend" says she is going to eat less chocolate in '09 but if we were doling them out we would say her assigned resolution is to quit discussing her inability to find clothes that don't swallow her! Or even your"pretty great mom" resolves to improve her correspondence with friends and family but all you really want her to do is stop calling you on her cell phone and then immediately turning it off so when you call her back it goes straight to voicemail. (that might improve our correspondence)I think I might google how this whole resolution thing got started and determine if we could get this making New Year's resolutions FOR the people we love best catch on. Happy New Year and we'll talk knitting next time! You can all be witness to my resolution success!

Yarn is Keeping Me Company

2007-12-12T19:44:00.000-08:00

Probably not a blog worth reading-just trying to keep my blog on! Hubby has been gone all week so I have been in completion mode-can't wait to put pics online -new excuse this week-camera has taken a trip to the beach with hubby! Off the needles this week- I had a request for a scarf that looks like a boa (perfect for some, maybe a little over the top for others) and the short row scarf on magknits.com which I really suggest for anyone that thinks scarves are no fun! I think this one may be worth it. I need not be knitting but holiday shopping! Does 80 degree weather melt everyone's Christmas spirit?? I have not bought the first gift-maybe instead of bloggin' I should be internet shopping!

Practice Makes Perfect

2007-12-05T19:04:00.000-08:00

Okay, so can I get a little credit for this not taking me 4 months to post. Though my promises of a pic are worthless...I promise before the end of the month I will post the Lara sweater. In my defense the digital camera is at home, I take the time to blog from home, guess where the sweater is??? AT THE SHOP!!! I know it is not hard to post the pics, just a little geographically challenging. I am putting the camera in my knitting bag in hopes it will make it to the shop with the sweater...
Enough about my shortcomings...I have started a Nashua Simple Jacket that I think many of you will want to start asap, even if you have sweaterphobia. Did you notice the name? Simple!!! it is also knit on large needles...can we say instant gratification??? I hope to finish it this weekend but it is off to the in-laws house on Saturday-not that I don't enjoy a little QT with the family but none of my new family knits so that don't quite grasp the ADDICTION! I have only been married 45 days I am still breaking them in. Give me 90 days and we are in business.

Inserting camera into work bag....are ya'll proud yet ????

Ravel-Me!!!

2007-11-27T20:06:00.000-08:00

Have you been on ravelry? That is the echo throughout the store for the past month! So tonight I took some time to sit down and try to unravel this thing called Ravelry! It is worth all of the buzz around the yarn world and most surprisingly it inspired me to blog. Oh wonder of wonders. Maybe I am back on the bloggin horse for good this time. Fingers crossed!
As I type this my new and improved digital camera is charging so on tomorrow's blog-yes tomorrow-I can show off what might be one of my new favs. It is called the Lara-the perfect name did attract me to this sweater but that is not all. This sweater is from Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk-I knit it in Louisa Harding but the attraction is definitely the lack of dreadful seams! It is a cardigan knit from side to side-AWESOME. You'll see...

The needles are calling my now not the computer keys....

Happy knitting!

'A' for Effort

2007-05-02T07:34:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I am getting better at the timeliness of my posts, don't you think?? Unfortunately, no pictures can be posted right now because I am having digital camera difficulty. I did complete the openwork summer top I was working on last week and I think it looks pretty good. However, when I tried it on I was not nearly as thin or tan as I had hoped! Unfortunately, that is not a knitting error. This weekend I started the wrap tunic on the front of the most recent Interweave Knits and I love how quickly it is moving. Hopefully, I will solve this camera issue around the time I finish it. My goal is to wear it to Scott's law school graduation-unless once again a pasty white model puts it on. We will see.
Everything in the shop is just great. Classes are filling up and there will be a new classes scheduled by the end of next week. Don't forget to sign up for the Entrelac Class next week-May 9th-Allison is teaching it and she is an Entrelac Expert!! Check out pattern she is teaching at frecklesandpurls.com This is a great class for any of you that are looking to step up your knitting game. I know in June we will be having a fair isle class, sock class, and the REAL MEN KNIT night! I will keep you posted about the dates-just keep checking the blog. Peer pressure helps. Happy knitting!

Miss me?

2007-04-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, so those visions of blogging grandeur were shattered last night when I was so nicely reminded (thanks Alicia) that I had not posted anything since MARCH 19th...oops!!! So what have the past 30+ days brought my way...
Yarn, yarn, yarn-I have tons of new yarn for the summer months and in Cola we know that is necessary. Twenty new colors of Blue Sky Cotton have arrived with wonderful names like pickle, tomato, and circus peanut! Yesterday I filled a shelf with Recycled Silk from Nepal-such original colors there is no dye lot guarantee. That is definitely on my To Knit list. As soon as I finish the 3 projects on needles right now. Right now I am spending most of my time with Ella Rae and the patchwork blanket knit along. The knit along has been great fun even if the progress has been slow. I cannot wait for another knit along-no pressure of teaching a class but the "support group" effect. We all give our translation of the pattern and choose the one we like the best! What will we knit along next??
I am in the process of putting together a cool summer top that I will post a picture of as soon as it is finished. It has really open but will be smashing with a tank. You should be able to see pictures of next week. Finishing is not my favorite part -so give me the weekend.
I promise I am changing my blogging ways-but comments would be a little motivation-hint, hint! Happy Friday.

Finding a Routine

2007-03-19T19:01:00.000-07:00

So I am still getting the hang of this blogging -want to do it a little more often than once a week! Finding the balance between sitting and knitting and blogging! Last week I picked up a great 2 day project but could not pick up my laptop. From the One Skein Wonder book, my choose was Shrug This!! It fits and I made it out of yummy Blue Sky Alpaca cotton. I will post a picture as soon as I charge my camera. Definitely, a great summer project, especially when you are having commitment issues as myself. Now I am working on a tie for Scott's birthday-thankfully he is not in a habit of checking my blog! His birthday is tomorrow so for the only time it is good we live in different cities. I should have it finished before we are together again. Better get to knitting-he is making a trip to Cola on Wednesday!

2007-03-11T19:42:00.000-07:00

March 11, 2007
The store may be close to reaching capacity. I received 16 boxes of yarn last week. It was like Christmas and all of my presents fit just right!!! There are still 3 boxes left unopened but before we open on Tuesday everything will be out. We had a bit of a delay when a shelving unit collapsed on Friday. Oops, so much yarn, so little room. No worries, the shelving unit has been replaced and no yarn was injured. Tomorrow I am placing a Rowan order and that should hold me for a while. If you have not been in the store lately, you need to stop by and see what has arrived.