Since everyone could use some extra smiles and yarn in their lives right about now, we’ve put together a slightly extended version of the Scoop for you this week.

Last Friday we revealed our new Hot Loops wall for spring – 12 new, pretty projects with yarns hand-dyed for us by Emma’s Yarns.

We were beyond thrilled when Joji Locatelli joined our virtual event, all the way from Argentina!

This week, we’re featuring Joji’s Suburban Wrap, made with Emma’s new Splendid Singles in 3 colors: Loops (blue), Wish You Were Beer and Whisper.

V-shaped on one end and pointy on the other, this wrap will keep your interest from start to finish. There’s easy ribbing and garter, some lace, lots of stripes, and texture. Deb-knits on Ravelry said, “I so enjoyed knitting my first Suburban Wrap, I couldn’t wait to make on a second!”

Pick up your Suburban Wrap yarn and needles (and check out a great crochet project in this same yarn) right here.

(You can watch the replay of the whole Hot Loops event, featuring Joji, here on our Loops Facebook page).

“All I can handle right now is mindless projects.”

We’re hearing this more and more, so we decided to put together our Top 5 never-fail, no-thinking-but-still-fun projects.

Mindless Project #1: Vinyarnsa
Mix-and-match from your stash. Throw any colors together – this pattern makes them work! You need six colors and #7 US needles.
Free Pattern here
Two great yarn options: Manos Alegria and Hedgehog Sock
Needles here.

Mindless Project #2: Jana’s Scarf
It’s just knit-knit-knit garter stitch but it looks so much more special! A true beginner project with a step-by-step tutorial video.
Free Pattern inside the Tutorial Video here
Suggested Yarn: 5 skeins Berroco Nomad
Needles: #17 or #19 straight or circulars

Mindless Project #3: Osage Cowl
A simple 2-skein cowl with an occasional eyelet row to keep you motivated.
Free Pattern here.
Suggested Yarn: 2 skeins Road to China Light
Needles: 10.5 24″ circulars

Mindless Project #4: Melanie’s Shawl
A supersoft alpaca on a nice big needle, and an elementary box stitch, combine to make mindless magic!
Free Pattern here.
Suggested Yarn: 4 skeins Amano Mayu or 2 skeins Amano Eco Puna
Needles #15 24″ circulars

Mindless Project #5: Three-Way Wrap
A Loops original classic, chic and timeless and perfect for nursing moms, too!
Free Pattern here.
Suggested Yarn: 3 skeins Amores Tela or 3 skeins Chasing Rabbits Merinolux Aran
Needles #9 (any length)

This is a huge thank-you to everyone who’s purchased our exclusive Gusto sportweight yarn for any of our four “PPE for healthcare workers” projects.

Because of you, we’ve already donated $2,093 to St. Francis medical center, earmarked for personal protective equipment for healthcare workers. And the orders are still coming in!

The 4 project options include something for everyone – beginner to more advanced:
• Barnstable Shawl by Lisa Hannes (advanced beginner knit)
• Floats Cowl by Purl Soho (beginner knit)
• Bubbly pullover by Isabel Kraemer (intermediate knit)
• Calm Cowl by Suzana Davidovic (beginner crochet)

Shop the projects here. And THANK YOU for helping! 🥰

Hundreds of fiber friends around the globe…weekly yarn-alongs and insider access…what could be more fun?

How about quarterly, luxury kits with celebrity designer and dyers? 🌟🌟🌟🌟

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve lined up some amazing partners for our upcoming LoopsClub Together blue bag kits! Tamara Kelly, Caitlin Hunter, Diane Ivey and Romi Hill will all be adding their genius to our kits before 2020 is through 💙💙💙

To join the Club and add the optional kits, go here.

How about some alpaca love to start your day off right? 💙

The 4th Free Stars workshop has been released, and we know you’re going to love it.

We did something really special to kick off our 4th season last year: a feature-film-quality docu-series chronicling our journeys through Peru. Come along with us, learn about the people working to preserve the precious traditions of the region, and meet the lovable alpacas!

Access the free workshop here.

And keep an eye out for Knit Stars Season 5 signups, coming soon!

Loops Trooper Rachel knows that “even bad pizza is still pizza!” 😂Here is her story of pizza that went beyond everyone’s expectations…

“I found some frozen pizza crusts in the back of the freezer and almost put them back because I didn’t have a jar of pizza sauce. Then I remembered all the random cans in the pantry…”

“I googled and found this easy recipe from the blog JoyFoodSunshine and got right to it! This was maybe the *best pizza sauce* I’ve ever had. We ate all the pizza that night, and the next day made pizza bagels with the leftover sauce. (You could also use English muffins!)

I used a smaller amount of several ingredients than what is listed on the recipe, so the following is my version. Just combine everything in a bowl and have fun!

6oz Tomato Paste
15oz Tomato Sauce
1 TBS Oregano
1 TBS Italian Seasoning
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1/2 TBS Garlic Salt
1/4 tsp Fresh Ground Pepper
1 tsp Sugar, optional

Here are some ways, some of which you may not know about, that we can be of service to you right now.

📫 Same-day ship-outs worldwide every weekday

🚙 Curbside pickup for our Tulsa-area customers (call 918-742-9276)

🤲🏽 NEW virtual, personal shopping appointments and knitting help over Zoom from 2-6pm every weekday (email store@loopslove.com to set a time)

💙 LoopsClub Together has re-opened for new members – just $19/month for weekly yarn-alongs, daily community connection, fun workbooks, and all-access pass to our library of stash-busting Club patterns and tutorial videos (details here)

😍 New tutorials on the Knit Stars Youtube channel

😎 Free weekly project ideas, hacks, fun and recipes in this Loops Scoop newsletter (if it’s not coming to your email, sign up here)

Let’s keep knitting the world together 🌎💙
– Shelley and the Loops Troops