By now, you know that our health care workers are running short on masks and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We want to help!

Join us in a make-along and help raise funds for PPE for our health care workers on the front lines. Fifty percent of all sales of this yarn will go to St. Francis Health System with a request to earmark it for much-needed PPE. 

Choose your project – from easy and meditative to more advanced – each using an exclusive new Superwash sport weight merino from Gusto. Here are 4 recommended projects and the yarn amounts and tools you’ll need:

“Barnstable Shawl” by Lisa Hannes – KNIT

Suitable for advanced beginner knitters, this beautiful shaped shawl is a mix of garter stitch (all knit stitches) and mosaic knitting – an easy and fun-to-knit color work technique that uses slipped stitches and only one color at a time. 

Materials: 2 skeins Red River + 1 skein Gray Day, US size #6 and #7 needles. Purchase pattern from Ravelry.

“Floats Cowl” by Purl Soho – KNIT

Named for the “floating” slip-stitched strands that form vertical columns on one side, the Floats Cowl is knit in the round in a crazy-simple 2-round stitch pattern. There’s no right side; both sides are lovely. And while it’s really simple to make, it’s truly intriguing to the knitter’s eye! 

Materials: 2 skeins of one color – choose Red River or Gray Day – and size US 4, 40- or 47-inch circular needles. Pattern is free on Ravelry.

“Bubbly Sweater” by Isabell Kraemer – KNIT

This round-yoked sweater is worked seamlessly from the top down. First some short rows are worked back and forth to create a higher back neck, and then the round yoke is worked top down with a cute “bubbly” color work band to sleeve separation. Some last short rows are worked to finish the yoke shaping, right before sleeve stitches are placed on hold, then the body is worked down to the brioche-stitch hem. Sleeves are worked top down to the brioche-stitch cuffs last. Don’t be intimidated by the brioche edging – you can always substitute traditional ribbing.

Materials: 4 (4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6) skeins main color and 1 skein contrast color. US 3 – 16” and 32” circular needle and DPNs (or longer circular needle for magic loop) for neck, body and sleeve ribbing; plus US 4 – 24” and 32” circular needle and DPNs (or longer circular for magic loop) for body and sleeves. Pattern available for purchase on Ravelry.

“Calm Cowl” by Suzana Davidovic – CROCHET

This is simple, calming crochet at its finest! Very easy and quick to make, and can be worn hanging low or wrapped multiple times. 

Materials: 2 skeins plus 5.5 mm (I) hook. Pattern is free on Ravelry.

Shop all the PPE Projects here.

Thank you for helping us to help our health care workers!

XOXO

Shelley and the Loops Troops (including Ruth, who also works for St. Francis )

Because the world needs more peace, yarn and happiness right now…⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

We’ve re-opened LoopsClub Together. And we’ve added weekly online yarn-alongs (over Zoom), plus celebrity designers for our upcoming Quarterly kits (which are optional).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

You can join for just $19/month here.⠀

Let’s keep knitting the world together

Free Stars workshop #3 has been released! 

Beata Jezek of Hedgehog Fibres teaches you her favorite hacks for choosing and combining colors

Take a colorful journey to Cork, Ireland, and go behind scenes with Beata…

She’ll share her best tips for building palettes…

Teach you to care for multi-colored projects…

And share her stash-busting “Flying Fringe” Scarf pattern…

Plus you’ll connect with other yarn lovers worldwide! 

Get FREE access here. 

Right now, everyone’s priority is the health of ourselves and our loved ones. But a very close second priority is our four-legged loved ones. And right now, things are tough for them, too…

• Local dog training schools are closed

• Local dog parks are closed

• ALL dogs feel our stress right now!

My good friend Susan Garrett has a goal of helping 100,000 dogs in this difficult time. She’s a World Champion dog agility expert and is the master at helping you have a great relationship with your dog.

On realizing the crisis that all dogs and their owners are now facing, Susan has made her brand-new, $197 online program FREE with discount code: TOGETHER.

To get the course free, go to HomeschoolTheDog.com

And feel free to pass it on.

P.S. Maizie is wearing her “mask” markings in solidarity

If you’re reading this and you’re a health care worker, THANK YOU for your service!

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