Welcoming Loom to Loop!

Do you remember your very first skein of yarn? Your first knitting needles or crochet hook? How it felt to pick your very first crafting materials, and the journey that unraveled from that single choice? The warmth of that memory stays with many of us through decades of crafting. The single skein that sparked it all.

This week we’re honoured to bring you the perfect summer yarn by a creator whose crafting journey started right here at Loop — not as a Loopette, but as a customer!

Jess Biscoe had just finished university when she stopped by Loop in 2007. She learned to knit with the supplies she picked up that day, and her love for craft grew from there. Within a few years she was contributing to craft magazines, and she soon learned to make her own clothes and dye her own yarn. By 2019, she had founded Loom, her small independent yarn studio in Somerset, in the South West of England.

Today, the Loom studio is tucked in a quiet corner of Somerset. Just a few doors down from a bakery, the heavenly scent of fresh bread wafts through the air as Jess follows her nose to her next perfect hue. (If this sounds like an irresistable scene, the studio also acts as a permanent shop and is open to visitors!)

We’re genuinely tickled pink by the full-circle moment of bringing Jess’s yarns to Loop. All we ever want is to be part of a joyful and fulfilling craft journey for our customers, and seeing how far Jess has run with hers is just phenomenal. (And the fact that Loom is only one letter off from Loop is just the icing on the cake!)

Jess’s passion for moody, muted shades is clear in her earthy palette, and the shades she achieves are just exquisite. These statement neutrals are anything but boring. With huge depth of colour they make an eye-catching garment, and they’re easy to incorporate into any wardrobe.

Our first yarn from Jess is the stunning Alpaca Linen, which contains 50% alpaca, 25% linen, and 25% silk. To say this is a dream of a yarn for summer knits would be an understatement. Between the drape, the light heathered effect (due to the linen taking the dye slightly differently from the other two fibres), and the soft halo that develops with age, this is at the top of our list for lightweight knits to see us through the next heatwave.

Jess has used this yarn to make the Home Camisole by Caidree, a perfect top for a hot day, and elegant enough to wear anywhere. Loom Alpaca Linen is also structural enough to work gorgeously with textured knitting and lace, and there are some fabulous designs for summery pieces that would look stunning in Loom’s earthy tones. We love Isabell Kraemer’s Fiorellino top, which features delicate detailing around the collar and a comfortable positive ease. Leila Raven’s Islet Drop is the perfect light layer to wear on top of anything or bring along in your day bag.

Stay tuned over the next few weeks as we’ll be sharing news about more Loom bases arriving at Loop!

Wishing you dreamy crafting! xx