We do love a bit of crochet at Loop, particularly when the weather warms up. Crochet is perfect for when you want a a quick little project that you can whisk away on holiday, or stuff in your bag for your commute. You can make small items like toys or home accessories, or crochet little motifs that will one day be put together as a blanket or garment. We have an abundance of crochet inspiration at Loop right now that can help you get hooking! We love the crochet aesthetic of two French women – both called Cecile! – whose …

Crochet Love Read more →

We recently changed our window display – the lovely Sophie and Juju took the lead and made it a showcase of all things happy and bright at Loop! Yarns, ribbons, books, toys and even blocking kits have lit up our storefront on Camden Passage. Just in case you can’t pass by the actual shop, we thought we’d share it with you here! We were very much inspired by a lot of the neon and neutral colour combinations we’ve been seeing recently. Above is the fabulously electric ‘Edison Bulb’ colourway in Madelinetosh Sock. We think it would look great striped with …

Spring Brights at Loop! Read more →

With springtime comes wedding season, and for knitters that often means it’s time to knit something that celebrates that momentous occasion. A wedding shawl can mean many different things; you might be knitting one for yourself to wear while saying, “I do,” or you may be making a shawl as an heirloom for someone important to you. You might be knitting a shawl for the mother of the bride or groom, or you might just want something extra special to wear as a guest at a dear friend’s wedding. Whatever your role, a wedding is one of those circumstances where …

Wedding Shawl Season Read more →

Cherry blossoms are starting to appear in London, giving off a wonderfully calm and beautiful presence – could Spring finally be here?! This feeling puts us in mind of the quietly beautiful Habu yarns and Japanese knitting and crochet books we carry at Loop. Based in New York City, but with a heavy Japanese influence, Habu describe their yarns as ‘slow’ materials that give soul to the fabrics they produce.   Habu yarns open up all kinds of creative possibilities and are perfect for experimentation. They come in little bundles, or on cones, wrapped up in simple brown paper.   …

Japonisme at Loop Read more →

The vintage aesthetic has made a comeback in recent years and at Loop we can’t get enough! Our shop is nestled in beautiful Camden Passage, in amongst antiques dealers and vintage clothing boutiques, and Loop is no exception to the rows of vendors selling vintage goods. We scour flea markets around the world to find some wonderful and unique vintage items for you, your home or for a great gift! We have stunning antique buttons…   Bakelite yarn holders and knitting needles from the 1940s and 50s…   And of course, lots of vintage inspired items too – like books …

Vintage at Loop Read more →

Have you heard of Skein? We had it at Loop last year, but if you blinked, you missed it because it veritably flew off the shelves! We now have a new base yarn in – a seriously luxurious 50% merino/50% silk blend – and we are so excited to have these amazing colours back in the shop! Skein yarns are hand-dyed by Kristen all the way over on the northern coast of New South Wales in Australia. Kristen kettle dyes beautiful fibres in semi-solid and variegated colourways. We love them all, but are particularly fond of the colourways with random …

Skein Colour Love Read more →

  Here at Loop, we have long been fans of Knit Collage  – we were the very first shop in the world to place an order for their yarns! Knit Collage is owned and run by the lovely Amy Small who designs these happy, cheerful yarns that are unlike any other. Amy teaches women who come from disadvantaged backgrounds in the Punjab region of India to spin beautiful fibres that incorporate tiny crocheted flowers, ribbons and other lovely trims into the yarns. Every single skein of yarn is completely unique! Amy designs each and every yarn and colourway herself – …

Knit Collage Candy Cowl Read more →

Tiny buttons make good eyes

  You probably didn’t know you needed a bunny brooch for your shawl. But you do. You need one with a secret pocket for hiding little chocolate eggs in. I won’t tell you if those chocolate eggs are part of the children’s egg hunt or if they are your own private stash. That’s up to you. But I offer you this little pattern for a Bunny Pin (with a Secret Pocket) to try out with some lovely natural wool yarns.

Here at Loop, we can’t get enough of hand-dyed yarns. It’s not uncommon for us to open a box from one of the lovely hand-dyers whose yarns we stock and gasp in awe of the deep, rich colours they manage to produce. Part of the beauty of their work is that each skein is ever-so-slightly unique, making it that much more fun to choose which ones should go home with you. But it’s not just hand-dyed yarns that we lust after – it’s ribbons, buttons and trims too! The buttons above, for example, come from Barcelona, where the velvet is …

Hand-dyed Loveliness at Loop! Read more →

I was recently reminded how confusing the issues around blocking finished knits can be. To wet block or steam? Use blocking wires or not? Iron, steam or leave to dry? Many people I come across also believe that the stated needles and gauge on a pattern are set in stone. They understand they can substitute a similar weight yarn but don’t feel they have permission to experiment with the needles and gauge. This isn’t true. It may be more complicated to do this when knitting a fitted garment but it is a pleasure to do when knitting shawls, scarves and …

Top Tips for Blocking Your Knits! Read more →