1/17/2024 0 Comments Loopy mango woolThe Beacon, New York–based yarn shop’s website is like a candy store of delicious yarns in a rainbow of colors and patterns for every knitting level. Then, one day, I stumbled upon Loopy Mango. But for years, I had a hard time finding modern kits with good quality yarn that had patterns for various experience levels. There’s no guesswork: I know that the yarn I’m using will knit up well in a specific pattern. One of my favorite ways to knit - for myself or others - is with kits, for their simplicity. Either way, it’s hand-knit sweaters for the whole family this year, whether they like it or not. People usually seem to appreciate these handmade gifts - or they’re all excellent liars. Some of the finished products I keep for myself, but I actually give most away. I knit at home in front of the TV, at work in the hair/makeup chair, and in my trailer to pass the time. It keeps my hamster brain busy, relaxes me, and I can take projects anywhere. Every Sunday my mom would bring me to her for a lesson and, before long, I was hooked. I was taught by an OG knitter - a family friend in a nearby nursing home - long before YouTube how-to videos brought knitting lessons to the masses. It was so uncool, in fact, that I would hide my yarn and knitting needles in my locker and sneak them out at lunch for a quick knit/purl before stuffing them back in. I started knitting in the fifth grade, long before it was cool. Sometimes it's simply a sweater I want to wear.ħ.The author and her friend Alecia (whom you might know as Pink) knitting up some Loopy Mango kits on a past New Years Eve. It can be a movie I saw, art, color, people, nature, or even a mood. Where do you draw your inspiration for your designs? Depending upon that priority, I knit, design new patterns, meet people, take photos, or create contacts for videos.Ħ. Then have a cup of coffee to clear my mind and prioritize things I need to do that day. I start my day to take care of my dog and two cats. What does a typical workday look like for you? and are now redesigning our packaging for knitting needles.ĥ. We have always been thinking about sustainability, which is why all of our yarn fibers are all from natural fiber. We also try to reduce unnecessary packages and plastic, etc. In recent days we are thinking more and more about our business practice in responsible, eco-friendly ways. Are there any special eco-friendly practices built into your business? We work with only natural fibers because we are focused on making yarn that is biodegradable.Ĥ. For example, our merino is guaranteed non-mulesing. All of our other yarns are made at a small mill in Italy and we work only with suppliers that source fiber that is ethically produced. What do you look for in a base fiber?įor our Big Loop yarn we source 100% US merino wool. Tell us a little bit about the process of sourcing your fiber. How would you describe Is your design aesthetic?ģ. She was also hooked, and so Loopy Mango was born.Ģ. She saw me crocheting one day and asked me to show it to her again. Anna learned how to knit from her grandma and how to crochet from her Mom in Russia, but she also hadn’t done it since then. When I came to New York, I found a crochet hook in my suitcase - I still don’t know how it got there - and I taught myself how to crochet from a book (this was in the old days before Youtube). I learned how to knit from my Mom as a child, but hadn’t done it in many years. When I was studying at a college, I fell in love with Japanese traditions, especially handicrafts. After leaving the corporate housing company, I met Anna and founded Loopy Mango in a tiny store front on Avenue B in the East Village. I studied Japanese linguistics at a college in Japan and worked as an interpreter and translator. We met at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC) where we took a two day fabric painting workshop in the spring of 2004. How did you two meet? What was your background, and how did you get involved in fiber art? We were incredibly lucky to have a chance to catch up with Oejong, who generously answered questions and provided us with these gorgeous photos.ġ. We were so excited to get a chance to focus on Loopy Mango, the self-described brainchild of Oejong and Anna for latest Meet the Maker blog! Not only do we want to bury ourselves in their incredible fiber selection, the design style and aesthetic of Loopy Mango is absolutely unmatched.
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