HOW TO USE A LOOPA

 Sirdar have given us permission to put the Loopa Instructions on our website. Please do not abuse their trust by copying this page - it is still copyrighted material.             

The Sirdar Loopa ideal for using up oddments of Fashion yarns. You can use multiple strands of the same yarn or different yarns - feed your imagination. But if your imagination fails then there are a couple of pictures to give you some inspiration. Loopa Pictures. Mini Loopa Pictures

Each scarf will need a small amount of a plain yarn in a matching or contrasting colour to use as a binder for the loops. You will also need a sewing needle and thread.

Each scarf is made of of 2 elements.

First is the combination of yarns (usually bulky fashion yarns) chosen to form the loops around the Loopa, which will be referred to as scarf yarn(s).

Second is the plain yarn which runs in a chain stitch up the centre of the scarf holding the loops in place, which will be referred to as binder yarn.

You can choose a matching shade of binder yarn so that it doesn't show or you can choose a contrasting shade of binder yarn so that it becomes a feature. In either case we would suggest that you use something slightly 'hairy' rather than smooth so that there's less chance of slippage. (Country style 4ply is ideal).

Begin by making a slip knot in the binder yarn (diagrams 1, 2 and 3), place it on the Loopa (diagram 4).

Thread scarf yarn(s) through slip knot and hold, wind the scarf yarn(s) around the Loopa in a figure -of-eight movement (diagram 5).

When the scarf yarn(s) completes each figure-of-eight movement form a chain around it with the binder yarn at the cross-over point at the centre of the Loopa and pull up a chain of binder yarn to hold the loops in place (diagram 6).

Please bear in mind that to make the diagrams clearer to follow we have drawn the scarf yarn as a single plain yarn, but in reality most of the scarves will be made up of multiple yarns used together.

Repeat stages 5 and 6 pulling the binder loop through previous binder loop until Loopa is full (diagram 7).

Using a sewing needle and thread, backstitch along the centre of the binder chain then push the loops off in the direction of the arrows (diagram 8).

Place the secured loops at the base of the Loopa (diagram 9) and continue making loops as before and backstitching along the centre of the binder chain. When you need to join a new ball of yarn simply knot the end of the old ball onto the beginning of the new ball close to the central binding. You can trim off the ends later and the join will be hidden amongst the loops.

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