Ever since I figured out how to do the crochet loop stitch, I've wanted to use it on a project ... like REALLY wanted to use it on a project.

And then a month, or so, ago, I saw this in Macy's display window.  Horrifying, right?!  So super ugly.  Probably ridiculously expensive, too.  But it's crocheted, so I took a phone snap of it.  What?  You don't believe me ...

Here's the close up to prove it.  Those are double crochet stitches, my friend.  Sure, the collar is knitted, but the rest of it is crocheted.

And, as ugly as it is, I became a little obsessed.  It is, after all, loopy crochet.  And, even better, it's for sale in Macy's.  Everyone walking by Union Square, the fancy shopping part of town, would have seen that loopy crochet sweater.  It lends the ugly sweater a little bit of respectability, a little bit of legitimacy, a little bit of sure-it's-ugly-but-it's-fashion.

Then, I was in this super chic hipster boutique on Valencia, DEMA, and I saw a black loopy crochet vest. WHAT?!  I was on different mission (not hunting loopy vests), so I didn't think to take a snap or check the price (I can assure you it was pricey, though).  But I *did* point it out to my shopping partner, so I have a corroborating witness.

It's like I was being taunted ... teased.  Like everyone got together and said, "Let's make something using loopy crochet that is SO ugly and SO ridiculous and see if we can trick Alice into making one.  Go!"

But now that I'd seen two, I thought maybe crochet loopy vests really *were* in style.  Plus there are fur vests everywhere (we've dubbed them "Conans").  So in an effort to see if I was going nuts, I did a google search for loopy crochet vests, and I found TWO MORE.

Left is Bongo for $26 at Kmart (probably acrylic - if you click through, you can see the crochet stitches in the open neck) and right is on Bluefly for $195 retail (it's named Autumn Cashmere, but it's 100% cotton -- and it's SOLD OUT).

Now, if you've ever googled anything weird, you've noticed that Google and every website in the world is keeping tabs on you in the creepiest of ways.  I didn't realize this until I started seeing the Bluefly sweater in ads on every website I visited in the weeks after my search.

I couldn't escape from my loopy vest obsession.  I had no way to let the memory fade because every time I'd check the weather or get directions I had a gray loopy vest taunting me from the right column.

And now I'm doomed.  I want to make a Conan of my very own ... in gray, of course (or brown, and I'd call it "Grizzly").  I think the only thing that's saving me from bringing this monster to life if my lack of free time.  Although I can't promise that I won't *make* time ... especially if I see One. More. Loopy. Vest.