A Constellation of Stars 💫💫💫

What makes someone a Star?

Hard work. Dedication. Curiosity. Leadership. Passion.

A Star is someone who breaks new ground and then shows us how to shine.

And when we all have a place to shine, we can light up the sky.

Our gaze if fixed on a stunning collection of designers and artists coming together later this year for Knit Stars Season 5 - each with their own light to share.

One Star that shines so bright - and always with a citrus twist - is Gaye "GG" Glasspie! GG always has a bold orange on her needles - it is a statement that says, "Just do what you LOVE."

What is your color love? Close your eyes and imagine it in GG's Orange Love Poncho.

This beauty is a simple rectangle with some fancy bobbles and wandering cables. The cables do some meandering, a reminder to always go your own way and be the best YOU you can be!

We have 17 shades to love in Alegria Grande - the big sister of one of our *all-time* favorites -- Manos Alegria. With its supersoft superwash base and added poly for strength and resilience, Alegria Grande is the perfect worsted choice for a pop of color on GG's Orange Love Poncho.

Pick 5 skeins in your favorite hue and knit them up on Size 7 needles. Find GG's pattern on Raverly.

Shop the yarn here.

Every Star shines with their special kind of light.

Yumiko Alexander designs with air and texture on full display. Her Urban Chic wrap lets the spring breeze through as your eyes dance down a sequence of cable twists over asymmetric mesh.

Ravelry user Binka said, "I really like this project! The cables add interest and it’s a fun knit. Perfect for the desert heat and icy cold air conditioning!"

It's a project that gives you space for a deep breath and time to contemplate the simplicity of one stitch - then the next...

Our palette of Quince Sparrow pairs flawlessly with Yumiko's fresh design. Five skeins of this organic linen will flow off of your (Size 10!) needles and soften every time you run it through your hands.

The Stars of our Quince collection are neutrals with depth - Sans (cream) and Truffle (a warm grey) - or the crystal clear blue of Eluthera and vintage blush of Conch.

Find Yumiko's Urban Chic on Ravelry.

Shop the yarn here.

Tian Connaughton is one prolific Star! If you're looking for a shawl - sweater - gloves - cowl...in knit OR crochet, she has written a pattern for you!

If you're anything like Loops Trooper Rachel, all you need is stripes. She rarely finds herself working on a project in a single color. So when she saw Tian's Marginal Way shawl, she rubbed her hands together in anticipation of choosing a color pairing!

For Marginal Way, Tian was inspired by walks along a seaside path - these gently waving stripes make this a gentle stroll of a knit. All you need is a yarn with a silky sheen to make the waves glisten.

Make Tian's shawl with two or three colors of Emma's Super Silky - our spring favorite that ticks all the boxes: it's a hefty 100g skein of hand-dyed fingering in a Merino/silk blend. Here are Rachel's favorite color combinations for satisfying stripes...

Drops of Jupiter + Glamping = nature's dusty pink speckles
I Want Candy + Sherberthday = fruity hues you can taste
Cally Girl + Love Note = enough pink to fall in love
Love Note + Loops + Cally Girl = a pink and blue perfect pair

Find Tian's Marginal Way pattern on Ravelry.

Shop the yarn here.

Loops Loves Joji Locatelli.

Her well-written patterns take a simple project and look at it in a new light, giving a unique and artful touch to your work.

In her Storm Shawl, what looks like a simple crescent with eyelets and dropped stitches is made special with short rows that change the balance of the traditional crescent. The eyelets swing across the shawl with energy and the dropped stitches add movement and drape that's perfect for a spring and summer shawl!

Now to the super-special Hot Loops yarn pairing!

Joji's Storm Shawl is a one skein project with Emma's Yarn hand-dyed Hella Hanks (her all-time best seller!). This generous *600 yard skein* is a hearty and soft Merino/Cashmere/Nylon blend and we have six hand-dyed colors for you to choose from, and our favorite is the Loops exclusive - Purple Rain. How can you resist?

Did we mention that this is a one skein project? ...swoon...

Find Joji Locatelli's Storm Shawl on Ravelry and knit it up quick on Size 7 needles.

All of the delicate colors of Amores are on display in Casa, a fingering weight merino/silk blend with a shimmering single-ply that is a delight to knit. We have 9 special colors to choose from, so settle in, grab a cuppa and design your next knit...this week's freebie!

Destiny Meyer's free shawl, Daylight Breaking, is simple, stripey, and scrumptious. Use it as your next knit-meditation while sitting on the front porch with a cup o' joe, while taking a stroll (have you ever knit on a walk? Try it!) or on the couch with your favorite show. You'll need one skein in each of your two colors. Create your favorite combination and knit your Daylight Breaking on size 6 needles.

You'll find the free pattern on Ravelry. And you can browse Amores Casa yarn here.

Here are some color combos for you to imagine...
Bar None + Clever One = a coppery mountain horizon
Page Turner + Star Fisher = stark and comforting contrast
Bar None + Lichen & Lilies = desert citrus sensation
Pressed Petals + Coronation = the spring garden's treasure

You are going to be savoring these scents all afternoon while you are waiting on this *tasty* recipe. And you're also going to have plenty of time for knitting- this recipe takes about two minutes to get going!

Serve it with what you've got- tortillas, rice, heck- just scoop it with some chips or throw it on some nachos! Enjoy!

2-Ingredient Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

INGREDIENTS
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 lbs total)
2 cups favorite salsa
salt and pepper
(optional: fresh lime wedges and avocado for serving)

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Place chicken breasts in a slow cooker and cover with salsa. Toss until the chicken is covered.

2. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours (or low for 6-8 hours), or until the chicken shreds easily with a fork. Shred the chicken in the slow cooker and toss with the remaining salsa and juices until well-mixed. Serve immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days. (This chicken also freezes well.)

Let’s keep knitting the world together 🌎💙
- Shelley and the Loops Troops

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