🧶 A rookie mistake we can all learn from

Hello dear reader,

This is so embarrassing!

After 30 years of knitting sweaters - due to an absolute brain fart - I made a rookie mistake and had to completely start over on my Balloon Cardigan. 🤦‍♀️

I know a bunch of you have cast on to make your own beautiful Balloon Cardi along with me…so I promise to “lift my skirt up” and unpack my mistake in just a minute, in hopes of saving you from a similar fate.

But first, let me put off that moment just a little longer and share another make-along idea with you!

Around the Knit Stars Flagship Store, we’ve been hearing that many of you are feeling the temperatures rocketing up, and you’re looking for something easy-breezy to make, something chic and simple that works up pronto.

Well, we’ve got not one, but two great ideas for you, both made in our own Plant-Based Princess cotton/bamboo/hemp blend by members of the Knit Stars team.

We’re going to add both of them to our summer make-along rotation. Which means, we’ll be making it alongside you, at the ready to help with any tips and oopsies, and cheering you on to the finish line!

Our first idea is a new, instant classic from Ozetta (Hailey Smedley). This Oklahoma-based knitwear design company focuses on sustainable fibers - and if you don’t already follow them on Instagram @ozetta … you should!

“Moon Set” by Ozetta is a classic inspired v-neck with a simple silhouette worked from the top down. It features dropped shoulders and I-cord finishes for a casual look. It’s a moderately cropped design that works with any wardrobe - an instant, updated classic.

You'll need 2 (3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5) skeins of our exclusive Plant-Based Princess yarn for sizes XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL). We help you figure out your best size, factoring in positive ease, here on the yarn page.

And for Plant-Based Princess make-along #2, may I present the Brookline Blouse for your consideration?

Sunnie made this last year and knocked all our knitted socks off with the finished result. She loves hers so much, she’s casting on for another in our latest PBP color, “eat your greens.”

You'll only need 2 (2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3) skeins of Plant-Based Princess to make the Brookline your own for sizes XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL).

Grab your yarn and join in the fun, here.

Side note (still procrastinating the embarrassing reveal of my Balloon Cardi mistake) …

I bought a new planner this week!

Longtime readers know I’m obsessed with my Passion Planner, but I couldn’t resist the beauty and intrigue of this Astrological Planner from MagicOfI.com …

I’ve never really been that into astrology, but my daughter Mallory is, and when I was going to gift her with one, on a whim I “added to cart” for myself.

The website promised the planner is “a powerful tool for creating magic and living in alignment with the cosmos. Navigate with the planets and moon cycles while being grounded and appreciative of the earth.”

Living by the beach and my new-found passion for stand-up paddle boarding, I’ve found myself more in tune with the natural cycles of the tide, moon and stars. So I’m curious to explore a bit more. I’ll let you know how it goes!

All right, here goes. The embarrassing mistake that caused me to frog my whole Balloon Cardi and start over.

The pattern by PetiteKnit calls for establishing 4 raglan stitches, then increasing on either side of each raglan stitch 30-something times.

Well I was about 12 rounds in when I was reminded of the importance of knowing whether the increases happen BEFORE or AFTER the marker.

I placed a marker on either side of each raglan stitch, and I was slipping the marker, THEN increasing, then knitting the raglan stitch, increasing again and THEN slipping the second marker. (Slip marker, M1R, knit raglan stitch, M1L, slip marker).

So the area between each raglan marker was growing.

In the words of Pretty Woman…big mistake.

I needed to make the increases on the OUTSIDE of the markers, not the inside. So the correct way is M1R, slip marker, knit raglan stitch, slip marker, M1L.

Yep, that one little mistake cost me hours of knitting time.

But I’m back on track - see photo below! And I hope my mistake saves you from the same frogging fate.

P.S. There's still plenty of time to jump on the Balloon Cardigan train with me! Choose your colors here.

There's a Yarniverse LIVE with Nancy this week- and you’re invited!

This Thursday at 3 PM CDT, the fabulous Nancy Ricci @gettingpurlywithit joins us on Yarniverse LIVE! And this one is a public event, so whether or not you’re a Yarniverse member, you’re invited!

Come spend a little time getting to know one of the most inspiring folks in our shared yarn space. Nancy will light a fire under you to get out of your comfort zone and become your brightest, most daring and creative self.

Register for this week’s LIVE here (it will be recorded so you can watch the replay any time - but join live if you can, for a chance to win prizes!)

OMG Salad Dressing

Hot Luke and I had some friends over for dinner last week. To me, his steaks were the star of the show (he cooks the best steak I’ve ever had…which is no small compliment, considering I got to eat all kinds of award-winning steak when we filmed BBQStars a few years back).

But guess what? They couldn’t stop raving about my salad dressing.

Whaaaat?

It’s so simple, I’ve never shared it here. But on the other hand, it’s so simple that you NEED it in your weeknight arsenal!

¼ cup apple cider vinegar (or red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar)
½ cup good olive oil
1 T grainy brown mustard
1 T freshly minced garlic
1 t kosher salt
Several grinds fresh pepper
Optional: 1-2 T shredded parmesan

Shake all of the above in a mason jar. Drizzle over salad greens. So delicious, no other ingredients are needed! But feel free to add from your fridge - marinated artichoke hearts, olives, small diced red onion, halved grape tomatoes, diced seeded cucumber.