🧶 Guess who’s the featured dyer for the spring Hot Loops wall

Hello yarn lovers!

Call me smitten. Call me a proud mama. Together, we’ve done it again - we’ve created quite a stir in the yarn world!

Hundreds have joined the new Knit Stars Yarniverse since we rolled it out.

I love what Ash has to say…

“It is so refreshing and humbling to be a part of something that’s become bigger, better, and curated to bring out the best in all who live in, hobby in, and love the yarn world - or as you’ve aptly named it - The Yarniverse.  THANK YOU for keeping us as a central part of this journey as it evolves.”

There’s still time to join as a Founding Member and get special Founding Member pricing…

Want in on this magic? Check out the Yarniverse here!

Years ago, I remember walking into yarn stores and feeling totally overwhelmed by the amount of options. There were different yarns. Different weights. Different colors. Which would pair perfectly with the fitted top I wanted to make? It was hard to picture the finished projects. And everything seemed so old-fashioned!

All knitters know that the hardest thing to choose is first the color, then your next question is, “What on-trend thing can I make with this yarn that I love so much?”

That’s how the Hot Loops Wall in the Knit Stars flagship store came to be…  

Twice a year we curate a selection of projects and the perfect yarn to go with them, for instant inspiration. With each new Hot Loops wall we pick a Star Maker - an indie dyer to create the custom, limited edition yarn. Then we invite the world to join us for a livestream event where we showcase that season’s new projects and talk about the synergy between the designs, yarns, and colors. 

It’s also your chance to shop! 

The projects are still a secret but I’m thrilled to announce that this season’s Star Maker is Rachelle Dickey of Moondrake Co.

Rachelle says creating the Hot Loops wall has been on her bucket list. She started dyeing five years ago when the color she wanted to knit with didn’t exist. Soon after, she met me, and I immediately fell in love with her feisty spirit and her eye for custom dyed colors. 

When I asked her what she sees as trending right now, she says that semi-tonal yarn is taking over the world. For the last two years, she’s been dying this nonstop because it’s so great for sweaters.

She also sees non-superwash as the wave of the future. (Rachelle herself is a self-proclaimed non-superwash knitter.) More people are asking for non-superwash yarns because it’s more natural and the colorwork can look so much more vivid. “Some don’t like it because it can felt, but I don’t mind that because I know how to take care of it,” says Rachelle. 

Linen, silk and texture are the focus of this season’s Hot Loops wall, with a selection of Rachelle’s best-selling merino/linen blend and pure silk yarn. Rich, shiny silk is perfect for tank tops and lightweight garments. We’ve also included a BFL and silk blend in non-superwash. It lends a cozy feeling and at the same time has the drapeyness from the silk that makes for a smooth garment - fantastic for shawls, tops, and cowls. 

During the event you’ll be able to shop Moondrake’s most popular new yarn: Fuwa Fuwa cashmere and merino yarn. It’s soft, textural and fluffy, and even in the heat of summer people want to knit with it because it’s so lightweight.

When picking the colors for this spring’s Hot Loops wall, Rachelle went with a neutral palette - gorgeous, elegant, and perfect for summer knits. We chose light and breezy neutrals that you can mix with a pop of color. The neutral palette is perfect for any kind of project. It even works for fall or winter pieces. 

“People will be awestruck by the samples we’re going to show,” says Rachelle. “Neutral lovers will love every single color. Even people who like darker colors will enjoy. Some people think neutral is bland but if you see how we harmonize with other colors on the wall it will open your eyes. Every single sample I saw was perfectly picked for the yarn base.”

This spring’s Hot Loops event is May 20th at 6pm CT. It’s like New York fashion week… for yarn! Our host is none other than the fabulous Gaye “GG” Glasspie. Register here for free to join us live and get first dibs on the limited edition yarn (yes, we do sell out). 

Plus, the first 500 people to register get this sweet, zippered notions pouch as a party favor with their merchandise order. See you there!

Love a discount? It’s time to shop the Hot Loops Fall 2022 wall!

It’s a Knit Stars tradition to put the previous Hot Loops Wall on sale before the new one goes up! The whole wall is on sale here.

One of the hottest projects from this past fall’s Hot Loops Wall is Ranunculus - the top designed by Midori Hirose and that almost every knitter has made - often in multiples because it’s such a quick, satisfying knit!

I made two Rananculuses (Ranunculi? ;-) - one with Rachelle’s Suri Silk blend, and this one - perfectly paired with Parisian La Bien Aimée Merino Bouclé in 100% merino. 

I used the dyed-just-for-us colorway "There Goes My Yarn Diet." This top knits up light and airy, perfect for upcoming summer days and nights. Most sizes can be done with 2 or 3 skeins. Shop all the decadent colors while they’re on sale.

The Claire shawl is gorgeous, ethereal - and a one-skein-wonder in LBA Mohair Silk. This light and airy wrap can double as a scarf - with a lustrous sheen that knits up quickly with La Bien Aimée Mohair Silk on US8 (5mm) needles. Choose from eight different colors, all in delicate shades that elevate the sophistication of this piece. And all on sale here.

Ideal for temperate springtime days or cool summer evenings, this popular cable shawl Rolling Pastures is a 3 skein project. Season 6 Star Vincent Williams, Jr calls this "a beautiful balance between ‘relaxing garter’ and ‘focus-on-me’ sections that make this a perfect knit project for any cozy vibes seeker.” Your kit includes 3 skeins of La Bien Aimée Corrie Worsted (75% Falkland Corriedale, 25% Gotland, 100 g, 250 yds (230mm). On sale this week right here.

It’s always sock season when you have socks that are as fancy and functional as Summer Lee’s. We’re huge fans of the In Bloom sock pattern for all its fun, feminine, and fierce energy. The pattern knits up nicely with 1 skein of La Bien Aimée Super Sock in full-size skeins (100g, 467 yds, 425m), and we've also curated a collection of 50g mini La Bien Aimée Merino Super Sock 50 for all of those heel and toe accents. Try it with the bold “Andromeda” for a pleasantly shocking pop of purple.

All the La Bien Aimée sock yarns are on sale this week here.

The Slip Stitch Party shawl is an asymmetrical triangle shawl that beginner and advanced knitters will revel in. Only one color is used on any given row, and the built-in slip stitch edge gives it a beautiful finish. 

We love the 100% Portuguese wool from La Bien Aimée x Mondim - but we can’t decide what we love more: the saturated colorways or the Boho look and feel of this fingering weight non-superwash yarn. You’ll need 4-6 skeins, depending on whether you do the 2-color or 6-color version.

Each of these luscious yarns and kits are on sale until the Spring Hot Loops event on May 20th. Get ‘em while you can!

Recipe and photo courtesy of food.com 

8. Drain before serving.

And next up…we love our homemade hash browns in the morning, but they can feel a little heavy as summer approaches. We found this version made with cabbage - yes, cabbage! - that’s delicious and healthy, topped with eggs cooked how you like ‘em and plenty of your favorite hot sauce or salsa.

Cabbage Hash Browns

6 large eggs
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Italian herbs
1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
6 cups shredded cabbage
1/2 small yellow onion (thinly sliced)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, garlic, paprika, Italian dried herbs, fresh parsley, and pepper salt.
2. Add shredded cabbage and onion and toss to combine.
3. In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, add oil. Wait for the oil to heat up.
4. Form and divide the mixture into patties in the pan and press with a spatula to flatten.
5. Cook until golden and tender, about 3-4 minutes per side.
6. Serve as part of a breakfast spread, as a side dish or as an appetizer.

xoxo,

+ your Knit Stars Team