🧶Square needles and running in circles

Catch the replay of this week’s Yarniverse LIVE with Ann + Kay of MDK here

Remember when there wasn’t enough knitting content out in the world? 

This past week we did a really fun Yarniverse LIVE with Ann + Kay of Modern Daily Knitting. And we were musing back 10 years, when we were all so desperate for new pattern inspo, we’d all wait on pins and needles (pun intended) for the Rowan magazine to come out.

Nowadays, if you’re like me, your feeds and channels are flooded with more patterns than you can ever make. It all flows by so fast - there’s no way to catch it all.

And oh, by the way, you need some time to actually knit, right??! 🤣

The point is, we Yarnies need good curation more than ever. And we see that as a big part of our mission - to keep you up to date, inspired and connected with the brightest minds, the biggest ideas and the coolest new products in the yarn space.

That’s why we created the Hot Loops Wall 18 years ago. It’s why we started Knit Stars Masterclasses (back before Zoom was even a twinkle in most people’s eyes).

And it’s why we’re innovating again with Knit Stars Yarniverse. (If you are in our pilot program, you can access the Yarniverse here!) 

Meanwhile this week, we’ve curated two new products and three new projects we think you’ll really love. So let’s jump in…

Do you really need another interchangeable needle set? 🤔

We say HECK YEAH!

This new “Joy of Knitting” needle set belongs in your tool repertoire for two reasons. First, it includes Cubics needles. These are that unique square shape that Carson Demers talked about in Knit Stars Season 3. They create a therapeutic experience and comfortable grip - especially helpful for those with hand issues, but really important for everyone. It’s good to change up your needle shape, size and material from project to project for optimum hand health.

And second…just look at these bright, happy colors! It’s sure to bring a burst of energy to your knitting. Plus it comes in a ‘60s inspired, tufted and embroidered punch needle case, a matching notions bag and tons of fun extras.

Pre-order your Joy of Knitting set here for delivery before Mother’s Day.

 

If you’ve ever struggled with finding something to put your stitches “on hold…”

(Hello dental floss, I’m looking at you…)

And have you ever played the game of stealing yarn from one project to put stitches on hold for another project?

Then behold…new Knit Stars “Star String” is for you!

Pop one of these in your bag and you’ll always have the perfect, firm-yet-flexible cord to hold your stitches perfectly until you’re ready for them.

Get your Star String here.

In a recent Yarnivere LIVE, Gaye Glasspie @ggmadeit was talking about Vogue Knitting Live in NYC, and how everyone was wearing this “Saturday Shrug,” a *FREE* Ravelry pattern by Jackie Rose.

So of course we had to check it out and curate the perfect yarn for you!

Margaret is swatching ours up in Berroco Lucca, a soft and buttery 50% cashmere 50% cotton yarn that’s on sale 20% off this week. 

“Saturday Shrug” works up quickly on US #9 needles. The designer writes, “Like bread fresh from the oven or a fire on a winter’s evening, there are some things we never tire of and this cowl is one of them. A simple satisfying make, you’ll want to create again and again. Let the relaxing rib be a blank page to write your color story on today.”

Get your yarn here.The pattern is a bit of a recipe but you should be covered with 4 skeins of Lucca in your main color and 1 skein of your contrast color. Add another skein of each if you knit tightly or want a bigger shrug. And when you cast on, be sure to tag us @knitstars with #saturdayshrugclub !

Want an even quicker weekend knit? Jackie just came out with the “Sunday Shrug” in super bulky yarn! 

This dramatic big sister to Saturday Shrug is a big, bold design that can be knit in a day.

The pattern is free and we suggest our own Superloops supersoft superbulky (no need to hold yarn double like the pattern calls for). We used #17 needles, reduced the cast-on to 56 stitches and made our version with 3 skeins of Superloops “Inky” and 2 skein of “Razzleberry.”

 

Photo credits: Jackie Rose on Ravelry

While we’re on the superbulky train…check out this adorable vest that Charlotte made for Valentine’s Day! With some help and guidance from Janet and some of our other team members at the Flagship Store, Charlotte made her very first garment! 🥰

 

The pattern is Vicky’s Vest and you can find it on etsy here. 

You’ll need US #17 needles, 3 skeins of the main color and 2 skeins of the contrast color in our exclusive Superloops yarn. Shop the yarn here. 

XOXO,

Shelley + your Knit Stars Team.

 Giant Crinkle Cookies

 

Photo and recipe courtesy of the Nytimes.com 

Sunnie here! Do you ever just crave the perfect cookie? I certainly do and this cookie has been my go-to for about 3 years now. These cookies are chewy, and crispy and absolutely fabulous. You'll feel like you've been transported to your favorite café or bakery in an instant! And the best part? You get to slam the cookie sheet down on the counter/oven top to get these beautiful crinkles! Trust me, it's pretty fun. I love to make a batch of these, portion them and then freeze them. This way, I can pull out 1 cookie when I just need something sweet, pop it in the oven and I have a perfect homemade cookie without all the mess. You probably need to increase the cooking time by 2-5 minutes depending on your oven if you are making straight from the freezer. Enjoy!

Yield: 10 cookies

• 2 cups/256 grams all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ pound/227 grams unsalted butter (2 sticks), room temperature
• 1½ cups/302 grams granulated sugar
• ¼ cup/55 grams packed light or dark brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 6 ounces/170 grams bittersweet chocolate (about 60 percent cacao solids), chopped into coarse pieces, bits and shards

 

Instructions:

1. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position. Line 2 baking sheets with aluminum foil, parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.
   
   
2. In a small bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda and salt.
   
   
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the butter on medium until creamy. Add the granulated and brown sugars and beat on medium until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla and 2 tablespoons water, and mix on low to combine. Add the flour mixture, and mix on low until combined. Add the chocolate and mix on low into the batter. (At this point, the dough can be refrigerated for several hours or overnight.)
   
   
4. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Form the dough into 3½-ounce (100-gram) balls (a heaping ⅓ cup each). Place 4 balls an equal distance apart on a prepared pan, and transfer to the freezer for 15 minutes before baking. After you put the first baking sheet in the oven, put the second one in the freezer.
   
   
5. Place the chilled baking sheet in the oven and bake 10 minutes, until the cookies are puffed slightly in the center. Lift the baking sheet and let it drop down against the oven rack, so the edges of the cookies set and the inside falls back down. (This will feel wrong, but trust me.) Bang it down, if necessary, to make the center fall.
   
   
6. After the cookies puff up again, 2 to 3 minutes later, repeat lifting and dropping the pan, every 3 minutes, to create ridges around the edge of the cookie. Bake 16 to 18 minutes total, until the cookies have spread out, and the edges are golden brown, but the centers are much lighter and not fully cooked.
   
   
7. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack; let cool before removing the cookies from the pan.
   
   
8. Repeat with remaining cookies, using the first sheet pan for the third batch of cookies.