đ§¶The âmissing linkâ color
Do you ever find yourself in a color rut?
Wishing you could push your own color envelopeâŠbut afraid to invest in the yarn without knowing for sure how it will turn out?
It happens to all of us. Thereâs comfort in the familiar. And when weâre drawn to a project, itâs often because of the color. So doing yours âjust like the modelâ is totally ok!
But if youâre looking to push your color boundaries, simple projects with speckled yarn are a great way to start.
In this video clip from Knit Stars Masterclass Season 3, Beata Jezek shows you how almost all speckled yarns go together - and how to use her âmissing linkâ trick to build innovative 3-color combinations.Â
Watch the 2-minute clip here.
Howâs this for timing? We just got happy mail with all 15 newly-released colors of Hedgehog Sock!
Thereâs something for everyone here - neutrals, jewel tones, and pops (helloooo âFlamingoâ)!
And weâve got a perfect project idea (or 2) for youâŠ
Thereâs something for everyone here - neutrals, jewel tones, and pops (helloooo âFlamingoâ)!
And weâve got a perfect project idea (or 2) for youâŠ
âFading Stripesâ is designed by Beata herself. She describes it as an âeasy, mindless garter stitch shawl, suitable for even beginners. Just relax and knit a few rows, nothing difficult going on here. Itâs done when you run out of yarn!â
You can make your âFading Stripesâ with just 2 full-size skeins of Hedgehog Sock in contrasting colors. Or get creative and add a 3rd color - simply switch from alternating colors 1 + 2, to alternating colors 2 + 3 at any point you like - maybe the midpoint, or maybe toward the end.
Iâve put together a few combos to inspire youâŠ
You can make your âFading Stripesâ with just 2 full-size skeins of Hedgehog Sock in contrasting colors. Or get creative and add a 3rd color - simply switch from alternating colors 1 + 2, to alternating colors 2 + 3 at any point you like - maybe the midpoint, or maybe toward the end.
Iâve put together a few combos to inspire youâŠ
Sweater lovers, rejoice!Â
The same color combos I offered you above will work with Caitlin Hunterâs seasonless âMarettimoâ design.
âMarettimoâ is a relaxed, lightweight summer sweater, knit in the round from the bottom up and featuring a simple feather and fan lace detail at the hem and sleeves. Named for a small island off the coast of Sicily, this sweater is the second in her series of designs named for Italian towns where she dreams of wearing them someday.
To make your own âMarettimo,â youâll need 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) skeins of your main color, and 1 skein each of 2 contrast colors, to fit sizes XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X). You want a size thatâs 7-11â larger than your bust measurement and the finished bust sizes are 40 (43.25, 46.5, 49.5, 52.5, 55.5, 58.75)â
The same color combos I offered you above will work with Caitlin Hunterâs seasonless âMarettimoâ design.
âMarettimoâ is a relaxed, lightweight summer sweater, knit in the round from the bottom up and featuring a simple feather and fan lace detail at the hem and sleeves. Named for a small island off the coast of Sicily, this sweater is the second in her series of designs named for Italian towns where she dreams of wearing them someday.
To make your own âMarettimo,â youâll need 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4) skeins of your main color, and 1 skein each of 2 contrast colors, to fit sizes XS (S, M, L, XL, 2X, 3X). You want a size thatâs 7-11â larger than your bust measurement and the finished bust sizes are 40 (43.25, 46.5, 49.5, 52.5, 55.5, 58.75)â
Knit Stars LIVE with Francoise! âš
Join Francoise Danoy of @arohaknits in person at our Flagship Store or virtually via Zoom, on Saturday, March 12th, 1pm-4pm Central for this hybrid event!
Francoise will begin by sharing how she incorporates her work as an indigenous artist into her knit patterns and designs. Sheâll then move into her workshop based on her beautiful âOnce Were Weaversâ shawl, featuring the Drop Cable Stitch and lateral braid knit flat techniques. This is a great workshop for knitters who are looking to get a bit more adventurous with lace!
You can purchase your workshop ticket alone for just $59, or add on the optional kit featuring 3 skeins of our Loops Luxe Royal Light (Royal Alpaca + Silk) in your choice of 6 colors, plus some special extras (a $60 value for only $40 - save $20!).
Sign up for our Knit Stars LIVE with Francoise here.
Join Francoise Danoy of @arohaknits in person at our Flagship Store or virtually via Zoom, on Saturday, March 12th, 1pm-4pm Central for this hybrid event!
Francoise will begin by sharing how she incorporates her work as an indigenous artist into her knit patterns and designs. Sheâll then move into her workshop based on her beautiful âOnce Were Weaversâ shawl, featuring the Drop Cable Stitch and lateral braid knit flat techniques. This is a great workshop for knitters who are looking to get a bit more adventurous with lace!
You can purchase your workshop ticket alone for just $59, or add on the optional kit featuring 3 skeins of our Loops Luxe Royal Light (Royal Alpaca + Silk) in your choice of 6 colors, plus some special extras (a $60 value for only $40 - save $20!).
Sign up for our Knit Stars LIVE with Francoise here.
When my daughter, Mallory, says she MUST knit a project immediatelyâŠI know it must be a hot trend. đ„
Indeed, balaclavas are super rad right now, and Mallory whipped this one up in less than a week, just before she headed to a chilly Amsterdam to study abroad for the semester.
She used 2 skeins of Alegria Grande, holding 2 strands double along with a strand of Rowan Cashmere Haze. The pattern can be found for purchase here and youâll need circular needles in size US #8 and #6.Â
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Indeed, balaclavas are super rad right now, and Mallory whipped this one up in less than a week, just before she headed to a chilly Amsterdam to study abroad for the semester.
She used 2 skeins of Alegria Grande, holding 2 strands double along with a strand of Rowan Cashmere Haze. The pattern can be found for purchase here and youâll need circular needles in size US #8 and #6.Â
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Longtime readers will remember that six years ago, on the very first Knit Stars international film production, Mallory and I lost our luggage.Â
We spent more than a week going from Finland to Norway to Denmark to Italy, all with the clothes on our back plus some necessities purchased at a Finland H + M. The shopping bags became our âsuitcases.â
And I learned exactly how long you can go in one sports bra without washing it đł
Well, on her way to Amsterdam, Mallory had a deja vu. Her flight was canceled, she was diverted through Frankfurt, and her luggage was lost - again.
This time though, she had learned from experience and packed more wisely.Â
If youâre curious or would like to pick up some carry-on packing tips, you can read her blog here.
We spent more than a week going from Finland to Norway to Denmark to Italy, all with the clothes on our back plus some necessities purchased at a Finland H + M. The shopping bags became our âsuitcases.â
And I learned exactly how long you can go in one sports bra without washing it đł
Well, on her way to Amsterdam, Mallory had a deja vu. Her flight was canceled, she was diverted through Frankfurt, and her luggage was lost - again.
This time though, she had learned from experience and packed more wisely.Â
If youâre curious or would like to pick up some carry-on packing tips, you can read her blog here.
Adrianne, our team member living in Italy, made this Taiwanese Castella cake for Valentineâs day that she says âwas amazing and fun (it wiggles after itâs baked!). My husband says itâs his new favorite cake. I used this YouTube video that has excellent instructions. Iâm going to try a matcha flavor for St. Patrickâs Day!â
This tender, pillowy castella cake from KitchenDose.com is extremely soft, fluffy and full of egg flavor. Itâs known for its very smooth surface, without any cracks.
Ingredients:
Our spring Hot Loops event will be Saturday, April 9th starting at 7pm Central, and it will be all online! Watch for signup instructions in next weekâs newsletter.Â
xoxo
This tender, pillowy castella cake from KitchenDose.com is extremely soft, fluffy and full of egg flavor. Itâs known for its very smooth surface, without any cracks.
Ingredients:
- 100 g cake flour/ all-purpose flour
- 100g unsalted butter
- 100g sugar
- 6 egg whites
- 6 egg yolks
- 100 ml milk
- Œ tsp salt
- Vanilla extract
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 150°C.
- Line a 18cm square cake pan with parchment paper
- Sift the cake flour into a mixing bowl and set aside.
- In a saucepan, add in the milk and butter then place over low heat, until the butter is melted completely.
- Pour the milk/butter mixture into the sifted flour and whisk together until well combined.
- Add in the egg yolks one by one, mixing after each addition until well incorporated.
- Add in the vanilla extract and mix well then set aside.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy, then add in the sugar and keep beating until still peaks are formed.
- Pour the first mixture into the egg white mixture and gently fold it in.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared baking tin, level the surface using a spatula and tap the cake tin on a work surface a few times to release the air bubbles.
- Put the cake tin in a larger baking sheet, then pour hot water, about 80°C, into it to make a water bath. Pop into the oven and bake for about 60 minutes or until fully cooked.
- Remove from the oven, tap the cake tin a few times, this can prevent the cake from shrinking. You can eat it while still warm or you can let it cool completely then slice it.
- Serve and Enjoy!
Our spring Hot Loops event will be Saturday, April 9th starting at 7pm Central, and it will be all online! Watch for signup instructions in next weekâs newsletter.Â
xoxo