The Scoop has a new look 👀

Watch this video clip from Season 6 to learn Louis’ favorite elastic hat brim technique.

 Hey happy, yarny New Year to you!

Over here at Knit Stars, our resolution for 2022 is to make sure you get the star treatment you deserve. ✨

After feeling not-seen for my first couple of decades as a knitter, I want you to know: You are amazing. Your creativity has value. Your passion is worth the investment of your time, at any age - and you should never, ever feel guilty about that.

That’s where this free, weekly newsletter comes in.

Sixteen years ago, I started a weekly newsletter called the Scoop, focused mainly on pairing great yarns with great patterns.

Now, 832 Scoops later (!), we’ve combined it with our popular, free Knit Stars video tip-letters, into this one-stop-shop called Moving the Needle.

Each week we’ll bring you:
🌟 A quick “aha!” video tip from one of our Knit Stars
🌟 Inspirational short stories about your favorite fiber creators
🌟 Creative pairings of the newest artisan yarns with the best patterns

Now you, along with your other Knit Stars fiber friends in 50+ countries, can catch up on all the best things in the yarn world in one place, each week.

We’re starting with a bang - er, a brim - from Knit Star Louis Boria.

In this quick “Brim Work” tip from Season 6, Louis shows you his favorite, ultra-elastic Slipped Stitch Brim. This brim is especially helpful if you are creating a hat for a friend and you don’t have their exact head measurements. reating a hat for a friend and you don’t have their exact head measurements. 

Louis Boria @brooklynboyknits was featured in Knit Stars Masterclass Season 6.

 

Did you hear what happened to Louis when he tried to get to Tulsa for our Flagship Store grand opening?

He got all the way to Dallas, but his next flight was cancelled, and there was no guarantee that he could make it into Tulsa the next day. So he had no choice but to fly back to Brooklyn and miss the whole event 😥

But good news…we’re bringing Louis back for our first-ever Knit Stars Live mini-event! ✨ And you can “attend” in person at our Flagship Store, or virtually.

Louis will be giving a short talk about his journey, including his recent decision to leave his day job, move to Madrid and become a full-time designer! He’ll then teach a mini-workshop featuring a cowl to go with the “Eye of the Storm” hat he designed for Knit Stars Season 6. He’ll finish up with a fun Q+A.

Tickets are $99 including a cowl kit, or $69 without the kit. We have 30 in-person tickets + 49 Zoom/virtual tickets available.

Click here to purchase your seat!

This exclusive kit for Louis’ new cowl pattern (a $40 value) is just $30 when added to your event ticket.

 

The iconic GG wearing “Orange You Glad” in Bespoke 100% cashmere.

Years ago, I coined the term “Selfish Knitting Month” as a synonym for January, the month when you finally get to knit or crochet just for you! It’s since evolved into Self-Care Month. No deadlines, no pressure…just the joy of good yarn and good company.

Here are a few pure-pleasure, self-care cast-ons that we’re really into right now.

✨ 100% Cashmere mini-fringed wrap and bonus Headband ✨

Four balls of Bespoke 100% Cashmere from Clinton Hill make this simple sloped wrap with a charming mini-fringe. We'll include your wrap pattern for free with purchase of 4 or more balls of Bespoke. And there’s just enough leftover to make the Twisted Torus headband by Jeanne C. Abel, available on Ravelry.

Note: When you purchase our exclusive Orange You Glad colorway, developed in honor of Gaye “GGMadeIt” Glasspie, she earns a commission - so it’s a great way to show your love for her and all she does for the fiberverse! 🧡

Shop all 16 colors of Bespoke Cashmere here.

Loretta made THREE sets of wraps + headbands in Bespoke Cashmere!

Star Trooper Beth modeling her “Bandito” in Starlight DK.

✨ Bandito in Fairy Godmother Starlight DK ✨

Knit Stars team member, Beth, loves this “Bandito” pattern by Anne Campbell so much, she’s made 3 of them! After a setup row, you knit one pattern row over and over. The result is a shallow triangle that can be worn in many ways in a textured stitch that doesn’t look like every row is the same.

Find Bandito free on Ravelry, and treat yourself to “Starlight DK,” an exclusive merino-cashmere-stellina slow-color-change yarn dyed just for us by Fairy Godmother.

Shop the yarn here.

“Summer Moon” is made with our scrumptious, softer-than-cashmere “Sweet 16” merino.

✨ Summer Moon by Jill Zielinski ✨

This bottom-up, crescent-shaped wrap, shows off eye-catching waves of color. It’s the simplest of striping techniques to give you all the color you crave while still being able to chat, Netflix or both.

We’ve curated two Summer Moon kits in our own “Sweet 16” yarn, a 16-micron merino that’s softer than most cashmeres and literally feels like a cloud floating through your fingers. Choose “Sea” or “Soot” colorway and prepare to pamper yourself - during and after the knitting is done, when you wrap up in all this coziness!

Shop Summer Moon kits here.

The OG Loops team member, Ingrid, models "Summer Moon."

Two kit options for “Summer Moon” - Sea or Soot.

Season 5 Knit Star Francoise Danoy, at the Grand Opening of our Flagship Store.

For the ultimate Knit Stars in-person experience, plan your trip to our new Flagship Store. Every yarn has a story…and here the stories come to life!

Learn about your favorite fiber artists…

Shop kits curated by your favorite Knit Stars…

Watch yarn get packed and shipped around the world…

Take an “On Demand Class” and learn something new!

Download this free printable to plan your visit. We can’t wait to see you!

Season 5 Our Flagship Store now offers private lessons or free Classes On Demand in knitting and crochet. Email hello@knitstars.com or stop in at 3509 S. Peoria in Tulsa for more info.

It’s a Scoop tradition to include an easy recipe in each newsletter - something you can turn to when you need to eat, but want more knitting time!

This one is from Amber, one of our Star Guides. She says, “You can use any cheese, vegetables or meats in this frittata, and it’s great for breakfast, lunch or dinner! The thing I like most is that it whips up quickly and I can knit while it bakes. 😂"

✨ Amber's Frittata Formula ✨

So how do you make a great frittata every time without always using a recipe? The answer is a ratio.

For every six eggs, use:

• 1/4 cup heavy cream,
• 1 cup cheese,
• 2 cups total of vegetables and/or meat.
• This will get you a frittata with a hearty filling — especially if you’re using something like potatoes and bacon — and a creamy egg custard shot through with the tang of cheese.

Next, mix and match different toppings and ingredients to get your perfect breakfast:

• Cheese: Goat, feta, mozzarella, parmesan, cheddar or sharp cheddar.
• Veggies: Bell peppers, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, zucchini, onions, asparagus, tomatoes, garlic, leeks, eggplant, shallots, and jalapenos.
• Meats: Bacon, ham, sausage, turkey sausage.
• Dairy Options: Heavy cream is the best option here, but you can also use half-and-half or full-fat milk (reduce to 1/4 cup if using milk).
• Herbs: Parsley, chives, dill, or basil. 

A simple prep:

Heat the oven to 400°F.

1. Whisk together eggs, heavy cream, and salt.
2. Chop veggies and/or dice your meat.
3. Butter your pan and add veggies and/or meat.
4. Pour over the egg mixture, top with cheese, and bake.

Bake the frittata for 8 to 10 minutes. Bake until the eggs are set, 8 to 10 minutes. To check, cut a small slit in the center of the frittata. If raw eggs run into the cut, bake for another few minutes; if the eggs are set, pull the frittata from the oven. For a browned, crispy top, run the frittata under the broiler for a minute or two at the end of cooking.
Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then slice into wedges and serve.