🧶Wear the dang knits

Photo courtesy of Caitlin Hunter via Ravlery

Just the other day, an email from a faithful newsletter reader named Dez dropped into my inbox. She was responding to a recent issue of Moving the Needle titled The sweater you’ll wear 24/7. I’ve excerpted her very thoughtful letter for you here.

“Thank you for calling my attention to the Granito pattern! Looks like an excellent wardrobe staple,” Dez wrote.

“I think, however, that it might be a good topic one day to talk about WHY so many knitters only wear certain garments to knitting events like Stitches or fiber festivals. What stops some people from wearing a bold design? Why SHOULDN'T we rock a Stephen West shawl to the classroom or the boardroom? Why are so many people afraid of color? This is not a good thing.

  Photo courtesy of Stephen West via Ravlery

Why do so many knitters hide their best, most dazzling work in the closet and only take those gorgeous garments out around other knitters? To me this is a feminist issue. Most knitters are women. For so long we have been culturally conditioned to step back, to stand in the wings, to be modest ... to shade our light so as not to outshine men. Let's address the REASON those works of art languish in closets.

Let's see an article encouraging knitters to be confident in wearing those amazing designs we all put so much time and love into. Wear that dazzling shawl out to dinner with a solid-color dress. Wear Ghost Horses to work on casual Friday.

Yes, it's great to have a 24/7 goes-with-everything sweater. But we must also take pride in our work. ‘Why yes, I did knit this!’ That's not vanity. It's well-deserved pride in a job well done.”

YES DEZ, HECK YES!!!

This week I’m resolving to Wear The Dang Knits and to cast on something bright and bold.

How about you?

For inspiration we’ve put together 3 new, colorful kits for you this week. I invite you to treat yourself - to both the making and the wearing. ❤️

Dez wearing her Ghost Horses in a hand-dyed yarn from her stash

When I searched Ravelry for “colorful” this project popped up -  and it just released this week, from the master of color himself, Stephen West!

“Fragmentation Shawl” is a top-down shawl composed of seven vertical wedges. Knit each wedge individually as you stripe your colors. Each new wedge is attached to the previous section using a simple modular technique, so you only work one color at a time. 

You can easily customize the size by knitting more stripes for a larger shawl. The squishy garter stitch is framed with I-cord edges, resulting in a beautiful large shawl size.

We’ve put together a kit using the absolute softest yarn in our store - our exclusive “Sweet 16” 16-micron non-superwash wool. You get 2 skeins each of 7 colorways (440 yards of each), so you could easily make a much bigger version of the shawl if you like! You’ll also need a US #5 40” circular needle, and the pattern from Ravelry.

The kits are on sale here at an introductory price of $199 (20% off!).

Ghost Horses is a top-down circular yoke sweater by Season 4 Knit Star Caitlin Hunter featuring all-over stranded colorwork. 

“This sweater was a dream I have had in my mind for a few years,” Caitlin writes. “I love the ring of horses galloping across the yoke, and the fading colors of Spincycle against their solid light grey Wilder was the perfect match for my western dream sweater! The pattern is written to be easily customizable in sleeve and body length. Options are given for short or long sleeves (or elbow length, like mine!)

We have 3 perfect color pairing options for your very own, colorful Ghost Horses sweater - including our exclusive colorway, “Star Struck.”

You’ll need  3 (4, 4, 4, 4, 5){5, 5, 5, 6} skeins of Spincycle Wilder and 4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5){5, 6, 6, 6} skeins of Spincycle Dyed in the Wool to make your Ghost Ranch. It calls for needle sizes US #2 and #4 but work your gauge to decide. Then be sure to tag us on Instagram @knitstars with your colorful work in progress pics!

 Photo courtesy of Knit Collage via Ravelry

 To me, this “Flower Power Cardi” by Cheryl Kubat sums up the essence of Dez’ call to step out into the world boldly, wearing your most colorful pieces. 

This fashion forward sweater with large flower pops is the epitome of a statement piece. Using a side-to-side construction, this cardi uses the intarsia method of colorwork, adding big blocks of color without having floats of stranded colorwork. The sleeves have a modified dolman style fit. 

The pattern says “suitable for intermediate knitters” but the yarn is very forgiving and quick to knit, so don’t hesitate to jump in - even if it’s your first sweater!

We’ve put together a Knit Stars exclusive kit in 2 sizes. The first fits bust sizes up to 42” and the second size will work for bust sizes 44-68”. 

Shop the kits here.

I searched my favorite recipe site, HalfBakedHarvest.com for the word “colorful” and these yummy bowls popped up. 

If you decide to cook this and/or cast on any of this week’s projects, please be sure to post on Instagram and tag us @knitstars … who knows, we may even feature you and send you a prize! 

xoxo,

 + Your Knit Stars

 Chipotle Honey Salmon Bowls

ingredients:

• 4 (4-6 ounce) salmon filets, cut into bite-size chunks
• 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 
• 1-2 tablespoons chopped chipotle in adobo
• 2 tablespoons, plus 2 teaspoons honey
• 1 tablespoon tamari or soy sauce
• kosher salt and black pepper
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 3-4 cups cooked rice

AVOCADO FETA SALAD

• 2 avocados, diced
• 2 small cucumbers, chopped
• 1 serrano or jalapeño, sliced
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 cup crumbed feta cheese
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon lime juice

CHIPOTLE MAYO

• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1-2 tablespoons chopped chipotle in adobo
• 2 teaspoons honey

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450° F.
2. On a baking sheet, toss the salmon pieces with 3 tablespoons olive oil, chipotle in adobo, 2 tablespoons honey, tamari (or soy sauce), and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer. Roast 10-15 minutes or until the salmon is cooked to your liking. During the last minute, switch the oven to broil and broil until lightly charred. Set the salmon aside.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons honey, and the apple cider vinegar. Stir in the cilantro and season with salt and pepper. Set the sauce aside for serving.
4. To make the salad. Combine the avocado, cucumbers, serrano pepper, cilantro, cumin, and feta in a bowl. Toss with the olive oil, lime, lemon juice, and season with salt.
5. For the mayo, combine all ingredients in a bowl.
6. Spoon the salmon over the bowls of rice. Top with the avocado salad and drizzle the cilantro lime sauce over everyting. Add a dollop of spicy mayo. Enjoy!