🌟You’ve earned it

Team Knit Stars · October 19, 2022

This week I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to “deserve” something.

Here’s why.

Tomorrow is the last chance to sign up for our 7th Masterclass Event called Texture + Wonder.

And all week, I’ve been in the comments online, listening as knitters and crocheters all over the world angst over whether to invest in themselves and the craft they love so much.

“But what if I’m not good enough yet?”
“But what if I don’t finish all the workshops?”
“But what will my spouse/kids/parents say?”

Listen.

If you’re reading this... You. Have. A. Superpower.

You did the work - the vulnerable, hard work - to learn to knit and/or crochet. You faced the terror of dropped stitches. You put yourself out there, creatively.

So whether or not you join us for what’s become the biggest Global Knitting Event of the year - know this. You are good enough.

You deserve to learn from the best.

It's not about how many projects you do or even how many workshops you watch. You deserve the fun, the connections, the celebration of this cool thing we all do together.

Signup for Masterclass Season 7 here before midnight central on Monday, October 17. (Use coupon code WONDER20 to save $20.)

xoxo,

P.S. When you enroll in Season 7, you get an exclusive opportunity to order from our Season 7 custom yarn and kit collection, featuring super-hot Star Dyers like Sonder Yarn and Bella Filato Studio. So be sure you’re signed up for Season 7 before it closes tomorrow night!

It’s baaaaaack.

Several years ago, we decided to have a little fun with Loretta, one of our longtime Flagship Store team members.

A master knitter who tends to downplay her considerable skills, Loretta was overheard saying, “Oh, I’m not as creative as other knitters. I don’t modify patterns. In fact, I’d follow the pattern into the gates of hell.”

This cracked us up so much, we decided to have a bag made in Loretta’s honor. Then word got out among the Knit Stars world, and we printed up bags - which immediately sold out.

So when we decided to highlight some of Loretta’s projects this week (see below), we decided to bring the bag back!

Pre-order your Loretta Bag here.

Does Loretta still follow the pattern into the gates of hell? “In general, yes,” she says. “But now I quickly add, ‘But I’m pretty selective about who I follow!’ Now, with a little more experience, I’m a better judge of whether it’s me or the pattern with the problem. And yes, it’s still mostly me.”

Around the Tulsa Flagship store, everyone’s been buzzing about this “Ena” sweater that’s fresh off Loretta’s needles.

Loretta made her “Ena Pullover” (pattern by Svetlana Volkova) using 4 skeins of our Knit Stars exclusive LolaBean Cool Beans Sport.

“I really enjoyed knitting this sweater, from the folded rib neckline to the cabling, it was always engaging yet easy to follow,” she said. “And the Anchors Aweigh colorway is much prettier than my photos show. There’s a depth in the blue my camera couldn’t capture.”

You will need 3 (3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9) skeins of Cool Beans Sport for SIZES 2XS/XS/S1/S2/M1/M2/L1/L2/XL/2XL/3XL Finished chest circumference: 26.0/28.8/31.5/34.6/37.7/40.7/43.8/46.9/50.0/53.1/56.1in (66/73/80/88/96/103/111/119/127/135/143 cm).

Looking for a lower-commitment project?

Loretta made this “Ieri” by Mara Licole with just one skein of La Bien Aimée “Allure.” Mara writes on her Ravelry page, “Ieri is the Italian word for ‘yesterday’. When you knit Ieri, I want you to remember the best of your yesterdays including the best lessons from your difficult yesterdays.”

Buy one skein of Allure here and celebrate all the yesterdays of knitting that it took to get to where you are today!

Loretta often makes models for our Flagship Store, and this “Day to Night” Cowl by Clinton Hill Cashmere is one that everyone stops to “pet.” It’s made with 2 skeins each of 2 colors “Bespoke” 100% cashmere.

“This yarn is amazing!” Loretta said. "Loved working with it--and the finished cowl is wonderful. Soft and warm, perfect to double wrap for a cold, windy day yet stunning as a longer decorative neckpiece. A win-win."

We’ve put together a few on-trend color pairings for you.

Get yarn for your own cowl here. Also makes a super-special gift! 🎁

Photo from Ravelry© Elizabeth Doherty

What’s next on Loretta’s needles? She’s casting on “Lineate” by Elizabeth Doherty. Enjoy stranded two-color knitting in its simplest form, and challenge yourself to try out unexpected color combinations. Lineate is a fun exploration of parallel and perpendicular lines—and there might even be a hidden bit of Fibonacci in those stripes!

You can replicate Elizabeth’s palette or create your own with our expansive, exclusive Tosh TML Tweed collection here. You’ll need 1 skein each of 3 colors.

Recipe as shown on HalfbakedHarvest.com

Sheet Pan Greek Meatballs and Tzaziki

OK, confession time.

I made these with lamb. For years, I never ate lamb because as a yarn shop owner, it felt somehow sacrilegious. But y’all…I was missing out. You can make these with other types of meat, but just trust me…lamb is the way to go with this one.

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds ground lamb, beef, or chicken (I use lamb)
2 shallots, chopped
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh oregano, chopped
2 teaspoons sweet or regular paprika
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
kosher salt and black pepper
chili flakes
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into matchsticks
1-2 cups Tzaziki sauce (I found ready-made in the deli aisle)
lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, and pitas, for serving, optional

Olive Dressing

1/2 lemon, halved
4 cloves garlic cloves, smashed
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 cups mixed fresh herbs, parsley, dill, and or mint, chopped
3/4 cup pitted Greek olives, torn
2 tablespoons chopped pepperoncini
3/4 cup crumbled feta

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 425° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
2. Combine the lamb, shallots, parsley, oregano, paprika, dijon, salt, pepper, and chili flakes in a bowl. Coat your hands with a bit of olive oil, and roll the meat into 3 tablespoon size balls, placing them on the prepared baking sheet. Add the lemon wedges and garlic (for the dressing) to the baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the meatballs are crisp and cooked through on the inside.
3. During the same time, toss together the sweet potatoes with 2 tablespoons olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper on another baking sheet. Bake 25 minutes, until the potatoes are crispy.
4. Meanwhile, make the dressing. Whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, herbs, olives, and pepperoncini. Grab the meatballs from the oven, remove the lemons and garlic. Juice the lemons into the dressing. Chop the garlic and mix into the dressing. Add the feta.
5. To assemble, add Tzaziki and lettuce to a bowl. Top with meatballs and spoon the dressing over the meatballs. Add the potatoes and any other desired toppings. Serve with additional Tzaziki (of course!).