
🧶The gift of a lifeline
Isn’t it interesting how much beginners can teach us? I’m reading Michelle Obama’s newest book, “The Light We Carry.”Or to be more specific…I’m listening to her read the book on my morning walks, then running back home to highlight my hard copy.Even if she didn’t talk about knitting and how it helped her through pandemic depression…I would still love this book.But she does! She talks about knitting on Chapter 1, page 1, and dedicates a whole chapter to her experience (!!!)And what’s even cooler, for all these years I’ve tried to explain to people what happened in my 16-year-old brain on that...

Zero pressure gift knitting
My latest WIP: "Strata" hat by Tif Neilan from "Worsted" by Aimée Gille, made with LolaBean Cool Beans Worsted. Kits here. I’ve noticed a trend the past few years…More and more people seem to be swearing off holiday gift making.Maybe it was the pandemic, that made people re-evaluate how they spent their free time. Maybe it’s the (welcome) shift to more self-care, that’s made it ok to say “My knitting time is valuable and I’m just knitting for me.”I know I’ve definitely whittled down my gift knit to-do list over time. The past couple years, I’ve only knit one gift - my...

🧶 New genius needles 💡
Since many of us are all hanging out in a turkey tryptophan haze…I decided to start out this week’s newsletter with an ode to the premiere of our 7th Masterclass Season, which just finished premiering last week.And what better ode than a blooper reel? 🤪Enjoy watching the 3-minute clip above, where I learned 2 new words - “craptacular” and “uvulva” 😳… …and hear Patty Lyons ask, “Am I allowed to say the word that rhymes with duck?” If you joined us for Season 7, thank you! And if not…here’s your best chance to make sure you don’t miss out on Season...

🧶 Sweaters, socks and freebies oh my
Paper clips. Safety pins. Yarn scraps. Dental floss.Ever used any of these things as a stitch marker in a pinch? I sure have.We’ve all found ourselves stuck without a stitch marker right when we need it, digging in the couch cushions while lifting up a silent prayer to the notions gods…Amiright? But every so often, it’s so nice to indulge in a really nice set of stitch markers. The lovely kind that makes you smile and feel special every time you complete a round…These handmade markers from Moondrake are just that kind. And we’d like to gift you a set,...

🧶 Knitting at 32,000 feet ✈️
Writing this newsletter at the ATL airport enroute from the beach to TUL. Right now, if it can’t be knit at 32,000 feet, it’s not going on my needles.I’ve always loved “airplane knitting” - the portable, meditative projects that don’t require a lot of concentration…(read: can be worked while sipping a Delta bloody mary and munching a tiny pack of almonds)Don’t get me wrong. I love a good yarny challenge and usually have a more complex colorwork project in the works. But these days, I spend so much time up in the air, it really makes no sense to cast...

🧶Making peace with your yarn
“Wispy Haze” shawl in custom colorway “Cayanne’s Wedding” This week I finished one of the most joyful projects I’ve ever made…But it didn’t start out that way.My niece Cayanne was married this weekend in the Bahamas.I wasn’t there, but I can imagine how stunning she looked walking along that Bahamian blue water, wrapping herself up in a shawl that’s a color somewhere between the ocean and her eyes.About six months ago, when I received the invite to Cayanne + Cory’s wedding, I was simultaneously overjoyed and very sad…Because unbeknownst to the happy couple, my husband and I had decided to divorce....