š§¶The gift of a lifeline
![š§¶The gift of a lifeline](http://loopslove.com/cdn/shop/articles/190119_60_600x600_84aa9351-3436-41a6-af9f-6866cba0f94d_{width}x.webp?v=1670950445)
Isnāt it interesting how much beginners can teachĀ us?
Iām reading Michelle Obamaās newest book, āThe Light We Carry.ā
Or to be more specificā¦Iām listening to her read the book on my morning walks, then running back home to highlight my hard copy.
Even if she didnāt talk about knitting and how it helped her through pandemic depressionā¦I would still love this book.
But she does!Ā She talks about knitting on Chapter 1, page 1, and dedicates a whole chapter to her experience (!!!)
And whatās even cooler, for all these years Iāve tried to explain to people what happened in my 16-year-old brain on that fateful day so long ago, when my hands magically made my first stitchesā¦
Iāve never quite been able to put words to the feeling. And then Michelle does it, right there on page 34.
She says how she tried to learn from books, but had a hard time translating the diagrams to her hands. So she moved to YouTube and encountered the āoceanā of videos thereā¦
āMy hands followed their handsā she writes, āAnd after a time, something interesting started to happen. My focus narrowed; my mind felt a little splash of ease.ā
Knitting ābuckled my churning brain into the back seat and allowed my hands to drive the car for a while. It detoured me away from my anxiety, just enough to provide some relief.ā
Whoa.Ā It was like she was talking directly to 16-year-old me.
Maybe this resonates for you too?
And maybe you know an anxious 16-year-old or 61-year-old who could use a splash of that same relief?
If so, I encourage - no, I urge you - to considerĀ giving the gift of knittingĀ this year. So many people are feeling disconnected and overwhelmed from the pandemic. They need something āsmallā and do-able to focus on.
As you and I both know, knitting is so much more than sticks and string. It is a lifelong lifeline.
xoxo
Shelley
As you know, weāre on a mission to Knit the World Together. And that means making sure beginner yarnies feel supported and connected to a other yarnies from their very first stitch.
Another thing that struck me in reading Mrs. Obamaās new book is how she began her journey in isolation. First, ordering yarn and a book online for her first attempt. Then turning to YouTube for attempt #2. Moving on to other projects and only then discovering the global communityā¦
When youĀ give the giftĀ of knitting, we want to be sure your recipient is set up for success and really feels the love.
So weāve put together these āAll In Oneā kits that have everything they need to succeed:
- 3 skeins Loops Luxe luxury alpaca/silk yarn (choice of 4 colors)
- 4 easy, chic beginner patterns they can choose from
- All the tools theyāll need - needles, darning needles, scissors and an extra-special leatherette tape measure
- A commemorative Loops bag to store and carry their project everywhere
- Access to step-by-step tutorial videos (no struggling with diagrams or scouring YouTube!)
- The support of the amazing Knit Stars team if they get stuck
- A link to join our free Knit the World Together Facebook group for an extra safety net of support and community
And just for funā¦
This week weāve put the kits on sale at an introductory price of $50, plus including a hard copy of my bookĀ Move the NeedleĀ and a surprise enamel pin. (Total value $100) š
Pick up your kits here.
P.S. Maybe if you gift them to enough peopleā¦youāll have your own new knitting club! šÆāāļø
Donāt you just love when things are crystal clear?
It's especially helpful when you're trying to track down that certain size of stitch marker, your swanky measuring tape, or your airplane-safe scissors!
Lucky for you, weāve put it all together in our new Knit Stars Notions kit.
These make a great gift to yourself, and great stocking stuffers for friends.
Get yours here.
(These are even better when you add aĀ Knit Stars gift card, hint hint!)
Thanks to everyone who wrote in to say how much they love Ross Taylorās new Hip Nā Slip Hat design we featured in last weekās newsletter!
We were curious about the fingering-weight marled version Ross alluded to on his Ravelry pageā¦
And then voilĆ”! Up pops Ross on an Insta reel, modeling this new version! šŖ
All you need is 1 main-color skein plus 3 minis to make your own marled version. Any 4 colors will work - even if theyāre wildly different!
Weāve put together some inspo palettes for you below.Ā
To create your own, you can shop our hugeĀ Twisted Ambitions trunk show, all hand-dyed byĀ Ross, either in-store or online here.
PhotoĀ courtesyĀ of Halfbakedharvest.com
Coconut Chicken Meatball Curry with Rice Noodles
Did you know that lately, me and my š„° have been testing out recipes each week in our tiny kitchen-slash-living-room of our teensy cottage on the river? Itās true! I know everyone is super busy these days, so I want to make sure you have at least one quick-and-easy dinner you can make each week, trusting it will be delicious and allow you some extra knitting time, too! And believe me, if we can make it in our kitchen with next to no counter space, no dishwasher or disposalā¦so can you!
This weekās recipe is from Half-Baked Harvest and comes together with just 20 minutes of prep and a few more minutes to simmer and assemble. Makes great leftovers too!
TIP: Be sure youāre following usĀ @knitstarsĀ on Instagram to see our Sunday Supper video reels in action!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken, pork or turkey
- 4 green onions, chopped
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- kosher salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil or extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 orange bell pepper, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/4 cup Thai red curry paste
- 1 can (13.5 ounce) full fat coconut milk
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 cups yellow corn
- 8 ounces rice noodles
- juice and zest from 1/2 a lime
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro and basil
Instructions
- Add the chicken, green onions, Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of pepper to a bowl. Mix until just combined. Coat your hands with a bit of oil, and roll the meat into tablespoon-size balls (will make 15-20 meatballs).
- Heat the sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meatballs and sear until crisp, about 4-5 minutes, turning them 2-3 times. Transfer everything to a plate.
- To the skillet, add the onions and bell peppers. Cook until softened, 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the garlic, ginger, and curry paste. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the broth, coconut milk, tamari, honey, and peanut butter. Stir to combine. Add the corn and meatballs and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cilantro and basil.
- Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to package directions.
- Divide the noodles between bowls and ladle the curry over. Top each bowl as desired with basil, cilantro, lime juice, and sesame seeds.
Recipe as made by Shelley
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