🧶The joy of the shift

Ghost Ranch Hat by Andrea Mowry, made by Sunnie. You need 1 skein Spincycle Dyed in the Wool + 1 skein Rowan Felted Tweed.

Raise your hand if you remember your first skein of color-changing yarn!✋

In the early days of Loops, it was Noro Kureyon. The yarn was scratchy AF, but you didn’t care…

Because the way the colors slowly melted into one another was pure, unadulterated magic. 

Then came a slew of copycats, proliferating on craft store shelves…

And then, along came Spincycle.

These folks broke the mold with truly innovative yarn: slow color changes, super softness, and the look of a handspun.

No wonder all the top designers went wild!

This week, Andrea Mowry released Shiftigan Cardigan, the latest in her popular Shifty series featuring Spincycle yarns.

Sunnie was lucky enough to be a test knitter! She’s almost finished, and grabbed these shots of her WIP.

Photo courtesy of Andrea Mowry via Ravelry 

Sunnie said, “Our Knit Stars exclusive color, “Starstruck” makes the BEST main color for this sweater! Would work great for the original Shifty pullover, too!”

You can shop “Starstruck” plus all our other colors for this sweater here.

Not sure if it’s the full moon or what, but this week, I’m feeling a bit of a shift myself…

You, too?

So I cast on the first of my “pick 6” for 2023: A “Trinigan” by - guess who? - Andrea Mowry!

Photo courtesy of Andrea Mowry via Ravelry

I’m using “Starstruck” colorway in the worsted-weight Spincycle “Dream State,” contrasted with LolaBean Cool Beans Worsted in “Birthday Suit.” I’m already addicted to the ultra-subtle color changes and easy slip stitch pattern. Soooooo soothing!

In a completely serendipitous coincidence, our “Starstruck” color of Dream State pairs perfectly with all 5 of our Cool Beans Worsted colors for your own Trinigan! Pick your favorite, cast on and go!

And because when it comes to Spincycle, we can’t stop won’t stop…

Here are 4 more project ideas to consider casting on.

Photo courtesy of Stephen West via Ravelry

“Cabled Trellis Socks” is a brand-new sock pattern from Stephen West. They’re knit top down in the round with a bold slip-stitch cable. You need one skein of Spincycle Dyed in the Wool plus a solid contrast skein of sock yarn like La Bien Aimée Cashmerino. 

(Hint: “Hegelia,” “Yellow Brick Road” and “Direwolf” Cashmerino colors all contrast beautifully with our Spincycle “Stardust” color!)

Photo courtesy of Heidi May via Ravelry.

“Halton Wrap” by Heidi May is just calling out to be crocheted in Spincycle + our Urth “Sweet 16” Non-Superwash. This is quite possibly the bunny-softest yarn in our whole store right now, and we have a perfect range of neutrals to pair with your Spincycle. Plus it’s exclusive to Knit Stars!

Try “Crosby” and “Soot” paired with Spincycle Dyed in the Wool in “Stardust.” You’ll need 2 skeins of 2 colors “Sweet 16” yarn plus 2 skeins of Spincycle, and a size F hook.

“Stranded” by Julie Weisenberger uses a simple but genius technique to combine a bulky yarn with a finer one. It works up really fast and the finished piece always gets lots of compliments!

Shop our “Stranded” kits here.

Another big shift that’s on the horizon for us is the introduction of a whole new thing…not just for us, but for the yarn universe.

It’s called Knit Stars Yarniverse.

It’s been an idea in the back of my mind for many years. How could we make the magic of Knit Stars Masterclasses more accessible to more folks, year-round? 

And then when the pandemic left us all feeling so disconnected, we decided it was time. 

Time for the next step in our mission to knit - and crochet - the world together.

Imagine a comfy couch big enough for all the world’s yarn lovers to come together around this passion we all share…

Imagine a single point of curation, where you can stop scrolling and surfing and just show up, knowing you’ll be connecting in a whole new way with all of the world’s top and up-and-coming Stars, Star Makers and Rising Stars…

That’s the Yarniverse. And there’s nothing quite like it in the world.

Now through March, we’ll be in a Yarniverse pilot program with our Club members and Masterclass All Stars. If that’s you…check your Knit Stars portal to see we’ve gifted it to you. 👀

So, what shifts are happening in your own creative life? I’d love to know. Drop me a line at hello@knitstars.com or tag me on Instagram @knitstars 

xoxo,
Shelley

Braised chicken thighs from thesophisticatedcaveman.com

Braised Chicken Thighs with Leeks and Celery Root

This past Sunday we had a whole day free to cook, and Hot Luke had 2 cravings: Celery root and something sweet. So we whipped up this Braised Chicken Thigh dish he found on TheSophisticatedCaveman.com. An hour in the oven gave me lots of time to knit on my Trinigan swatch! 

The addition of nutmeg, leeks and the humble celery root made a flavorful, filling, low-carb one pan meal. Then we restored our carb count with my homemade apple pie (my grandmother’s recipe, but with a crumble topping I found online). Delish! 

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 1 large leek sliced
• 6 ounces cremini mushrooms sliced
• 3 garlic cloves sliced
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 pound celery root cubed
• 1 large carrot sliced into rounds
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1 lemon thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
• coarse sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large, oven-proof skillet over medium high heat. Place the chicken thighs in the skillet, skin-side down, and cook undisturbed until the skin is brown and crispy, about 8 minutes.
4. Flip the chicken over and cook on the other side for another 3-4 minutes, then transfer to a plate.
5. Add the leek, mushrooms, and garlic to the skillet. Cook until the leek is tender, about 4-5 minutes.
6. Pour in the vinegar and scrape up any browned bits off the bottom of the pan.
7. Stir in the celery root, carrots, thyme, and nutmeg, then pour in the chicken stock. Nestle the chicken thighs back into the skillet and pour in any accumulated juices from the plate.
8. Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook for 1 hour.
9. Stir in the lemon slices and parsley and serve.

Recipe as made by Shelley and “Luke”