Something has been on my mind lately…

I’m curious, do you tend to knit + crochet alone, or in groups?

As I look back, almost my entire making life has been a pretty solitary endeavor.

I know, it’s surprising, considering that I’ve spent the last 20 years creating places and ways for Yarnies to connect…

I mean c’mon, our stated mission is to Knit the World Together!

So how is it that most of my knitting time – the thousands upon thousands of hours making things – has been spent mostly alone?

Well at first, I just didn’t know anyone who knit. I learned on a road trip in North Carolina and when I got back home to Tulsa, it was just me, my local big box craft store, and lots of Lion Brand Thick ‘N’ Quick. Then as a young mom, it was Debbie Bliss books. My first forays into a yarn shop was quick and mostly unfruitful, as I was eyed suspiciously and couldn’t find anything modern to make or any non-itchy yarn to make it with.

“OK Shelley,” you might be thinking. “But what about when you opened that first Loops store? Surely you had zillions of people to knit with all the time?”

But most yarn store owners will tell you…you start with that lovely vision in your head, and very quickly you realize there’s far too much to do. You can try and sit down with everyone and stitch along, but you’ll be jumping out of that seat to tend to something that needs tending within moments.

It’s not unlike living at the beach…you’re watching everyone vacation, but there’s still work to be done 😎

And then these last few years, after moving cross-country, I’ve made some great friends in Florida, but all of my yarning still happens alone.

All of this is why I am so super freaking excited about the global response to our first-ever Big Knit Stars Meet-Up.

The first time I saw this map I started jumping up and down, thinking about all of these Yarnies connecting all over the world in real life! And all of the Stars who’ve jumped in to host their own events without even being asked! It’s seriously brought me tears of joy.

Season 10 Star Jen Geigley will be at Black Sheep Craft Shop in Des Moines, Iowa, along with shop owner Nicole Nayima, Friday, July 18, 2025, 4-8pm. Click here to join that meet-up!

What started as a big experiment has is shaping up into something really special. And…

I’m going to an in-person event right up the road from me, organized by Sue Samuels. And yes, I’m bringing my yarn! I can’t tell you how jazzed I am to knit in community that day.

So even if you’re like me and cherish your alone-making time, I encourage you to check our Big Meet-Up Interactive Map for an event near you. They’ll be happening all weekend, July 18-20. And if there’s not an event near you, or you’re not able to get out that day, I hope you’ll join one of our two Online Meet-ups!

All the links are here on the Big Meet-Up Map page. And yes, it is all free. 💖

Hope to see you then!

xoxo,

How are we able to pull off a worldwide in-person meet-up without charging anything, you may wonder?

Well, first off, our amazing fans and Stars who’ve volunteered their time to put together so many events!

And secondly, our free events (and this weekly ad-free newsletter) are made possible by sales of our digital products, including our Premiere Seasons, past Seasons, Golden Tickets, and our brand-new Bundles 🙌

This week we’re highlighting our new Wellness Bundle that’s all about the pure joy of our craft, and how it supports our emotional health. The Bundle has 5 full-length Knit Stars Masterclasses at an extra-low price of just $147 (i.e. less than $30 per Masterclass). It includes:

• Tatiana Sarasa: Holistic Knitting and Natural Dyeing
• Jacqui Fink: Color + Emotional Health
• Felicity Ford: Interpreting Art + Sound Into Knitting
• Ann Shayne + Kay Gardiner: Secrets of Knitting Happiness
• Carson Demers: Knitting Ergonomics

Carson’s class alone is worth the price of the bundle in my opinion…because lifelong knitting health is truly priceless.

Shop the Wellness Bundle here.

And it’s that special time of the month again…it’s Golden Hour! For 24 hours once a month, we put our coveted Golden Ticket on sale. You get instant access to all 9 previous Seasons of Knit Stars, plus you become an instant All Star with access to the All Star vault and all the other associated benefits.

Shop the Golden Ticket on sale here.

Proud mama bear moment…my daughter Mallory has published her first pattern on Ravelry! 🎉

The Effortless Cloud Cardigan by Mallory Brander is for sale here. It’s an ultra-simple, on-trend, bottom-up cardigan with full sleeves and a breezy vibe. Perfect for your first garment, or as a meditative knit that will become a quick wardrobe staple.

A big thank-you to Mallory’s testers, including Rose, one of our amazing Star Guides!

My version, in colorway Ocean, is almost done…just a few more sessions on sleeve island and it’ll be ready for prime time.

Here’s my Effortless Cloud Cardigan in color “Ocean,” almost done – I’ve been working on it this week on-set with London Kaye, filming Season 10 in LA!

And to celebrate the pattern release, Rachelle from Moondrake Co has dyed up 4 exclusive colorways of her “Arupaca” base (328 yards, 75% brushed baby suri alpaca/25% mulberry silk – it’s giving the mohair look but no mohair since Mallory and I are both allergic).

You can pre-order the yarn here. It will be dyed to order and ship in 2-4 weeks

Oh, and if you’d like to add buttons to your cardi (or you just love discovering new button makers) check out Haulin’ Hoof Farms on Instagram. Rachelle clued me into them, and they have some really innovative designs. 💕

Chicken Pizza Crust

So this is a weird one, but if you’re trying to get more protein into your diet, it’s kinda genius. I made this pizza with a surprise ingredient in the crust – ground chicken! It was shockingly delicious, and so satisfying. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it (unless you’re vegan, and if so I understand 🥰)

Ingredients:  

• 1 pound ground chicken
• 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Kosher salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup marinara or pizza sauce
• 4 ounce fresh mozzarella cheese
• 1 large tomato, sliced
• Fresh basil leaves
• other toppings of your choice

Instructions:

1. Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix together ground chicken, eggs, parmesan, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
3. Transfer the chicken mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and press it into a thin, even circle or rectangle.
4. Pop it in the oven for 25 minutes, or until golden and firm. Let it rest for 5 minutes to set.
5. Crank the oven up to 425°F (220°C). Spread on your favorite pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings.
6. Bake for another 10 minutes, until the cheese is melty and bubbly.
7. Let it cool slightly, then dig in and enjoy every crispy, cheesy bite!