Ambah O’Brien from Knit Stars Season 6 shows you 9 ways to wear a shawl.

This year I’m resolving… to Wear The Damn Knits. 👊🏽

Tell me if this sounds familiar…

I’ve got a closet-full of handmakes. Sweaters, cardis, shawls, scarves, hats out the wazoo…

And still I go around most days in leggings and a t-shirt. 😳

You, too?

Often I think, “I should put on a shawl.” But then I’m stumped on how to style it…

That’s why I was so inspired with Ambah O’Brien’s styling tips in Knit Stars Season 6. Especially the shawl cuff idea!

Ambah’s 9 simple tips for styling a bias rectangle shawl is this week’s free Knit Stars tip.

Click here to watch.

(I’m bookmarking it, for the days I find myself in a style slump!)

P.S. Looking to add a Jul leather cuff to your collection? Click here.

Rachelle, owner of Moondrake Co.

Have you met Rachelle Dickey, owner of Moondrake hand-dyed yarn company? If not, let me introduce you…

A former Canadian now living a creative life in Oklahoma, Rachelle was partnered with Ambah O’Brien for her Knit Stars Season 6 project, the “Knit Love Wrap.”

We sat down for a Q+A with Rachelle so you could get to know a little more about this fashion-design-graduate-turned indie dyer!

To celebrate the opening of our Knit Stars Flagship Store, Rachelle dyed an exclusive collection she calls “The Moon to My Stars.”

There are 15 exclusive colors of Moondrake’s popular, luxurious Merino/Cashmere/Nylon fingering-weight, along with 5 dreamy colors of Suri Cloud Lace. The Suri colors are each named for ground-breaking female astronauts ✨

Rachelle grouped the yarns into five amazing fade sets, and we’ve curated four project ideas to inspire you to cast on…

Project Idea #1: “Breeze Ruana” by Ksenia Naidyon is a geometric shawl that sits nicely on the shoulders for added warmth as the seasons change. Add optional ties or an i-cord belt for more waist shaping. Mix and match 3 total skeins of Moondrake MCN or Suri Cloud (one skein of each of three colors) for chest size 32”…4 total skeins for sizes 32-52″ …and 5 skeins for 52-62″.

Mix and match any 3 Moondrake skeins to make this Ruana.

Shop the “Moon to My Stars” collection here.

Project Idea #2: “The Snuggle is Real” reversible cowl by Maxim Cyr. Bekah made this ultra-squishy cowl with two skeins of Moondrake MCN + one skein of Suri Cloud. We can’t stop snuggling this one!

Project Idea #3: “Grevillea” Shawl by Ambah O’Brien is an airy, asymmetrical triangle shawl named for a flower that’s native to Australia. Choose 3 skeins of Moondrake yarn to make a single-color or multi-faded version.

Project Idea #4: “Habitation Throw” by Helen Stewart comes together with 4 skeins of Moondrake yarn. We love what Helen writes about the pattern on Ravelry: Habitation can be a verb, and there’s an important truth in that. Quite often, home is something we do. We feather our nests with soft, cosy things and decorate them with reminders of important moments in our lives. Making a home, making ourselves at home, is an ongoing, fluid, ever-shifting act.”

Shop Moondrake Merino/Cashmere/Nylon here.

Shop Moondrake Suri Cloud here.
All patterns available on Ravelry.

Are you registered for our first-ever Knit Stars Live event?

On January 22 from 1-4pm Central, Season 6 Knit Star Louis Boria (@brooklynboyknits) will give a live presentation at the Knit Stars Flagship Store. Just like a Knit Stars Masterclass, he’ll give an intimate talk, followed by a mini-workshop on colorwork, and a Q+A session.

There will even be an exclusive cowl kit to go with the workshop – and it coordinates with his “Eye of the Storm” hat design from Season 6!

You can attend in-person or over Zoom, and space is limited. Sign up here.

In keeping with self care month, why not treat yourself to some yarn jewelry to go with your project?

Moondrake also made these beautiful stitch marker sets to coordinate with the fades she created just for us. Pick yours up here.

(Birdie Parker stitch marker cases sold separately).

Loni is a Knit Stars “Star Guide” – a longtime Knit Stars Masterclass student + Knit Stars Club member who helps encourage and inform her fellow members.

“I love the sense of community within Knit Stars Club,” Loni writes. “There is always someone available to help with a knitting or crochet dilemma. Also, folks to cheer you on through your works in progress and celebrate those finished objects.  I also get the quarterly kits because I enjoy the element of surprise plus someone else has done the hard job of finding great patterns to go with specially dyed yarn for the Club.

This week, Loni shares one of her favorite “More Knitting, Less Cooking” recipes. She says it’s a great way to sneak more healthy greens into your diet!

Loni’s Favorite Beef and Spinach Tacos

• 1 ¼ lb ground beef
• 1 ½ T chili powder
• ½  tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp salt (or you can omit)
• ¼ tsp pepper (or you can omit)
• 1 (10 oz) pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
• 1 ¼ c prepared chunky salsa (I use Pace Medium)
• 1 c shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 taco shells (or you can use tortillas to make soft tacos)
• Sides: Sour Cream, Guacamole, Shredded Cheese, Taco Sauce, Tomatoes, Onions, Lettuce, black olives – basically whatever you like on your tacos.  

In a large skillet, brown ground beef until no longer pink. Drain off drippings. Season beef with chili powder, cumin, (salt and pepper, if used). Stir in salsa and spinach, heat through. (You can stir in the cheese now, but I prefer to use it on the top of the tacos.) Fill shells or tortillas and serve.

P.S. Knit Stars Club signups open again in February. Join the list here to get a reminder when they open!