Nearly a decade ago, we designed a scarf that was so fast and easy, it was almost a cheat. A tiny rectangle with loooooong fringe that could be made in half an hour, start to finish.

We called it the Necks Big Thing (I know – it’s ok to groan at the dad joke) and it took off like wildfire.

Now here’s the brilliant thing we realized about this little powerhouse of a project…

It’s perfect for making brand-new knitters! 👶🏼

In 2-3 hours, a brand-newbie can:

• Learn to cast on
• Learn to knit, and make an all-knit Bit Part Scarf
• Learn to purl, and make an all-purl Bit Part Scarf
• Learn to alternate knit and purl, making a Seed Stitch Bit Part Scarf
• Learn to bind off, attach fringe and weave in ends

…and they’ll have 3 super-cute scarves to show for it!

As Yarnies, I see it as our shared responsibility to always be encouraging new knitters to embrace the craft.

So this week, we’re making the Bit Part Scarf pattern free here.

I encourage you to share the pattern (with maybe a link to our Knit Start beginner course) with all those friends of yours who are always talking about learning to knit “someday.” Especially younger folks.

And of course, enjoy Bit Part for your personal use too – it’s great for last-minute gifts and using up that superbulky yarn in your stash!

Our two favorite yarns for Bit Part are our Superloops and Malabrigo Rasta. You can shop the yarns here.

And speaking of Superloops…check out Trish modeling the Sunday Shrug she made in just a few hours using the Superloops yarn she won as a prize during a Yarniverse LIVE!

Awesome job and awesome photo, Trish! Thank you for sharing and tagging us @knitstars – we love love LOVE seeing everyone’s finished projects!! 🥰

And speaking of the Yarniverse…

Our first Yarniverse quarterly make-along kits are shipping out this week!

Each kit contains 3 colorways of yarn hand-dyed by Ross of Twisted Ambitions Fiber for Summer Lee’s sock pattern from Knit Stars Masterclass Season 7…plus a surprise goodie curated by Summer herself.

Here’s a sneaky peeky…

We’ll be kicking off the Yarniverse group make-along on April 20. It’s a great way to learn socks or grow your sock skills. And any sock yarn will work great!

The make-along is just one component of the Yarniverse – our latest innovation, created to give you the magic of the Masterclass experience all year-round.

To join the Yarniverse as a Founding Member, go here.

Recently a customer wrote in, in need of a quick baby blanket idea. Stephanie from the team suggested this pattern that really caught our eye – so I thought I’d share it with you.

“Corey” by Allison Green is a modern baby blanket worked in a simple slipped stitch. It’s shown in a gradient stripe, but I think it would be even more striking in simple black and white. All you need is 3 skeins each of 2 colors Berroco Ultra Wool Chunky and US 10.5 needles.

We’ve put kits together for you here.

xoxo,

 

Photo and recipe from simplysidedishes.com

Copy Cat Red Lobster Brussel Sprouts

Sherri here from the Knit Stars team! Lately, every time our family goes to Red Lobster, I upgrade one of my sides to the Crispy Brussel Sprouts. I don’t eat them at that sitting, but I box them up and take them home! I love them so much that I went on a hunt for a copycat recipe and viola! (These are seriously the best tasting brussel sprouts I’ve eaten ever. Yum!)

Ingredients

Brussel Sprouts

• 1 lb Brussel Sprouts
• 4 tbsp salted butter
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Crispy Onion Strips

Sauce

• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1.5 tsp ground ginger
• Red Pepper Flakes

Instructions

1. Combine sauce ingredients in a saucepan and cook until you bring it to a boil.
2. Stir constantly for a few minutes and remove from heat – let cool completely at room temperature (unless you need it faster, then put it in the fridge for about 20-30 minutes)
3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
4. Wash Brussel sprouts and cut them in half – pat dry
5. Melt butter and olive oil together and combine with salt and pepper
6. Toss with Brussel sprouts in a bowl and place on a baking sheet
7. Roast 35-40 minutes until crispy. Toss partway through.
8. Combine Brussel sprouts with the crispy onion strips and toss everything with the sauce.
9. Serve immediately