It all started 18 years ago this week, with a dream and an idea.

A dream to build a more modern, friendlier yarn shop.

And an idea to build a whole wall of yarn where you could find a great project, fast.

Last night we debuted our 35th Hot Loops Wall. And thanks to the modern magic of zoom, we had more than 1,000 yarn lovers around the world online to celebrate (and shop!) together.

Gaye Glasspie @ggmadeit flew in to host, alongside our featured dyer, Rachelle of Moondrake Co. Throughout the event, several of the designers of our chosen patterns made surprise appearances, too – sharing their fascinating “yarnstories” and the inspiration for their designs.

As you can imagine, these Hot Loops Walls are a true labor of love that take a village to pull off! Huge kudos and thanks go to Kate and Beth from the Knit Stars team for leading the project from the original, desert-inspired color mood board, all the way through to the 12 gorgeous pieces knit and crocheted with love by our team members.

Also a shout-out to our gorgeous models, my friends Hoa and Ayan. In addition to being gorgeous, they are both badass tennis players and accomplished professionals. Now without further ado…I present to you the projects of the 2023 Hot Loops Wall. Let’s start with the sweaters, shall we?

Note about shopping:  If your selected colorway is sold out, you have the option to order individual skeins as a pre-order. Rachelle of Moondrake Co. will be dyeing additional skeins for us which will arrive at the Flagship Store in late June and will be promptly shipped to you. You can find the “pre-order” option in the original listings below.

“Pappus Pullover” by Midori Hirose @midori_hirose_knit

With on-trend puffy elbow or 3/4 sleeves and a boxy fit, the Pappus Pullover is a quick and light-as-a-feather knit that works up quickly into an airy fabric on size US 10 (6mm) needles.

We made our Pappus with just 2 skeins of Rachelle’s hottest new fiber base called Fuwa Fuwa – named for the fluffy soufflé pancakes from Japan. It’s a very lofty, soft blend of 70% brushed cashmere and 30% superwash merino, dyed in Rachelle’s beautiful colorways created for this collection.

Shop for your own Pappus Pullover here.

“Frequency Sweater” by Tina Tse @tina.say.knits

You’ll rake in the compliments wearing this fingering weight version of Tina’s popular Wavelength sweater.

We made ours in Moondrake Merino Linen, the #1 seller from Rachelle’s fiber lineup and our favorite year-round yarn. It’s a soft single ply blend of 90% superwash merino and 10% linen, which gives the yarn a textured finish and subtle drape. When dyed with acid dyes, the linen resists the dye and remains white, producing a halo of linen fibers.

“Frequency” can be knit with short or long sleeves and is knit from the top-down on size US 4 (3.5mm) needles.

Why did Season 5 Knit Star Tina Tse name the sweater Frequency?

“From Wavelength, someone saw the design and thought it looked like sound waves, sound waves for our voices. Everyone has a voice, big or small, and every voice has value and how we use it is important. Wavelength is used to measure the length of sound waves while frequency is used to measure the recurrence of sound waves. One definition of frequency is “the number of cycles per unit time of a wave, like the number of times a colorwork pattern repeats within the stitch amount – perfect for a stranded colorwork sweater!”

Shop for your Frequency here.

Dawning Top by Ainur Berkimbayeva was inspired by the sense of renewal and new beginnings that comes with the season of spring as well as the summer mornings. The spokes radiating from the neck symbolize sun rays, and the little eyelets are like the dew you see on fresh grass when you go outside, right when the sun is coming up. 

You will work this halter top by Ainur Berkimbayeva from the top-down. First, you will work the neckband in the round, then separate the front and back to work them flat to the underarm, and then join the front and back to work the body in the round.

We made our version using our own Plant-Based Princess yarn from the Loops Luxe line. This has become a bit of a cult favorite with our team and our customers, so we brought in 3 new colors for this Wall! It’s a sleek, silky-soft, sportweight blend of 70% Tanguis Cotton, 20% Bamboo and 10% Hemp. And the price is great for the luxury and yardage!

Click here to choose your colors for your own Dawning top.

“Elton Pullover” by Joji Locatelli @jojilocat

Alternating bands of Fuwa Fuwa and Merino Linen elevate this simple and easy-to-knit pullover by the beloved Joji into a luxurious wardrobe staple.

Elton has a recommended positive ease of 16 in (40cm) and is available in finished bust sizes of 44 – 80 inches, so you’ll need just 2-4 skeins each of Fuwa Fuwa and Merino Linen.

Choose your colors here.

Willa by This.Bird.Knits @this.bird.knits

This simple top is knit in the round from the top down. Short rows are worked across the back for slight shaping. There is a simple lace motif around the yoke. After the yoke is knit, sleeve stitches are put on hold to be picked up and finished with a simple garter stripe edge.

Did we say simple??!

Willa works up quickly on size US 7 & 8 needles for light and airy texture. You just need 2-3 skeins of Fuwa Fuwa to make it your own!

Shop Willa here.

“Zig-Zag-Zummer” by Nomad Stitches @nomadstitches

The Zig-Zag-Zummer is a versatile beginner crochet top with simple construction, very few seams and a filet crochet design at the bottom.

You can make it as long or short as desired and wear the lower V-neck at the back or front. An easy-breezy springtime project – made even better in our own Plant-Based Princess yarn.

With recommended positive ease of 1-3 in (3-8cm) and available in finished bust sizes of 30-63.5” – you’ll need just 2-4 skeins of Plant Based Princess to complete your cropped top and a size D-3mm hook.

Now on to the accessories!

We’ve taken one of our most beloved original patterns and created a faded version! You’ll hold two strands of Merino Linen throughout, and then do the fun (addictive) self-fringing at the end.

Choose any 3 colors of Merino Linen here for your own Fringeworthy.

The pattern is free!

“The Frank Shawl” by Joji Locatelli @jojilocat

Inspired by the work of artist Frank Stella, Joji created this show-stopping shawl which is constructed as three triangular sections joined together when working the last triangle. Four contrasting colorways accentuate the geometric angles and the yarnovers allow light to dance merrily through the fabric.

Knit on size US 5 (3.75mm) needles, Janet worked her shawl with two skeins of and one skein each of colorways Espresso, Sand, Blush and Desert Jasper (total of 5 skeins).

Pick up your Frank Shawl yarn here.

“Celina Shawl” by Ambah O’Brien @ambahobrien

Knit from tip to tip with an entertaining combination of stripes and lace and slip stitches for texture, Celina is sooo much fun to knit! Worked with three colors of uber-popular Moondrake Merino Linen on size US 5 needles, you won’t want to put it down in anticipation of what’s coming up next!

The bias shaping creates a wearable shallow triangular shape with a wingspan of 128 in (320cm) and a depth of 19 in (47.5cm).

Shop the Celina Shawl kit here.

Crochet bags are everywhere this season. Why not take it up a notch and make your own?

In the bag you can fit the most necessary items – phone, keys, money and at least one project!

This bag is made in the beautiful crochet hosta pattern using front/back post dc. It has a round bottom and is made in one piece.

In the pattern by Sidsel Sangild (@sidselsangild) you’ll find written instructions and a chart, and the designer has videos for the stitches on their Youtube channel.

Pick up the 4 skeins of Plant-Based Princess yarn to make your Hosta bag here.

“Good Vibrations Hat” by Jeannette Bøgelund Bentzen @aircrochet

Helloooo Summer! This adorable hat works up super-quick. And fair warning – all of your family and friends will want one!

Crocheted firmly with a D-3mm hook to provide the necessary structure, the hat pattern has sizing to fit older children through adults. Your kit includes 1 skein each of two color Plant-Based Princess yarn – enough to complete the largest size hat.

Get your kit here and let the good vibes begin!

My New Favorite Way to Eat Eggs!

Where has this super-simple hack been all my life?

My new favorite way to eat eggs is over a simple veggie hash. When roasting veggies for dinner, simply make more than you need. Any firm veggies are great! For this hash we used:

• 1 sweet potato, sliced in rounds then cut in half
• 1 Onion, cut into thin wedges
• 1 bunch Broccoli, cut into florets

We tossed it all with olive oil, salt and pepper and roasted at 425° for about 30 minutes (we added the broccoli at the 15 minute mark). It was plenty for dinner for 2 along with a grilled protein.

Then the next morning, we took the leftover veggies and sauteed them in a tiny bit of oil to get them hot. Cooked eggs to our liking and tossed them on the hash, topped with a bit of our favorite hot sauce. BOOM a fast, high-protein, flavor-packed breakfast that would be great as breakfast-for-dinner as well.