KNIT STARS BLOG!

๐Ÿงถ Nothing in the way

The funniest thing happened this past week, and I think it might hold a valuable little nugget for you. I took Charles Barkley out on an early morning beach walk like we usually do. Itโ€™s his favorite part of the day. Dogs are allowed on the beach in the early morning and late afternoon. So…
Read More

๐ŸงถThe Sunday Yarn: Mattieโ€™s Story

Last week I talked about a rollercoaster of emotions, but that was nothing compared with this past week. Wherever you may live in the world, and whatever your beliefs, no doubt you have felt the intensity of emotions in the wake of the US elections. So in this weekโ€™s Sunday read, I would like to…
Read More

๐ŸงถCโ€™mon take a ride with me

On our first beach walk after flying back from Tulsa, Charlie just sat and watched the sunset. Howโ€™s your week been? For me itโ€™s been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. ๐ŸŽข The day after I flew back home to Florida from Rhinebeck, I hopped on another plane to Tulsa, where my dad had just…
Read More

๐ŸงถHow to take a compliment

My whole life, Iโ€™ve struggled with compliments. Not the giving part (I love love love making others feel good), but the accepting part. And to get really vulnerable for a minuteโ€ฆIโ€™ve spent a lot of time in therapy over the years trying to understand why. My therapist has a couple strong theories, going back to…
Read More

๐ŸงถThe most important one

This feels like the most important newsletter Iโ€™ve written all year. I really want to get it rightโ€ฆfor you to feel whatโ€™s in my heart and for it to touch your own heart, deeply. So here goesโ€ฆ (deep breath)… This past week I met with some dear friends from around the world. We are a…
Read More

๐ŸงถThe no that launched thousands of yeses

Pull up a chair and get comfy, because this week I have a little longer yarn that Iโ€™ve never shared publicly before. When was the last time you had to build up your courage for weeks to ask something of someone you really admired, and they told you no? Or even worse, just ignored you?…
Read More

๐ŸงถRevive your whole wardrobe

Happy Sunday! Is there one compliment you love getting more than any other kind? Over the past 9 years of producing Knit Stars Masterclasses, thereโ€™s one customer comment thatโ€™s my absolute favorite to readโ€ฆ โ€œThis workshop alone was worth the price of admission for the whole Season!โ€ And of course I feel that way about…
Read More

๐ŸงถIs this a “crazy” idea?

This week, letโ€™s talk a bit about โ€œcrazyโ€ ideas. Knit Stars Season 5 was the high Season of COVID. I had planned the ultimate travel bucket list year, with plans to film in Australia, Japan, Mallorca, Copenhagen and points all across North America. It all fell away in a heartbeat as all the countries closed.…
Read More

๐ŸงถJoin the inner circle

You know how last week I talked about dissolving the โ€œnotsโ€ in our knitting? Well this week, itโ€™s confession time. Because there was an insidious โ€œnotโ€ that ensnared my first couple decades as a maker. I was NOT going to touch circular knitting! I made dozens of adult and baby sweaters, all seamed. I was…
Read More

๐ŸงถGoodbye, nots!

Lately Iโ€™ve been doing some deep thinking – about knots. Youโ€™re a Yarnie, so you know the feeling. Youโ€™re flowing along in the zone on your project, and all of a sudden you hit a dreaded knot. You have to stop, decide whether it can be undone or cut, leaving two more ends to weave…
Read More

๐ŸงถYour next capsule wardrobe

Itโ€™s that time of year when my WIPs begin that eternal battle with one anotherโ€ฆ Crank out one more crochet crop for those last dog days of summerโ€ฆOr cast on a new knit sweater in fall hues??? Right now for me, the latter is winning out – especially after I took a peek at the…
Read More

๐ŸงถDo you wanna go faster? ๐ŸŽข

The year was circa 1978. It was my first time visiting Bellโ€™s Amusement Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was nervous to ride Zingo, the big wooden roller coaster. So I decided to work up my courage on an easier ride first. โ€œThe Himalayaโ€ was one of those rides where the cars fly around in a…
Read More

๐ŸงถA different kind of love story

Iโ€™ve been a dog lover for as long as I can remember. Our first pup as a young family was Lucy the Lhasa Apso. Longtime readers will remember my beloved Purl, who survived a horrific attack and went on to grace our home with so much love, wiggles and furry hugs, that before we knew…
Read More

๐ŸงถWhat a surprise!

Striking my best Olympic pose after finishing my new crochet top! Hey there, If youโ€™re like me, now that the Olympics is over, youโ€™re looking for your next escape. Iโ€™ve been thinking, and itโ€™s occurred to me that every Knit Stars Masterclass is like three of my favorite escapes, all rolled into one. Thereโ€™s the…
Read More

๐ŸงถTurn stash into kindness

Dear reader, this week Iโ€™d like to introduce you to a real life Soap Star. ๐Ÿคฉ Stacy Wiener is the founder of S.A.C.K. – Supporting A Community with Kindness. She was nominated by TWO of our Yarniverse members to be a Rising Star – and in the exact same month that I found out about…
Read More

๐Ÿงถ Get to know Emma

I first saw Emma Fassioโ€™s name many years ago, on a pattern my friend Gina Hills was working on. Many of you might remember Gina, a manager at our Loops stores for more than a decade. Gina was (still is) a style inspiration of mine, a big fan of iconic Italian fashion houses like Missoni.…
Read More

๐ŸงถCatching the Doodle bug

Jamie Lomax took up knitting in 2020 as a COVID hobby. She was working as a senior project manager for a large retail and food service company in Seattle at the time. โ€œWe all got sent home, and I was on Teams calls all day every day. I have ADHD so I was struggling to…
Read More

๐ŸงถSomething new is bloomingโ€ฆ

Happy Sunday, beautiful reader! Do you ever have those moments like I do, when youโ€™re scrolling social media, and an image makes you stop and audibly gasp – causing anyone else in your household to run in and see if youโ€™re ok? This past week I had one of those moments, and (after assuring said…
Read More

๐ŸงถSprinkle that stuff on everythingโ€ฆ

TW: Thisย weekโ€™sย newsletter includesย sensitive mental health topics. Sending all of our love our beautiful readers, family and friendsย โค๏ธ.ย  โ€œI had two options. I could either let it wreck me and disrupt my life, or I could inspire myself and others, share my story, and use it to help raise awareness.โ€ These are the wise words of…
Read More

๐ŸงถBack in the saddle

Hello dear reader, Howโ€™s it going in your creative world? These past few weeks have been even more whirlwind-y than usual for me, as Knit Stars Season 9 filming has kicked into high gear. I made a commitment to go to all the filmings this year, which means Iโ€™m up in the air, upside down,…
Read More

๐Ÿงถ Nothing in the way

The funniest thing happened this past week, and I think it might hold a valuable little nugget for you. I took Charles Barkley out on an early morning beach walk like we usually do. Itโ€™s his favorite part of the day. Dogs are allowed on the beach in the early morning and late afternoon. So…
Read More

๐ŸงถThe Sunday Yarn: Mattieโ€™s Story

Last week I talked about a rollercoaster of emotions, but that was nothing compared with this past week. Wherever you may live in the world, and whatever your beliefs, no doubt you have felt the intensity of emotions in the wake of the US elections. So in this weekโ€™s Sunday read, I would like to…
Read More

๐ŸงถCโ€™mon take a ride with me

On our first beach walk after flying back from Tulsa, Charlie just sat and watched the sunset. Howโ€™s your week been? For me itโ€™s been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. ๐ŸŽข The day after I flew back home to Florida from Rhinebeck, I hopped on another plane to Tulsa, where my dad had just…
Read More

๐ŸงถHow to take a compliment

My whole life, Iโ€™ve struggled with compliments. Not the giving part (I love love love making others feel good), but the accepting part. And to get really vulnerable for a minuteโ€ฆIโ€™ve spent a lot of time in therapy over the years trying to understand why. My therapist has a couple strong theories, going back to…
Read More

๐ŸงถThe most important one

This feels like the most important newsletter Iโ€™ve written all year. I really want to get it rightโ€ฆfor you to feel whatโ€™s in my heart and for it to touch your own heart, deeply. So here goesโ€ฆ (deep breath)… This past week I met with some dear friends from around the world. We are a…
Read More

๐ŸงถThe no that launched thousands of yeses

Pull up a chair and get comfy, because this week I have a little longer yarn that Iโ€™ve never shared publicly before. When was the last time you had to build up your courage for weeks to ask something of someone you really admired, and they told you no? Or even worse, just ignored you?…
Read More

๐ŸงถRevive your whole wardrobe

Happy Sunday! Is there one compliment you love getting more than any other kind? Over the past 9 years of producing Knit Stars Masterclasses, thereโ€™s one customer comment thatโ€™s my absolute favorite to readโ€ฆ โ€œThis workshop alone was worth the price of admission for the whole Season!โ€ And of course I feel that way about…
Read More

๐ŸงถIs this a “crazy” idea?

This week, letโ€™s talk a bit about โ€œcrazyโ€ ideas. Knit Stars Season 5 was the high Season of COVID. I had planned the ultimate travel bucket list year, with plans to film in Australia, Japan, Mallorca, Copenhagen and points all across North America. It all fell away in a heartbeat as all the countries closed.…
Read More

๐ŸงถJoin the inner circle

You know how last week I talked about dissolving the โ€œnotsโ€ in our knitting? Well this week, itโ€™s confession time. Because there was an insidious โ€œnotโ€ that ensnared my first couple decades as a maker. I was NOT going to touch circular knitting! I made dozens of adult and baby sweaters, all seamed. I was…
Read More

๐ŸงถGoodbye, nots!

Lately Iโ€™ve been doing some deep thinking – about knots. Youโ€™re a Yarnie, so you know the feeling. Youโ€™re flowing along in the zone on your project, and all of a sudden you hit a dreaded knot. You have to stop, decide whether it can be undone or cut, leaving two more ends to weave…
Read More

๐ŸงถYour next capsule wardrobe

Itโ€™s that time of year when my WIPs begin that eternal battle with one anotherโ€ฆ Crank out one more crochet crop for those last dog days of summerโ€ฆOr cast on a new knit sweater in fall hues??? Right now for me, the latter is winning out – especially after I took a peek at the…
Read More

๐ŸงถDo you wanna go faster? ๐ŸŽข

The year was circa 1978. It was my first time visiting Bellโ€™s Amusement Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was nervous to ride Zingo, the big wooden roller coaster. So I decided to work up my courage on an easier ride first. โ€œThe Himalayaโ€ was one of those rides where the cars fly around in a…
Read More

๐ŸงถA different kind of love story

Iโ€™ve been a dog lover for as long as I can remember. Our first pup as a young family was Lucy the Lhasa Apso. Longtime readers will remember my beloved Purl, who survived a horrific attack and went on to grace our home with so much love, wiggles and furry hugs, that before we knew…
Read More

๐ŸงถWhat a surprise!

Striking my best Olympic pose after finishing my new crochet top! Hey there, If youโ€™re like me, now that the Olympics is over, youโ€™re looking for your next escape. Iโ€™ve been thinking, and itโ€™s occurred to me that every Knit Stars Masterclass is like three of my favorite escapes, all rolled into one. Thereโ€™s the…
Read More

๐ŸงถTurn stash into kindness

Dear reader, this week Iโ€™d like to introduce you to a real life Soap Star. ๐Ÿคฉ Stacy Wiener is the founder of S.A.C.K. – Supporting A Community with Kindness. She was nominated by TWO of our Yarniverse members to be a Rising Star – and in the exact same month that I found out about…
Read More

๐Ÿงถ Get to know Emma

I first saw Emma Fassioโ€™s name many years ago, on a pattern my friend Gina Hills was working on. Many of you might remember Gina, a manager at our Loops stores for more than a decade. Gina was (still is) a style inspiration of mine, a big fan of iconic Italian fashion houses like Missoni.…
Read More

๐ŸงถCatching the Doodle bug

Jamie Lomax took up knitting in 2020 as a COVID hobby. She was working as a senior project manager for a large retail and food service company in Seattle at the time. โ€œWe all got sent home, and I was on Teams calls all day every day. I have ADHD so I was struggling to…
Read More

๐ŸงถSomething new is bloomingโ€ฆ

Happy Sunday, beautiful reader! Do you ever have those moments like I do, when youโ€™re scrolling social media, and an image makes you stop and audibly gasp – causing anyone else in your household to run in and see if youโ€™re ok? This past week I had one of those moments, and (after assuring said…
Read More

๐ŸงถSprinkle that stuff on everythingโ€ฆ

TW: Thisย weekโ€™sย newsletter includesย sensitive mental health topics. Sending all of our love our beautiful readers, family and friendsย โค๏ธ.ย  โ€œI had two options. I could either let it wreck me and disrupt my life, or I could inspire myself and others, share my story, and use it to help raise awareness.โ€ These are the wise words of…
Read More

๐ŸงถBack in the saddle

Hello dear reader, Howโ€™s it going in your creative world? These past few weeks have been even more whirlwind-y than usual for me, as Knit Stars Season 9 filming has kicked into high gear. I made a commitment to go to all the filmings this year, which means Iโ€™m up in the air, upside down,…
Read More

Posts

[SCOOP] It’s not selfish if it’s yarn ๐Ÿ˜‰

As we reach the end of “selfish knitting month” we have one moreย squishy-soft, instant gratification project to share, that you’ll probablyย want to keep forย yourself…. This cowl has been a favorite at Loops. We love the combination of that speckled robin’s egg blue and mustard gold. And these bulky fisherman’s ribs stand up and say, “I’m…
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[SCOOP] Orange you glad…? ๐ŸŠ

A few months ago, Shelley and her friend, Knit Star Gaye “GG” Glasspie, were chatting about their mutual love of cashmere – specifically, Bespoke 100% Cashmere from Clinton Hill Cashmere! GG was lamenting that Bespoke Cashmere wasn’t yet available in her favorite color… ๐Ÿงก๐Ÿงก๐Ÿงก๐Ÿงก Orange! ๐Ÿงก๐Ÿงก๐Ÿงก๐Ÿงก Well, Shelley loves a good surprise…so she called up…
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A Kit with Star Power! ๐ŸŒŸ

Six years ago, we started a little Club that’s become so much more than yarn… Itโ€™s literally a whole world of of support for your personal yarn journey – wherever you might be on the path. ๐ŸŒŽ ๐Ÿ’™ Daily connection and 24/7/365 encouragement fromย fiber friends around the world… Concierge support from your favorite local-turned-global yarn…
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The cashmere we waited a year for! ๐Ÿ˜…

We’ve been waiting almost a year for this luscious, luxury yarn from Malabrigo to arrive! “Caprino” is Spanish for “goat,” a nod to the 20% cashmere combined with 80% superfine merino that makes this yarn next-to-your-neck soft. Loretta made “Doo Wop” by Lisa Hannes using 2 skeins each of Natural, Plomo, and Matisse Blue on…
Read More

A Holiday Special Edition!!

In the midst of a very non-traditional Thanksgiving season, weโ€™d like to continue a beloved Loops traditionโ€ฆ The kinder, more relaxed Black Friday ๐Ÿ’ž It’s this simple: With any purchase of $50 or more fromย LoopsLove.comย or the Loops store, weโ€™ll include this super-comfy Knit the World Togetherโ„ข mask free โ€“ now through Tuesday, or while they…
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emPower People purple DK yarn

Join the emPower people project and knit, crochet or sew your purple bandana using DK-weight yarn! You need 225 yards of DK yarn and size 7 needles. Find all the info and download the free patterns atย this emPower People site.ย  Manos del Uruguay Serenafromย $ 16.99
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Welcome to Loops Town!

What to do, see, eat, and pack for your big visit to Tulsa. Youโ€™ve always dreamed of a trip to the land of Loopsโ€ฆhand-dyed fibers, exclusive patterns, and friendly faces as far as the eye can see! But can you make a weekend of it? You betcha! Tulsa is a booming city full of green,…
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Hot Loops Fall 2020

$ 25.00 (Register here!)ย  Join us for our signature virtual event, 7pm Friday, September 25th! We’ll reveal our 2020 Fall Hot Loops Wall, featuring one indie dyer, exclusive colorways…and theย projects we’ll be showcasing for these fabulous yarns will take your breath away! Each one is curated to the yarn, on trend and knit or crocheted…
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Let’s Unwind together… ๐Ÿ๏ธ

Anyone feel a little wound up these days? ๐ŸŒช Not sure about you, but a shawl called “Unwind” is exactly what we need right now! ๐Ÿคช Tracy Millar from the Grocery Girls podcast designed this top-down triangle shawl “to help you unwind from lifeโ€™s crazy days. It’s a relaxing and uncomplicated pattern repeating soothing and…
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Scoop: The shape-shifter ๐Ÿ’ก

Does your handknit wardrobe include a shape-shifter yet? Every knitter needs one. A piece that goes from shawl to cowl to poncho to sweater with a simple sleight of hand. Andrea Mowry’s Everyway Shawl is our dream shape-shifting piece…a quick-to-make exercise in movement and color that keeps your eyes moving across stripes and angles. ๐Ÿ’กDrape…
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Free yarn movies to watch this week ๐ŸŒŸ

The heart of the Loops mission is to spread joy and inspiration. We know that sharing smiles and fiber love can be a ray of hope shining though the clouds – and so we’re bringing it back… We are so proud of Knit Stars and what it has done to inspire and nurture knitters around…
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My get-through-this-together shawl ๐ŸŒˆ

This was my first COVID project, in the earliest days of the pandemic when my mind could only handle something super simple. It turned out to be the perfect choice – easy, mindless, meditative and colorful. Each time I pulled it out, it put a smile on my face. I bet it could do the…
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An almost-edible shawl debut ๐Ÿ˜‹๐Ÿ˜

With a background in painting, knitwear designer Ambah O’Brienย (shown above, left)ย has a passion for color and interesting design. Her designs are straightforward to make, size inclusive and oh-so-wearable! When not designing, Ambah can be found wandering about her vegetable garden, sewing, thrifting or going for a beach ramble on the coast in Southern Victoria, Australia.…
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Fresh scoop of freebies ๐Ÿจ

We love each and every Looper out there…๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ’™ Knitters that knit everyday. Knitters that knit when they can. Crocheters that always have a project on hand. And especially those of you that are dreaming of taking the next step. This Scoop’s for you! And because you deserve a treat, ALL of the patterns we’re sharing…
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A Constellation of Stars ๐Ÿ’ซ๐Ÿ’ซ๐Ÿ’ซ

What makes someone a Star? Hard work. Dedication. Curiosity. Leadership. Passion. A Star is someone who breaks new ground and then shows us how to shine. And when we all have a place to shine, we can light up the sky. Our gaze if fixed on a stunning collection of designers and artists coming together…
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Scoop Special Edition ๐Ÿ–ค๐Ÿ–ค๐Ÿ–ค

We all know there are much more important things happening in the world right now than yarn. We also know itโ€™s so important to continue to support independent makers – especially BIPOC – during this time. So, while we did postpone the Knit Stars Season 5 yarn sale by a week, itโ€™s happening โ€“ starting…
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We are all stitched together ๐Ÿ’™

If youโ€™ve had your head down knitting this week, and have missed the crucial conversation around George Floyd in your fiber community, please tune in, take it in, learn, and find a way to support.ย  If you’re not sure where or how to begin, here are some suggestions: This very simple but powerful infographic seriesย is…
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My dream yarn, your dream price ๐Ÿฅฐ

Dream a little dream today. You just never know when it will come true. When I started a little yarn store 15 years ago, I never dreamed that weโ€™d one day have our own yarn brand. Never imagined Iโ€™d journey up into the mountains of Peru, hang out with these fuzzy fellas at 15,000 feet,…
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Scoop: my wrinkled sweaters ๐Ÿ™ˆ

The wrinkles and little imperfections in these sweaters? Take them as aย very good sign. These are my 3 all-time favorite sweaters in my personal hand-knit wardrobe. One is at least 7 years old. I wear these All. The. Time. And they’re all made from the same yarn: “Sparrow” 100% linen (link) from Quince & Co.…
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Our anniversary gift to you ๐ŸŽ

Do you and your stash have a love-hate relationship? ๐Ÿ˜‡๐Ÿ˜ˆ Youโ€™re not alone! Now – with so many of us at home – is the perfect time to organize your stash and works in progress, and rediscover the treasures that are hiding within…โœจ This week, to celebrate Loops’ 15th Anniversary, I’m doing a series of…
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