The last couple weeks I had some extended time to myself for the first time in a couple of years. After two weeks of traveling around for work (from Florida to Texas for Luke’s job, then to Tulsa for mine), he was called back to Nacogdoches, TX for another unspecified length of time. Having slept…

There’s nothing quite like opening the box with the first printed copy of your very own book. It’s difficult to explain the swarm of emotions. Excitement and exhaustion. Relief and trepidation. Not unlike giving birth…you’re so proud of what you’ve made, and you’re holding your breath as you prepare for it to go out into…

Hello from Nacogdoches, Texas, a.k.a. “Nac!” 🤠 Yes, you read that right. After several idyllic months working from paradise in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, Hot Luke’s work has brought us to East Texas for a spell. It might be a week…or it might turn into a month or two…or longer. We got word of this…

Visible Mending, directed by Samantha Moore, © BFI / MediaActive Projects 2023 I first met Lorna Hamilton Brown during Knit Stars Season 6. Often when we film our Knit Stars Masterclasses, we’ll arrange for another expert to be present on set with the Star, to provide an extra set of eyes and to act as…

Happy New Year and a happy new newsletter look for you, ! As promised, we’ve re-thought and renamed the newsletter I’ve written every week for the past 18 years. We’ll still be doing what I love most: telling stories and sharing curated project ideas from across the yarn world. But as we shift our focus…

A Yarn Story in 3 Chapters Chapter 3 Dear faithful reader, Eighteen years ago I planted a seed…a humble little yarn store with a big dream. To honor the craft that’s given me so much joy, and to share that joy with other like-minded people. Like everything that grows, so much has evolved over those…

Today I’d like to introduce you to Alonso (the man, not the baby alpaca :)) Five years ago, I met Alonso in Arequipa, Peru, where we were filming what would become the first double-header workshop release of Knit Stars Masterclass Season 4. I first met Alonso briefly when we arrived for our first day of…

First, thank you for all of the kind responses to last week’s story about the fearless Corinne. I had so much fun putting that together, and am hoping to do more profiles like that in the future, so you can keep getting to know your amazing, fellow community members. And second, today I have a…

Corinne: “Hello?” Me: “Hi Corinne! Am I pronouncing your name right?” Corinne: “Yes. Wait…who is this. It sounds like…Shelley?” Me: (laughing) “It IS Shelley! How did you know?” Corinne: (laughing now too) “I was watching Ginnifer Goodwin’s workshop yesterday, and you talk a lot in it…so I recognized your voice! But why are you calling…

Hi from somewhere in Nebraska, where we celebrated Thanksgiving with Hot Luke’s extended fam. Dear reader, I hope this email finds you rested and relaxing after a busy week. A couple weeks ago, after a particularly challenging hot yoga session where I had been a bit disappointed in my balance and “performance” that day, my…

When Olga Buraya-Kefelian @olgajazzy was growing up in Belarus, she would save up money each month to buy a Cosmopolitan magazine. She and her mother, a seamstress, would pore over the pages together. They couldn’t afford to buy the clothes, but her mom would sew and Olga would knit. Then Olga married her enlisted spouse, and…

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had more hat-making mishaps than any other kind of yarn disaster. There was the time I didn’t swatch, and ended up with a hat so big it came down past my nose (remember Mushmouth from Fat Albert?) And the time I used the wrong yarn, so my brim…

“Chase your dreams and never give up! Be your true goofy, authentic self, imperfections and all, because our lives are too short and this life is filled with perfect imperfections.” These are the wise words of Ross Taylor, the featured dyer of the new Fall Hot Loops Wall. Just a few short years ago, Ross…

Have you ever had such a magical experience, you were afraid to share it, for fear the bubble might pop and you’d realize it was all a dream? That’s what my first Rhinebeck felt like. I’ve put off writing this week’s newsletter because I just wanted to swim in the magic a little bit longer.…

Can you believe it? It’s my first time. After 18 years in this amazing business…my very first Rhinebeck! So I’m writing your newsletter a couple days early this week, and it’ll be a bit shorter than usual since I’m busy packing (and freaking out a bit with all the excitement!) Before I forget, since I’m…

We all have our favorites. Each of us follows lots of different independent dyers and makers. Every day my feed is full of new colors and fibers, each handmade as a true (and often backbreaking) labor of love. Each with its own story of a beautiful, creative human who brought it to life. I try…

Apparently you Yarnies are into trivia! 😎 Last week’s Knit Stars Trivia was such a hit, we’re doing it again…this time with questions about our upcoming Masterclass Season 8 Premiere. This week’s winner will receive an updated “Nice Ice Baby” package of Season 8 exclusive yarns, kits and extras…including this new, commemorative Koigu Pencil Box…

     

This week, we’re winding down our sale on Knit Stars Masterclass Seasons 1-7… And I thought, let’s finish the sale on a fun note! So this is your chance to test your Knit Stars knowledge. ✨Knit Stars Trivia ✨ To enter, follow these simple steps: STEP 1: Hit reply to this email STEP 2: In…

Editors Note: To access Knit Stars Masterclass Seasons on sale (or join the waitlist for the next offering), go here. People often ask (especially during our sale weeks), “Shelley, what’s your favorite Knit Stars season?” It’s like asking me, “Which is your favorite child?”  So I thought it might be helpful, to those of you…