One of the greatest joys of this wild ride of a life that I’m on, this improbable thing I get to do for my “job,” is all of the fascinating, brilliant and creative people I get to spend time with on a deep and connective level.

All of the airports, all the logistics, all the time and preparation that goes into each filming trip simply falls away when at long last I get to sit down, face to face and get to know the person behind the pattern.

And every so often, I find myself sitting in the presence of an artist who’s doing something so different, so palpably fresh…with that rarest combination of energy and ease, focus and flow, so avant-garde that you can only call it…

Genius.

Genius is the word that kept bubbling up for me over and over, the more I got to know the designer – and more importantly, the human – that is Pope Vergara.

Pope, who is perhaps best known for her innovative use of beads in modern silhouettes, released a brioche design in 2021 called “Rockaria.” Her description of the pattern will give you a taste of what I’m talking about…

“My inspiration was born from listening to Electric Light Orchestra,” she writes. “I didn’t browse Pinterest, I didn’t know about mood boards; I simply listened to and felt the music.”

“As the music plays, its intensity shifts; I aim to capture the rhythms and repetitions it embodies. Furthermore, I seek to embody the essence of the song ‘Rockaria,’ which resonates deeply with me,” Pope continued.

“The song portrays a rocker who encounters a woman singing classical music, awed by her voice. He wishes to collaborate, but she hesitates, deeming herself unprepared. However, when they eventually join forces, they create something extraordinary.”

Pope says each of her designs is rooted in emotions. Each project becomes a process of whatever is moving her in that moment.

While we were in Santiago, she would occasionally pick up and knit on her latest design, “Broken Soul,” which has been part of her grief journey after the recent sudden and tragic death of two close family members.

Broken Soul, a design in progress.

Dragon Scales by Pope.

Another of her best-known designs, Dragon Scales, is inspired by dragons and the deep sensitivity hidden beneath their scales. She placed an openwork section across the heart to represent that even the most powerful creatures are vulnerable, too.

Pope wears her handmade creations all the time. She favors mohair for many of her designs, since it’s great for beading and is both lightweight and warm. In Santiago’s mountainous climate, temperatures can drop quickly when the sun goes down. She styles her pieces creatively and effortlessly, often choosing one of her favorite pairs of Vans sneakers from her collection.

Pope’s creations are beautiful in photographs, but exponentially more breathtaking in person. I found myself wanting to cast on every single one!

Leonora Cardigan by Pope. Photo credit: Diana Ascarrunz and PomPom Magazine.

Kaleidoscope Sweater by Pope.

Pope’s masterclass for Knit Stars Season 10 includes her newest design – a chic vest with beads, intarsia and wandering i-cords. Our first-ever Knit Stars course filmed in Spanish (with English subtitles), it will be a step-by-step adventure through a trio of techniques that can often intimidate knitters.

She delivers it all with warmth and a you-can-do-anything-you-put-your-mind-to spirit.

I wasn’t sure if it would be possible to fully capture the genius of Pope in a single workshop. That’s why I’m so grateful for the Knit Stars format, with its documentary component. It allows us to tell a story of the whole person – what inspires them, who they love, where they spend their free time and why they do what they do.

How else could you discover that Pope, her husband and their two kids love to “moto” (motocross) together?

And that Pope loves to moto because it’s completely different from knitting, takes her mind off work, and it’s always a joy and relief when she finishes a ride and can say, “I didn’t die today!” 😅

Pope helped me pick out beads and yarn for my own “Bee Vest” (see Project Watch section), along with Trini and Pili at Cabeza de Alfilier, the beautiful shop owned by Pope’s dear friend Pili. Put it on your yarn shop bucket list!

Pope, thank you for a beautiful week in Chile, for your hospitality and kindness, and for sharing so openly and vulnerably with the Knit Stars world. I can’t wait to see it ignite sparks of genius in other fiber lovers around the world!

xoxo,

It was really hard to decide, but for my first Pope project I’m going with the design that led me to her in the first place. I first spotted her Bee Vest hanging in a booth at Cake-a-palooza and immediately had to know…who was the designer?

Pope writes that “this vest design, where bees and beads are the protagonists, has a deep armhole and a shorter body.” I’m using Madejasur silk held double for my vest.

“Something On Your Raglan” uses beads in the raglan increases, for a more subtle effect (and fewer beads to buy!)

I might have easily overlooked Pope’s “Heaven Cardigan” if I hadn’t seen it in person. The combination of ethereal mohair, beads and lacework is a masterpiece.

Want to try a Pope design with a smaller commitment? Or have some leftover yarn and beads to use up? Check out “Painting With Beads,” a trending mini-scarflet with the signature Pope beaded touch.

Photo credit ThePioneerWoman.com

Bronzed Sea Bass with Lemon Shallot Butter
By Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman

The food was definitely a highlight of our filming trip to Santiago with Pope! We started with homemade empanadas and treats at her house…and then experienced one culinary treat after another, as every restaurant we visited had a warm, family atmosphere and amazing food. We struggled a bit to read the menus which were mostly in Spanish, and at one restaurant I finally pulled out Google Translate to try and figure out what kind of fish was on the menu…Chilean Sea Bass! Of course!

So it seemed a great time to bust out one of my all-time favorite recipes, from the Pioneer Woman. It works every time – on Sea Bass, Halibut or even cod. Any firm white fish turns out great!

Ingredients:

• 6 oz. weight (to 7 Ounces) Piece Of Sea Bass, With Or Without The Skin On
• 3 Tbsp. Butter
• 1 whole Medium-sized Shallot, Minced
• 1 whole Lemon, Zest And Juice
• 3 Tbsp. Canola Oil
• Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Season both sides of the fish generously with salt and pepper.
2. Heat canola oil in a medium-sized oven-safe pan over high heat for a few minutes to let the oil get nice and hot.
   Once the oil has heated up for a couple of minutes, drop the sea bass into place and let it sit there untouched for two minutes. (Don’t overcrowd the pan, as this will kill our ability to create a tasty crust on the fish.) Sear over high heat for 2 minutes, then transfer the pan into the 375-degree oven WITHOUT FLIPPING THE FISH OVER. Set the timer to 8 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, begin making the lemon shallot butter sauce. Melting the butter over a medium-high heat. Add in the minced shallot and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat for a couple of minutes.
4. When the shallots have become a little softer, squeeze in the juice of 1 lemon. Whisk together and reduce the heat to medium until you’ve got an incredible-smelling sauce. (Skipping the shallots in this process will make a super-simple lemon butter sauce.)
5. Once the fish has been in the oven for 8 minutes, remove it and let it rest for a moment before serving. Take this time to remove the pin bones if your butcher didn’t do it for you.
6. This exact method will work well with halibut, salmon, or any other thick fish. Great results every time.