You know how last week I talked about dissolving the “nots” in our knitting?

Well this week, it’s confession time.

Because there was an insidious “not” 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 a devout devotée of Debbie Bliss and Sally Melville, who (at least at that time) were big believers in the structure of seams. I had a glorious collection of straight needles, extra long, metal and bamboo and rosewood and ebony. What use did I have for circulars?

But the truth was, deep down I was scared.

Would I have to change to continental knitting? Would I have to steek? And worst of all…what if I accidentally twisted when I joined into the round and had to rip it all out later? 😱😱😱

I can’t tell you how many countless, beautiful sweaters, cowls, and hats I passed on making because I would look at the materials section, see the word “circular,” sigh, and move on.

If only I’d had Patty Lyons Knit Stars Masterclass, “Circular Knitting Hacks” at that time! My circular “NOT” would have disappeared, replaced by boundless circular confidence!

All of this is why we’ve decided – ta-da! – to make Patty’s Knit Stars masterclass our latest Single Workshop Release. It’s available for a limited time at the introductory price of just $47.

If you don’t already own Knit Stars Season 7, here’s a great opportunity to join the “inner circle” of confident circular knitters. This is just a smattering of what you’ll learn when you buy Patty’s Masterclass:

✅Circular knitting hacks for fixed circular knitting, DPNs and magic loop
✅Common circular mistakes and how to avoid them
✅Decorate cast-ons and bind-offs, including Channel Island and Icelandic
✅Best jogless joins for stripes and fair isle
✅Helix/helical knitting
✅How to avoid purling (no, really!)
✅Includes Patty’s Knit Stars Exclusive Hero Project: The Luminary Cowl

And the timing of this release is pretty darn perfect, because Patty’s newest book is just about to hit bookshelves worldwide…

If you’re a hands-on sort (and aren’t we all?) “Patty’s Lyons’ Knitting Bag of Tricks: The Official Workbook” is the perfect companion to her Knit Stars Masterclass.

“When I was a kid, my favorite book was by Dr. Suess called ‘My Book About Me,” Patty said when we chatted over zoom last week. “I still have it. It was an interactive book with questions and blanks to fill in, places to tape pictures, boxes to color in.”

I had that Dr. Suess book as a kid, and let me tell you, Patty has captured that same exact spirit here – except for us grown-up knitters! It even has loads of stickers designed by Franklin Habit.

It’s like your favorite journal and your favorite knitting book had a baby!

Patty’s workbook is available for pre-order now. You can order it here. For a limited time when you buy her Knit Stars Masterclass, we’ll send you a coupon for 10% off the workbook!

Get Patty’s Knit Stars Class at intro savings of $50 off plus the workbook coupon, here.

And let’s go dissolve this NOT together! 💪

xoxo,

P.S. In case you have different “nots” holding you back right now, here’s a list of the Knit Stars Masterclasses available as single workshops:

• Summer Lee: Fast, fun socks
• Äsa Söderman: Seamless Sweater System
• Casapinka: Colorwork Made Easy
• Beata Jezek: Color Confidence
• Fatimah Hinds: Unexpected Cables
• Jeanette Sloan: Beaded Colorwork
• Louis Boria: Knit Your Perfect Hat
• Modern Daily Knitting: Mojo Reboot
• Romi Hill: Shawls, Lace and Beading

One of my first circular knits after decades of avoidance – “Rusted Root” by Sarah Moore. 

This week’s Knit Stars tip was the one that blew my mind the most from Patty’s class.

All those years of ripping out pieces where I’d accidentally twisted my circular join…

And I could’ve been doing THIS instead!

Watch this clip to see how to un-twist without frogging ever again.

This newly-published “Metropolitan Pullover” by Tori Yu caught my eye for a couple of reasons.

First, I love the top-down contiguous construction, worked seamlessly in the round, to create a fit that mimics set-in sleeves. The eyelet increases and I-cord finishing give it a soft and sophisticated touch. And the sleeves can be worked with straight or tapered.

Second, this would be a perfect “canvas” for Carolyn Bloom’s embroidery technique – my latest obsession! Carolyn’s workshop will be the next Knit Stars Season 9 Masterclass to early-release, coming in October. And let me tell you, it is truly mind-blowing! She makes it so easy to add bespoke touches to your knits or crochet makes AND ready-to-wear pieces already in your closet.

I’ll be doing a free webinar with Carolyn closer to the release in October. Stay tuned!

Easy Ranchero Sauce

A couple of weeks ago, I shared this recipe for Cheesy Poblano Enchiladas. The next week, Luke repurposed the leftovers into this amazing breakfast! We actually have a running joke because he always says our dinner leftovers will make a great breakfast if we “just throw a couple eggs on top.” I even got him an apron for his birthday with this phrase embroidered on it, lol. So this time he took the leftover veggies from the Poblano dish, put them on charred leftover tortillas, added eggs and topped it with this homemade ranchero sauce – which turned out to be the star of the show. Whip up a batch and use it all week on tacos, roast chicken, or pretty much anything! It’s so good!

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 large white onion, diced
• 3 plum tomatoes, diced
• 1 jalapeño pepper diced
• 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, chopped
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 cup chicken stock (or water)
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons lime juice (about the juice of 1 lime)

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet or pot over medium-high heat.
2. Add onions, tomatoes, jalapeno, chipotle pepper, garlic, salt, paprika and dried oregano. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions and peppers soften and the mixture becomes very concentrated.
3. Add chicken stock, stir to combine and cook for 30 more seconds.
4. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro and lime juice.
5. Using an immersion blender or regular stand blender, carefully blend the mixture until it reaches the consistency you want. A few pulses will leave the ranchero sauce slightly chunky, or you can puree it until it’s completely smooth.
6. Taste and season with more salt if necessary. Serve immediately on top of eggs, tacos, burritos and all your favorite Mexican foods.