Do you and your stash have a love-hate relationship? 😇😈

You’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…✨

This week, to celebrate Loops’ 15th Anniversary, I’m doing a series of 3 free live videos to help get you going! 💃🏽🕺

🎉Wednesday 5/13 7pm CT: Stash Love: The 4P formula for organizing and using your stash
🎉Friday, 5/15 1pm CT: WIP It! How to tackle your works in progress and turn them into finished objects!
🎉Sunday, 5/17 1pm CT: Love to Give: Tricks and tips for more joyful gift knitting

It’s always more fun to join in LIVE! We’ll have some great giveaways and printable resources for you, too.

Also next week, we’ll be opening up LoopsClub Together with an offer for you to get a free printed copy of my book, “Untangled” – plus a chance at our June Blue Bag kit which is going to be a knockout!

To make sure you don’t miss the videos, we’ll send you reminders – just sign up here.

Let’s knit through this together! 💙💙💙

Kestrel is the true unicorn of linen yarns 🦄

Think linen is too stiff in your hands? THINK AGAIN! Kestrel is spun on a ribbon structure that gives it touchable texture.

Think linen is too fine to work with? THINK AGAIN! Kestrel works up really quickly at 3.5 to 4 stitches to the inch, and yet the finished garment is light and breezy.

It’s the perfect linen yarn for your first linen piece – or your 50th!

And we’ve got the perfect pattern idea: “Elorie” by Elizabeth Doherty.

One Raveler said about Elorie: “It’s going on my list of knitting I’d like to make before I die…LOL Sweaters intimidate me, but this is incredibly beautiful.”

Another wrote, “I have wanted to make this from the day the pattern was released – I wasn’t sure I wanted to use the linen and waited until i was at stitches west to see the sample before i decided. This garment is made for this yarn. This is also one of the best written patterns out there (actually all of Elizabeth’s are).”

A modern shape and a circular yoke with slip-stitch textures come together in this versatile and fun-to-knit pullover. Each pattern repeat is easily memorized and intuitively progresses throughout the yoke. Below the deep yoke, stockinette fabric gently drapes with a generous amount of ease and movement, and the delicate hem echoes the textured bands that separate the pattern motifs.

Loops Trooper Kate is glowing with the excitement of a perfectly shaped sweater in a perfect shade!

Want some more ideas for using Kestrel? Try “Quicksand” by Heidi Kirrmaier (shown below in pink), “Leonie” by Julie Weisenberger (shown on model with white pants), or “Ursa Minor” by Jacqueline Cieslak, shown below right.

Shop Kestrel here.

This week’s recipe comes from LoopsClub Together member Terry!

“I enjoyed the knit along today, it helps to have something to look forward to,” Terry said. “This was a recipe from Bon Appetit. Depending on how HOT the chipotle mix is, you may only want to do one side instead of two. We have also used sandwich bread.”

Enjoy! 

Spiced-Up Grilled Cheese

Ingredients
Servings: Makes 6
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
3 tablespoons chopped canned chipotle chilies
1 tablespoon mild-flavored (light) molasses
12 3/4-inch-thick slices sourdough bread
18 ounces extra-sharp New York cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
4 plum tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
6 tablespoons butter, room temperature

Preparation
Blend tomato paste, chilies, and molasses in processor until smooth. Spread 1 tablespoon chipotle mixture over 1 side of each bread slice.

Arrange 6 bread slices, chipotle side up, on work surface. Divide half of cheese among bread slices. Top with tomatoes, then onion, cilantro, and remaining cheese. Top sandwiches with remaining bread, chipotle side down. Spread butter on outside of sandwich tops and bottoms.

Heat 2 large griddles over medium heat. Place 3 sandwiches on each griddle; cook until bread is golden and cheese is melted, about 5 minutes per side.

The great thing about this recipe is that you can work with what you have! Don’t have molasses? Honey will work in a pinch. Don’t care for onion? Leave it out. This is like a good knitting project – it’s the most fun when you make it your own. 😀

Let’s keep knitting the world together 🌎💙
– Shelley and the Loops Troops

Did you get to this newsletter from a friend or social media? Want to get it in your very own inbox this week? Sign up here.