Our first look at the commemorative superkit Koigu is developing to celebrate Knit Stars Season 10. The final version will have sparkles too!

This week I got a reminder that just when we think we know everything about ourselves and our own origin stories…
We’re reminded of how intertwined our lives are with one another, and how we impact others in every moment.

“It was a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, and you were on your way back from your annual Florida vacation with the family in the car,” said Taiu Landra, founder of Koigu yarns and one of the original Knit Stars back in Season 1, when we caught up over Zoom earlier this week.

“You were hitting bad cell service,” Taiu said, “And the funny part was I only got every third word or so, and then there would be a clear sentence. You were sort of describing the dream, and I was trying to trying to be polite with the cell service going in and out… Virtual summit? …Filming?….”

“And you just kept saying it’s going to be great, and I was like ok, I don’t really get it but if Shelley says it’s going to be great, I’m in.”

The actual moment I came up with the Knit Stars name

“Then we got off the phone and I’m like oh, I guess I’m a part of this!” Taiu continued. “!I didn’t even know what it was called. Then all the sudden you’re sending me emails with here’s your date, the camera guy is coming to film, and then he shows up the day before our first-ever Koigu Open House. It’s a really hot summer’s day and I’m sweating and thinking what have I gotten myself into?”

“But the filming all went really well. Then afterward you and I were talking and I said Shelley, you’ve gotta add a yarn aspect to this, because everyone’s going to want the yarn from the masterclasses.”

“Knit Stars was ahead of its time, bringing people who live in remote areas or couldn’t travel and take classes. They felt they were a part of something and that’s a big thing. And luckily, I somehow saw your vision in that first car conversation,” she said.

Since that first year, Koigu has created a commemorative Pencil Box set for each Knit Stars Season. For the upcoming 10th Anniversary, she’s gone all-in with a double-size Pencil Box just for us, and I’ll be casting on and making a double-size Rising Scarf as I travel around the globe to film, starting tomorrow (Monday) as we head to Vietnam!

The mood board for Koigu’s commemorative Knit Stars Season 10 kit. So fun to see the process behind the scenes!

Next, I asked Taiu what else she and Koigu have been up to over the past 10 years.

“We’ve innovated into more kits and packs and packages, we’ve done moments of more open houses and community locally, we’ve introduced more yarn bases. Our chunkier weights, Othello and Chelsea, have come to the forefront. And what we call Koigu Origins, which are breed specific base, not superwash. It was an idea 10 years ago, but came to fruition 6 years ago, and has just lately really caught on”.

“Due to macular degeneration, my mom [Maie Landra, Koigu’s original co-founder] can’t knit or design so we collaborate with other designers, and I design some too,” Taiu said.

“At festivals, people come up to me and ask are you new?” Taiu said. “I smile and say we’ve been around 30 years, but we’re new to you and that’s perfect!”

“We all need to come together and listen and communicate and share. We’ve all come a distance in knowing that and collaborating. How do you continue on? It’s keeping that driving force alive. It’s about coming up with new ideas all the time.”

I hoped you loved hearing the Knit Stars origin story from Taiu’s perspective as much as I did! It’s a great reminder that we can all send out positive ripples into our world and watch them come back to us tenfold.

xoxo,

P.S. Our third and final Hint Video in our Guess the Season 10 Stars game was just released! We made this one even juicier than the other two, with each Star’s location. To join in the fun and for a chance to win prizes including the Grand Prize Pack valued at $1300+, just click here.

Here’s one of those patterns Taiu has recently designed that’s been really popular with the yarn shops that carry Koigu. It’s simple, relaxing to knit, and turns those mini skeins of fingering weight into a painterly work of art.

“Color Cocktail” uses one Koigu Pencil Box or 10 skeins of about 87 yards each from your stash. It’s available on Ravelry for $6 CAD.

Bubert/Fluffy Pudding

Taiu shared this favorite recipe for an Estonian dessert called “Bubert.”

Ingredients:

• 3 cup milk
• 4 eggs, separated
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 3 tbsp Flour
• 1 tsp vanilla
• dash of salt

Instructions:

1. Cream the egg yolks with sugar. Stir in flour. In a double boiler – bring milk to boil.
2. Add 2 or 3 tbsp of the warm milk to the egg yolk mixture. Mix.
3. Then add egg yolk mixture to the rest of the warm milk. Stir Milk mixture until it thickens. Stir in vanilla and salt.
4. In another bowl whip egg whites stiff.
5. Fold Egg whites into egg yolk/ milk mixture.
6. Cool and serve cool or cold. A tsp of Jam in each serving bowl is a nice additive.