| July 31, 2023

Sharon’s knitalong and a freebie 😻

BY SHELLEY BRANDER

This just in from Sharon from Security…

Casapinka has just announced a new Mystery Knitalong!

This one might be a little different…Sharon from security (pictured below 😻) had a big hand – paw? – in the design for this new mystery knitalong!

The Sharon Show will be an approachable and fun rectangular shawl with four skeins to keep you curious and smiling as the colors come together.

With an absolute beginner option and an advanced (but relaxing) version, this is the perfect chance for you to join together and connect with knitters from around the world – this is the knitting group you’ve been waiting for! Fun – relaxing – surprising – colorful!

The Sharon Show MKAL will start August 7 and you’ll get one clue a week for six weeks.

For the Sharon Show, you’ll need four skeins of fingering weight yarn. Casapinka suggests one neutral, two of the same color in different shades (contrasting light and dark pink for example) and one different contrasting color.

We’ve done the work for you and curated five Loops kits for you to shop!
“Seal of Approval” in four bright skeins and “Soft Spoken” in more subtle tones are the closest to Casapinka’s original combo, specifically curated for the Loops Lover!

And for something a little different, we have a “Beata-bow” collection of Hedgehog Fibers Sock – blue, purple, and a pop of chartreuse! The subtle speckles and tonal colorways will be ideal for this mystery knitting adventure!

Last but not least, “Golden Hour” – our lineup of hand dyed fingering from Emma’s Yarn looks yummier than catnip! At least that’s what Sharon from Security said 😉 And it’s so squishy, too!

You’ll need needles in US Size 4, 5, and 6 due to the varying gauge in the stitch patterns, and most of the pattern is knit on Size 6.

All of our Sharon Show kits are in stock while they last – we’ll ship them right away so you’ll be ready for Casapinka’s new Mystery Knit Along on August 7!

Find more details on the pattern and sign up for the MKAL in Casapinka’s Ravelry group.

Shop and pick your favorite Sharon Show kits here!

I’m super excited because I invited Diane Ivey and Caitlin Hunter to join me for a live Q&A about their Knit Stars workshops and a fun, upcoming project reveal with LoopsClub!

They said YES! 😍😍

It’s happening this Sunday, July 26 on Zoom. 5pm ET / 4pm CT / 3pm MT / 2pm PT

This live Q&A is a great opportunity to:
🥰 Ask follow-up questions from their Knit Stars workshops
🥰 Get insider info on the inspiration for their upcoming collab
🥰 Hear about their current passion projects, and
🥰 Think ahead and get organized for gift-making season! Who do they knit for, what and why?!

Even if you can’t make it live, still sign up and we’ll send you the replay.

Come as you are (only Diane, Caitlin and Shelley will be visible on camera) and bring your yarn & needles!

Sign up here for the live Q&A.

I co-founded Knit Stars – an all-online inspiration and learning experience – five years ago, and it has grown into my biggest passion project.

Today, Knit Stars is 100% owned and operated by Loops. Through Knit Stars, we work to spread the joy of learning, lift up the most creative voices in our industry, and work to Knit the World Together.

While we were on the production trip to Denmark for Knit Stars 3.0, I designed a bonus scarf pattern called “Rising” to showcase Koigu’s Pencil Box collections. Their hand-dyed gradient colors are an inspiration! This pattern has continued to grow in popularity, and we love seeing all of the completed projects!

The Rising Scarf is a simple pattern that shows off the beauty of gradients (like our Koigu Pencil Box sets!), but can also be used with any fingering-weight yarn in your stash and this week, it is our gift to you.

Koigu Pencil Box kits include 10 custom colors of Koigu’s famous KPPPM 100% merino wool, spun from arguably the finest merino sheep in the world. Plied for durability and hand-dyed by the artisans at Koigu, this lightweight wool is soft, silky, and retains the natural elasticity of merino.

We have two Koigu collections available! The first is our exclusive “Hero Twilight” in shades of blue, pink, and purple that give you that extra space in your mind as you gaze at them…the space to take a deep breath and savor the winding and casting on.

And our newest Pencil box is “Sweet Pea” – a grouping of shades that moves from deep forest greens through gentle golds and neutrals to powder pinks.

Choose your Koigu Pencil Box preorder here.

Download the Rising Scarf for free here.

❤️ Shelley

Can’t you just imagine how tart and savory this easy recipe tastes! We found the 3-Ingredient Steak, Pineapple, and Avocado Salad from epicurious-dot-com and had to share it with you. Try it this weekend and add some new flavors to your cookout or kitchen!

This simple recipe has a summery zing of pineapple and creamy avocado that your whole family will love- don’t forget to share! 😉

Ingredients:
2 pounds New York strip steak (about 3 [1″-thick] steaks)
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus more
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more
1 pineapple, peeled, cut into 1/2″ rounds, center core removed, divided
3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for grill
2 avocados

Directions:
1. Season steak with 1 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper. Let sit at room temperature at least 1 hour.

2. Meanwhile, purée 1 pineapple round, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 2 Tbsp. water in a blender until smooth. Add 3 Tbsp. oil and blend until smooth; set aside.

3. Prepare a grill for medium-high heat or heat a grill pan over medium-high; oil grate or pan. Grill steaks and remaining pineapple rounds, turning occasionally, until pineapple is lightly charred and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of steak registers 120°F, 8–10 minutes for medium-rare (pineapple may take longer to cook than steak). Transfer steak to a cutting board. Let sit at least 15 minutes, then thinly slice. Transfer pineapple to a platter and tent with foil to keep warm.

4. Cut avocados in half crosswise around pit, then carefully peel off skin with your hands. Slice each half crosswise into 1/2″ rings. Arrange sliced steak and avocado on platter with pineapple. Drizzle with pineapple dressing; season with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

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