Last week’s newsletter about the innovative “slow lane” in a Dutch grocery store, where people are encouraged to chat and connect, really struck a nerve.

Apparently, many of you are also craving a slower, more intentional year of creating. Instead of seeing how many projects you can “knock out,” you’re looking to make fewer things that you deeply love. And instead of going at breakneck speed (and risking injury), you want to really savor the process.

Well I’m right here with you (sore thumbs and all, thanks to rushing through a holiday knit). And that’s why I’m so happy to share our latest release with you.

We’ve just released 20 new Single Knit Stars Masterclasses. 🎉🎉🎉 And for the whole month of January, all our Singles are just $67 each, here.

I’m betting there’s at least one class on this list that would deeply support you in your own personal making goals for 2026. And because Knit Stars cinematic masterclasses are filmed on-site in each Star’s hometown, you’ll feel like your new teacher is right there, holding your hand as you explore, grow and master the topic that holds the most meaning for your creative journey.

Now available as Knit Stars Singles (newly released today are marked with a 🎉):

🎉 Alexa Ludeman • Fair Isle Tips & Tricks
Alexandra Tavel • The Duality of Knit & Crochet
🎉 Amy Herzog • Successful Sweaters for All Shapes
🎉 Amy Small  • Chunky Art Yarns
🎉 Andrea Mowry • Color Confidence & Fades
🎉 Andrea Rangel • Magical Color Motifs
🎉 Ann Budd • Fear-Free Steeking
Ann & Kay of MDK • New Year Mojo Reboot
Åsa Söderman • Seamless Sweater System
Beata Jezek • Color Confidence
🎉 Caitlin Hunter • Traditional Colorwork
🎉 Carson Demers • Knitting Ergonomics
Casapinka – Colorwork Made Easy
🎉 Cecilia Campochiaro • Sequence Knitting
🎉 Chantal Miyagishima: Designing Garments 101​​​​​​​
Fatimah Hinds – Unexpected Cables
Felicity Ford • Interpreting Art & Sound into Knitting
🎉 Francoise Danoy • Designing Your First Pattern
Gaye Glasspie • Finding Your Voice
Jeanette Sloan • Beaded Colorwork
🎉 Laura Nelkin • Lace & Estonian Nupps
🎉 Lorilee Beltman • Vertically Stranded Colorwork
Louis Boria • Knit Your Perfect Hat
🎉 Lucy Neatby • Two-Color Double Knitting
🎉 Martha Wissing • Chullo Hat with Cupped Tassels
🎉 Mary Jane Muckelstone • Fair Isle Knitting
🎉 Nancy Marchant • The Tuck Stitch (Brioche)
Patty Lyons • Circular Knitting Hacks
Romi Hill • Intricate Lace, Beading & Shawl Shapes
Summer Lee • Fun, Fast Socks
🎉 Susan B Anderson • Seamless Toy Knitting
🎉 Tamara Kelly • Crochet Hacks for Knitters
🎉 Yumiko Alexander • Working with Plant Based Fibers

Not sure where to start? Cecilia Campochiaro’s course is genius, fascinating for any knitter, beginner to advanced – and is sure to inspire a fresh approach to your yarn stash.

Chantal Miyagishima’s masterclass is perfect for aspiring designers who’ve wanted to try garment design, but might be intimidated by grading (sizing) sweaters. We’ve had a lot of demand to release this one as a single!

For the singles already in our library, the top two are Summer Lee (socks) and Åsa Söderman (seamless sweaters).

I hope you will take a moment to browse for a Single Masterclass that best serves your goals, and set aside some time for yourself to really sink in and enjoy your growth. And if you have a moment, I’d love to hear what you chose and why! Just hit reply on this email and let me know.

xoxo,

“Djo” Sweater by Sophie Ochera. Photo credit: Sophie Ochera.

This is my “slow lane” project for 2026.

I’ve wanted to make the “Djo” sweater by Sophie Ochera ever since I saw it on Lizzie, owner of The Mermaid’s Purl, at my first Rhinebeck a few years ago. But other more “urgent” projects kept getting in the way.

Well, now is the time. I’ve had a kit I ordered years ago, waiting in my yarn cabinet. So today I wound the cakes and committed. I’m going to take it nice and slow, and finish when I finish.

And when I do finish, I plan to use the leftovers to make a new sweater for Charles Barkley, loosely following this Happy Dog Sweater pattern by Meiju Kallio.

“Happy Dog Sweater” by Meiju Kallio. Photo credit Tanu Kallio / Meiju Kallio.

Related: I just finished this sweater for Charles, but unfortunately it falls off when he wears it. I chose a pattern that’s open in the tummy area because, well, boy dog owners will get it! 😜 But the Happy Dog Sweater pattern has a “boy tummy” variation, so we’ll go with that and wash the sweater when we need to!

What’s your current “slow lane” pattern you’re really enjoying? Drop me a line (and a pic) and you might see it in a future edition of Shelley’s Sunday Yarns. 🥰

Thank you Lori for this awesome review of our Knit Stars needle keeper. This is exactly why we created it – to help you feel like the boss of your own needles, hooks and notions!

Shop the Needle Keeper (currently half-off) here.

Photo credit: NY Times Cooking

Chicken Cacciatore
By Martha Rose Shulman

I’ve never made Chicken Cacciatore, probably because it takes a little longer than I usually like to commit to for a meal. But since we’re following the “slow lane” theme, and since this recipe comes with thousands of 5-Star ratings and uses lots of mushrooms, I decided to go for it! I’m freezing it in batches for multiple weeknight meals on days when I’d rather be knitting.

Ingredients:

• ½ ounce dried mushrooms, like porcini (½ cup)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 6 to 8 skinless chicken legs and/or thighs (thighs can be boneless)
• 1 small onion, minced
• 1 small carrot, minced
• 3 ribs celery, minced
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh minced Italian parsley
• 1 heaped teaspoon minced fresh rosemary, or ½ teaspoon crumbled dried rosemary
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ½ pound mushrooms, trimmed and sliced
• ½ cup red wine
• 128-ounce can chopped tomatoes in juice, pulsed in a food processor

Instructions:

1. Place the dried mushrooms in a bowl or heat-proof glass measuring cup and pour on 2 cups boiling water. Let sit 15 to 30 minutes, until mushrooms are softened. Drain through a strainer lined with cheesecloth or a paper towel and set over a bowl. Rinse the mushrooms in several changes of water, squeeze out excess water and chop coarsely. Set aside. Measure out 1 cup of the soaking liquid and set aside.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet or Dutch oven. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and brown, in batches, for 5 minutes on each side. Transfer the chicken pieces to a bowl as they are done. Pour the fat off from the pan and discard.
3. Turn the heat down to medium, add the remaining oil and the onion, carrot and celery, as well as a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, parsley, rosemary, red pepper flakes and salt to taste. Cover, turn the heat to low and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes, until the mixture is soft and aromatic. Stir in the fresh and dried mushrooms, turn the heat back up to medium, and cook, stirring, until the mushrooms are just tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the wine and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring, for a few minutes, until the wine has reduced by about half. Add the tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste. Cook over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until the tomatoes have cooked down a little and smell fragrant. Stir in the mushroom soaking liquid that you set aside.
4. Return the chicken pieces to the pan and stir so that they are well submerged in the tomato mixture. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes, until the chicken is tender. Taste, adjust seasoning and serve with pasta or rice.

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