A couple weeks ago, after a particularly challenging hot yoga session where I had been a bit disappointed in my balance and “performance” that day, my yoga teacher, Tina, shared a beautiful story.

And now, because it holds so much meaning for each of us as creative humans, I’d like to share it with you.

The story of the cracked pot.
Anonymous, attributed to various folklore sources

Long ago, a water carrier had two large clay pots that hung from opposite ends of a pole he carried across his shoulders. One of the carrier’s pots had a crack in it. The other pot was perfect and always arrived after the long walk from the stream to the king’s house full of the precious water. The cracked pot, on the other hand, arrived only half full.

The perfect pot was proud to fulfill the purpose for which it had been made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection, and miserable that it could only fulfill part of the purpose it had been made for.

After two years of bitter failure, the cracked pot spoke to the water carrier, saying, “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.” “Why?” asked the water carrier. “What are you ashamed of?” “I deliver only half my load. The crack in my side lets water leak onto the ground as you carry me to your king’s house.
So you don’t get the full value of your efforts because of my flaw.”

The water carrier said to the old cracked pot, “As we return to the king’s house today, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.” Then he trudged up the hill with the two pots across his shoulders. For the first time, the cracked pot noticed the beautiful wildflowers along the path.

When they reached the king’s house, the water carrier said to the pot, “Did you notice the flowers on your side of the path, and how there were none on the perfect pot’s side? I have always known of your flaw, so I planted flower seeds. I knew that, as we walked back from the stream, you would water them. And, for two years now, I have picked these beautiful flowers to decorate the king’s table. Without your being just the way you are, he would not have had this beauty to grace his house.”

This story reminds me of when I was first learning to knit. I thought I would “get” it quicker. I was so frustrated at my imperfect stitches.

Through the years, though, my knitting helped me learn to embrace the beauty of my imperfections. Like the label on a handmade piece of clothing…”the imperfections in this garment are an indication of the handmade nature of the piece and the love that has gone into making it.”

This week we unveiled the theme for Knit Stars Masterclass Season 9: Permission to Shine.

This theme is personal for me…I spent so much of my life embarrassed of my sparkle, hiding my passion for yarn…and I’m committed to helping you embrace your creativity, dig deep and really shine in 2024.

This year, we’re offering an enhanced experience for people who enroll in Season 9 as a Super Earlybird. We’ll be sharing monthly updates, special peeks behind the scenes of the planning and production, and sneaky hints at who our new Stars will be.

(Oh look …here’s a hint right now! In Season 9, we’re going to the Shetland Islands, Ireland and Italy!)

To join us in the Super Earlybird experience (and help fund the production as an early booster…) click here. And thank you!

It has everything a newbie needs to make a really beautiful scarf they can be proud of.

And perhaps more importantly, it comes with our beloved, online Knit Start course as a bonus – which means they will have the support, self-acceptance and grace that every newbie deserves when tenderly approaching our craft for the first time.

The Kit + Course bundle is worth $144 but on sale for just $39 this week.

We’ve priced it so that you can give the lifelong gift of knitting in abundance.

Choose your colors and get your kit bundle/s here.

It’s an easy-to-knit wrap with stripes made out of i-cords – perfect relaxing knitting for what can be a stressful time of year.

To make Moonbumps along with me, you’ll need 4 skeins of Moondrake “Fuwa Fuwa” cashmere blend in “Sand,” and 1 skein of Spincycle “Dyed in the Wool” in “Stay Ready.”

If you decide to make one, tag me with a pic of your yarn @knitstars!