You may have heard that, when we created the first Knit Stars Masterclass 7 years ago, I was afraid to fly. Especially over the ocean.

But ever since that first trip to Amsterdam to film Nancy Marchant, making her tuck stitch brilliance accessible to our Masterclass students around the world…I haven’t been able to stop.

Of course, the pandemic had its impact. In 2020, instead of the planned production trips to Japan, Australia and Mallorca, it was car trips to deserted beaches. But still…always masked up and loaded up with vitamin C…I kept packing that suitcase.

Was it wanderlust? Was I looking for uninterrupted knitting time on long cross-country drives? 😉

Or was I, as my therapist suggested, trying to escape something?

The past two weeks, as I’ve walked on black sand beaches and hiked volcanoes and stood under waterfalls, I realized what I’ve truly been seeking.

Perspective.

49 Black Sand Beach, a hidden gem on the Big Island of Kailua-Kona, Hawaiil

As our worlds have closed in, I’ve needed to keep zooming out. To see, from as broad a view as possible, what connects us – as knitters, as crocheters, as creatives, and most of all, as humans.

The farther away I go, the more I realize how closely connected we really are. We all want to be seen, to be loved. To make the most of our time here on this spinning blue ball.

This week, I encourage you to zoom out. Step outside and look up at the sky, the clouds, the stars. Step back from your current project and admire what you can do with your hands, your head, your heart.

You are amazing. You are seen. And you are loved.

xoxo
Shelley

This week’s Knit Stars video tip is all about perspective.

It comes from Andrea Mowry and Season 2.

When you’re putting together skeins to create a fade (or really for any kind of multi-color project), this little tip can be tremendously helpful. Use it to zoom out, gain perspective, and open your mind to unexpected color blending.

Watch the clip here.

Have you knit with Bluefaced Leicester yet?

Knit Stars is excited to debut BFL Silk from Moondrake Co., a blend of 80% Bluefaced Leicester wool from England and 20% Mulberry Silk. The Bluefaced Leicester is classified as a longwool sheep breed. It creates high-quality semi-luster yarns with soft hand, beautiful drape, and excellent dyeing properties.

Rachelle from Moondrake dyed up 15 fingering-weight colorways for us, including a breathtaking, subtly speckled cream colorway that’s exclusive to Knit Stars. Using Andrea’s perspective trick, you can open up the skeins and see so much depth in these colors!

These BFL skeins pair up perfectly to make my “Fake a Fade” Cowl, a super-simple TV watching kind of project. This cowl is also a great project for learning and practicing your continental knit stitch, as it’s lots of knit-knit-knitting in the round!

The pattern is free this week with purchase of the yarn, here.

Loretta whipped up this “Sockhead Slouch Hat” by Kelly McClure using a single skein of Moondrake BFL Silk in colorway “Potion” on size #2.5 needles. Kelly’s hat has been knit over 25,000 times, so you know it’s a winner. We’ll bet you make more than one!

And check out this gorgeous “DAA – Don’t Ask Again” sweater by Isabell Kraemer, test-knitted with Moondrake BFL Silk by Purlificknitting on Ravelry!

This cute and classic striped cardigan is worked seamlessly from the top down. Camay used 2 skeins of her main color, and 1 skein each of 2 contrast colors, for her extra-long, size 3 version of this pattern, which is available on Ravelry.

Shop our Moondrake BFL Silk while it lasts, here!

We asked Rachelle of Moondrake Co., for a favorite easy recipe. Even though she’s a Canadian transplant to Oklahoma, she came through like a true Okie…with her favorite from-scratch Ranch Dressing! 😋

“This dressing is so versatile and tasty,” Rachelle says. “We use it on salad, for dips, basically on anything.” So much better than the bottle!

Rachelle’s Ranch Dressing

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/4 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp dried chives
• 1/4 tsp dill weed
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• salt to taste

Directions:

1. Mix mayonnaise, sour cream and buttermilk together, whisk until combined well.
2. Add all the spices and herbs into the mixture
3. Whisk in lemon juice -, the dressing will become a bit thicker
4. Add salt to taste

There, you have Ranch! Put the dressing in a mason jar to refrigerate.