“My favorite project I made this year was the Brookline Blouse by Kate (@mezzomakes) in Loops Luxe Plant-Based Princess in the colorway Cottonwood.” This project kept my mind calm and hands busy in the days following a bad car accident. It was also my first non-wool project and kept me stylish all summer long.

-Sunnie
Operations Manager, Carlisle, PA, USA

Dear [First Name],

For us yarnies, this is an especially wild time of year. And for retailers, it’s even wilder! So I’ve had to develop a practice of reminding myself all through the season…

Holidays aren’t for “stuff.” Holidays are for being with the people you care most about.

With that in mind, I’d like to take this Christmas-Day edition of Moving the Needle to introduce you to the Knit Stars family.

I asked our amazing team to each share a photo and their favorite thing they made this year. Some shared yarn projects and some shared other fun makes!

Please enjoy getting to know a little more about these wonderful folks who give so much, day in and day out, to our shared mission to Knit the World Together. 🧶🌎❤️

P.S. Our legendary year-end sale officially starts tomorrow, loaded with luxury yarns, tools and goodies at 30-60% off. But if you peek now, you just *might* find everything has already been set to sale prices here

“My favorite thing that I knitted this year was the Sunrise Headband from Masterclass Season 6. Loved Jennifer Berg‘s videos and enjoyed the colorwork. I wore this every day during my epic 3 week hiking trip in Scotland last spring, so I also associate it with so many happy memories.”
-Mary
Flagship Store Team, Tulsa, OK, USA

“Block Island Wrap by Toni Lipsey in La Bien Aimée Cashmerino in Tunisian Crochet was a favorite this year. It’s hard to choose one favorite!”
-Mitzi
Flagship Store Team, Tulsa, OK USA

“Country Wrap in Clinton Hill Cashmere Bespoke – 100% Italian Cashmere.  Pure indulgence and great stitch definition.  Thanks to an Arctic blast for Christmas, the Dallas weather will be perfect for it this year. Happy Holidays to all!”
-Loni
Star Guide, Dallas, TX, USA

“My favorite knit was hands down the Powder Wrap by Casapinka in the Loops Luxe Chunky Bespoke yarn. Soooooooo soft! Hat is my own design using a Fairy Godmother Evolution (Gradient) called Big Bad Wolf. Special appearances by Blueberry and Kiwi 🐶.”
-Beth
Relationships Manager, Mason, MI, USA

“The project I’m most proud of this year is from the pattern “Khaki” by Mode at Rowan. The yarn is Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Egyptian Cotton. It took me forever but I did it! Happy Holidays all!”
-Gaye “GG”
Star Advisor, Clifton, NJ, USA

“Hi! While I am not a knitter (yet), I made a fun gingerbread house this past weekend!”

-Mandy

Executive Assistant, Brenham, TX, USA

“Hola! This freestyle Poncho-turned-Swancho has definitely become my fave project of the year. It was an experiment in a new design which went in an unexpected, yet fun direction. (I didn’t expect it to have sleeves,but there they are!) Fun fact, once I add fringe I expect to have used a total of 18 skeins of LoopsLuxe Chunky. VERY warm and cozy!
-Sherri

Customer Service Lead, Tulsa, OK USA

“My favorite project that I made this year is my Melting Point of Ice beanie (by me!) in Loops Luxe Chunky.”
-Amber
Star Guide, Grove, OK, USA

“This photo was taken at [Maryland Sheep and Wool] in the breed barn. I was really excited about winning a blue ribbon and the Anna W Troyer Award at the Maryland State Fair! This skein is special because it is spun from my adopted Sheepadoodle Shiloh’s coat. They used to spin the Old English Sheepdog’s coat when they brought the sheep down from the hills back in the day. I love spinning, weaving and creating magic with two sticks and some yarn.”
-Rose
Star Guide, Baltimore, MD, USA

“My favorite project this year was the Ena Pullover by Svetlana Volkova  knit with Cool Beans Sport. I did the yoke by hand and the body on the knitting machine. When I got Angie to model it, I knew it was made for her. Doesn’t she look terrific?”
-Loretta
Flagship Store Team “Cleanup on Aisle 5,” Tulsa, OK, USA

“Hello! Adrianne from Italy (by way of Virginia 😉) I’m not a knitter although I do occasionally crochet. I love to cook and one of my favorite things I’ve made this year are this rainbow cake I made with my daughter for her 13th birthday that was nearly a fail. The decorations I had planned did not work but together we made something she was really happy with 😍”
-Adrianne
Knit Stars Operations Assistant, Italy

“I loved making these adorable Orange You Glad Scarves for me & my daughter, Jenny with luscious Clinton Hill Cashmere ~ one of my most favorite yarns to knit with ever!”
-Janet
Flagship Store Team, Tulsa, OK, USA

“My favorite project this year is the Perplexity Wrap by Tif Neilan in Moondrake Preppy yarn.”
-Angie
Flagship Store Team, Tulsa, OK, USA

“I made a LOT of things but my favorite has to be this Stevie pullover by Elizabeth Smith made from our Plant Based Princess yarn in Naked and Cottonwood, marked with random stash edgings.
-Margaret
Flagship Store Team, Tulsa, OK, USA

“Love Note as shown was my favorite project of the year knit from Jaggerspun and Rauma Plum. Happy Holidays to all!”
-Marcia
Star Guide, Pomona, MO, USA

“This creation is called “Bouquet of Roses” (apple tarts).”

-Gio

Copy Writer, Berkeley, CA, USA

“I’m mainly just involved with my kids’ sports,but this was a special moment when James got 1st place in his JiuJitsu tournament.We worked hard throughout the year for him to get there.Plus, I did recover from a full achilles rupture surgery.”

–Joel

Kajabi Pro, Foothill Ranch, CA, USA

“My creative life for the last 15 years has been as a doll customizer, something did once upon a time as a full time job, conventions and all! This includes sculpting, painting, sewing AND the most fun part-natural fiber wigs. What I have shown here is a mix of alpaca and angora mohair.”
-Kate
Flagship/Ecommerce Manager, Kate Hardin, Tulsa OK.

“My favorite project this year was completing my first ever knitting project, following along with our own Knit Start program.“
-Kristen
Business Advisor, Boston, MA, USA

I’m Shelley and this year I moved from Tulsa to Florida, fulfilling a lifelong dream of living on the water. I still visit Tulsa often to see my Knit Stars family and my family-family. In fact, I’m writing this newsletter from Tulsa right now 🥰

My favorite project of the year was Ranunculus by Midori Hirose. It was such a fun project, I made two! This one using yarn botanically hand-dyed by Season 5 Knit Star Tatiana Sarasa – visiting her in Mallorca was a huge highlight of my year. My second Ranunculus was made in Merino Bouclé by La Bien Aimée for our current Hot Loops Wall.

Wishing you and yours a beautiful holiday season and restful week!

With unending gratitude for your support in 2022,

xoxo,
Shelley

Barbecued Chicken by Sam Sifton as shown in New York Times Cooking

I know you’re probably expecting a holiday themed recipe, but I’ve been learning to BBQ with “Hot Luke” and this week we made this delicious chicken. Maybe you can take a break from the kitchen after the holiday and grill this up outside (but it you’re in the Arctic blast area, you’ll of course want to bundle up in all your handknits)!

Ingredients

For the barbecue sauce:

• ⅔ cup ketchup
• ½ cup cider vinegar
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons pimentón (smoked Spanish paprika)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

For the chicken:

• 6 to 8 chicken legs (drumsticks and thighs) skin-on, bone-in, about 3½ to 4 pounds
• Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions
Step 1
Combine all sauce ingredients in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes.

Step 2
Build a fire in your grill, leaving one side free of coals. When coals are covered with gray ash and the temperature is medium (you can hold your hand 5 inches above the coals for 5 to 7 seconds), you are ready to cook. (For a gas grill, turn one of the burners down to low or off, lower cover and heat for 15 minutes.)

Step 3
Meanwhile, combine barbecue sauce with 1 cup water and stir to combine. Set aside.

Step 4
Sprinkle the chicken pieces generously with salt and pepper, then put them on the grill directly over the coals and cook for about 15 minutes, turning once every 5 minutes or so, and brushing with the thinned barbecue sauce. When the chicken skin starts to crisp and darken, move the pieces to the cooler side of the grill and let them cook for 15 to 20 minutes more, or until a peek inside shows that the meat no longer has any red at the center.

Step 5
Move the chicken back onto the hot side of the grill and baste with sauce again, turning the meat a few times. Remove to a warmed platter and serve.

Bonus recipe! Easy Grilled Onion

This is one of our go-tos for an easy grilled side dish. Simply slice off the top and bottom of an onion and partially core it out with a paring knife. Insert a beef bouillon cube into the hollowed-out center and top with a tablespoon of butter. Wrap in foil and grill at approximately 375-400 degrees for 20 minutes or until soft.

Barbecued chicken as made by “Luke” and Shelley