Last Sunday, I declared 2025 my year of JOY. No punishing, restrictive resolutions. No stash guilt. No WIP guilt. Instead, I’m simply leaning into the people, places, and activities that give me joy.

Since it’s our 10th anniversary Season for Knit Stars masterclasses, and the 20th year in business since opening one little, joyful yarn shop…I also want to spend this year reflecting and celebrating the progress we’ve all made together.

When I opened that first yarn shop while juggling a branding business and raising 3 little kids, one of my goals was to create something that my kids could be a part of.

It kind of backfired on me at first. “Mommy, you’re always working.” “Mommy, when can we leave Loops and go home?” “Mommy, when is dinner?”

“No, mommy, I don’t WANT to model that scarf!”

So it is with big pride and even bigger joy that I present to you, Mallory’s first original sweater design.

A few months ago, Mallory sent me an inspo pic of a ready-to-wear sweater and said she wanted to knit something similar. We searched together but couldn’t find that “just right” design.

“Maybe I’ll just design it myself!” she said.

Inside, I was jumping up and down with wild mom excitement. But I tried to play it cool, and casually suggested that she watch Chantal Miyagishima’s Knit Stars Masterclass on designing and publishing your first sweater pattern.

Which she did! And before I knew it, she was sending me progress pics…and then a finished, professionally designed pattern.

And it turned out so cute, y’all!

Mallory had used some discontinued, custom yarn from Moondrake Co. that she picked up on clearance. At one point, she was afraid she would run short, so I suggested she reach out to Rachelle, owner of Moondrake Co, to try and get more.

And that led to a Zoom meeting with Rachelle, where she offered to bring the yarn back plus custom-dye 3 new, original colors for this project! 🤯

(This feels like a full-circle moment. “I remember the first time we met,” Rachelle said. “You told me it was the 15th anniversary of the business. Amazing! And Knit Stars introduced Moondrake Co. to the world!”)

We’ll be offering the custom Moondrake yarn as a pre-order in early spring, when Mallory releases her pattern.

But first thing’s first…we need testers!

So this is an official call for Testers of the “Effortless Cloud Cardigan” by Mallory Brander. Those who are selected will have until March 15 to test-knit (along with me). In exchange for your candid feedback, you’ll get the pattern as a free pdf, plus a coupon to order the Moondrake Arupaka yarn at 20% off

To be considered for testing, please click here to complete the quick form.

And whether or not you decide to join in, let this be your reminder that we are all designers. It’s just a matter of figuring out what kind of designer you want to be. ❤️

xoxo,

Thanks for all the lovely emails, thanking us for the 3 free pattern links in last week’s email.

How about 5 more freebies?

We are giving away 5 of our all-time most popular knit and crochet patterns when we reach 50,000 Instagram followers.

Do you already follow us on Instagram? Not sure? Click here to go to our Instagram @knitstars and then just hit the follow button.

When we hit 50,000 followers we will send out the free patterns. Thank you in advance! 🙏