2020 Recap: The Year of Knitting all the Things
As things started to shut down last spring due to the pandemic, I was still going to work every day, but I suddenly had much more time to spend at home. I don't know if I was just looking for something to do, or if finally starting to organize my craft room in the new house inspired me, but I decided to knit a pair of socks. I had barely knit anything the last few years, and I realized I missed it.
Before I got very far into that first sock, my boyfriend asked if they could be for him. I was torn. I'd been very excited about the pattern and one of the skeins of yarn had moved with me for over a decade. It felt like a very special project, but after some internal debate, I realized he was absolutely deserving of a very special project.
Pattern: Losanges Socks Yarn: Knit Picks Gloss and Dream in Color Smooshy
When I finished his socks, I made myself a (very different) pair. Then I started spending all my time on ravelry I'd always used the site as a resource for patterns, but I delved deeper, starting joining in on forums, and discovering new designers. I found some new yarn resources, starting building my stash and pattern library and always had at least one WIP, with many more planned than could ever be completed.
A few months later, I had found a designer I liked and learned she'd be hosting a MKAL. I had vaguely heard of knit alongs before, but the idea of a mystery knit along was new and intriguing. I decided to give it a try. I liked the idea of knitting a shawl in small portions and watching the mystery unfold as the project grew. Interacting with other knitters while working on the same project was probably not something that would have appealed to me in a normal year, but after months of social isolation, I thought I could overcome my anxiety and chat with strangers. At least I knew we had knitting in common, right? My biggest struggle was color choices, and I think I definitely have learned a lot and improved at least a little since that first attempt.
I was hooked. Both on shawl knitting and knit alongs. I only finished two other MKALs in 2020, but I currently have two that I am working on and several that I signed up for, but have not participated in. Maybe one day I'll get around to working on them, but as the number or projects I have planned continues to grow, the likelihood of that happening definitely decreases.
All fall, I got so excited about new projects, I would just cast on and knit an inch and then cast on something else. I had five or six projects that I would rotate working on for the last couple of months of the year. As the end of the year got closer, I determined to finish at least a few of the projects I was working on before I started anything new. On New Year's Eve, I finally finished one of my favorite pieces, that had kept getting pushed to the background because the long rows at the end weren't as instantly satisfying as smaller projects.
pattern:Bloomington Morning yarn: Cascade Heritage and Lemonade Shop House Sock
I started the new year with the same momentum and already have a few finished projects and exciting plans. Hopefully I'll catch up on posting about them in the next few days.
xo uhlissa
To see more of what kept me busy last year, go here to see all projects completed in 2020.
As a bonus, this is my knitting buddy, Mattie. She's not helpful and she tries to eat yarn, but she always looks this excited about my projects, so I keep her around.
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