Nineteen

Recently I’ve been a little flighty with my knitting. Having Abigail and Elliot here has meant that knitting happens in little bits and pieces, a row here, a row there -our crazy sleep (or not sleep) schedules made for times that were well suited to bashing out little accessories of a newborn nature, little hats, long baby socks, stuff like that. I had plans though – mostly for baby stuff and socks.

I even had this big idea that I’d keep my advent knitting going – I got the advent socks from Cozy Knitter this last season. It was 24 stripes all leading up to Christmas and it was so lovely and peaceful to get up each morning and knit my two stripes (one on each sock) while I had my coffee and planned my day. I thought to myself that I would very much like to be the sort of person who gets up each day and begins with a small bit of sock. I imagined it being meditative and lovely and a really good way to get 12 pairs of socks in a year. I told myself I’d try it for this year, but really I meant for the rest of my life.

I have fantasies like this all the time. “I shall knit sixteen rounds of sock each morning so long as I live” is right up there with “Henceforth I shall dust everything weekly” or “From this day on I will always make my bed” or “I will have an empty inbox at the end of each work day”. Lovely habits that seem like they’ll make me into a really impressive person but never really seem to work out. Still, the sock thing seemed reasonable and honestly I’m more likely to meet a knitting goal than a cleaning one, so I decided to give it a go.

I wound my yarn, got out two sets of DPNs (even though I was going to knit two socks at the same time I would rather lick a cat than use two circulars) and got totally ready to ring in the new year with my new meditative and inspirational daily sock practice. Enter Abigail, and suddenly the whole thing seemed impossible and I was immediately reduced to watching each day zoom by as I thought “Holy cats where did that one go and have you seen those socks?”

Since that baby turned up I have in total managed about 5 days worth of daily sock knitting and the socks aren’t even equal. Every day I think that I’ve got to get it together and get back on track and I sort of vow that I’ll catch up and make it happen before the end of January and well. I thought it might happen once there was a little more knitting time.

So today I woke up, and there is more knitting time. Quite a bit more, actually and I was so incredibly happy about it, and I spent about a half hour working on all the other stuff that’s fallen off the rails over the last 23 days (and not knitting) while planning the amazing blog post that I was going to write to you today, about how I was going to spend the next year being this amazing person who did this cool sock thing. I even had it all tied into what today is – which is the nineteenth anniversary of this blog. (I know, I can’t believe it either.) I was pretty sure that by the time I got to my desk to blog I’d have the socks caught up.

Then two things happened. First, I had rather more work to do than I thought, then I had to go to the dentist (which is not celebratory at all but good oral hygiene is important) and then I had to do the groceries and then Meg texted and then I realized I never put in that laundry and then … then just a few minutes ago, something amazing happened.

I picked up my socks to work on them (I was going to knit several inches on them in ten minutes, as one does) and then I was overcome completely by a case of startitis so bad that I actually went to the stashroom, got two sweaters worth of yarn down from a cubby, and then shot off an email to arrange buying another sweaters worth. I was helpless. (They’re not even baby sweaters which would at least make some sense. They’re for me.)

I got out the ballwinder and swift and started rooting around for the pattern and then stopped and realized that I was in the process of wrecking my perfect blog post about my amazing sock thing, and I tried to make myself pick up those socks, and then I realized that it was okay. I still had a blog post, and I actually had a way better point.

There is absolutely nobody in my life that I can call and explain this bout of startitis to.* There’s nobody who wants to hear that I was helpless in the face of a nice DK, that I don’t knit socks on two circulars because I find DPNs more satisfying. That after a lifetime of knitting the idea of a new sweater still makes my heart skip a beat. That the words “self striping yoke” are enchanting. That I think I’ll finish socks without actually knitting them – These are not gripping ideas outside of this space – and regular people aren’t going to understand that this amazing sock plan is GARBAGE NOW, BECAUSE I AM GOING TO KNIT A SWEATER I DON’T NEED IMMEDIATELY.

I can say it here though, and know that you won’t just read it, you’ll understand it. You’ll maybe leave a comment telling me about when it happened to you. That you love self striping things, that the way that I feel about DPNS, that’s how you feel about circulars, and while we may continue to be poorly understood as artists in general, here we walk among our own kind.

I am simply understood in this space, and I feel normal here, and for nineteen years it has felt more like a home than a writing thing, and I can’t thank you enough for making that always true for me. No matter how negligent or sporadic my posts. I’m going to go knit a sweater now. Maybe I’ll love the sock thing tomorrow. I’ll let you know.

*This is a lie. There are absolutely people I can call and tell that too, but you know who they are? They’re some of you. We’ve been doing this long enough that most of my oldest and dearest friends… they’re you.

** Also, today is the day that it’s traditional to kick off my Bike Rally fundraising, and this year is no different. Also, it’s traditional to freak out the accounting people over there by making those donations in an amount equal to my years of blogging. If you’d like to keep the weird going and you are inclined and able, you can make a $19 donation here.

148 thoughts on “Nineteen

  1. Congratulations on 19 years. I haven’t been here that late big but long enough to appreciate your posts and be motivated and cheered by them. I’m thinking I’ll go cast on something too:)

    • I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes we’re well understood sometimes not. Love knitting nonetheless. A friend said last week that it’s so wonderful to be among people who understand how devoted we are to our craft. Yes, that’s you and us. I’ve been around with you since the email groups! Our lives are changing but it’s still us.

    • Congratulations on 19 years! I, too, have the strange idea I can knit a little bit each day on a sock and end up with 12 pairs this year. I’m on track for January, but am also on track for tendinitis (sigh, my old enemy, we meet again). Anyway, it’s been delightful seeing the pictures of Abigail and your whole family here and on Instagram. Congratulations again to you all, I’m so happy for you!

    • This. I love ALL of this. From the habits to the dpns to the startitus and the combination of all three. I feel known and understood. You do that for me and for all of us. Thank you so very much.

  2. Thank you for sharing your life with us. It’s always an inspiration, even when it’s just being able to show someone your blog and say “See? I’m not the only one!”

  3. You’re amazing! and you don’t have to knit socks unless that’s what you’re in the mood to do– and the mood will strike you again when the time is right. You’ve just been thru a very emotional time and it’s OK to treat yourself to WHATEVER you want most to knit. So go ahead and cast on that wonderful DK yarn and knit to your heart’s content for yourself!!! We, your friends and fan club love you!!

    • Agree wholeheartedly with above. You are the boss of your knitting and there are NO knitting police! Can’t wait to see your sweaters. So many congratulations on Abigail’s birth! I think Team Abigail is brilliant and amazing, incredible team strategy and coordination.

  4. Congratulations – so very many events and to-be-made items to be shouted from the rooftops about. The love keeps finding its way to you.

  5. Congratulations on 19 years. I think I’ve been reading that long. When my knitting really seems to get the better of me, I re-read “Can you even do it ” from February 2009. It brings tears to my eyes, and a stitch to my side. xo

    • Just re-read “Can you even do it” thanks to your recommendation, and I’m howling. I’d forgotten this one – it’s amazing!!

    • Ooo, that IS a good one!!! Gonna make my husband read it in the morning…he’ll realize he actually has a LOT to be very grateful for!!!

      My fav is still the one about Joe and the stuck truck, even tho it’s basically knit-free content…Dec 18, 2008. You’re very welcome!

  6. Awesome! I have decided that my goal this year is to spin a sweater’s worth of yarn from some fleece that I have had (for a few years), and then… ahem… knit a sweater from it. Hahahahaha. Well, it might happen. But so far, January is zooming past, and I need to re-watch my spinning video and maybe do some practice spins… but, goals, right?

  7. Congrats, Stephanie! I had expected to go back to reading the comments on Team Abigail and was gobsmacked to see another post. You go, girl!

  8. DPNs are superior in every way, though I have gotten bitten a bit by the wee 9″ circulars and might be biknitual.
    Congrats on the 19 years. I’m so glad to see your joy.

  9. Happy Blog-iversary!

    Perhaps putting the daily sock knitting aside for a bit is what you need to do now. I’m sure you’re planning to knit all kinds of baby socks, so knitting adult socks might be overkill. As startitis can strike at any time, and it tends to hit you in the winter, I think we all understand.

    As far as your preference to lick a cat rather than using two circular needles…maybe it’s time for you to get another cat.

  10. Congrats on 19 yrs! It’s been a treat to get to read along on the adventures. Thank you for sharing.

    And go for the sweaters with reckless joy and abandon. It seems like the perfect time for a wild celebration of knitting. The socks aren’t going anywhere you can’t retrieve them from later 😉

  11. I just love this post. I’ve been following and watching and enjoying your beautiful family story. Today when I read this and said out loud, “I love this lady!,” my husband asked who I was talking about. I told him you’re a knitter and he just understood that you are important to me. Thank you for sharing and enjoy every minute of your time with that DK yarn…and the socks too, when the time is right.

  12. I just love your posts. I like reading about Elliot (my maiden name is Elliott and my grandson is named after that – Elliott) so I have a soft spot for him.
    I have a new ball of yarn sitting next to me to be made into my fave scarf pattern – the one row handspun scarf, but finishing up a couple quilts for donation. Quilting is my obsessive vice, but knitting is my fun and portable quick little thing I do on the side. I know you get it. And we get you, Thanks for sharing with us, and yes, we will be here patiently waiting for another blog post.

  13. Congrats on 19 years and I do understand….I swatched today for a sweater even though I am knitting a sweater and a dog sweater and socks…and maybe another pair of socks. Sometimes you just have to let the impulse win.

  14. I can’t believe it’s been 19 years. (When I think about the changes in my life in that time – whoa!!) I feel part of this community. I totally understand Startitus, though I blame the pandemic for my inability to concentrate on even a mildly complicated pattern, and all the wips. I too hate circulars (I just bought more dpns, though I have MANY, just because the original packaging said “non glitter”), and why wouldn’t one raid stash to start a sweater. Thank you. Celebrate, Enjoy. Jo-Anne

  15. Ah, our fickle and capricious Harlot is back.

    If you keep posting like this, I’m going to be mentioning the gansey pretty soon. As you said, The Blog will understand.

  16. Congratulations on 19 years blogging! It has been a pleasure to read your posts over the years and as long as you want to continue, I’ll be here reading. Best of wishes to you and your lovely family. Thank you for sharing your life with us!

  17. So many thoughts and possible responses come to mind as mid-post, I feel a wave come over me. A smile, a sense of recognition, a mutual understanding… just a sense of love. I love this thing you do here. i love the inspiration. I love the way you invite us in to your family while also respecting their privacy and boundaries. I love being along on this ride all these many years. Here’s to all the years to come. <3

  18. Yesterday I spent about two hours sorting irregularly shaped 6/0 seed beads until I had a pile of about 400 that would fit on the most infernally tiny crochet hook so I could finally finish a shawl that’s been in my WIP pile for *checks watch* five years.

    And then, instead of finishing the shawl, I impulse purchased a chunky sweater pattern off Etsy, ran out to buy the yarn, and am halfway up the back as we speak.

    It’s fine. Those beads aren’t going anywhere. Unlike me, in my new chunky sweater, hopefully very soon.

  19. There’s something wonderful about a space where you can speak your mind and be understood. Thanks for providing that space in your virtual living room and inviting us in.
    I’m so pleased to be part of The Blog and happy we are still providing that space for you, too. Nineteen years and counting. Wow.

    (Can’t agreed with you about the circs vs DPNs though – magic loop changed my [knitting] life. Vive la différence!)

  20. Happy 19th! Planning to make my donation.

    And also — yes, so much yes to startis and other people not understanding. I have “only” 4 active projects on the needles right now, and that just doesn’t feel like enough. I really want to order sweater quantities of yarn… but I keep telling myself that I have to first seam up my sweater first. The knitting has been done for… seven months now?

    • Um, I have 5 sets of size 1 dpns, often all busy at once . . . Well, actually 4 3/4 sets, one needle having disappeared down a crack in a deck on a Caribbean island . . .

  21. Happy anniversary! I love your tradition of donating the year amount to the bike rally and have done it all years that I have been able to. And I love your blog and books and think of your words often, in fact several times every week the phrase “needs a hit of lace to get through the day” pops in my head and I feel totally normal 🙂

  22. Happy Blogiversary Stephanie. It’s good to see you back. I’ve made my $19 donation. Here’s hoping your team crushes it again this year.
    Continue to be gentle with yourself. I’ve been on the ride your on for the past 42 years. The days get easier, but the pain never leaves. I can tell you the grief can show up anywhere, at any time of the day, When it does, allow yourself some time to accept it, and move on. And most importantly, keep talking about it with you family.

  23. Um, grandma Steph? you just survived 23 days with a house full of people including a newborn and a wonky sleep schedule..

    It’s also winter… Even in Texas almost everything is a dull shade of brown….

    You ABSOLUTELY NEED that sweater with the self striping yoke!

  24. Congratulations!! I love reading whatever you want to write, whenever you are motivated to share anything with us. Your humorous and down-to-earth take on life always feels like a warm hug to me. And it’s so great to be in a community of other knitting geeks who understand. Go knit anything you want to!

  25. I have three virtual carts full of sweater yarn…two cowls, two socks, two sweaters and a baby blanket in the active knitting rotation. We shall not speak of the things in time out. I feel like you are my people too. I am glad to be here with you all.

    Happy 19!

  26. Happy Blog-iversary! This blog is such a wonderful gift to all of us. This post is another installment in a long long list of posts that make me feel seen.

    (Since we’re among friends: I recently started knitting lace hexes for Ysolda Teague’s Nectar Blanket with, you guessed it, a SELF-STRIPING YARN, and it’s quite the most exciting knitting I’ve done for years, and while obviously I’ve told my family, partner, friends and coworkers about this and they’ve listened patiently, YOU will really understand why it’s been so gripping I’ve been staying up too late, because another row can’t hurt, or starting another hex seems like such a treat).

    Follow your joy, Steph! We’re so glad to still be on this journey with you.

  27. You are preaching to the choir here, Stephanie — we all know this feeling! Thank you for keeping this thing going for 19 years and for all the joy it’s brought me in that time!

  28. Baby! Yarn! Who cares about being organized??

    *pink heart explosion*

    (I am totally enthralled by that color combination of cloudy greys plus wah-POW blue & yellow, can’t wait to grimace enviously at your updates)

  29. I have startitis in nearly every phase of my life…blogging being one of my prime examples. I have left a digital trail of abandoned blogs that would confound Bill Gates. I started this year with a blogging plan much like your sock knitting plan. I’ve almost made it a month! I’m so pleased and yet I know better than to get on my high horse. It is a long drop if I fall off. I, too, am a DPN sock knitter who fell in love with making these tiny works of art about the time you started writing about knitting. Thank you and congratulations on a blog well written – and the new baby.

  30. I feel you on the startitis: there is some gorgeous new sock yarn calling to me from the stash-bin. Except for the other socks— er sock rather that I’ve cast on, and the birthday sweater that just needs 3 more increases on the second sleeve. Oh, and the day job, and, and,

    All this to say: Happy bloggingversary. Shine on!

  31. But you didn’t tell us which sweater pattern you’re planning! 😉

    Congrats on 19 years and even more congrats on Abbie. Yesterday’s post made me weep.

  32. I have two sweaters and a hat on needles and I still started a third sweater class two weeks ago. You are definitely not alone. Happy blogiversary!

  33. Congratulations on and thank you for, 19 years! I’m not the only part of the blog that wants to know what sweater you’re planning (or what sweaters, it sounds like). I think I could knit yokes of self striping yarn till the cows come home. I just finished an Eye Dazzler by Jennifer Berg. It was fun to knit and now it’s fun to wear. Off to but the accountants and start my day.

  34. I can’t express how much better your blog posts make me feel! I am always beating myself up for my “start-itis” attacks, but no more…if it’s good enough for Stephanie it’s good enough for me. We are normal creative people with creative souls and habits; more power to us!!!
    Congratulations on your blog birthday, I try to never miss a post

  35. Oh Stephanie,

    I love DPNs for socks too. And top down only. I feel the same about self-striping yarn—it’s so much fun to watch the stripes appear. Falling off your plan for Abigail is perfect—you only get those days once in her life.

  36. Happy Blog-iversary! And thanks for creating such a warm community where we can understand each other. It’s always nice to hear about someone else’s best laid plans going off the rails. Happy knitting!

  37. Happy Blogiversary!
    Oh Steph & blog friends, I started the new year, very resolute that I would finish all my wips that I started in 2021 (and…ahem….earlier….) before I started anything new. And yet…the husband sized, sensibly gray sweater, in January. Well…no one here would hold it against me, would you? If I just cast on a little something else? Maybe the kids need some bright little mittens?

  38. I think for me, knitting is like people, you can love and spend time with many of them. And sometimes go a long time between seeing each other and still love them and want to spend time with them.

  39. Ahahahahaaa! Yes! I have (redacted) sweaters and socks OTN, but one glance from a new pattern (Kaav cardigan) had me rootling through my stash and casting on with yarn meant for a WHOLE DIFFERENT SWEATER. Which now I want to buy more yarn for. Happy sigh. Congrats on 19 years, you’re an international treasure.

  40. Congratulations! Love the blog and your Patreon entries. I would love to know the name of the sweater you cast on. The picture of the yarn makes me very curious.

  41. So, I am not allowed to buy new yarn (except for the vanilla sweater kit from the woolly thistle because I have a gift certificate, and, obvs. that can’t be wasted) and a LYS is going out of business and had this lovely shade of green yarn and my child even gave me permission to buy it and do you know what happened? THE DAMN WEBSITE SEEMS TO HAVE BROKEN. With my yarn in a cart, HOSTAGE. (and it’s online only bc they gave up physical space in 2020 for reasons).

    What am I supposed to do with that? It was also going to be a sweater. Do I have a sweater’s worth of Mrs. Crosby HatBox Grackle that needs knitting? I do. Do I have a pattern, I do not. But this yarn I do not have I did have a pattern for (the pattern is two colors and won’t work for the hatbox). Sigh.

    I feel this. Thanks for sharing. Still sending all the good thoughts to all y’all. The Abigail plan is still not bananas and I don’t think anyone has ever loved me THAT much. It’s a beautiful thing y’all did/do.

  42. Belated wishes for your blog-iversary (thank you, Ken!) It’s been an amazing ride; 19 years have flown and looking forward to every entry… between the important stuff like Abigail, and Elliot, and (who knows) perhaps a gansey…

    Team circular for all but socks; DPNs required on that front. My hands just won’t handle the small loops…
    Happy 19; wishing you joy, happiness and as many more that your heart will share.

  43. Congratulations on nineteen years of blogging. I’m looking forward to at least nineteen more. Love, love, love the Abigail, Elliot, Meg, and Alex stories. Love DPNs, tried circulars, and the flyers and really just hated them so decided that it’s okay to like what I like; I’m sixty seven years old for heaven sake. Oh and love your videos (patreon). You are so entertaining in addition to being a fabulous teacher.

  44. I’m away from home for the winter and we’re going to the beach today. I should work on the mitts, the scarf, the sweater already started….. but after reading this post, I’m going to cast on a new sweater and it’s the 2020 Rally yarn from Indigodragonfly! Only seems appropriate!

  45. Congratulations on 19 years! I have been following you for all that time, going by the age of my oldest grandkid. She is 21 now and I remember seeing you at a book reading ar an Ottawa bookstore, before she was born, or when she was vert little. Following your knitting thru life has given me much pleasure and Important Stuff to think about.

  46. Hey the blog can have a glass of Prosecco now.
    We should get it an age of majority card. Such a goofy Ontario thing.
    Congratulations!

  47. Congratulations! My favorite post is “The Reason for the Divorce”.
    Just this morning I went to my stash to find the Malabrigo I got for a brioche cowl. I finally understand brioche and can start this pattern that I bought 2 years ago. But I said to myself, “Finish something first!”
    Nice to remember how much support there is for January startitis. It’s my yarn, and I’ll start something new if I want to!

  48. I love everything about this post.
    Thanks, Steph.

    P.S. Can’t wait to see you in the sweater(s) at March Strung Along! But, no pressure. 😉

  49. Thank you! I’ve been around since the beginning, and knitting life is special, meaningful and connecting (in more ways than the yarn thing). I’m a hermit at heart, but yarn and string is one of the important things that keeps me present in all the lives that matter to me.

  50. I totally understand the startitis. I meant to clear out my WIP box, really I did. I finished the slightly late Christmas stocking (the baby won’t care, and the parents agree with me that late is better than contaminated with cold germs). I finished the “three French hens” that I found while looking for yarn to donate to the local school’s craft club. I’ve also gotten back to working on a blanket that had been hibernating for a while.
    But… I started a felted bobbled bag. It was a kit, so that’s almost a WIP, right?
    And… I got my hands on the preliminary prize list for the local agricultural fair (that’s the list of things you can enter in the competitions, which include “homecrafts” categories), so I’ve been thinking about entering all sorts of knits for babies and children of my acquaintance. That means I need to start planning their Christmas presents now.
    And also… the Women’s Institute is collecting blankets and I have lots of fleece fabric that would be perfect. This one will probably keep me busy until collection day.

  51. Of course, you’re susceptible to the siren call of a new sweater yarn for yourself!
    Don’t fight the startitis. I think it’s one of the greatest gifts of knitting…to create something new. Cast on knitting sistah! There’s plenty of room on the couch.
    I think you should start the tradition of making yourself a new sweater for every blogiverssary!
    And socks? Only get knit when there’s a spreadsheet to answer to.

  52. Congratulations on 19 years! Not many people do anything for 19 years straight these days and to write a consistently well written blog is amazing.

  53. Ah yes. Same same. Helpless in the face of fingering yarn. Filled with joy using magic loop with one circular for socks. Sure that this is the year I’ll knit “all” the socks. See, exact same.

  54. Happy blogaversary! I think that your sock idea is brilliant! For about three minutes I thought I would do that too. Then I got real. LOL Startitis has hit me too. I have half, well, nearly half of a baby blanket knit and really want to knit that and the other one that is waiting, partly knit. Actually there are two of them. LOL And two pairs of socks that need finishing. So I went down into my yarn room and brought up some sock yarn. Because I want to knit socks. But not the ones waiting for a mate, or the one with the cuff nearly done. Of course not! Oh well. I know you understand. Same as I understand your sweater plans. The Blog is a special place for me, too. It is a place of acceptance and fun, sadness and joy. And knitting. 🙂

  55. Happy Blog Anniversary!
    Thank you x 19!
    You are the pure heart of knitting. You captured it again- knitters get what you talk about. We do, we do.
    And it is a total pleasure to read your blog.

  56. Happy happy bloggerversary! I’m with you about dpns, too, and I can’t wait to read about Abigail’s blanket. It’s good to see you in print again.

  57. Congratulations on 19 years! I’ve been here for about 15 of them, reading your blog since I was a teenager. I’m now a mum in my 30s, and I still love hearing your thoughts on knitting and your family.

    I recently thought I could knit a little bit everyday and make a (heavily cabled) shawl for my wedding in 10 days. Well, 6 weeks after my wedding I’m still not done with it. The best laid plans huh?

  58. Happy 19th Blog-aversary!
    As I read this post, I’d just cast on 32 sts on 6″ dpns for…a pair of baby socks (Kate Atherley’s pattern. I can tell you that because you and probably all your other readers will know who she is). A cyber-friend of mine in Ontario just became grandma to twin girls, so at least a bit of the edge off my Annual Startitis (January Edition) was taken off by her accepting my offer to knit these. She’s busy with the babies and her daughter. I live in Alberta and have no grandchildren, so have more time than she does right now. However, that doesn’t mean I’m immune. This month I’ve already started 2 hats and a blanket. At least I’ve bought no new yarn (yet).

  59. I found you when I was a new knitter, almost at the very beginning of the blog – a dear friend pointed me here, and I decided to check in once in a while.

    That, like your sock plan, did not go according to plan and was a bold faced lie.

    I’ve been here ever since, and I look forward to you sharing your knitting, your thoughts, and your life and family with us. Thank you Stephanie.

    I’m gonna go freak out the bike rally’s accounting department later this week. Heh. I love it.

  60. I’m glad to see that you’re feeling more like yourself. Personally I’m in mitten territory – one pair with one thumb, one pair with no thumbs and two half pairs with no thumbs. I too am all about the starting, the colour combos, the yarn winding. The finished object – meh

  61. Oh, my dear. We’ve been at it a while, haven’t we? Make you a deal — you cast on every damn thing you want, and I’ll do the same, while knitting away on the 12” circular sock needles I’m amazed they make since I appear to be the only person in the world who likes using them. You Snorgle that baby’s head for me.

  62. I love this post. it falls in line with your Christmas story reading on Patreon. If you’re loving that daily sock routine then go for it (and it would not surprise me at all if you get back to it too), but if you’re not, it’s knitting. Do what you love. It’s not an obligation. Now I need to apply that to myself as I’ve been dying to start a new shawl (I also got the yarn wound an ready) but haven’t started it so I can finish a hat and a washcloth, and oh I “need” to knit my DD a ponytail hat and a sweet friend a cowl… But they’re not calling to me… Time to start that shawl!

  63. Happy 19th blogiversary! I’ve been reading along most of these years. I love to go back and read from the start again. Yes, we love you and totally understand the startitis and the sweater vs. sock – we love them too. I also feel comfortable telling you that I have knit a sock on dpns but it was a struggle and the 2nd sock was done on magic loop. I can even say that my preferred method is TAAT toe up on magic loop. I know that you may shudder at that idea, but you will honor my preference for me. That’s just what we do as knitters.

    Much love to you and yours, especially sweet Abbie.

  64. Just knit what you’re led to don’t worry about changing your mind. The things that need to be cared for in your life, you never deviate from. Your family, new and old additions, your people whether close by or over the waves, your Bike Rally those are the things that you never waiver from. That, dear Stephanie you should be truly proud of – Congratulations on 19 years of dependability.

  65. Happy 19 years! It has been fabulous to read along this journey with you (and I’m pretty sure that while I didn’t find the blog till it had been out a few years, I’ve read every post!)
    I am also a dpn sock knitter! They just make keeping track of stitches so much easier 🙂
    I think the family plan for Abigail was absolutely beautiful! So much love for her!
    I have also been hit with a mild dose of startitis, though it teamed up with a dose of ‘I must have that gorgeous yarn in a colour I almost never wear’ And just like that a pink mini skein set was in my stash and pink and grey mitts were started… to the dismay of at least 2 shawls already on the needles lol!

  66. WAIT what? the gansey was from 2009? I simply can’t believe it.
    Sweaters are perfectly appropriate, it’s still winter in Canada after all!
    Carry on Steph, we love you (all)

  67. Thank you Steph.
    I’ve been reading since I picked up my needles in 2008, after a long hiatus. You were part of my re-discovery of the joy of knitting. You were also my inspiration to learn to spin, and my motivator to try to knit my first sock. I don’t know if you realize it, but it’s not just you for me. Your Blog is also my blog. This community that you’ve created, nurtured, and maintained for 19 years is also a safe and reassuring place to come. I don’t have a knitting community around me, but when I have tea with Yarn Harlot, I feel that I am part of one. Thank you for making this place.
    PS: I am also Team DPN, but I like the flexi-flip variation too.

  68. Good for you, Steph! The compulsion to knit yourself a sweater is life-affirming, methinks.

    When I was reading your list of idealized-ideas, I also remembered “Tuesdays are for Spinning” .(hee, hee) I’ve lost track – Was Joe’s Gansey ever completed…? 😀 lol

    Congrats, Grandmum, Welcome Abigail and… no, not one of you are remotely bananas.

    With love,
    Maura (Reader since around 2005…?)

  69. There is nothing like the thrill of planning and starting a new project.! I don’t even know how many I have on needles.

    I always have to buy more needles because mine are all in partially done projects. At least I keep a copy of the pattern with & a note of where I left off. I also know that I will die before they are finished…and that is OK.
    Many of my earlier projects were from my Grandmother’s unfinished projects and friend’s relatives unfinished projects. I have 3 God daughters who knit…Taught to knit. I hope they enjoy my WIPs

    • I’m glad you mentioned the inherited and gifted WIPS and yarn. When my mother stopped knitting, she gave me all her yarn and needles, some with their original receipts dating back to the 1960s. Does anyone actually finish knitting all the yarn they have or is inherited yarn passed down through the generations like wooly heirlooms?

      • I have yarn (and fabric, and embroidery thread) from at least three departed relatives in my stash. My mother is known as The Knitter in the family, so she gets given a lot of things after elderly relatives pass. I often come home with things she’ll never use when we fly up to visit for the holidays.

  70. I’m so happy for you and your family. When you didn’t post for a long time, I wondered what was going on. Congrats to everyone. I also love that you’re all working together to soothe yourselves and move forward. Yes, I often completely start something new because it feels so good. Who cares, it’s not hurting anyone! Blessings to all of you and may you continue to thrive.

  71. Congratulations on 19 years. I’m still catching up with many years of older posts but look forward to each new one. I’m so happy for you and all your family on Abigail’s safe arrival and that your plan to circle the wagons to watch over her left everyone in a sheltered space. Today’s post really hit me where I live. I have been struggling with my desire to order yarn for a new sweater and the reality of the amount of yarn in my stash that is waiting to be knit. I think I’m ready to hit the place order tab.

  72. I want to start a sweater that I don’t need. So time to wind yarn and swatch. I found a SQ of DK weight from Indigodragonfly and it should be knitted into something beautiful.

  73. Happy 19 years! I completely understand what you mean. I was done with the back and half a front of a cardigan (using a lovely yarn specifically dyed for my LYS!), and then BAM, Annie Lupton of Boho Fiber Chic released her Pollinators Pullover, and I found Malabrigo Chunky in the colorway *Pollen* and then before I knew it, the yarn was at my doorstep. Those yarn fumes’ll get ya. 🙂

  74. And now I totally want to abandon the baby blanket I need to urgently make and cast on the sweater that’s been sitting there looking at me. Only instead of my planned yoke I now want to do a self striping one, which is a lot harder to sort as I’m doing chunky……

  75. Thank you for telling us that even fast and great knitters can feel the need to drop one project in favour of another shiny new one.

    I started knitting socks more than 50 years ago and every effort to change to 2 circulars has fallen by the wayside. I have dozens of sock dpns, some with partly knit socks and some behind the sofa cushions. Pullovers on circular needles are terrific, on socks they just don’t work for me.

    I’ve just made a commitment to make my best friend a stack of winter socks. Luckily our feet are the same size as mine and I might just turn all my WIPs into socks for her.

  76. Me: This year I will actually FINISH some things and then I will be able to see my workroom instead of having it buried in WIPs and UFOs!

    Also me, at least twice a day: youngest child! Doth thou needeth a jumper, pray? What colours? Oh good, let’s cast on a swatch- NO! WIPs first!

    Also also me, at least twice a week: Oooooh, this stash fabric would make a great vest. Do I have any matching thread- NO! There’s no space in the project boxes! UFOs first!

    I don’t know if it’s the time of year or the position of the planets, but you’re definitely not alone. I predict another week, tops, before I break down and start at least one new thing…

  77. Happy birthday blog!!! I feel like a part of the furniture, having been here since October 2004 (at which time I caught up from the beginning very quickly ), seeing the girls (and Hank!) Grus up, welcoming each band as they arrived, sharing your grief for those who left your world, and being inspired and challenged and learning so much from you Steph, about knitting, parenting, life in general. Waiting for each new book, back in the day!
    Years ago, when I had a blog feed of 100+ blogs I tried to keep up with, I once thought ‘of I could only ever read one blog for the rest of my life, it would be Steph’s’. And here we are, the one blog I still read, and always will
    Thank-you for being the gift you always have been and continue to be ❤️

  78. Happy Blogiversary! I’m a relative latecomer (2007 or 8, I think). Thanks for making me welcome in your ‘living room’ and for all that you’ve taught me about knitting. Thanks for sharing your life, your writing and yourself with us, the Blog.

  79. Happy blog birthday Steph!
    And I so totally get the startitis. I find I dislike this sweater I’m working on so much, I got a loom out and started weaving.
    I’m going to frog stuff, I swear.

  80. I am so happy you have blogged. I knew i had to check to see if you had and what I found is the story of my life lately, minus the beautiful, beautiful baby. (Of which I’ve had 7 myself)!
    Leaving on “vacation”, knitting socks (magic loop), wanting to start a sweater to take on the trip, laundry, bills, catch up on bills, practicing organ, scriptures, cleaning, making sourdough bread,etc.,etc. Just too much for my 75 year old head to handle.
    But you bring it all into perspective. We just do our best and that’s good enough. I love you!

  81. My love for self-striping yarn knit into plain ribbed socks on dpns is like my love for dark chocolate–pure and passionately strong. (If I’m eating dark chocolate WHILE knitting? Perfection.) My guess is that we’ve both been knitting long enough that we don’t “need” to knit things for people. We want to, and we love to, and that’s great. But it’s also great that sometimes we just chuck the whole plan and knit ourselves a sweater. Rock on.

  82. I started the year with a plan to finish all my WIPs. I finished two blankets, then startitis took over. I cast on a chunky jumper but also got back into knitting socks and am on my third pair. One pair of gloves also complete. Knitting is my happy place and as long as I’m knitting, it doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it keeps me sane and happy. 🙂

  83. okay I’m such a nerd! I was going to go donate the suggested $19 but when I saw how close the 4K mark was I had to up it! For Charlotte and Abigail and all the people their people people for.

  84. Congratulations on 19 years.

    And, congratulations on Abigail. That had to be such a stressful time for your all. I’m glad you found a way to make it through.

    I also did the Cozy Knitter Advent socks and found them so charming. I did them together on a single circular for the experience of it. I have no plans to that again.

    I’m needle agnostic. I like DPNs but I do poorly at carrying knitting around on them because they get lost or fall out of my knitting.

    I liked the experience of a daily knitting project like the socks, but wanted something else. I’m knitting a temperature blanket. I am really enjoying the whole process. When the weather is wonky, I think about how it means I get to knit a different color.

  85. Congratulations on 19 years! As for contributing to the bike rally, I don’t yet know whether I’ll be able to contribute cash, but if you decide to do karmic balancing gifts this year, I have some really nice Mongolian yarns I can share: 100% yak, 100% camel, and cashmere, in a variety of colors. Let me know if you’re interested, and I’ll send pics.

    Speaking of colors, in the last few years, I’ve found a couple of indie dyers who create beautiful colorways (no self-striping, though). You might want to look at Purple Lamb Yarns and Black Sheep Yarns. No affiliation, just a fan.

  86. I’m so glad for your blog and your books and all that you’ve shared over the years. I found At Knits End (and soon after, this blog) at a very scary point in my life and your words helped me find laughter again and also feel less alone.
    Thank you for inviting us into your virtual living room. Oh and also teaching that it’s totally ok to be brave and try new things and tweek patterns to fit my knitting style. It opened up my knitting world.
    Cheers to you and 19 years!

  87. Your eulogy for your friend Suzanne is lovely, powerful, and heartbreaking. I am so sorry for your loss. I wish I could have met her, and I’m so glad you got to have her as a friend.

  88. I recently discovered a whole pile of WIPs including a hat with only EIGHT stitches left on the needles (actually the needles had wandered off to another project…). I promised myself to finish 5 of the nearly-done things (including that hat) before starting anything new!

  89. I really like how the sweater is coming along!
    (Thanks for posting your Instagram pics on The Blog page) Would like to know the pattern name.
    And I can see you’re busy adoring that sweet new family member….what a great photo.
    It’s nice to see you smiling.

  90. Mischief managed and donation made.
    You do you as you need to do. If that means holding a baby and ignoring the yarn fumes wafting from the unknit socks, so be it. If that means we get sweater knitting we will happily watch the project grow. (I’ll lay odds the socks will sneak in a lure you away now and then.) Looking forward to the end of March and the beginning of April.
    Hugs!

    P.S. my verify this time was bicycles!

  91. donation made.
    not because you have made our lives better for the last 19 years, but your donation of time is well worth $19.

  92. First of all, you already are an amazing person, socks or not. I wouldn’t still be knitting if it hadn’t been for your knitting adventures and misadventures on the blog.
    Second, I’ve also got a case of startitis. A bad one. I went on a knitting trip in February and OMG, every day was like fashion show with all the other knitters sporting their creations. Inspiration overload. I came home & cast on four sweaters, which are now on hiatus because in my eagerness to knit those lovely sweaters immediately if not sooner, arthritis flared up in my hands. So now I visit Ravelry and Pinterest and see soooo many other sweet temptations there. . . but alas.
    I knew you’d understand.

  93. “A 50-year-old Spanish elite athlete, Beatriz Flamini, emerged Friday (April 14, 2023) from a cave in southern Spain, where she had lived 70 meters underground for 500 days, as part of an experiment on the effects of isolation on the human mind and body. . . she spent her time doing exercises to keep herself fit, painting and drawing, and knitting woolly hats.” Apparently she also took books. I hope one of them was a book of knit patterns.

  94. Happy Anniversary!
    This was my 1st read of one of your blogs. I’m new to knitting but I can’t seem to get enough of it.
    I came across your book ‘cast off’ and have probably read it more than 5 times now… thank you for your humor, your openness and honesty. It just makes my day!
    I look forward to reading more of your blogs

  95. Miss Yarn Harlot blog. As a non-social media person
    (not Facebook, not Instagram), a bit bereft now, as your blog was the first – and only place – I found you.
    Will you be back? Or do I just keep checking, week after week, month after month, in hope?
    – an ex-Canadian, longing for news from TO

    • Ditto for me – I don’t do other “social”, so I can’t wait to see something. (and sad to see the spam type comments below this one).

  96. I feel like the neighbour that takes her morning walk with her coffee cup and knitting to your house because that’s pretty much what I’ve been virtually doing when I’ve stopped by the blog all these years. But it’s like this is the winter you snowbirded and I keep s-l-o-w-l-y sauntering by the blog’s front porch, hoping to see the curtains open and a sweater blocking in the sunshine or you returning from a training ride (it IS Rally training season isn’t it?)
    Come back home soon- you’re sorely missed friend!

  97. I love reading through a post that will make people think. Also, thanks a lot for allowing me to comment here! If you want to know about run 3. Maybe this game will be useful to you after stressful working hours. Let’s experience this fun with me.

  98. Thank goodness!!! I’m firmly in Camp DPNs…I’d rather let my dog French kiss me than try any of the other techniques, though to be fair, I’ve tried both Magic Loop and 9″ circulars.

    As for startitis, I’m commenting wayyyy late in the party. Had a hip replacement, and thought I’d be getting a lot of knitting done while I was recoverying. Seems pain Rx doesn’t allow for much knitting. But I did whack out a bunch of singletons to make mates for my bad case of Second Sock Syndrome. And now I’ve been churning out washcloths for Christmas 2023 just to take the edge off the socks. It’s a constant balance! Thanks for making me feel heard & seen!

  99. Your eulogy for your friend Suzanne is lovely, powerful, and heartbreaking. I am so sorry for your loss. I wish I could have met her, and I’m so glad you got to have her as a friend.

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