Looking back.
Reflecting on my 2023 projects and what they’ve taught me.
INSIDE: what I’ve learned from my makes, beautiful cable stitches, online/offline yarn delights, the power of reflection + wildflowers.
As we head towards the end of the year, I thought I’d look back on everything I’ve made this year, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way.
(If you’re also on Substack or you have a blog, I invite you to do the same and share it with me in the comments! I’d love to see what you’ve made this year.)
Let’s begin!
Cross Stitch Hummingbird
When I arrived in Chiang Mai, I struggled to find a shop that sold yarn.
The receptionist at the hotel thought I might find some at a place that ended up selling sewing machines, embroidery thread and embroidery kits.
No yarn, but I bought a sweet Cross Stitch kit of a hummingbird among hibiscus flowers. The idea was to give it to my mother-in-law for her 80th birthday.
I’d not done cross stitch for years! It was so enjoyable to do it again. I find cross stitching very calming and I love seeing the scene come to life with every stitch.
This project taught me to let go of trying to get perfect stitches.
There are mistakes I left in and the back is really messy but who’s going to see that? It’s in a frame with only the front side showing.
My mother-in-law appreciated the gift, which was lovely.
Textured Stitch Swatches (Later A Blanket)
Having received a book published in the 1980s of different textured knitting stitches, crochet stitches, and embroidery, I created different swatches in some yarn I found at a small craft shop in Chiang Mai.
(It’s called The Complete Stitch Dictionary: Knitting, Crochet, Embroidery And Needlepoint, and it was published in 1988 by the Artists House.)
I’d never seen so much yarn in such a tight space! Packed to the rafters as we like to say in Australia. 😊
My plan was to sew them all together and make a small lap blanket. That I did!
It turned out a little wonky due to the different sizes of the swatches, but it was another lesson in embracing imperfection.
I gifted the lap blanket and the book to some lovely friends I’d made in Chiang Mai before I left. They truly appreciated them both.
A warm glow enters my body when my craft is appreciated by others!
Colored Pencil Sketches
There were a few weeks when I didn’t knit or crochet and instead became absorbed by sketching with colored pencils.
I mainly drew flowers which bring me great joy.
I then stuck them up on the wall behind my work desk and brought color and life into what was a very bland room!
My Tara Top
Knitting with milk cotton (a fiber derived from casein protein) was a first for me when living in Chiang Mai.
The hot and humid weather meant knitting with anything else would be too warm to wear!
My Tara Top was knitted in DK weight milk cotton (Chinese yarn with no indication of yarn weight) and this project taught me about accepting disappointment and letting go of control.
The yarn I’d bought online ended up having balls of slightly different shades of green even though they had the same dye lot number.
It wasn’t until I’d reached midway through the body I saw a distinct color variance! I was sooo disappointed!
I made the best of it and fortunately had enough yarn to complete the body with the same color. I used the slightly darker shade on the ends of each sleeve.
My True Nature Tee
One word that comes to mind with this project is patience!
I attempted the first rows with the technique of knitting straight for a few rows and joining in the round at least 6 times. I kept twisting the stitches!
I knit the entire lace yoke and moved to the separation of the body and sleeves stitches only to find I didn’t have the correct stitch count. I tried to go back to find the mistake and couldn’t. So I ripped it all out and started again.
But with the second attempt, the lace yoke worked out. This tee brought me much joy, and wearing it is a delight!
The Flow Tee (My Current WIP)
I was so relieved and grateful my joining in the round for the neckline was correct on the first go!
I feel I’ve gained more confidence in my knitting and learning more about different gauge and using a different fiber from the original pattern.
One thing I’ve been working on this year is trying not to compare myself with others. “Compare and despair” is imprinted in my mind as comparison is so unhelpful. Doing this robs me of the joy I experience in my craft.
So what if I don’t knit quickly or complete lots of projects? I’m crafting in my own way, and that’s enough!
Other Projects
In Dec 2022, I also finally started my YouTube channel after much procrastinating! I published the following tutorials there (and here on Substack):
How To Knit Cables Without A Cable Needle: (Watch on YouTube/Substack)
How To Knit The Polka Eyelet Stitch: (Watch on YouTube/Substack)
I also made a YouTube Short on how to tie an easy and quick slip knot.
I only made a few, but here’s to more in 2024! Hope you find them useful.
And another question for you: What project in 2023 brought you the most joy?
Our New T-Shirt Design
This is my youngest’s latest creation for the week… And it’s the periodic table, with a twist! I thought this was very clever. It’s called Scientific Knitter.
As he explained, “show off your love of Science and Fiber Arts with the word yarn in the form of Yttrium, Argon and Nitrogen!”
There’s been some progress on the cable yoke of my Flow tee.
The cables are either 1/1 Right cross, 1/1 Left Cross, 1/1 RPC or 1/1 LPC which are easy to do with rearranging the stitches as they only involve two stitches.
The cable yoke pattern is 62 rows, so I’m over halfway there now.
Knitting in the days leading up to the holidays has been my solace and refuge. I go into another part of my mind when I knit, there I find more calm and peace.
I’m still experiencing delight as the yoke evolves, it looks so lovely!
My son is still knitting bookmarks and grouping them by similar color palettes.
He’s decided to make them and donate them to local op shops so they can sell them. He tells me they were very pleased with the first batch!
A trip down memory lane…
In 2020, there was little chance for me to buy yarn in person due to me not being near a yarn store and lockdowns during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Yearning for a shawl to knit that comforted me and kept me warm, I came across a mosaic shawl pattern by the Australian knitwear designer Ambah O’Brien called the Kentia Wrap.
Her sample spoke to me as it included so many beautiful blues.
She’d collaborated with Koigu Yarns using 10 of their Pencil Box mini skeins and one primary color.
The blue kits had sold out in the Australian yarn shops offering them, but I went with a kit with autumnal colors.
Not colors I’d normally choose, but thought they would suit me and the items I wore in winter.
I shopped online with Knit Purl Sew (in Western Australia) which is far from where I live! The owner of the store was also knitting the Kentia Wrap when I ordered my yarn.
Thank goodness for the Australian postal service during the pandemic, as my yarns arrived sooner than I expected.
Receiving yarn in the mail is exciting and opening it is even better!
I can still remember the pure joy I felt at seeing the different colors, and the feel of the yarn, so soft and beautiful.
Mystery Quote Of The Week
“Knitters use knitting to value-add to the world.”
Who said it? Leave a comment or press reply! No cheating!
(You’ll find out if you were correct next week.)
Last week’s answer was… Clara Parkes! Let me know if you got it right.
Crafting Trivia Question Of The Week
What’s the most expensive knitting yarn in the world?
What’s the answer? Leave a comment or press reply! No cheating!
(You’ll find out if you were correct next week.)
Last week’s answer to: where does Fair Isle Knitting originate? was…
Fair Isle, Scotland!
Congratulations to
and for getting it right. Did you? Let me know if you did!Crochet.com has a new yarn line, called City Tweed! It’s that classic type of yarn with a luxurious twist. With 13 colorways to choose from.
They dye merino and superfine alpaca yarn two different shades, and when they’re blended together with Donegal Tweed, it creates a lovely tweedy heather.
Perfect for those winter days! It’s available in two weights, DK yarn & Aran yarn.
What I’m grateful for this week…
I’m grateful for my creativity and getting the chance to connect with other creative people. Together, making things by hand, we make a positive difference in the world.
I’m also grateful for having a window seat with a great view on the way back from Sydney! When you take off from the airport, as the runway is right near the ocean, and you get a wonderful view of the coastline.
I enjoyed watching the landscape change (from subtropical to arid) as we flew.
When we landed, it was a lovely sunny day and the garden surrounding the airport was in full bloom. They’ve done a wonderful job with the plants!
I love flowering plants. They’re all so pretty.
A thought for you to ponder this coming week…
In your reflections about your crafting, take stock of your achievements, gaining of knowledge and experiences of contentment.
So, may you bask in all the goodness your craft brings to your life and give thanks. And, look forward to the next year of creativity!
How’s your crafting going? Leave a comment or press reply!
(Disclosure: Any purchases made through links may earn me a commission.)
Before you go…
What a lovely roundup! All your three tee's were a treat to watch as they grew on your needles this year. Those bookmarks are cheerful and what a clever design using the element names!
Retrospectives remind us of where we’ve been and can tell us where we need to go. Thank you for yours and for all you various crafts! I have few craft skills other than knitting.
I love seeing your son’s projects. He’s talented, creative, and generous.
The piece I’m most pleased with is one I gave away. My good friend Amy stepped up in a huge way for me this summer when family couldn’t be bothered. She admired the wrap while I was making it, and since there was no way to repay her, I finished it and gave it her as a thank you. I don’t have any photos of it.
I don’t have a guess for the quote but the most expensive yarn I’m going to say is cervelt. I just heard of it this week listening to Norman at Nimble Needles. I’d never heard of it and most of the other yarn he talked about.
And speaking of YouTube, I listened to yours on I-cord edging. (Didn’t know you have a channel). Your voice is soothing and your instructions easy to follow. I know it’s extra work for you to make those, so thank you for all you do.