FO Friday - Goodbye 2021

It's the end of the year post, where I assess what I have knit and read in the last year, where my stash is at, and with my goals and plans are for 2022!

I read 113 books in 2022. Since I read for pleasure it doesn't actually matter to me whether I read 113 or 3 books. I did choose not to finish 13 books this year, which is an unusually high number for me. I wished I'd DNFd a couple more (Lincoln Highway and The Far Pavilions, I'm looking at you). When I looked at my read books I noticed that there was very little sci-fi or fantasy. These are two of my favourite genres, but I have to go looking for those books, so I'm going to make more of an effort to ready fantasy and sci-fi in 2022. Other than that, I'm sure I will go on reading and listening to all sorts of books.

My main knitting resolution was to knit less socks, because I have enough. I did manage to limit it to 9 - three pairs of felted slippers, two pairs of knee highs, two pairs for Leon and a pair each of crew and sports socks for me. Relatively restrained.

As Kat says "It's challenging to be a maker with a full closet". Which might be why this year I made 19 things for charity. I also shifted my focus a little and learnt to embroider. In 2022 I'm going to learn to crotchet properly.

I did more spinning that usual, which isn't saying a lot! I spun about 1400 meters of finished yarn - it took a long time though. In 2022 I'm going to spin Leon's winter set and also card fibre and spin a jumper for him.

I also did a bit of sewing again, but only masks, so I'm not sure if it counts.

And, in the only number I care about my stash is currently at 12,363 meters. It's stable about that number, maybe edging downwards very gradually and I'm fine with that.

And that was 2021. I crafted and read while the dramas of the world continued. As Elizabeth Zimmermann said "knit on through all crises" and what are out other options?

To read my all my book reviews, and to see everything I knit, you can find me on Ravelry as Sharondoubleknit and on GoodReads as Sharondblk.

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Geogradiant MKAL Part 1 - that was unexpected (spoilers)

Stephen West released the first MKAL clue on Thursday night. I started knitting it without looking at spoilers. When I got up on Friday he had sent through an "alternative" clue one. I then went and had a look at the spoiler thread to try to work out what was going on. Which was that some people thought the pattern looked like a "German hate symbol". I knit on anyway, since I was half-way through. Then he took down the original clue, replacing it with a mitred square in garter stitch. The Ravelry forums and Instagram are a complete shit-show, even though Rav is being moderated. It's been a bit disheartening, having something that is usually quite light and fun weighed down with all this. I admire Stephen's quick and sensitive response to this drama. I also feel that anything can look like anything if you squint. To me this looks like a Celtic knot. I think mine is pretty, and I'll knit on through all crises.

Linky Wednesday - the one with the drama

The drama about the Stephen West MKAL continues, and I can't be bothered with it. It's meant to be a fun, interesting, communal knit and and that's not what this year has turned in to. Stephen has done his best in a difficult situation, but I'm just not feeling it. Meanwhile, Israel is at war, and we (as a country) are going to vote "no" on a referendum that asks for basic consideration for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders. So yeah, lots of turmoil here. It's very tiring. I'm knitting a sock and considering what happens next. Luckily the reading was dramatic in a good way. I'm reading a NetGalley review copy of Last Summer at the Lake House and it's great. Super dramatic family drama about three sisters who loose their father unexpectedly and then find out that the family has secrets. I 've nearly finished it and I don't know what I'm going to read next. I've got a bit of a break between review books, so maybe Sta

Mussleburgh musings

I made a Mussleburgh hat earlier in the year, and even though I thought I was following the directions exactly it did not come out quite right. It was a little bit loose. My head is 51 cm, my gauge was 7 stitches, so according to the pattern I knit the right size. It's also a little bit shorter than I would like it. Too long for a beanie, too short for a good turn-up. I couldn't work out why. I still wore it, but it was not quite right. When I decided to knit one for Elise I knew I wanted to make it longer, and tighter. After I finished Elise's (with 24 fewer stitches) I realised something about mine: Now, this is a knit tube. I know how to knit tubes. When I make sleeves or socks, they don't balloon out in the middle. So I decided to reblock it. The instructions actually specifically say to fold it inside each other after blocking, but I probably folded it and dried it on my head, because that's how I block my hats. Not this time: Now it's longer and thinner

What I made, by Sharon

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