I hope your new year has got off to a good start. Here we're still acclimatising to our term time routines. It always takes a week or so to adjust, especially in the mornings as Toby is definitely not a morning person – something not helped by the fact that he's usually awake for a couple of hours during the night. We've also all come down with colds (though everyone seems to have one of those at the moment) and I've been nursing mine with lemon and honey tea (with the odd nip of whisky) and lots of soothing knitting.
I have too many unfinished projects on the go at the moment; a pair of wrist-warmers waiting for thumbs; three quarters of a sock; a barely started shawl; a nearly finished scarf; around 30 assorted animals at varying degrees of development; heaps of animal clothes waiting for buttons and seaming… and yet I also find myself trying to resist the desire to start a new crochet blanket (I'm succeeding at the moment but keep catching myself daydreaming about blankety ideas) and I have a yearning for a knitted tea cosy too – something chunky and textured perhaps. I'm definitely in a flitting knitting phase and can't seem to settle down to work on a single project and see it through.
What I really need to do is have a proper new year sort out, tidy up all of my baskets and bags of bits, inventory everything and impose some order on my woolly chaos. The start of a new year seems like a good time to tackle such a task and once I've got rid of my cold I'll make a start but for now I'm heading back to the sofa with a cup of warm tea and a hot water bottle for a bit more knitty mess making 🙂
Do you have any new year desires to clear the decks and start afresh, or de-clutter and get organised? Do tell your new year plans if you have time.
Until next time, keep well and warm and dry – it looks like we have a cold snap heading our way over the next week which is bad news for my plum tree. Yesterday I noticed that it had it's first blossom which is earlier that we've ever known it before and not a good sign for a good crop of plums later in the year. I hope it feels the change in the wind and decides to wait a while before swelling the rest of it's buds.
little cotton rabbits 
Good Morning! I look forward to every new posting from you! Would you share your wrist warmer pattern and the name of the yarn??? Happy New Year! Rebecca
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This year is a new start for me! I had to make a change to get fresh air in my life. It was a big step but ok!! I am here!!
I hope to have a beautiful creative year and I hope for you too!
(When I have to deal with the cold cold weather…for sure, I live in Canada!…I add a spoon of rhum to my lemon-honey tea, yummy!!! just before to go to sleep and when the kids are asleep!)
have a beautiful week.
Rose
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Having my coffee from my new mug… white with the words, “I bloody love knitting” – underscored with a picture of needles and yarn. Hubby got it from the UK! I always wonder what your process is with making animals and clothes – especially when you put up a photo of a basket of heads! Your knitting is so,so beautiful. Be well, Christie
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new routines are always tricky, and not helpful when you are all under the weather! I hope it smooths out soon. and that the fruitcake and tea help!
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Isn’t woolly chaos just the best kind of chaos though!!!
I’m ‘Spring’ cleaning at the moment, boring I know but I want to get it out of the way before ‘real’ Spring arrives and it’s time for garden days again. My blog has had a spring clean too, thanks to my son. I really would rather be crocheting though.
Hopefully your plum tree will hold back a little until the cold spell passes.
Enjoy your cosy days and I hope that cold disappears soon,
V x
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The weather here in Cumbria is still wet most days, so perfect for snuggling in front of the fire with a nice mug of tea, cake and of course knitting, what could be nicer (we musn’t feel guilty!) But it is incredibly mild here too at the moment and early young shoots and flowers are going to get a shock next week if we do get the cold weather they forecast. I hope your cold doesn’t last too long Julie, look after yourself and I hope the new routines settle down for Toby. X
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my ‘wooly chaos’ stays somewhat hidden in ‘the closet’ (which sadly is the only closet in our house, but has been taken over wholly by all my UFOs, WIPs, and stash! eep!); but every once in a while (usually at the beginning of the year!!!!) I have a good go-through. This year resulted in two partially knit sweaters being ripped out. For some strange reason, I felt this brought tremendous order to the mess. I’m delusional, I know!!!
Hope your cold leaves soon….I’m battling a lingering one myself. ’tis the season!!!
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I love that knitted lace – it’s just what I need to edge a cardigan that has been hanging half finished in my cupboard for a year now. Is it your pattern? Or could you point me towards where I would find it please.
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How good to hear that’s not only I who have several projects unfinished! I was just thinking about it today and telling myself to chooose one thing to finish these days before I start a new one I would like to do for my friend. Thanks for your designs – just yesterday I gave a little hedgehog family to a little friend and she was very happy! New Year’s resolution? More knitting 🙂
Happy New Year!
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The straight needles you are using for your lacy fabric are beautiful! They look antique. You must have a lot of needles to have so many projects underway. Whenever I want to start a new project before the old one is finished, the needles I need are inevitably in use, and then an internal debate ensues–buy another set of needles, or exercise patience?
I am currently crocheting a hat, knitting a hat, and I just bought yarn to make one of your bunnies!
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My hope for the new year is to “shop at home” which means use something from my vast array of supplies(take that to mean fabric and yarn stash!!)whenever the inspiration to make something new strikes. At present, I’m working on the zick zack scarf pattern. When completed, I plan to make the shawl that I took a chart reading class for last year. I don’t know if I’ll ever master reading charts, but I’m going to give it a go. I have too many quilts in progress to name, but, it’s going to be a cold weekend and I plan to bind and finish one of them. Many blessings!
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Good to have a little time to relax and to have a cup of tea. That’s something I do not, right now. But being able to read your page pleases me a lot and I used to rest, well I share some of their interests, such as having more of an unfinished knitting project and be thinking about the next start. I also really pleasing the mugs, in fact I have a collection of them.
I would ask the name of the cake on the plate, with unfinished gloves. It looks delicious, full of raisins or something.
Please write your blog, it is gratifying for me to read.
PS: I am from Chile, do not speak English, I use a translator to send you, so please excuse my style.
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Having a clear out and sort of yarn is a good idea. I did this last year and it made a huge difference when picking up the next project. I did finishing school too, getting all those half done projects made. And the ones I didn’t want to finish got frogged and the yarn packed neatly ready to become something else.
Good luck!
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Hope you are feeling better. Everything you make is beautiful. Have a nice day.
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Oh dear, well, definitely not going to mention that I was gazing (and driving lol) at the early morning Michigan sky today and thinking…….those colours would make a lovely blanket, very pale, blues, creams with a touch of apricot……forget I said anything!
Hope the routines get in place soon, mm, just came out of two weeks of lurgy over Christmas so can sympathise. love the phrase flitting knitting but sadly I flit every other place too! Yes, please join in the decluttering, reading blogs, we will have plenty of company!
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I do hope you’re feeling better soon. The colds are making their way around here too. My next goal is to sort through all of my bags of needles, projects, etc. I’ve been busy cleaning and rearranging furniture with the new year and haven’t taken time for that little task. I actually enjoy it once I get started! Your projects are all very pretty.
Blessings,
Betsy
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I do hope you are feeling better soon but it’s a good excuse for lots of sofa sitting and knitting. I’m doing lots of sorting out just now as we are moving house in just over 3 weeks time.
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I keep muttering the mantra ‘I will not start another blanket’ as I go about my decluttering. Think I may look slightly demented…?!
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I hope you’re feeling better soon. I’ve never tried Turkish delight but I would like to. Yours is so pretty looking, as is the tin it comes in. Almost too pretty to eat…almost. 🙂
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Tis the season for colds around here and my crew has been fighting something off for a couple of weeks now. Tea and hot lemonades are our go-to remedies. (That and chicken soup!) Hope you’re feeling better soon and can tackle all your wonderful projects. 🙂
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Your blog just makes me smile.
My family is just on the recovering end of colds, I hope. We’ve spent most of December and this first week of January sick with stomach flus and coughs and fevers. But it’s getting better!
You did a post a few weeks back that inspired me to knit yards and yards of lace. My husband and I have been talking about renovating our house to include our first ever master bedroom. My dreams for that bedroom is to have sheets trimmed with my own hand made lace. What patterns do you use for your lace?
I want to knit my kids a ridiculous amount of things, myself a summer tank, and try some color work this year. 🙂
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What gorgeous photos, you have a talent for capturing life very beautifully. The sofa is a very good place to be in January I think. I’d like to be swept up with New Year organisation, but I don’t know where I’d find the time! Sorry to hear you’ve had colds, I do hope everyone is all better very soon. CJ xx
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I really love your beautiful photos, especially the one of the knitted lacy trims – very inspiring. I’m trying not to think of new projects while I finish the one I’m on at the moment, or I’ll never get it done. Happy New Year, and I hope you feel better soon!
Cathy x
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So glad to know that others are still in a bit of a tip. While looking for a Sally Melville book in the basement “stuff” I came upon a whole dresser full of novelty yarn! O! Inspiration!! and granddaughters are requesting new knits. etc. Happy New Year… and best wishes to the plums.
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Oh, that cake looks as yummy as the lace you’re knitting. Would you share the recipe? Keep warm!
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I can totally identify with the need to tidy up all my yarn and knitting projects… As well as everything else! Happy New Year Julie xx
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Due to nerve issues in my hand, I am only able to knit two or three rows per day. I have about 700 rows left on a shawl so I should have it done by this time next year! That’s how the knitting goes here in cold, snowy Colorado!
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Yes taking the decorations down fills me with the urge to clean and sort out, from knitting to paperwork. I haven’t had much free time recently and feel very tired so I’m waiting until I feel I’ll be able to do it well. Not even much energy for knitting, which is not a good state of affairs! Your photos are beautiful, I hope you feel better soon x x
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get well soon. I plan to knit a new bobble hat, hopefully in time for the cold spell xxx
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I always look forward to reading your posts and seeing those to-die-for photos. The colors, the way you arrange shapes, lighting, everything is perfect to set a mood. The wrist warmer yarn has the most GORGEOUS colors, and the lace is SO pretty with its antique colors. I would appreciate knowing the yarny details (brand/weight/color) whenever you post yarn pictures. I’ve had a cold/flu all week too, and it’s rained every day this week here in the SF Bay Area. (No complaints about the rain after years of drought!) What would we do without our knitting, warm cuppa and occasional sweet treat?! You asked about New Year’s resolutions. I normally don’t make any, since I lead a fairly disciplined lifestyle. For example, I would go crazy having more than a couple of unfinished yarny projects at a time. I’ll just end by saying that “I need to clean house more and knit less.”
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Happy New Year! Like you, I have lots of projects on the go, quilting not knitting. We moved in May and I’m lucky enough to have a a work room of my own in the new house. But it’s meant I can start lots of projects when I get excited by new ideas, hence the baskets of sewing at various stages and little piles of teamed up fabrics waiting to be cut up! I’ve promised myself that I will list all the projects I want to finish this year and work just on those. But we will see how successful I am!
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Happy New Year Julie, loved all your mosaics from the previous post, all those cute animal outfits. Not sure exactly what my crafting goals are for this year but think that I will have to get back to some bunny knitting as they are so cute and I have lots of patterns left to try. Apart from that to continue to quilt and improve my machine skills and want to do more embroidery as well. Just need to knit myself a few extra days a week to do it all in!
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I hope your cold gets better soon.
I’ve had 3 knitting projects on the go lately, one was a lace trim but I’ve cast that off now so I’ve only got two projects. Once is a blanket of individual squares and the other is a vintage sweater. I can’t work on the sweater until winter, but the blanket is cotton so I’m happily working on that. I have a yearning for a few more projects though!
I must confess I’ve yet to muster the energy for cleaning/decluttering for the New Year. The last few days here have been so so hot that it makes it hard to keep going through the heat of the day 🙂
Your knitting is beautiful!
I hope your plum tree got the weather memo 🙂
Sarah x
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Hi, hope your family and you all get better soon. I’m trying to follow the 365 days declutter, tried this last year and just got through January hope I can get further this year. Trouble is once I start I get to involved with the one task instead of doing a quick hit. But determined to sort out all my Xmas and birthday cards I have kept over the years. (Need to do this before end of month and take to M&S for recycling they plant a tree for so many cards collected)
Happy new year, look forward to your updates and lovely makes.
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I have never been able to declutter! I sometimes tidy a little, I try to organize, I try to use what I have… Most of my yarn and fabric are leftovers from my grand mother’s. OK I don’t knit or crochet or sew a lot as I am very slow and I only have small projects. I have lots of ideas and inspiration and this makes me “tired” because I don’t achieve many so I don’t declutter my brain either!. My private space for keeping (or hiding) all my bags and boxes and baskets is under the stairs (awful, very unpracticle) and in a hidden corner of a cold room (awful, but at least nobody goes there!). Good luck with finishing all your unfinished projects, I would love to help you sew buttons on your lovely animals’clothes! Anne
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Hi Julie
I think we all find this month a rather unsettling time of year. We reflect on our successes of 2015 and in the same breath try to determine what 2016 will bring. The weather in Canada sure hasn’t helped this process when we should be knee deep in snow we have pouring rain and overcast skies. The truth be told I love to knit but truly hate the putting together and thus have many unfinished pieces. This is one of my goals this year. The second was to take a spare bedroom and create a craft room so everything is in the same place.It is amazing to go there and actually find what you are looking for. Hope you are feeling better and I love my rabbit. That was one of the highlights of 2015 for me. Take care of yourself. Jennifer
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We have rather hot temps happening here so really sending you warm hugs all the way over there and do love all of your knitting xoxo
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I LOVE this blog. How can I sign up on it to get regular installments from the US?
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I love those wrist warmers too, and I think Julie blogged a beautiful pair she’d made a while ago – I think these might be a variation on the ‘Welted Fingerless Gloves’ pattern, by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas. I bought that pattern as soon as I saw them in Julie’s blog a couple of years ago. Anyway – sorry to butt in! And sorry if I’m wrong! But I hope this helps.
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As I was reading your description of all your projects on the go, I found myself thinking what an enormous library of dpns you must have LOL. I have that same unsettled feeling just now — so many projects that I want to do and just not enough time, so I need to do just as you said — sit down and sort it all out and make a plan. Hoping for a lovely new start to your year Julie — Happy New Year!
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Oh man, I seriously need to declutter… I have so many craft supplies in my basement, it’s insane.
I decided, in this New Year, I need to make one thing a week (at least) and I cannot buy anything new to make it. MUST USE UP CRAFTING STUFF!
Also… I LOVE the photographs you take of your current projects… they’re always so beautifully set up 🙂
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Hello Julie…hope your cold has put on its boots ready to leave by now! Decluttering. Ah. Well….I’m a KonMari convert, read the book, got inspired and did the clothes and the notes from an course completed 20 years ago as well as some from the course last year…the kitchen is again a treat, our bedroom looks lovely and neat…but Oh…the books…somehow I just can’t bear to part with books, and DH is the same…and we won’t even mention the stash. I did get the boxes down and sent some yarn to a friend so I suppose that’s a start…but while sorting I discovered that I had just the right yarn to make the ‘Bunny with the Piebald Patch’ which I’d promised myself I’d do after the course….and he’s lovely!!! Thank you so much for the pattern. Today I’m choosing the trouser and sweater colours from the stash…couldn’t possible do any more decluttering just at the moment…could I? Well that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!
So glad to catch up and read of your success regarding Toby. That, as they say is a Result!
Love for 2016
Jenni xx
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As always, beautiful pics!
What lacy projects are you starting on your needles? They look lovely.
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“Flitting knitting” … what a brilliant description, I know exactly what you mean.
Lovely to catch up with you finally Julie. I really enjoyed seeing all your pics from years gone by too, the very earliest are from before I found your wonderful blog 🙂
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Now I know why a character in the Narnia series was so taken with Turkish Delight. It looks amazing! Is it as good as it looks?
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I’m so glad that I hopped over here from Emma’s Silverpebble site. I really admire your creative energy, skill, inventiveness and directions. Promising to return here soon.
Happy New Year…I don’t think it’s too late for this wish!
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My plans this year are to work on my patterns from my cross stitch stash before buying new patterns….though I seem to be tempted all the time by everyone’s blog posts. Lol
Last year I actually destashed by using a seller on etsy so that helped me to clean up older patterns I knew wouldn’t get around to.
Good luck with all your knitting. Your little blossom is lovely. Our Taiwanese cherry tree has started to bloom.
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I finished up a sweater that has been giving me grief for a couple of years now. The pattern was horribly written and for the life of me, I couldn’t get the last bit to work. I’d put it away for awhile and then got it out again hoping a clear head and the New Year might do the trick. It did! I was able to finish that up and have started working on another sweater project I’d set aside a few years back also. It’s coming along nicely but it is with size 2 needles (what was I thinking????) so it is a slow go.
Your yarn colors are beautiful. Makes me want to set my sweater aside again and play with some fun colors and patterns. I get bored too easy……. maybe my New Year’s goals should be to finish what I start for a change!!
It is quite rainy/snowy drear here. I’m all for snow and cold before and during Christmas but after that….. I’m ready for it to warm up again.
XXXXX
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Could I ask where you get your knit lace patterns? I just LOVE them and want to make some for my personal sewing projects. 🙂
Also, do you use lace or fingering weight yarn? Does it just depend on how light you want your lace to be?
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