So... are you a resolution maker? I used to make resolutions, but I really don't anymore. I do sometimes feel inspired with the start of a new year to challenge myself with some new things, though. I think I'm also feeling motivated because my hand has significantly improved in recent weeks. I'm really happy to report that the nerve pain I was having when I wrote the post before last is basically gone. There's still some discomfort, still a little swelling from time to time, and a bit of stiffness, but with that nerve pain gone I feel so much more hopeful that my hand will continue to feel better over the upcoming months.
Ready to challenge myself and my hand, I easily came up with a some things I'm planning on stretching myself to do as this new year takes off. These are just a few ideas I have in mind to do:
1) Learn to knit socks. I don't know why it's taken me so long to even consider the possibility that I could do this. I've told myself for years that it looks too hard, but recently I came across some tutorials and I'm now thinking I'm up for giving it a try. So I ordered the appropriate sized needles and yarn.
I've never handled such tiny knitting needles before. These are size 1 (with a diameter of 2.25 mm). If I am correct, there are five sizes smaller than these! I can't quite imagine what kind of fairy fingers it takes to handle them. I'm just waiting for sock yarn to arrive so I can give these a go.
I bought a 47" long circular knitting needle, hoping I'll find magic loop knitting easy to do, and will want to knit two socks at a time - because I'm so afraid of "second sock syndrome". And I ordered the 9" needle thinking I might prefer zipping through the hundreds and hundreds of stockinette stitches - enjoying all that mindless in-the-round knitting - which could also diminish the likelihood of not finishing the second sock. I like having options.
I'll be sure to report back on how sock knitting goes.
2) I plan to try getting back to cross stitching. In addition to smaller projects I'd like to stitch, I'm wondering to myself if I could manage to finish this sampler project I started in 2020:
Part of it is rolled up on this scroll frame.
I'm probably close to half finished with the whole thing.
3) Inspired by YouTuber, Ardent Michelle, I am interesting in cooking with some things that I'm not all that familiar with, some simple things, actually. I'm also fascinated with her low-spend challenges. This makes me consider that I can cook extremely inexpensively if I just challenge myself to cook from the pantry (and fridge and freezer) in the upcoming month or two - shopping mostly for fresh produce and other perishable things.
Check out Michelle:
4) And I really enjoyed last year making note of the "new things" that happened in my world. At some point, though, my "new things" started being mostly hard and unpleasant things and it wasn't nearly as enjoyable to count them, but I'd like to get back to noticing new things. Especially good new things. I loved how the effect of counting "new things" created a spirit of appreciation in me. That alone is reason to start back up my personal "One New Thing" challenge. The challenge (in and of itself) isn't to do new things, or make new things, or experience new things - necessarily. The challenge is to notice these things when they happen. Whether I make them happen or they simply present themselves to me doesn't seem terribly important (not at the outset, anyway). It's noticing new things and pointing them out to myself that changes me. Hopefully some new things will find their way into posts here.
That's enough to start with. That I care to share here, anyway.
What inspires you as you begin a new year? Do you have any new things on the horizon?
There's a lot of meaning in noticing. We tend to see life whipping by, a blur! Better just look a bit. I like this idea.
ReplyDelete"A lot of meaning in noticing". That is a lesson I seem to learn over and over again. I must not be paying close enough attention. ;^)
DeleteAt the rate I burn through socks (and have to darn them), being able to knit them would be a fine thing indeed.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Becki!
Thank you, TB. I'm hoping I really take to sock knitting. I'd love to enjoy it enough to gift them. At least two of my sons would probably enjoy them. Happy New Year to you, too!
DeleteMy son loves wool socks. They are not easy to find. I should learn how to knit socks myself before Christmas 2023.
ReplyDeleteThe cross stitch is beautiful. I used to do a lot of cross stitching, but my eyesight prevents me now.
No new inspirations, unless one calls ongoing decluttering an inspiration.
Such good news to read that your hand is healing well and the nerve pain is much improved.
Happy 2023 to you!
I can't tell you how many times I contemplated sock knitting and for two main reasons I just said, "No, it's just not for me". The first was that I thought it must be very complicated, and the second reason is that I was sure I'd never knit the second sock. After watching numerous videos recently it suddenly started not looking so hard. Don't get me wrong... I'll be knitting my first socks with one eye on my knitting and one eye on my computer screen watching tutorials during every row of the toes and heels, but I was so surprised when even those parts started to click and I decided it wasn't as impossible as I imagined. Here's hoping I'm successful! :)
DeleteI remember your red sampler. It is so pretty. I hope you will be able to work on it again. Socks are not hard to do. Everyone has their favorite method for making them. I have done magic loop, 9"circulars and double points. I have settled on DPNs but do both socks concurrently to avoid second sock syndrome. I will be interested to see which method you will end up with. Thank you for the youtuber to watch. Looks like something I would love. Happy New Year!
DeleteMarsha, thanks for the encouragement. You are someone who, as I've watched you knit socks I wanted to do it! DPN - sigh. While I can use them to decrease the diameter of a hat as the crown is knitted, I can't imagine using them the entire length of the foot and the leg of a sock. Doing this concurrently, but separately is something I'd like more description on. If I like the 9 in circular, it is my intention to buy a second one and do both concurrently (more or less), but I'm not sure exactly how to go about doing that - like... do you complete the toe on one sock and then do the entire toe on the second sock, doing each section that way? I can imagine it, sort of, but I do wonder about keeping track of where one is - on the foot and leg sections, sections especially.
DeleteI count rows on the leg and foot. I do 10 rows at a time on each sock. When I get to heels and toes, I complete the entire heel/toe on one sock before doing the other sock. Heels are my favorite part of the sock. They form like magic!
DeleteThanks for explaining that, Marsha. I can see that being a good way to knit two socks at the same time. And I'm glad to know you enjoy knitting the heels. That was the most confounding thing to me as I contemplated knitting socks. After watching a few videos I finally understood how they come together. Figuring out what heel construction I prefer will be interesting.
DeleteI've knitted a lot of socks but haven't yet mastered doing them on circular needles OR two at a time. I figured out how to make them with DPN's and I think I'll stick with them. Who knows though - you might inspire me!
ReplyDeleteNo resolutions here beyond continuing to try to use up my stash and buy as little as possible. To that end I'm working on a mile-a-minute afghan for Resident Chef using oddments of yarns. We'll see if I have enough.
Happy New Year!
I considered buying some DPNs in this size just for another option, but in the end I just imagine them to be very fiddly for knitting an entire sock. I realize for centuries this is how socks and hats and sleeves and I don't even know what all were knitted, but I'm not ready to overcome my resistant to trying them for knitting socks. I look forward to getting back to crochet, too. For at least a few more weeks, though I think knitting will be the easier thing for my left hand. It's time for me to start doing these things, though. It's in the doing that I will gain more strength and dexterity.
DeleteI think you will love knitting socks once you get through the first pair, and find the construction method you like best. I keep my sock knitting simple, so it can be my go-to mindless project. Happy New Year! Please share your simple recipes with items from your pantry. I need to do that, too.
ReplyDeleteHi Alissa! My first pair will be vanilla socks. I imagine if I like knitting socks, I'll feel the same way you do. IF it goes well, I can totally see it as welcome mindless knitting. Or knitting I can do while my mind is elsewhere. 😊
DeleteA lot of good things here! SO GLAD the pain has lessened 🎉🎊 about new things you could change it to new things you are thankful for 🥰 lightens the heart to be thankful ❤️
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elizabeth! That's exactly what happens. By noticing new things (especially the good things) my mind and heart are filled with gratitude. It was something I didn't anticipate when I started the exercise. A wonderful side benefit. ❤
DeleteHappy New Year to you too, Becky. I hope you can get back to all the stitching and things. I don't necessarily make resolutions, but I do make a list of things I would like to try and accomplish in the year. I don't get too lofty with the list though:)
ReplyDeleteSandy, my lists and goals are pretty tame - as you can tell. I have some other things brewing that I'm not sharing, but hopefully 2023 will be a year of fewer obstacles.
DeleteHappy New Year Becki, I don't bother with New Years resolutions because I know that I will never keep them. I'm so glad that your hand is feeling much better and that you are going to get back to crafting. You will love the sock making but please take it slow working with such small needles means you need to grip them that bit tighter and there is a lot of pulling loops through when using the magic loop method, my hands ache if I knit for long periods, I would say keep opening them up and stretching them and I'm sure you will be fine. I have a few new things planned craft wise too but I need to finish what I'm doing first. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for that advice, Linda. I have been sort of "practicing" with my tiny needles and as I hold them loose they feel fine, but yes... I, also, tend to hold things pretty tight when I'm actually knitting. I will pay attention to not cause myself problems. I guess this will be something to report also. I haven't knit or crocheted in nearly a year, I think. I may need to get my "sea legs" (or the finger equivalent) back. 😉
DeleteThe sampler is lovely! I have knitted socks, though one at a time. I look forward to seeing yours. So glad you are feeling better!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Debra.
DeleteI don't typically do resolutions either, but last year I had two specific goals. I failed at both 🤦🏻♀️, so I'm not making resolutions this year. Actually though, I'm still working on both of them. Life is not an "all or nothing" proposition, so I am plodding on. :)
ReplyDeleteI like your plan to look for new things! That sounds doable. And, as you say, the noticing creates good habits!
I'm so glad that your recovery is still progressing. I'm sure you're happy that the surgery was in the old year! Blessings in the New Year to you and yours!
Cheryl, I almost wrote that even when I made New Year's resolutions, I usually failed at keeping them. ;^)
DeleteI am so glad to read that your hand is making significant improvement and even to the point where you feel you can start tackling some projects that require dexterity. That is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteAs for resolutions or embarking on new things this year, a new-to-me thing forced itself into my life right after Thanksgiving. The first month was a bear but now it's smoothing out and even a little fun. That's all I can say about it and that is enough for me as this new year gets started.
Happy New Year to you!
Barbara, the improvement with my hand is so minute, it's hardly noticeable day by day. But when I compare today to a few weeks ago, it's very noticeable. While it's challenging to remember, keeping that big picture in mind is important.
DeleteI started mosaic crocheting this week! It's pretty fun, just a little thicker than traditional crochet. Looking forward to seeing your socks. I knit 1 pair years ago on double pointed needles. I should attempt again! That cross stitch sampler is lovely. I'm so glad your nerve pain is gone. I had surgery 2 years ago and things are 99% normal now, occasionally I'll feel stiffness.
ReplyDeleteI do believe the body takes longer to heal than we often think it does. I'll look for your mosaic crocheting, Martha. I don't think I've ever tried that.
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