Holiday Wishes
My Sister Knits wishes everyone a happy season, whatever holiday you celebrate!
If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to take some days before New Year’s to breathe deeply and relax just a bit after a hectic holiday season.
I always like to have a project that doesn’t require much concentration at the end of the year. My family celebrates Christmas and there’s always a whirlwind of activity the week preceding the big day. It’s fun but draining.
I have a couple of projects that I might work on, my Pelica vest designed by Rosa Pomar or my A Girl’s Best Friend shawl designed by Isabell Kraemer. The Pelica Vest is garter stitch with some simple shaping. A Girl’s Best Friend has a textured stitch that allows you to get into a rhythm and it’s soothing to work. I actually think that my shawl is more relaxing to knit than the vest!
Do you have an easy project that you want to work on?
I also like to think about the year ahead and what I might want to make. Do you plan your knitting out in advance? I don’t, although I have great admiration for those who do. I have a general idea of what I want to make but then I’m like the dog in the movie Up who gets distracted by squirrels and says “Squirrel!” in the middle of sentences. Instead of ‘squirrel’, I say ‘new project!’. I do have a couple of projects in mind for 2026; a sweater in a gorgeous rust color and an Alice Starmore Fair Isle hat that’s been on my list for quite a while.
The Traveler’s Cardigan designed by Ozetta is a straightforward aran weight sweater that allows the yarn to take center stage!
Usually I start out thinking about one big project that I’d like to do and what skills I need for that project. Then I think about what smaller project I could do to practice those skills. Do I need to make a cabled hat in order to feel more confident tacking an Aran sweater? I’ve always wanted one! Do I need to make some simple stranded colorwork projects before I have a go at a complicated one? That’s what I’ve done with the hat I’m going to make.
This is a good time to think about what classes we have coming up in the next few months. We also offer private lessons to help you with your projects. You can call the shop at 970.407.1461 to sign up for classes or schedule a private lesson.
Another thing to think about is keeping a journal of your projects. Having a record and notes of your projects can be incredibly helpful I have the greatest of intentions when it comes to keeping a knitting journal. Maybe this year my follow-through will be better! If you’re in the shop when Gretchen is there, be sure to ask her to show you hers; it’s the best! Another option is to keep your Ravelry projects up to date with all of your notes on those pages.
We wish you a happy and serene end to 2025!
Happy Knitting,
