Greetings Gentle Unraveler’s and Happy New Year to all of you! Welcome to the first Wednesday of the New Year… let’s begin as we mean to go on, shall we?
I can’t believe that I have a pair of socks completed, but you can see the proof above! This pair, in Hermoine’s Everyday Sock pattern, is by far my favorite to knit. There are purl bumps for knitting interest, it fits well, and those purl bumps… well they also make it very simple to knit the second sock the same as the first (For the inquiring mind: 15 rows of ribbing, 17 pattern repeats, heel flap, 15 pattern repeats, toe…is the “recipe” for this pair.) The yarn is the October color from Six and Seven Fiber… it is their “Clover” sock yarn which is really lovely. It is a bit thicker and toothier yarn. I knit it on US 1.5 needles and it is a lovely, cushy fabric that I hope wears very well!
Soon to be another pair of socks!
I will be casting on another pair of socks pronto… I just have to wind the yarn. I have picked this pattern, which seems so appropriate as Joji will be the Snippets guest later this month. The yarn is from The Farmers Daughter Fibers in the January color, Deep Winter.
366 days of stitching!
I wanted to share the freshly washed and pressed 2025 stitching… I still have a bit of finish work to do, I am adding a fabric backing and will be making something for it to “live in” once it is all done. Originally, I thought this would make a delightful Happy Hour addition, but I don’t think I could bear it if anything spilled on it. And so, it will be tucked away safely.
December, up close!
The reading this week has me tucked away inside Katherine May’s Wintering. I am savoring this book and reading a bit every morning with my coffee. It is the perfect book for where I am right now. I am in no rush to finish it, and that is very okay too.
However, for those times when I can’t just sit and read, I finished listening to another in the Chief Bruno series, A Château Under Siege, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
At night, despite my horrendous insomnia, I am trying not to read after “lights out” but have been making my way through George Saunders new book to be published later this month, Vigil. It is brilliant and I am almost done. If you loved Lincoln on the Bardo or A Swim in the Pond in the Rain, I think you will really enjoy Vigil. It has a cast of characters that only Saunders can dream up!
And there you have it from me this week! What about you? What is tickling your fancy in this first week of the New Year?
As always, if you wrote a post to share please leave your link below and thank you!
It’s quite mesmerising looking at your years work all in one place. Picking a single day and wonder what was going through your mind at the time. Only you will know the answer to that question 😊
The photograph would make a good jigsaw
Thanks for hosting Kat. I look forward to joining in when I have something to share
I am utterly in love with your 2025 stitching piece! I wonder if you could put it under a piece of glass or thick plastic so that you could see it but not worry about spilling on it? I’d love to know how big it is. It looks like it might be huge, but I realize that each section could be a lot smaller than I think. It must feel great to start out the year with a fresh pair of hand-knit socks, and I love the yarn for the next pair!
Your stitching project is GORGEOUS!!! I You are so creative. The socks are beautiful especially with the texture added.
Your completed socks look lovely relaxing in the bowl and as soon as I am done here, I’m heading to The Farmer’s Daughter to see if I can get my own skein(s) of Deep Winter. After seeing yours and Vera’s, I’m quite envious (and wondering how it would look as a Hitchhiker). Your stitching is a marvel! Next time I’m in Pittsburgh, I might invite myself to your house to see all of the intriguing detail in person. You’ve started out creatively, and I have no doubt you will go on in 2026 the same way.
The socks are GREAT, Kat (I, too, am a fan of the Hermione Sock pattern) (when I knit socks, that is) – and I LOVE the yarn for the new pair. Lovely. BUT. That. Stitching. Is. EPIC. Absolutely stunning! How big is the piece??? It looks huge . . . but I’m going to bet it’s smaller than I’d guess. It’s just inspired, Kat. And I can’t wait to see your 2026 piece come together over the next 12 months. Happy New Year! XO
Your stitching is just amazing! Thanks for showing it to us. I hope it gets to be somewhere you will enjoy it, eventually. Did you really stitch a bit on it each day?
Oh Kat! Your stitching is so beautiful and so amazing. I’d also like to know how large it is. I would consider framing it. What a gorgeous piece of art you have created! I’m looking forward to seeing what you stitch in 2026. Meanwhile I like your latest pair of socks and the pattern you’ve chosen for Deep Winter is really pretty. It’s nice to have your company for 2026 Sock Squad. I’m trying to NOT start on my Deep Winter yarn yet as I really, really want to finish what’s on my needles.
Kat! So much good stuff here, except it makes me sad that your lovely stitching is going to be “tucked away safely.” Echoing Sarah & Kym… how big is it? Could it be a hanging?
I am on pins & needles awaiting the release of VIGIL! I’ve already scoped out the audio book on Spotify. I listened to Lincoln in the Bardo (twice) (not enough) & I can’t imagine NOT listening to Vigil.
Your 366 days of stitching is incredible! I think it’s frame worthy and that’s what I would do with it. Nice socks and I’m glad you’re able to read things that are sitting well with you.
The year’s stitching is just gorgeous. I hope you find a safe place for it to live. Keep us posted on that. Hermione’s Everyday Socks look wonderful in that yarn. It’s a great pattern. Now onto the next pair of socks. Wintering is a lovely book. You remind me to revisit it.
Love the purl bumps what a fantastic texture. And the stitching panel is fabulous. Look forward to seeing 2026’s.
Love your 366 days of knitting. To me, this piece is begging to be a wall hanging.
Laura K