One year ago today I registered Pans & Needles and started to blog about my knitting. I was really nervous about it too, because I felt like kind of a poseur. At the time, I wasn’t really knitting anything interesting or impressive, but I was reading blog filled with gorgeous projects and luscious yarn and even though I wasn’t there yet with my knitting, I knew that I wanted to be. You know how something becomes real when you say it out loud? Well, that’s what blogging was for me: it was me, saying out loud, that I was a knitter. I’m not usually one for public declarations, but that one felt great.
In the last year I’ve pushed myself a lot – in part because I enjoy learning new things and, in part, because pair after pair of stockinette socks makes for boring blogging. I learned lace; I learned cables; I learned how to knit continental so I could better control my fair isle tension; I knit most of a sweater; I started working in a yarn shop (and teaching knitting!); I knit all my Christmas gifts; plus, I travelled a lot. Looking back, I can hardly believe that all of those things happened in the last year (it’s also quite frightening to realize how much my stash has grown in the last year).
It has been a wonderful year and to celebrate, I bought myself a present (ha!):
I don’t usually take advantage of Ganymede in this way, but a photo of books is much more exciting with a cat in it.
I have been wanting The Knitter’s Book of Socks by Clara Parkes for a long time, and I’ve come close to buying it a few times, so I decided it was time. When I realized I would get free shipping if I bought it with another book, it was an easy decision to add Nancy Bush’s Folk Knitting in Estonia. I love knitting books that you can sit and read (both of these are like that, really) and all the history Nancy Bush includes is fascinating. Also, I really want to knit these, and clearly I’m not over fancy mittens even remotely.
That was really going to be it, but then I was in the shop yesterday (working, not shopping) and I saw that we got a new shipment of SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock and, well, this skein pretty much jumped right off the wall at me. I’ll pick a nice pattern from Clara’s book and cast on once I’m finished one of the pairs currently occupying my needles.
SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock in Honey Fig. It’s more purple than pink (despite this picture) and even though it isn’t remotely like what I normally go for, I could not resist. I think it’s because there’s a snowstorm outside (it started yesterday) and I’m dreaming of summer.
Gifts Purchases aside, the best thing about blogging, though, is that it’s made me feel like part of the knitting community, both in Toronto and online. I have met so many amazing people and been encouraged and inspired to tackle projects I may never have attempted otherwise. Thank you all for reading and commenting and encouraging and inspiring – I can’t wait to see where the next year goes.
Pans & Needles 
I think that’s one of the things I like best about knitting. Pushing yourself, learning new things, attaining goals, seeing results. It’s soul food.
Really impressed with what you’ve accomplished in a year Angela–socks and gloves! Totally amazing. And so wonderful to be able to give people such beautiful hand-made gifts.
such a great post! sounds like it’s been quite a year!
i lived in Toronto a few years ago and love going back, thanks to you i now have another yarn shop to visit!
Congrats on a year of blogging and challenging yourself with different knitting techniques! I’m not into pinks and purples either that much, but that color is scrumptious! If you love knitting books you can read, you should check out Knitalong sometime. It’s one of my favorites.