2018

Happy New Year from the frigid coast of Connecticut! It is officially -3° F (-19° C) at 9 am, with a windchill of -15° (-26° C). I’d say this would be a typical February day in central New Hampshire, where I lived for a time, but here on the coast on the first of the year? It’s rather unusual. Ok, it’s unheard of.

Still, the sky is a perfect crystalline blue, the sun is shining, and it’s the start of a new year with all new possibilities. So what if those possibilities are unusual, and even unheard of? Three years ago I never would have imagined I’d be sitting here writing a knitting blog and preparing to teach courses in Italian literature, but here we are.

2017 was a year of transitions for me. I re-entered the workforce after five years as a stay-at-home mom and freelancer. The stability of steady work and benefits has been a huge relief, but the new schedule has brought challenges as well. 2018 promises to be “the year of catching up”: trying to juggle the many different commitments I’ve made (including many from before I began working outside the house). I’ve also made a commitment (a resolution, shall we say?) to make wiser choices and learn to say “no” to some of the opportunities that present themselves. Saying “no” has always been one of my greatest struggles, but the outcome has been that I end up spending far too much time and energy on projects I find draining, rather than invigorating, and I’m left with very little time for the things I truly enjoy. So in 2018, I hope to shed some of these burdensome projects and make a commitment to spending more time on the things that make me happy. Namely, my child and my knitting designs! Of course, this won’t happen immediately, and it will be a very long and challenging spring semester for me, but by the end of the year, I hope to be on a better track!

Right now I am working on a design that has been floating around in my head for a while. It is a shawl-collar cardigan with a somewhat simple Aran cable design but interesting construction. I’m looking forward to finishing up the test sample and getting the pattern ready to publish! I also have some other designs on my plate, including some to ward off this ridiculous cold weather! And hopefully this cold spell will break so I can get out there and take new photos to share. I’m actually a bit worried about damaging my photography equipment in this weather!

So stay tuned for more here in the coming weeks. And feel free to share your goals (knitting and otherwise) with me as well! A very happy, healthy, and not TOO unusual 2018 to all!