A Year of Slow Crafting.

Hello folks and a very Happy New Year to you all. I know I’ve been remiss in the extreme, my only excuse is that my brain needed time to stage a reset after life changes – but here I am and I shall try to be more consistent 😊

This year the plan is not to keep casting on All Of The Things but to take pleasure in the making. I’m someone who likes to be doing numerous things at once (plus I have the attention span of a 🐠) so I’m constantly seduced by the next project. Now my seventy twelve WIP’s are not going to dissappear overnight but I’ve made a start. These are the totally stunning Late Bloomer Mittens and I really enjoyed the embroidery finishing.

Another project I absolutely loved was the Meadow Wrap from Dee Hardwicke https://deehardwicke.co.uk/ . This was a Christmas gift for my mum and it is so gorgeous I think I shall be doing another for myself at some point. This was knitted in Knit by Numbers merino from John Arbon which is wonderful for colourwork. Also talking of Dee I’m hugely excited to be attending her art & knitting day at Kew Gardens in March. As my fine hand movement leaves a bit to be desired my art is likely to be a tad abstract 😁. I’m going with a good friend who is also a talented artist so she may take pity on me and help…..

This year, triple vaccinated n all my plan is to learn some new things and get back out into the world a bit. Along with Deeś class I’m hoping to attend one of Erica-Janes ( https://wilderstitch.com/ ) workshops. Erica makes the most beautiful fairytale creations as well as wonderful kits so her website and Instagram page are certainly worth a visit.

My big indulgence project for the year, which will encompass slow crafting in the extreme is to join in Marie Wallinś Fairisle 7 group. The end result should be a stunning fairisle jacket crafted in a number of pieces using some techniques I’m familiar with and some not so much ( Steeking – 😱🙈🙈🙈 not one of my superpowers) The yarn for this arrives in the next few weeks and the project commences mid February so I’ll post updates and cries for help along the way.

Along with taking my time enjoying the craft journey I need to pay a little more attention to my health and get it into my skull that I’m not going to beat chronic disease and mobility deterioration ( it’s only taken me since 2006 to accept this so not too bad). Therefore I’m declaring a truce. Next week I’ve planned an immune superboost week with lots of cold pressed juices and green soups, And No Crisps! I’ve also got on order the most perfect cross between a stick and walking staff being made by the incredibly talented Stck Man. Instead of having to flex my wrist as with a normal stick which my joints find problematic this is taller. The head is carved into the shape of a Hare with a thumb extension rest between its ears to keep that particular joint in place. I can’t wait to take it on walks with the Lily hound.

Just before Christmas himself and I took ourselves off for a few days to stay in Winterton Lighthouse https://www.wintertonlighthouse.com/ This was the perfect spot to hide away with good food, books and yarn. It was seal pupping time too so there were seals everywhere. It was the perfect spot to finish mums Christmas present.

We are still househunting as our planned move to the coast hit a large stumbling block when our house purchase fell through in the autumn. In the meantime I’m packing and organising my yarn / fabric / craft room ready for viewing folks – wish me luck 🍀

That is me off to do some sorting and inventory now so I’ll say goodbye. Do let me know what you have planned for the year ahead.

Lots of love

Magpie 😘