The only goal I set for myself this year was to return to monogamous knitting. I am going to keep my WIP count at two-one sock, one garment. I overwhelmed myself with sock cast-ons last October and I am finally to the last one. I am much more productive when I focus on one thing at a time, and like you said, we can only knit on one thing at a time. I have ideas for smaller things I want to crochet, but I am going to treat that the same way-only one thing at a time. I have two granny stripe blankets that I am determined to finish this year, but I am going to focus on one at a time and treat it like a knitted garment. It will become my main project. Happy 2024 Nikol!

I find it incredibly endearing that 75% of your knits were gift knits 🥲 How lucky are the people in your life that you dedicate so much of your free to making them something beautiful and useful. Out of curiosity - the lovely green sweater for your son which shrank: can anyone wear it?? It doesn’t look tiny, maybe someone enjoys it?? That green is gorgeous. I once shrank a sweater for my husband to toddler size 😮. We do not currently know any toddlers… 😟

I agree with the monogamous knitting. it's fun to cast on but I get overwhelmed trying to remember where I'm at with all the things. I did try my dryer with the socks but found it to age the socks quicker. Since I don't have that many yet, the wear and tear is more. - Kimberly

Happy new year,,,, Loved seeing all UR knits,,,,!!! I just started my first colorwork ,,,,doing socks ,called treasure socks,,,,Just out,,,,free pattern on ravelry,,, Love doing it ,,,,Now that I get it,,,,!,,I knit mostly socks,,,Some plain ,,some patterned,,,,, Started 2 Sweaters but going to frog them,,,,as just not going to get done,,,, Love shawls ,,,small simple ones,,,hats,,,,mitts,,,,blankets,,,,, I have way too many things on Needles,,,,cast on itis!!! Elaine🏡⛄⛄❤

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I admit I work on a few projects at a time. No more than 3-4 and they all aren't knitting. I find it's good for me to have a knit, crochet, maybe tunisian crochet or spinning, and a pair of socks. As those types of projects have my muscles moving differently. I find i'm able to avoid repetitive stress injuries by changing it up.

I think, if you have a rack Made for dryers, you can lay the sweater on it to use the dryer. I know nothing about the heat. I have heard even on air only it will still felt if allowed to be tossed in dryer.

I need to check out those weaving in ends tutorials you mentioned, I hate when my ends work their way out! Great podcast I really enjoyed it!

I love looking back at your 2023 knits and I love how much of your knits you give away. So fun to see you again 💖😘

I happen to be wearing a pair of socks I knit with Magpie Fiber Ghost Town. Love that color way! Yesterday I started spinning black Welsh mountain top for the Musselburgh hat.😊

I’m so glad you posted this as I can relate, as someone who grew up with a mother who was an avid knitter, all I know is what she taught me but I was used to using shop bought pattern and now in this community I follow a lot of designers with new ways to knit, so like you I don’t swatch and I’m also learning what fits and learning about negative and positive ease instead of it being worked in to the pattern. I also don’t cast on lots of things at the same time as it stresses me out and I can’t keep up. I’m used to knitting bottom up and now I’m converted to top down and doing short row and love it but have a lot of my mothers old bottom up patterns and still knit them as I love them 😊😊😊

All of your knits look so comfy, squishy, cuddly.

Glad you know yourself. Monogamy in knitting burns me out. I always have at least 6 WIPs if not more at one time.

I will definitely look into the weave as you go for sock knitting. I trying my first top down socks right now. I usually have one sock going, and right now I’m planning on what to knit along with it as a project for home.

Love watching your podcasts !!!! Thank you so very much for making them so down to earth and interesting. Looking forward to your new ideas. I'm also a birthday sock knitter, one of the same knitting projects we have in common. Blessings to you and your family for the upcoming year. Pam

What a great podcast. Thank you!

Thanks again for another great video! I enjoyed your videos very much! Also, I see you have a Hocking Hills State Park sweatshirt on. We camped there in 2023. We really enjoyed that park! Happy knitting (and camping), which I think is the PERFECT combo!

Steering myself toward monogamous knitting is something I learned this year also! And for the same reasons that you mentioned. It's so much more rewarding to finish projects on a shorter timeline than have them strung out forever and risk losing momentum. Speaking of long-term projects, have you been adding any new colors to your Battenburg? I'm thinking of starting one and would love to hear if there's any suggestions you have.

Such beautiful finishes Nikol… love them all ☺️

The sweater that shrunk hurt my heart a little. And the itchy socks. I'm the opposite with socks. I prefer the scratchy stuff and I throw all my handmade socks in the washer and dryer because I hate when they stretch. I am also a monogamous knitter. I have 1 pair of socks, 1 garment, and 1 long term project going. I get overwhelmed with any more going than that. I have my advent minis sitting on a table waiting for me to finish my socks and garment before I can start my Sweet Shop blanket. 2024 goals: no full skein purchases until at least May. I don't have that big of a stash, but like wips, if I have too much, I start feeling guilty, and last year, I bought too much 😬 Also for 2024: start my Christmas gift socks next month! Your malbrigo hat colors were just beautiful on you. I can't wear those colors, and they are so natural on you - your hat really brought out your eyes and made your skin glow. Happy 2024!

I am with you on not gauge swatching for the following reason: a swatch always comes out different than a whole garment. I call knitting a garment and learning sizing in the process “live size swatching “.

I understand about ADD, thats me and knitting or doing too many things at one time. Due to a timing issue, I had two socks (not a pair) going at the same time and a sweater. The two socks were not a good idea.

I hate 'look back' videos. To be honest, it was your 'what I learned' that brought me in. Then you started with 75% of my knitting is gift knit. Hurray-me, too. I knit socks and hats for 12 people. So..lots of knitting is gift. THEN--there's a new baby being added to the group. Who can resist a good baby knit? Not me. There's a trick to try to soften wool. Soak in a good hair conditioner. Make sure the conditioner is white, but experiment with the measure. Dissolve in a large bowl or pan of warm water. Let the socks soak. Rinse and soak again. Rinse and hang dry. It's worth experimenting with.

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