There is not an "official" Unraveled Wednesday linkup this week, but it's such a part of my week that I can't resist one last post in 2023. How about Unraveled: The Year in Review? Also, a big thank you to Kat for hosting all of us all year. Like I said, it's a big part of my week and I appreciate your hosting, Kat!
I'm one of the world's slowest knitters, but I managed to complete 12 projects this year.
I would call most of them successes. Half an 1898 was an experiment to see if I could knit a warm headband after knitting John an 1898 hat for Christmas last year. I've never worn it but it turns out I don't like or use headbands too much. I gave away the Sophie Scarf, and have worn most of the other items regularly. Except for the Sparkly HotM. It's still too small but I can't quite give it away because I like the yarn. The biggest disappointments were the Warm Waffles for Winter I just finished for the boys. After I tried them on, I had the nagging feeling that they might be too small for their huge hands. They can get them on but the thumb ribbing is tight. I offered to fix them but they both said they were fine (even though I know they're not). Next time I knit them fingerless mitts, I'll use the Jacoby pattern that I've already modified for Ryan's large hands, or make hats. Ryan told me that he could use more potholders (he only has two). After looking at potholder patterns I may be crocheting some more this year. Many of the ones I like are crocheted, so I guess I was not done with crochet after my snowflakes.
And as a last interesting (to me anyway) note, Ryan had a suggestion for the snowflake that I wasn't able to figure out. He recommended that I try typing the instructions that I was having trouble with into ChatGPT. I was skeptical but I tried it with just one round and was rewarded with simple steps that I think I'll be able to follow! I haven't given ChatGPT the whole snowflake yet and taken my crochet hook in hand but I'll be crocheting with AI later this week.
How was your making this year?
Congrats on all the finishes. I started a lot. I finished very little. Hoping for a more productive 2024.
ReplyDeleteThose are some lovely finished knits, Bonny. And I think doing an assessment of what worked and what didn't will set you up for great knitting success in 2024!
ReplyDeleteYou had a very productive knitting year, Bonny. And I'm sorry about the waffle-thumbs. Maybe you can sneak those mitts away and fix them anyway? I'll look forward to seeing your crocheted potholders! (My potholder drawer still holds some potholders I crocheted for my first apartment. They are ugly. But indestructible. And still useful in a pinch.)
ReplyDeleteYou may call yourself a slow knitter, but most of the projects you made this year had a LOT of stitches! I always think of you as the Hitchhiker Queen, so I'm not surprised at all to see a few of them represented in your FOs.
ReplyDeleteMy husband recommends ChatGPT for everything, and most of the time it's not relevant. But using it to help with the snowflake instructions is brilliant!
Whoa....that's a lot to show for one year! I finished very little this year, I'm afraid. I went down way too many rabbit holes.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with falling down an interesting rabbit hole! I might have been able to crochet at least one potholder in the several hours I've spent searching for patterns. I also found out that the German word for potholder is topflappen, which amuses me greatly for some reason.
DeleteMerry Christmas! (I did love the red birds you shared on Friday.) and yay for another year of making! You completed 12 knitting projects and how many crocheted snowflakes? and weren't there some project bags? (maybe with a fabric leftover from 2020 masks?) anyway ... you clearly know what you like to knit and you do it beautifully. (gosh I wish the boys had let you redo those thumbs) also, ChatGPT for that?! who knew?
ReplyDeleteSolving a knitting problem with AI seems very forward thinking Bonny. Your review of all the making shows thoughtfully crafted items. I agree with Sarah there are a lot of stitches in those projects and of course it should never be a race. If you knit what you like and enjoyed (mostly ;-) the knitting that is what counts. Congratulations on all of these great finishes.
ReplyDeleteSince I didn't finish anything this year, I think your list of projects is impressive, Bonny. And as we have discussed, it is not about productivity, but joy and contentment, so who cares how many FO's you had? It's very handy to have younger folks around to make suggestions about using new technology! I think that was a brilliant suggestion, and please keep us posted on how it goes. Hope you had a good holiday with your family.
ReplyDeleteWell done, Bonny! I'd call this a banner year of knitting! I think the assessment of your knitting might be the best thing! I need to do some of that myself!
ReplyDeleteThis was my slowest knitting year and I'll blame it on arthritis. I am okay with whatever knitting I do get done. Congrats to you!!
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