I’m not going to lie, I really want 2022 to be a lot better than 2021. I didn’t realize I was starting 2021 ill, but I was tired and run down and it only got worse. Even seven months after being hospitalized I am still working towards regaining my strength and getting back to 100%. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very happy that I am still here but this year has been HARD. I have stepped back from a lot of things, including writing here, because I just don’t have the capacity to do all the things I used to do and that is okay. I definitely haven’t been able to knit as much this year either but what I have knit I’ve loved and I realized I hadn’t shared it yet!
In October and into November I was able to knit two sweaters. I knit a wool Gogink sweater (Ravelry link) after loving my cotton Gogink so much. I really love the yoke on this sweater. The purple is from Queen’s Yarn Boutique and the color is High Voltage and it’s just so vivid and stunning in person. The orange is from Lady Dye Yarns in Precious Penelope from the Bridgerton Collection. It’s soooo good. I still went with short sleeves because it’s a more wearable option for me in my area since it doesn’t get as cold. I also made myself earrings to match it. You might also have seen me wearing this when I was interviewed by Charles M. Blow the other evening on his show Prime.
I don’t have pierced ears so making myself comfortable and cute clip-ons has been something I started doing in the spring to expand my wardrobe and accessories collection. And creating with polymer clay is sometimes a little easier on my brain than knitting but still allows me to be creative.
The other sweater I knit was one I created on my own (Raverly link) using the Knitter’s Handy Book of Top Down Sweaters. I love saddle shoulder but find there aren’t tons of patterns out there that have saddle shoulder construction. So I pick my gauge and follow instructions to create a sweater to my specifications. It really is a wonderful book that I can never recommend enough. The main yarn is from a new to me dyer, Black Cat Fibers and the color is Our Lips Are Sealed. When I saw their booth at a fiber festival in late September I almost lost my mind, there were just so many amazing colors. I picked this color because it was like nothing else in my stash and I loved the little pops of pink mixed with the yellow and grey.
I pulled some leftover Madelinetosh DK in Torchere from several projects I knit a while back to use on the ribbing and saddles. I went with full sleeves and stopped at three quarter length and I keep picking this sweater up to wear because I love the yarn so much. My husband told me he liked how the speckles looked on the fabric and I didn’t alternate skeins and there wasn’t any pooling except on the last sleeve I knit.
I’ve been slowly working on an Atari sweater for my husband with yarn from my stash and I need some hats now that I have longer hair. I’ve got just a few weeks before school starts again on January 10 and I just took my comps last week and my brain is ready for a break. Unfortunately, I’ve still got a few research projects to work on but I’ve decided from now until school starts I’ve got to give myself lots of time to nap, knit and play some video games. I hope you all have a wonderful few weeks and I will see you in the new year.
Yards of Happiness 
Here’s to a happier and healthier 2022 to us all! Your lovely sweater and gorgeous smile makes us all feel better — thank you for that! Cheers.
Those sweaters are fabulous and look great on you ! So happy you are getting back to a somewhat normal life. Have a wonderful holiday!
Si love your colorful sweaters and always enjoy your posts.wishing you and your family a happy holiday season and healthy 2022.
I think you did an Awesome job knitting . I love the sweaters and your earrings. I was 25 yrs old when I got my ears pierced. Up til then I used clip ons. I will look for the sweater construction book you recommended. I wish you, Ken and Miss Jellybean a Happy, Healthy, Safe 2022
Wishing you (and all of us) a much better 2022.
Your sweaters are beautiful. I did see your interview and wondered what pattern you used. It’s gorgeous – – -and the earrings!
Wishing you good health and happiness in the new year! The sweaters and earrings are lovely.
Wishing you a great holiday with lots of down time for knitting, reading and continued recovery…. Love the colours and colour combinations you show.
Here’s to continued recovery, and health and happiness in the new year. Watched your segment with Mr. Blow. I love his column and I really appreciated your conversation together about racism in social media and influencer culture. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us, even when you’re not feeling 100%!
Sorry to hear you were so ill. Your sweaters are great. Love the Gogink colors. Looks beautiful on you.
I love those sweaters! Especially the saddle-shoulder one. I’m not surprised you reach for it so often. And how wonderful to see your smiling self and to hear an update that’s both candid and optimistic.
So inspirational! Thank you for keeping us up-to-date on your creations. Your happiness is absolutely contagious. And I agree – goodbye, 2021. Let’s hear it for 2022.
Just listened to your interview. I have very little knowledge of how FB, YT, WordPress, etc., compensates its content providers so this was both interesting and enlightening. Thanks for providing the link, Dana.
hey there!! sooooooo happy to see you knitting so much! the sweaters are just beautiful and look good on you! love the colors. extremely happy that you are getting better every day. continue to take care of yourself and i hope you have a blessed and wonderful holiday, mixed with a little fun of course.
Love your creative spirit. May your 2022 unfold in a most delightful, delicious way. As always I love seeing what creative projects you make. Thanks for sharing 💓✨
You rocked that interview! Victory lap! I particularly liked the point about the dancers on tic-toc and am now more mindful and will correct who I follow. I hope 2022 brings you good health. Thank you for sharing ALL of your adventures with us. I love your purple sweater and think I’ll make one for me to start 2022! You’re such an inspiration!
Was so happy to see you pop up in my feed today! Many good wishes for the holidays–I hope you get lots of down time and lots of rest to fortify you for a return to work in January. And I’m with you on 2022–collectively and personally, we all need this coming year to be far less challenging!
Soooo glad to see you’re recovery going sooo well! And the colors in your sweaters are beautifully vibrant. Have a safe and healthy holiday!
Your interview w/ Charles Blow was very interesting to me. Unionization would have really helped me at various points in my career; the pay and hours would have been better and there would have been much more job security. The teamsters weren’t interested in paralegals or librarians though.There’s a big need for more unions now. I was so pleased to see that that Starbucks unionized. Workers are kept in the dark about how much other people are paid for the same job, something else that needs to be changed.
Also, I love that you made earrings to match your sweater. Keep it up and I hope your health continues to improve.
Love your color choices!
This post is like a Christmas gift. Love the sweater and the colors! So sorry you have had sich a bad year. Goptng you have a MUCH better one in 2022.
SUch…HOPing. (Early morning here).
SUch…HOPing (early morning here)
Hello and it is so nice to see you! Your sweaters are lovely and the matching earrings look so cool. I hope you have a healthy and happy new year. Thanks for all the wonderful posts!
Peggy R.
Love your sweaters! 🙂 I’m so glad you’re being gentle with yourself and taking the time to heal.
Beautiful, beautiful sweaters! And the colors are gorgeous. You are beautiful in your sweaters. Excellent work
Yes, I’m ready for the new year!!!!. Really like the purple sweater. I enjoy color work. I’m in awe how many garments you can make. Working on a cardigan in the round with steeking which I’ve never done, but I’m so slow. Probably take me a year to finish. LOL You look great🤗 and know your body. Just continue to pace yourself.
I love, love, love your sweaters and the purple one is just fabulous!! I also have become a fan of short-sleeved sweaters as they are so versatile. I also want 2022 to be a better year!
That purple is GORGEOUS! Inspires me to knit more brights for the winter!