Oops I, did it again!

May 17, 2026 | Sonia Knits

A couple of weeks ago, I signed up for the My Creative Garage Advent Calendar! I’m super excited about it, not only because it is Japanese themed (Vanessa, the hand-dyer behind My Creative Garage was inspired by the 2(!) trips she took to Japan in the last year) I’m also super excited because if you recall, I took a year off from Yarn Advent Calendars last year, and I really missed it! December 2025 was kind of sad, and then hectic and stressful (mum was in hospital).

So this December, I know is guaranteed to be great! (I know it’s not, but there’s no harm in hoping)

And then on Monday night at Knit Night, Chris mentioned the Skein Advent Calendar was launching this week. And… I guess I signed up for that one as well. What’s better than one Advent Calendar, two Advent Calendars of course. I’m just making sure I have a really happy end to 2026!

I think I already know what I’ll be knitting with both calendars as well, colourful knits are the best knits! I actually get a lot of wear out of the garments I’ve made with previous Advent Calendars. I doubt I’ll be casting on in December, but it is joyous to see the new colours each day, and dream and plan about what they may become.

The Celeste Knit-along with the Richmond Knitters is going pretty well, some people have already finished!

I’m up to the boring bit, but a bit of plain stocking stitch is quite relaxing when things have been super busy at work.

Here’s where I’m up to. I’ve been tapering the body in at the sides, so that it doesn’t end up so oversized. I think it’s looking great when I try it on. So long as I don’t make it too long, it’s going to be a good fit.

Other fun things, Damian bought a hundred Yuzus a couple of weeks ago, that is 100 Yuzus, so funny. He’s really getting into making foods at home. He made Yuzu jam, yuzu butter, yuzu brandy and yuzu salt! No yuzu went to waste! This past weekend he also made Strawberry Jam. I’m supporting him in these fruitful endeavours as much as possible.

I also purchased this very cool Sock Knitting brooch from Erstwilder, and we got Carol (my MIL) the box of pencils, she loves it!

I’ve finished some socks (more on that and pictures next time), and I’ve just cast these ones on. I really hope to finish them in a couple of weeks, as they are a little gift. It’s part of my year of making socks for others.

A Race to the Finish

December 29, 2023 | Sonia Knits

With just two days to the New Year, my Amina sweater is FINALLY finished. This would have to be the longest time it’s taken me to knit a single jumper, having cast on for it in June. So for someone who likes completing things on a regular basis, this was torture. Am I happy with it? Why yes, yes I am. Did I learn a lot? Yes, yes I did, would I knit it again? Definitely not!

Earlier this week, we celebrated Christmas in our usual way; both families on the one day, lots of fun with the kids and lots of food. On Christmas eve, we had a pre-Christmas celebration with some friends, and we had a Kit-Kat constructing competition (not my idea of fun!). Whilst I am a designer, I’ve never been great at constructing things, and one of the competing adult kids is studying architecture! Somehow, the train, Tim and I had built scored first place.

The yarn advents are over and I can’t wait to cast-on some new colour work projects in the new year. First of all I’ll be casting-on for the Paul Klee sweater with Kate Davies’ advent yarns. I spent a delightful morning on Boxing day arrranging and re-arranging colours for this. If all goes to plan, I’ll be casting on for another sweater in February with the My Creative Garage advent, but more on that another time.

My little/big hedgehog decoration is almost complete, I’m just waiting on a delivery of 6mm black beads for it’s eyes, then just a few facial embroidery details and it’s done. I’m pretty novice when it comes to Amigurumi, the arms and feet are different sizes, so don’t look too closely. It will have just a few days on the tree, before it all gets boxed up again for next year. Christmas is over too quickly.

My blank canvas

January 6, 2013January 6, 2013 | Sonia Knits

I’ve taken the Christmas tree down today. That’s it, another year has finally begun. I feel as though my holiday time has past extremely quickly and I’m feeling a little sad about it. But I don’t feel like the new year has begun completely, as normal things have not resumed, apart from work. Best friends are still on holidays, favourite restaurants are shut, and there is absolutely nothing to watch on TV. Thank god for iTunes.

When I put up the tree this time around, it wasn’t with as much vigour as I’d hoped. And I know why. Same tree, same decorations, same lights and same star topper. The same as it’s been for the past many years, I cannot remember.

This year is going to be different. Whilst my tree doesn’t need replacement (I’m told otherwise, apparently you no longer have to peg in individual branches!), but my decorations certainly do. My tree needs heart. It needs handmade decorations. I have a dozen queued on Ravelry from long ago, so this is to be the year. I took a photo of my naked tree, without the decos and I’m hoping this will serve to be my inspiration and hopefully they’ll be made before December.