Are you ready?

And here we are again – at the start of the year with all of that time to fill spread out in front of us, like the view across fields and woodlands from the top of a hill.  Or maybe not, as I wrote about yesterday in my December Monthly Musing 🙂

Our empty new year calendars are never quite so empty by the time we’ve put in birthdays, holidays, appointments and commitments but far from feeling overwhelmed by all of this, this year (along with remembering that there’s always time to re-start anything) I intend to make the most of the “gaps”; those spaces between the appointments and commitments when I can fit in something small (and here’s the challenge as my estimation of how long anything is going to take is always woefully inaccurate!) but all of those small things can add up to something big by the end of the year.

“Just one round” here and there can add up to a surprising number of socks.  “Just a bit further” whilst out with the dog will increase the number of steps I’m taking in a day.  “Just one thing” to throw out or tidy up could well see me making further inroads into the decluttering than I have for some considerable time.  It all feels very do-able and I am excited to see where it takes me.

So how about you?

You may have your year planned out in meticulous detail or you may not.  Either way is absolutely fine.  Sometimes, after the excitement of Christmas, New Year and any other celebrations you may observe, you may feel that the last thing you need to do right now is make decisions about any of that kind of stuff and you simply need a rest – and I may have just the thing for you.

I’m going to be running the Winter Haven KAL again this year, and I invite you to find yourself a cosy space (or a cool space if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere) and take time to rest and recharge your batteries during January.  I’ll write more about the KAL this week, and there will also be a new sock pattern coming out at the end of the week as well – one that’s ideal for leftovers so don’t worry that I’ve not mentioned it before and you might not have enough yarn.  You will, I’m sure!

For now, if you’ve arrived at the blog with knitting socks on your resolution list for 2023, then you’re in the right place!  I just love socks and everything about them 🙂  I love choosing the yarn, knitting the socks, wearing them, gifting them – and most of all, helping other people to do the same.  Nothing makes me happier than knowing I have helped someone to overcome their doubts and fears about whether they could ever knit socks, and as another year goes by and I see more socks than ever on social media, my heart is full to bursting.

The Basic 4ply Socks pattern is the perfect pattern to start with, and also to take part in the Winter Haven KAL with too.  You’ll find the free pattern and beginner step-by-step Sockalong tutorials here and there’s a fabulous Winwick Mum Sockalong Facebook group for real-time help too.

Want to move on from basic socks?  I’ve got tutorials and patterns for first time cable, lace, intarsia and colourwork socks plus many more, all designed for adventurous beginners – you can find those on the Patterns and Printables page here.

All of these are always on the blog so it doesn’t matter if you start today, next week or in a few months’ (or even years’) time; what matters is that it’s the right time for us.

2023 feels to me like a year to make time for what’s important, and our well-being should be high on that list.  Whatever you have planned for the year so far, I hope that there is time for you.  It’s our year.

Are you ready?