2023 Year in Making
Total Makes completed in 2023: THIRTY FIVE (35)
‘Tis the season to recap all that I’ve made in 365 days!
In 2023, I started sewing again, learned how to crochet amigurumis, learned how to spin fiber on a wheel and on drop spindle, and lots of gift making!
I continue to use the Making app to share more of my makes than Instagram. IG has become very hard to connect ad engage with. It’s less about community and more about selling and visibility. I understand the need to use it from a small business aspect. I just can’t be on it a lot for the sake of my creativity. When I share on their now, I feel like it needs to have an important purpose or an announcement of sorts. While on the Making app, I just want to be unburdened to share imperfect making moments. IG is oversaturated due to the algorithm just showing you what you “like” and doesn’t let you organically engage with new content and other people outside of your already established preferences, an echo chamber if you will. My relationship with IG will change over time and I think I’ll engage as I want rather than with the pressure to engage. IG will be less about an influence on my making and more about sharing what inspires me.
My body continues to change. My style continues to change. I kind of love it because I am able to expand what I want to make. Coming across new patterns and designs is fun to rethink the way I approach my wardrobe and the time I spend on making something. I love making and designing garments the most still. Could be an extension of my career and first love, fashion.
I’ve cut down on designing knitting patterns this year. It wasn’t planned. I’ve also taken a bit of a break on creating content in general. I just want to make things, with or without purpose, on my own time, in my own terms, without having to share everything. So if it means my patterns take a bit more time to write, I’m okay with that. I’m still designing, constantly, just not always writing it down or converting it into a knitting pattern right away. I’m giving my creativity some time to breathe and marinate.
4 Pattern Designs: one cowl, three garments (one currently in test knitting to be released in 2024, one still in pattern design phase).
Bittersweet Raglan (Pattern writing in progress, release in 2024)
No name yet. Pattern in writing.
No name yet. Pattern writing in progress.
I still found time to test this year! I wish I could test more sometimes. So many things to make, not enough arms or time.
2 Tests: one crochet hat and one knit tank top
2023 was strong on crocheting it seems! Wow I love crocheting so much. I always have a crochet project on my hooks now. I’m always looking for the next pattern. I have no interest in creating crochet patterns though. I do like self-drafting crochet pieces for myself. Just not interested in writing out patterns. Crochet is just so customizable.
14 Personal Makes: 4 crochet garments, 1 crochet accessory, 2 knit garments, 1 knit home decor, 1 knit accessory, 3 sewn pillows, 2 art hangings..
Self-drafted crochet granny square top.
Freestyled crochet flower purse based on the Flower Puff Jumper by The Missing Yarn
Gifting: SO MANY this year! The gifting of hand made gifts is my love language. If everyone who knew me personally asked me to make them something as a gift, I would feel so loved that they value my crafts.
2 baby hats, one knit, one crochet
1 scarfette, for Mom
1 pair of socks, for Hubby
1 amigurumi monkey, for Hubby
7 amigurumi mushrooms, gifted to coworkers, friends, pets, and Hubby
3 knit hats, Giant Twisted Rib Knit Hat, for the in-laws (not pictured)
