I found a one day course to attend which gave me confidence to buy my own spinning wheel. I got an Ashford Kiwi 3 which came flat packed. With the help of TH-cam I managed to assemble it which I was very pleased about BUT when I tried spinning it was a disaster 😂 My tension was all over the place. The only thing that made me persevere was that the wheel had cost me such a lot of money I knew I had to get to grips with it. I’ve now been spinning for 3 years and love it. I can now make yarn that I can knit with 😊 Keep going Martyn😊
Great episode, I always like hearing your plans for the year and then following along with your progress. I like your upbeat attitude about when plans have to change, it's helped me to be a bit more laid back with my knitting, I think. The irony is that I cast on a new knit while watching this video 🤣 It's an i.o.u gift from last month because my partner really wanted a hand-dyed jumper and there was no way I was going to bust a gut trying to rush it! We are both appreciating my being able to take my time and really enjoy the process. Plus I only have one other active project as I finished most of my WIPs before the end of the year. I'm excited to see how your projects progress throughout the month, I imagine it'll be so satisfying to methodically work on completing these things 😊
Loving the idea of no new projects in January! I’ve already got one finished object (a Musselburgh hat) and now I’m finishing a Christmas gift 😅 and then I need to do my toft advent! As a surprise I have Friday of unravel off and I feel like it’s the universe telling me to go to unravel 😂🎉 I haven’t been for a few years so looking forward to it!!
Lesley from the Not Quite Enough Yarn podcast has used the calculating length method for a while, it is amazing how it mounts up especially with finer yarns!
Can’t wait to see your spinning videos! I learned myself five years ago on an Ashford e-spinner. This year one of my first projects is to start spinning a fleece of fiber so I can knit my first sweater from my own handspun (on my Christmas present: a Drudik wheel). I bet your first yarns would be charming either in a tapestry or as an accent on a hat :). My first yarn was so bad that I returned to it a year later to make it useable for… something… anything…
I have 5 wips I’m working on but I do a different one every day rather than 10 hours. I took part in a Giddy Yarns challenge in 2024 where many of us recorded our yarn in versus yarn out. In my case there was more in than out 🤭
Happy New Year 🎉 You’ve inspired me to try the Gideon method and I have just finished 10 hours on my first WIP. Now onto my second WIP. I am going to rotate between 3 to start. Loving the focus so far. Keep going with the spinning. I practiced on Corridale to start which has a longer staple length and is not too slippery. Once I was proficient with that I moved onto Merino. And pre-drafting also helped to open the fibres to make the drafting easier. Looking forward to seeing your progress.
Sounds like you've got a plan! I've just finished the Go Go Dynamo shawl, it took for ever! Just weaving in a thousand ends now and then blocking. I have to say, it is beautiful! Worth the effort. Now I'm knitting a easy thing, Hill & Dale Cowl, in black. It will be quick. I've got yarn set up for Stephen West's Mosaic Musings. It's kind of freaking me out. I can't find any videos for it, so it's going to be a slow thing. And, the shawl that you gave away last year, the Vertices Unite, I really loved the colors on that. I wasn't going to make that one, but when I saw those colors, well, I'm looking for yarn for it too. I hope to see you complete Marks sweater this year. It's so beautiful. I love the new shawls you are doing. I've made the Exploration Station years ago and I found it to be one of my best loved shawls. It's easy to wear. Thank you for being consistent in your videos. I love watching them all.
I actually finished all my projects for 2024 and went into Christmas with only a pair of socks to knit. It was horribly and I will never not have several projects in stash again. I am probably a complete anomaly in the knitting world 😂
I do my yarn tracking by yardage. And that's how I earn yarn budget too, I aim is to have 2x as much go out as in. So if I use 800 yards in a project that give me 400 yards budget for example. I fell off the wagon last year, but going to be more rigorous this year. And will destash to get to double out if necessary. :)
Can’t wait for your spinning video Martyn but don’t beat yourself up about it! It takes time to learn to spin and I was told- practice, practice, practice! It’s very good advice! I loved hearing about your WIPs and I like the 10 hour idea, or whatever works for you x
Thank you for being here! Last week, i went trough my 19,4 kilo stash.. i knit 2500 to 3000 grams a year. Today i bought 950 grams of dk and 100 grams of fingering. Cause.. i want it. It will get knit up it will. It will. My knitting aim this year.. 20 pairs of socks. 5 stuffed animals. 2 dk sweaters and a sport sweater.
I realized I have 12 wips that I’m keeping (I’ve decided to frog the remainder). So I will work on one every month this year to get through them. If I don’t get through them, I’m telling myself I’ll frog at the end of the year because there’s obviously an insurmountable barrier to completion! And yarn? I’ve given myself a budget for the two yarn shows I regularly attend. Other than that, I want to only buy yarn I need to finish a project. We shall see how that goes!
I would love an Unravel meet-up! It will be my first time going to a yarn show…I’m going on my own on the Saturday and hope to meet people! I’ve signed up for a felting class too. Very excited!
I love your weekly videos. It is something that I look forward to on Monday nights when I get home from work. It’s like a weekly check-in/visit with a friend. It’s going to be a busy quarter in my work life too, so these little visits are so welcome.
I plan to use my weight in yarn over the next year. Got 5 wips lined up for January, and have made a list of future plans. At some point I have do an inventory of my stash. Busy year forme just as well as crafting is my own personal therapy. Thanks for all your content some of it makes me laugh.
Martyn, 5 minutes, just 5 minutes to put buttons on.... seriously, it would take longer to get the stuff together to sew them on, then actually sewing them. And you could have had a week finish! lol I understand though... I have a nightgown that is missing a button and it's been that way for several years. It needs a tiny button that I don't have, my button box got lost in the move so can't even look for a similar size one. I love the Gemma's yarn shawl, it's absolutely gorgeous. I'm working on another musselburgh hat. Then I need to look at my two wips and decide what to do with them or to them... I have also deconstructed the collar of a finished sweater as it was way too huge and it's a mess but a smaller collar will make it wearable. Hugs to you and Mark
Hi Martyn, love your podcast! I think my husband needs to watch this one - especially the bit where you explain that acquiring and using yarn are two separate hobbies! 😂 I love the idea of tallying the yarn in and out. One of my goals for this year is to use more of my stash so I’ll definitely start the tally. I started learning spinning on drop spindle last year so my second plan for this year is working on that skill… All the best with your plans! ❤
You have inspired me to not start anything new in January. And only work through any of these below: 1. Finish Honeycomb Socks just at heel of 2nd one 2. Finish Toft Cobra 3. Finish Springfrost Blanket - need to get the right white wool! 4. Finish Sour Grapes from Toft 5. Jolly Red Tapestry Glasses case. I have to finish something to then start something new in Feb - if not, then nothing new until finished one of these.
Bless you Martyn, can’t wait to see the spinning video later on. I’ve ordered a drop spindle as I’ve been curious about spinning for some time but don’t want to invest in a wheel let alone an e spinner until I know I’m wanting to continue. Love how real you are still keeping it. I’m following your lead for January and going to do 10 hours on each of three projects until they’re finished in an attempt to get through some of my 30 odd WIPS. Hope to make it to Unravel this year and love the idea of a meet up in the coffee shop. Take care.
Happy New Year Martyn!! I bought myself an e-spinner last Christmas (Dreaming Robots EEW Nano). I can't seem to get the hang of it. I have been on a yarn diet for a year. I can purchase yarn if needed to finish an existing project or if there's an annual event (Rhinebeck or a yarn crawl). I also used gift cards. Technically, I didn't buy yarn, it was gifted...HeeHeeHee!
I also quilt and do cross stitch in addition to knitting, so there's alot of creative content (thankfully) from which we can extract enjoyment, so I'm sorry to say i haven't watched you in about a year, Martyn! I really didn't realize I had passed you over for that long, but am I hearing correctly that Mark's argyle jumper is still unfinished? I had a good chuckle over that, almost fell off my platform rocker! 😂😂
My solution for no cast-on's in January and joining the "12" days of cast-on's was a cast-on party from Christmas Day untill New years Eve! So I started the year with 7 fresh wips. Loved it, was the first time, but I think it is going to become a ritual.
Happy New Year Martyn! This year is my year to learn how to spin properly.. I’ve dived in and got an electric spinner for Christmas after only a little bit of drop spindle, goodness, like you I was holding head in hands saying to my partner I can’t do this 😂.. excited to learn though and it is getting better! I’m going to Unravel as well, yay, I can’t wait!
That second shawl is gorgeous 🥰. What a good idea to take 5 projects to work on. I counted my WIP's (I found 6 knitting and 1 crochet project). The first sweater I finished yesterday, now I am knitting the hem of the second sweater (and I need to knit the sleeves). Both are testknits, that's why I prioritize those first.
I love these updates so much. My New Year´s eve cast on was a Sweet Shop blanket and I am forcing myself to put it down and get back to some other WIPs including my 2024 MKAL.
Hi Martyn, I've been tracking my use off yarn for 2 years now. In both years I've set a goal of using 4000 grams of yarn in the year. I weigh my project when i finish it. I also track my sock yarn skeins in and out, because I really have a lot 😂😂, but who doesn't. I' m now working on finishing my advent shorties for my husband, still have to make 8 more shorties, and I casted on a hat for my eldest child. Hoping on finishing them this month. Happy crafting, Petra
Another great video! Loved hearing your plans for January 😊 I finished a pair of socks as midnight hit on New years, which meant I went into the new year with 1 wip (which is a scrappy blanket I've planned will take a few years). I tend to be a no more than 2 wips at a time otherwise I feel overwhelmed person 😅 I've tracked my yarn in and out the past 2 years and plan on doing the same again this year! I found it fun seeing how some months I bought a lot and other I bought nothing. I also saw that I used up nearly twice as much as what I brought in 😮. This year I'm trying to save for a trip which means I've planned a no/low buy year and that will also help me use up my stash which has been growing and growing(and is also starting to slightly overwhelm me 😂)
Well I did join 3 year long Kals, so there is that😂 but I like the Wip 10hr plan, I have some wips for sure. Plan was spin again beginning of Jan but my back decided otherwise. I did track yardage used for a few years, I think 23k yards was the most but I think in and out is a better idea. Sounds like you have a great plan!
I am also doing the Gideon Method again this year….it was through you I found this method and it works for me too. I don’t have as many wips as you, but I still like this method for keeping the cast on’s down too ha ha. Gosh I am obsessed with your Hiberknit along shawl….its so lush!!
Hi Martyn Im also in the no new projects for Jan I am aiming to finish 4 Wips before a new cast on. Finished 2 lasr years MKAL, shawl 1 from the yarn along love the yak. Now on the Geogradiant from the year before which is y own hand spun wool (lost drive after all the hassle of clueone) and then a pair of panda mittens (realised why I stoped them not a fan of colour work). Being very strong aside have the fibre for several lovely cast ons first will be the SW hiberknit which I got the kit for.
You are so amazing- I’m going for the 10 hour on a project! I did get the Toft book for the Afghan I’ll have to start that first of Feb so I still do my wips! I also have Stephen West shawls to finish- mine is the star next in line 🤞
Hi Martyn, good idea working 10 hours on a project and then move on. Good luck finishing the ones for Unravel. I will be finishing my last year's MKAL in January. And come over from Germany to the East Anglia Yarn Festival in March! Exciting! 😊
I love the idea for you of no new projects in January and finishing the languishing WIPs. The mystery advent can of course wait as it will be fun whenever…even for next Christmas. It’s so great you’re getting those done for Unravel (or before). I am sure they will love to see your FOs in their yarn. I only have 2 WIPs…one sweater & one 2 at a time socks but many frogged projects. Not able to commit to no new cast ons in January. Going on a vacation in February & should maybe have 2 pairs of socks or sock & a shawl to take. I have considered joining Michael from Piece for Peace with his new years cast on but I am already late. Love ,love , love the grams in vs out tracking. That would be quite rewarding. I think I will adopt that and true Gideon method. I did read about that previously on your substack. Enjoy a very productive January. 🎉
I read about the Gideon method last week and I’m doing the same. I’ve allowed 12 hours per project before I switch. At the moment I have three WIPs (crochet beanies for my Etsy shop, the CosyCoastline shawl and my first ever Westknit - Glowhair). Such a good idea!
Thank you for your video. I love seeing what you’re up to! I’m finishing the Dec section of my blanket club , ready to start this year’s that I’ve signed up for!🙈 I’ve got 3 pairs of socks on the go - determined to knit more socks today. A double knitting weeping angels scarf commission that I really must prioritise but my brain has to be working well for that one! 🙈🙈 I need to go back to my Quilted Pullover that I started with my advent, And I’ve been commissioned to knit a father and son set of football scarves! So yeah, a fair bit on!! 😂😂😂
Can't wait to see all your January projects finished! I only have 2 on the go at moment. I'm crocheting a baby blanket and knitting a 'Bluey' toy. Lots of love to you and Mark from London xx
I am trying to get a few withstanding wips finished by the end of Feb but I do it different. I work out an estimate of the number of rows to do a day. E.g my complicated lace project that has over 200 stitches I will try and do 4 rows. I like variety and get board easily. We are also going away soon so I need easy car knitting.
Except buying yarn isn’t a hobby. People say that to jokingly avoid the topic of overconsumption in the craft world. Having a stash makes perfect sense because it allows for creativity and combining yarns and patterns in ways we might not otherwise have considered. When a yarn stash is full of yarn that was purchased with no thought or intention-just because it’s a limited product or it’s pretty or whatever, it’s not healthy. When we own more yarn than we can reasonably store or use in a year or two-it’s overconsumption and instead of encouraging each other to act like this, it might be healthier to slow the roll, truly enjoy what we are creating and the materials we are working with. ❤
I’m also doing the ‘more out than in’ game this year. I don’t want to not buy yarn as that doesn’t support indie dyers, but I do need to lessen my stash. Right now I’m on -112m having completed my first gnome of the year.
I feel like I really want to finish my WIPs before starting anything new. The new things that are simmering in my brain require a lot of prep work, and my thumbs are still causing problems, so I can hardly knit at all. As Martyn says "It will all sort itself out"!
I counted the metres of yarn I used in 2024, from stash, from new and yarn that went into stash. I made a spreadsheet and graphs. It was really satisfying. Not a yarn ban. Far from it. Just a way to check I'm using my stash
I work on 5 or 6 sweaters at a time and rotate like very 2 hours. I get bored so move on to a different type of knitting. Works great for me. I want to copy your Exploration Station! I want to see Mark’s vest! Hahahaha
I bought an e spinner last May and have just cast on my first project with hand spun yarn (a sweater for me). It is one of those crafts where the more I learn, the more I realize how much I still need to learn!
Can’t wait to see your spinning. I don’t spin and don’t plan to start; but it’s fascinating to watch. I want to cheer you on. I hope you’ll show your progress on TH-cam. I don’t use or subscribe to TikTok, and here in the U.S. there is a strong chance it will be banned. Final Court outcome TBD.
I have been watching you for a while but rarely comment. Happy New Year to you and Mark. I have been counting yarn by miles for quite a few years. Miles because I can visualise it easier.
I have to go through my stash in January to try to reduce it, I think I'll join you in the wool in wool out tally. I've just started on SWs flying cocktail socks but think I need some mindless socks too! Also working on a cropped jumper for my granddaughter, extra bulky and cropped - should be a quick knit!
Happy New Year🎉🎉 I managed to get the Yarn Badger socks completed. Was so pleased that I got them done. I'm going to join in with a year long sock knit along this year so I'm hoping to have 12 pairs done!! 😊
Martyn-- thank you for clearing up “ squash” but to be honest I don’t know what cordial is either. Is it alcoholic, or a soft drink? Like soda or “pop” (coke a cola ) as we call it? I love learning the differences between the UK and USA !!! I think if you slow down and draft a little more, you’ll be fine, remember drop spindling is much slower. Can’t wait to see your spinning as you go-- you’re so talented in crafts I’m sure you’ll have no problem becoming a very good spinner.
I track yards I use for the last two years. 2023 was like 55,000 yards and 2024 was around 46,000. Was busier at work. It is fun to track - I also do in and out…..
I currently have three active wips - all for charity giving. A knitted figuring weight hat, a kniitted baby blanket and a crocheted lapghan. I know I will always buy yarn but I love the idea of more out than in. Perhaps I will give that a try. i had three big shipments in Dec, 2 from Hobbi and one from KnitPicks so I had better be good for awhile lol! Love shawl #2, may have to cast that one on.
Thank you for this reminder about the Gideon method - I read your post a few months ago, tried it for about a month/5 weeks but let it drift away 🤷🏽♀️. I need to pick it up again. Martyn - could you please ask Toft about releasing the digital version of the Roaming Sampler blanket - the autumn magazine edition is no longer available from the site 😞 and it’s so lovely… Loved your no new projects reel - I’m hoping to do that as well at least through March, I have three sweaters and three big shawls going that I’d like to finish by spring 🤞🏽. Good luck with spinning!
I’ve already cast on in January, but I’m a relatively monogamous knitter so that’s not a surprise! Good luck with the in/out measurements, I thought about it and track my stash in a spread sheet which would make it a lot easier, but I have no desire to measure that small 😅
I knitted 69 projects in 2024 only 7 of them for myself, lots for my new grandson, but in 2025 I'd like to knit at least 1/3 of my projects for myself. It hasn't started really well yet., my first 7 projects are gifts, I at least started a new pair of socks for myself ... 🤷♂
What if you were to reduce your rotation from 5 to 3 projects? You'd still have the variety for maintaining interest, but you would finish them sooner.
Im not going on a yarn "ban" per se; more like a yarn "diet". My stash is so overflowing. BUT you are right, it's ridiculous, bc we know purchases are going to happen. I'm doing a partial 12 Cast Ons... thing. Since having more than 2 projects at one time makes me incredibly anxious, I've decided what i want to use and put them in bags and labeled them with what projects im going to make. It's my way of making and keeping a list. Ive got so many projects i wamt to make, that i have them in ziploc bags. As long as i keep to those, I'll get them done.
Hi Martyn, brilliant idea weighing coming in and out. I'd love to have a spreadsheet of all m yarn, but I've been knitting and crocheting since I was seven and some of my yarn goes back, not all the way back, but I've more than likely got yarn in the bottom of a tub from the 80's. Honest I wouldn't be surprised. But it's so rude of Mark to sneeze when you are counting! 😂 I know I couldn't cope with knowing I have that many WIPS. I'd be overwhelmed by the stress of them. I know I have some long standing WIPS, but I've no idea where abouts they are so they don't count. I want to make myself a sweater, got the yarn. Black and gold 75/25 4ply, ebay bargain! Not found THE pattern. Also one of our granddaughters, Olivia, 12 going on twenty!, crochet and we are going to do a year long blanket. Probably granny square style with motifs. So looking forward to doing that. She's usually a free spirit crocheter, doesn't do patterns and has made herself tops, cushions, bags and more. The confidence of youth! Looking forward to seeing your spinning. Glad you've found your book. If I lost my project book I'd be in a panic. I keep all m notes in it and any changes I've made, hook/needles size, yarn choice with a sample of the yarn and the yarn band. Sorry long ramble! But that's me. Wishing Mark and yourself a happy, healthy and peaceful year. xxJane 🐑🌼
😇well done Martyn for having a plan! Thank you for sharing! I ALWAYS have at least one pair of usually vanilla socks on the go, I have a few 😂recent cast ons and (we won’t discuss the number) WIPS that you have inspired me to finish. I’m not sure I can commit to 10 hours but I do like having more than one project on the go…..available to work on depending on need. (And/or available head space) I do enjoy your weekly format. I’m off to see what I can accomplish on one of my WIPs today……if only there were more hours to craft…….
I am doing the year of Gnomes - so hoping to have gift knits for Christmas sorted.Tried weighing my yarn use each month in the past - couldn't keep it going to the end of the year. Is your new spun yarn weighed into your stash?
The Gideon Method sounds very interesting, but I don't think it's for me. I know people who work 10 rows a day on two different projects. It seems like a lot to keep track of to me. I will be working WIPs but also joining Ange in her 12 cast ons. She's kind of cheating, too. She cast on 9 (yes, NINE) pair of socks and are calling it one. That's crazy! So, for WIPs, I have a Smalt Hat, a Fortoken Scarf, and a pair of socks. I've cast on another pair of socks and a dishcloth so far. There are a lot of people who track their grams of yarn used. It's pretty fascinating. I may have to give it a go this year.
Morag looks a little forlorn without her Santa hat, maybe she needs a little crochet flower crown for her horns?
seasonal Moraga ensembles! I am here for it 🙌 👏 😍
A Scottish tam
absolutely 💯 @@karlamilton5281
Brilliant idea! May have to be a new cast on though. . .
I found a one day course to attend which gave me confidence to buy my own spinning wheel. I got an Ashford Kiwi 3 which came flat packed. With the help of TH-cam I managed to assemble it which I was very pleased about BUT when I tried spinning it was a disaster 😂 My tension was all over the place. The only thing that made me persevere was that the wheel had cost me such a lot of money I knew I had to get to grips with it. I’ve now been spinning for 3 years and love it. I can now make yarn that I can knit with 😊 Keep going Martyn😊
Great episode, I always like hearing your plans for the year and then following along with your progress. I like your upbeat attitude about when plans have to change, it's helped me to be a bit more laid back with my knitting, I think.
The irony is that I cast on a new knit while watching this video 🤣 It's an i.o.u gift from last month because my partner really wanted a hand-dyed jumper and there was no way I was going to bust a gut trying to rush it! We are both appreciating my being able to take my time and really enjoy the process. Plus I only have one other active project as I finished most of my WIPs before the end of the year. I'm excited to see how your projects progress throughout the month, I imagine it'll be so satisfying to methodically work on completing these things 😊
Loving the idea of no new projects in January! I’ve already got one finished object (a Musselburgh hat) and now I’m finishing a Christmas gift 😅 and then I need to do my toft advent!
As a surprise I have Friday of unravel off and I feel like it’s the universe telling me to go to unravel 😂🎉 I haven’t been for a few years so looking forward to it!!
Lesley from the Not Quite Enough Yarn podcast has used the calculating length method for a while, it is amazing how it mounts up especially with finer yarns!
Hi Martyn, it's about time we heard some of your musical abilities...maybe the band as background music.
You are not just a crochet/knitting person.😊
Can’t wait to see your spinning videos! I learned myself five years ago on an Ashford e-spinner. This year one of my first projects is to start spinning a fleece of fiber so I can knit my first sweater from my own handspun (on my Christmas present: a Drudik wheel). I bet your first yarns would be charming either in a tapestry or as an accent on a hat :). My first yarn was so bad that I returned to it a year later to make it useable for… something… anything…
I have 5 wips I’m working on but I do a different one every day rather than 10 hours.
I took part in a Giddy Yarns challenge in 2024 where many of us recorded our yarn in versus yarn out. In my case there was more in than out 🤭
Love your enthusiasm and positivity for January. Your wips are beautiful and I’m sure you will succeed. Have fun 😊
Happy New Year 🎉 You’ve inspired me to try the Gideon method and I have just finished 10 hours on my first WIP. Now onto my second WIP. I am going to rotate between 3 to start. Loving the focus so far. Keep going with the spinning. I practiced on Corridale to start which has a longer staple length and is not too slippery. Once I was proficient with that I moved onto Merino. And pre-drafting also helped to open the fibres to make the drafting easier. Looking forward to seeing your progress.
Sounds like you've got a plan! I've just finished the Go Go Dynamo shawl, it took for ever! Just weaving in a thousand ends now and then blocking. I have to say, it is beautiful! Worth the effort. Now I'm knitting a easy thing, Hill & Dale Cowl, in black. It will be quick. I've got yarn set up for Stephen West's Mosaic Musings. It's kind of freaking me out. I can't find any videos for it, so it's going to be a slow thing. And, the shawl that you gave away last year, the Vertices Unite, I really loved the colors on that. I wasn't going to make that one, but when I saw those colors, well, I'm looking for yarn for it too. I hope to see you complete Marks sweater this year. It's so beautiful. I love the new shawls you are doing. I've made the Exploration Station years ago and I found it to be one of my best loved shawls. It's easy to wear. Thank you for being consistent in your videos. I love watching them all.
I got my e spinners out this morning because of you had a lovely hour its so much fun 😅
I actually finished all my projects for 2024 and went into Christmas with only a pair of socks to knit. It was horribly and I will never not have several projects in stash again. I am probably a complete anomaly in the knitting world 😂
I do my yarn tracking by yardage. And that's how I earn yarn budget too, I aim is to have 2x as much go out as in. So if I use 800 yards in a project that give me 400 yards budget for example. I fell off the wagon last year, but going to be more rigorous this year. And will destash to get to double out if necessary. :)
Can’t wait for your spinning video Martyn but don’t beat yourself up about it! It takes time to learn to spin and I was told- practice, practice, practice! It’s very good advice! I loved hearing about your WIPs and I like the 10 hour idea, or whatever works for you x
Thank you for being here!
Last week, i went trough my 19,4 kilo stash.. i knit 2500 to 3000 grams a year.
Today i bought 950 grams of dk and 100 grams of fingering. Cause.. i want it. It will get knit up it will. It will.
My knitting aim this year.. 20 pairs of socks. 5 stuffed animals. 2 dk sweaters and a sport sweater.
I realized I have 12 wips that I’m keeping (I’ve decided to frog the remainder). So I will work on one every month this year to get through them. If I don’t get through them, I’m telling myself I’ll frog at the end of the year because there’s obviously an insurmountable barrier to completion! And yarn? I’ve given myself a budget for the two yarn shows I regularly attend. Other than that, I want to only buy yarn I need to finish a project. We shall see how that goes!
I would love an Unravel meet-up! It will be my first time going to a yarn show…I’m going on my own on the Saturday and hope to meet people! I’ve signed up for a felting class too. Very excited!
I love your weekly videos. It is something that I look forward to on Monday nights when I get home from work. It’s like a weekly check-in/visit with a friend. It’s going to be a busy quarter in my work life too, so these little visits are so welcome.
Hello Martyn. I've just been watching you and your identical twin brother. I had a cataract op today and I'm seeing double! Ha Ha
I plan to use my weight in yarn over the next year. Got 5 wips lined up for January, and have made a list of future plans. At some point I have do an inventory of my stash. Busy year forme just as well as crafting is my own personal therapy. Thanks for all your content some of it makes me laugh.
Martyn, 5 minutes, just 5 minutes to put buttons on.... seriously, it would take longer to get the stuff together to sew them on, then actually sewing them. And you could have had a week finish! lol I understand though... I have a nightgown that is missing a button and it's been that way for several years. It needs a tiny button that I don't have, my button box got lost in the move so can't even look for a similar size one. I love the Gemma's yarn shawl, it's absolutely gorgeous. I'm working on another musselburgh hat. Then I need to look at my two wips and decide what to do with them or to them... I have also deconstructed the collar of a finished sweater as it was way too huge and it's a mess but a smaller collar will make it wearable. Hugs to you and Mark
Hi Martyn, love your podcast! I think my husband needs to watch this one - especially the bit where you explain that acquiring and using yarn are two separate hobbies! 😂 I love the idea of tallying the yarn in and out. One of my goals for this year is to use more of my stash so I’ll definitely start the tally. I started learning spinning on drop spindle last year so my second plan for this year is working on that skill… All the best with your plans! ❤
You have inspired me to not start anything new in January. And only work through any of these below:
1. Finish Honeycomb Socks just at heel of 2nd one
2. Finish Toft Cobra
3. Finish Springfrost Blanket - need to get the right white wool!
4. Finish Sour Grapes from Toft
5. Jolly Red Tapestry Glasses case.
I have to finish something to then start something new in Feb - if not, then nothing new until finished one of these.
Happy New Year Martyn will. Marks Jumper in time for Pride? 2025 I mean 😂😂😂
Bless you Martyn, can’t wait to see the spinning video later on. I’ve ordered a drop spindle as I’ve been curious about spinning for some time but don’t want to invest in a wheel let alone an e spinner until I know I’m wanting to continue. Love how real you are still keeping it. I’m following your lead for January and going to do 10 hours on each of three projects until they’re finished in an attempt to get through some of my 30 odd WIPS. Hope to make it to Unravel this year and love the idea of a meet up in the coffee shop. Take care.
Happy New Year Martyn!! I bought myself an e-spinner last Christmas (Dreaming Robots EEW Nano). I can't seem to get the hang of it. I have been on a yarn diet for a year. I can purchase yarn if needed to finish an existing project or if there's an annual event (Rhinebeck or a yarn crawl). I also used gift cards. Technically, I didn't buy yarn, it was gifted...HeeHeeHee!
I'm doing the Gideon method now too. I currently have 10 projects on the needles and I want to FINISH something!!!!!
Just subscribedcon your newsletter. Good luck and enjoy working on your wips . Great idea to finish the Wips
I also quilt and do cross stitch in addition to knitting, so there's alot of creative content (thankfully) from which we can extract enjoyment, so I'm sorry to say i haven't watched you in about a year, Martyn! I really didn't realize I had passed you over for that long, but am I hearing correctly that Mark's argyle jumper is still unfinished? I had a good chuckle over that, almost fell off my platform rocker! 😂😂
My solution for no cast-on's in January and joining the "12" days of cast-on's was a cast-on party from Christmas Day untill New years Eve! So I started the year with 7 fresh wips. Loved it, was the first time, but I think it is going to become a ritual.
Can’t wait to see the spinner in action! I am so looking forward to seeing how it all actually works.
Happy New Year Martyn! This year is my year to learn how to spin properly.. I’ve dived in and got an electric spinner for Christmas after only a little bit of drop spindle, goodness, like you I was holding head in hands saying to my partner I can’t do this 😂.. excited to learn though and it is getting better! I’m going to Unravel as well, yay, I can’t wait!
That second shawl is gorgeous 🥰. What a good idea to take 5 projects to work on. I counted my WIP's (I found 6 knitting and 1 crochet project). The first sweater I finished yesterday, now I am knitting the hem of the second sweater (and I need to knit the sleeves). Both are testknits, that's why I prioritize those first.
Cordial in the US is an after dinner drink
I love these updates so much. My New Year´s eve cast on was a Sweet Shop blanket and I am forcing myself to put it down and get back to some other WIPs including my 2024 MKAL.
Hi Martyn, I've been tracking my use off yarn for 2 years now. In both years I've set a goal of using 4000 grams of yarn in the year. I weigh my project when i finish it. I also track my sock yarn skeins in and out, because I really have a lot 😂😂, but who doesn't.
I' m now working on finishing my advent shorties for my husband, still have to make 8 more shorties, and I casted on a hat for my eldest child. Hoping on finishing them this month. Happy crafting, Petra
I agree with you, I'm going to work on WIPs for January, I MIGHT start one, I didn't do a Xmas cast-on this year, its still sitting next to me.
Another great video! Loved hearing your plans for January 😊
I finished a pair of socks as midnight hit on New years, which meant I went into the new year with 1 wip (which is a scrappy blanket I've planned will take a few years). I tend to be a no more than 2 wips at a time otherwise I feel overwhelmed person 😅
I've tracked my yarn in and out the past 2 years and plan on doing the same again this year! I found it fun seeing how some months I bought a lot and other I bought nothing.
I also saw that I used up nearly twice as much as what I brought in 😮.
This year I'm trying to save for a trip which means I've planned a no/low buy year and that will also help me use up my stash which has been growing and growing(and is also starting to slightly overwhelm me 😂)
Well I did join 3 year long Kals, so there is that😂 but I like the Wip 10hr plan, I have some wips for sure. Plan was spin again beginning of Jan but my back decided otherwise. I did track yardage used for a few years, I think 23k yards was the most but I think in and out is a better idea. Sounds like you have a great plan!
I really want to spin but I also want to weave, I’m torn as the equipment for both costs a pretty penny. Love your episodes. Happy New Year.
I am also doing the Gideon Method again this year….it was through you I found this method and it works for me too. I don’t have as many wips as you, but I still like this method for keeping the cast on’s down too ha ha. Gosh I am obsessed with your Hiberknit along shawl….its so lush!!
In Germany we call These First Spinning attempts ‚pregnant rainworms‘ 😂
Watching while knitting on a fingerless cabled eyelet glove I started a year ago. No new projects!!
Hi Martyn Im also in the no new projects for Jan I am aiming to finish 4 Wips before a new cast on. Finished 2 lasr years MKAL, shawl 1 from the yarn along love the yak. Now on the Geogradiant from the year before which is y own hand spun wool (lost drive after all the hassle of clueone) and then a pair of panda mittens (realised why I stoped them not a fan of colour work). Being very strong aside have the fibre for several lovely cast ons first will be the SW hiberknit which I got the kit for.
Happy distaff day
You are so amazing-
I’m going for the 10 hour on a project!
I did get the Toft book for the Afghan I’ll have to start that first of Feb so I still do my wips!
I also have Stephen West shawls to finish- mine is the star next in line 🤞
Hi Martyn, good idea working 10 hours on a project and then move on. Good luck finishing the ones for Unravel. I will be finishing my last year's MKAL in January. And come over from Germany to the East Anglia Yarn Festival in March! Exciting! 😊
I love the idea for you of no new projects in January and finishing the languishing WIPs. The mystery advent can of course wait as it will be fun whenever…even for next Christmas. It’s so great you’re getting those done for Unravel (or before). I am sure they will love to see your FOs in their yarn. I only have 2 WIPs…one sweater & one 2 at a time socks but many frogged projects. Not able to commit to no new cast ons in January. Going on a vacation in February & should maybe have 2 pairs of socks or sock & a shawl to take. I have considered joining Michael from Piece for Peace with his new years cast on but I am already late. Love ,love , love the grams in vs out tracking. That would be quite rewarding. I think I will adopt that and true Gideon method. I did read about that previously on your substack. Enjoy a very productive January. 🎉
I read about the Gideon method last week and I’m doing the same. I’ve allowed 12 hours per project before I switch. At the moment I have three WIPs (crochet beanies for my Etsy shop, the CosyCoastline shawl and my first ever Westknit - Glowhair). Such a good idea!
Thank you for your video. I love seeing what you’re up to! I’m finishing the Dec section of my blanket club , ready to start this year’s that I’ve signed up for!🙈
I’ve got 3 pairs of socks on the go - determined to knit more socks today. A double knitting weeping angels scarf commission that I really must prioritise but my brain has to be working well for that one! 🙈🙈 I need to go back to my Quilted Pullover that I started with my advent, And I’ve been commissioned to knit a father and son set of football scarves! So yeah, a fair bit on!! 😂😂😂
This year not today!* 🤦🏼♀️
Can't wait to see all your January projects finished! I only have 2 on the go at moment. I'm crocheting a baby blanket and knitting a 'Bluey' toy. Lots of love to you and Mark from London xx
I am trying to get a few withstanding wips finished by the end of Feb but I do it different. I work out an estimate of the number of rows to do a day. E.g my complicated lace project that has over 200 stitches I will try and do 4 rows. I like variety and get board easily. We are also going away soon so I need easy car knitting.
" buying yarn and knitting are two différent hobbies " that made my Day. And I will quote you when my husband makes a statement about my stash😂
Except buying yarn isn’t a hobby. People say that to jokingly avoid the topic of overconsumption in the craft world. Having a stash makes perfect sense because it allows for creativity and combining yarns and patterns in ways we might not otherwise have considered. When a yarn stash is full of yarn that was purchased with no thought or intention-just because it’s a limited product or it’s pretty or whatever, it’s not healthy. When we own more yarn than we can reasonably store or use in a year or two-it’s overconsumption and instead of encouraging each other to act like this, it might be healthier to slow the roll, truly enjoy what we are creating and the materials we are working with. ❤
I’m also doing the ‘more out than in’ game this year. I don’t want to not buy yarn as that doesn’t support indie dyers, but I do need to lessen my stash. Right now I’m on -112m having completed my first gnome of the year.
I feel like I really want to finish my WIPs before starting anything new. The new things that are simmering in my brain require a lot of prep work, and my thumbs are still causing problems, so I can hardly knit at all. As Martyn says "It will all sort itself out"!
I counted the metres of yarn I used in 2024, from stash, from new and yarn that went into stash. I made a spreadsheet and graphs. It was really satisfying. Not a yarn ban. Far from it. Just a way to check I'm using my stash
I work on 5 or 6 sweaters at a time and rotate like very 2 hours. I get bored so move on to a different type of knitting. Works great for me. I want to copy your Exploration Station! I want to see Mark’s vest! Hahahaha
I have my 12 cast ons from Ange from 2 or 3 years ago. Gonna recycle and work them 5 at a time. Thank you Gideon
I feel like in South Africa, squash is every day water flavouring and cordial is upper class, went to privat school, type stuff.
I did in and out of grams of yarn. I used 1500 g more than I bought last year
I bought an e spinner last May and have just cast on my first project with hand spun yarn (a sweater for me). It is one of those crafts where the more I learn, the more I realize how much I still need to learn!
Can’t wait to see your spinning. I don’t spin and don’t plan to start; but it’s fascinating to watch. I want to cheer you on. I hope you’ll show your progress on TH-cam. I don’t use or subscribe to TikTok, and here in the U.S. there is a strong chance it will be banned. Final Court outcome TBD.
I have been watching you for a while but rarely comment. Happy New Year to you and Mark. I have been counting yarn by miles for quite a few years. Miles because I can visualise it easier.
I have to go through my stash in January to try to reduce it, I think I'll join you in the wool in wool out tally. I've just started on SWs flying cocktail socks but think I need some mindless socks too! Also working on a cropped jumper for my granddaughter, extra bulky and cropped - should be a quick knit!
Foxtail!!!
Happy New Year🎉🎉
I managed to get the Yarn Badger socks completed. Was so pleased that I got them done. I'm going to join in with a year long sock knit along this year so I'm hoping to have 12 pairs done!! 😊
Martyn-- thank you for clearing up “ squash” but to be honest I don’t know what cordial is either. Is it alcoholic, or a soft drink? Like soda or “pop” (coke a cola ) as we call it? I love learning the differences between the UK and USA !!!
I think if you slow down and draft a little more, you’ll be fine, remember drop spindling is much slower. Can’t wait to see your spinning as you go-- you’re so talented in crafts I’m sure you’ll have no problem becoming a very good spinner.
I track yards I use for the last two years. 2023 was like 55,000 yards and 2024 was around 46,000. Was busier at work. It is fun to track - I also do in and out…..
I currently have three active wips - all for charity giving. A knitted figuring weight hat, a kniitted baby blanket and a crocheted lapghan. I know I will always buy yarn but I love the idea of more out than in. Perhaps I will give that a try. i had three big shipments in Dec, 2 from Hobbi and one from KnitPicks so I had better be good for awhile lol! Love shawl #2, may have to cast that one on.
I vote for sock, kids sweaters then whichever ones you want.
Thank you for this reminder about the Gideon method - I read your post a few months ago, tried it for about a month/5 weeks but let it drift away 🤷🏽♀️. I need to pick it up again. Martyn - could you please ask Toft about releasing the digital version of the Roaming Sampler blanket - the autumn magazine edition is no longer available from the site 😞 and it’s so lovely… Loved your no new projects reel - I’m hoping to do that as well at least through March, I have three sweaters and three big shawls going that I’d like to finish by spring 🤞🏽. Good luck with spinning!
I’ve already cast on in January, but I’m a relatively monogamous knitter so that’s not a surprise! Good luck with the in/out measurements, I thought about it and track my stash in a spread sheet which would make it a lot easier, but I have no desire to measure that small 😅
Finishing sewing in ends on my GoGoDynamo shawl, it’s the only WIP from last year… except for 2 blankets and we all know that they don’t count!
I knitted 69 projects in 2024 only 7 of them for myself, lots for my new grandson, but in 2025 I'd like to knit at least 1/3 of my projects for myself. It hasn't started really well yet., my first 7 projects are gifts, I at least started a new pair of socks for myself ... 🤷♂
What if you were to reduce your rotation from 5 to 3 projects? You'd still have the variety for maintaining interest, but you would finish them sooner.
Im not going on a yarn "ban" per se; more like a yarn "diet". My stash is so overflowing. BUT you are right, it's ridiculous, bc we know purchases are going to happen.
I'm doing a partial 12 Cast Ons... thing. Since having more than 2 projects at one time makes me incredibly anxious, I've decided what i want to use and put them in bags and labeled them with what projects im going to make. It's my way of making and keeping a list. Ive got so many projects i wamt to make, that i have them in ziploc bags. As long as i keep to those, I'll get them done.
Hi Martyn and mark. I’m a crocheted 🧶. I’d like to learn to knit 🧶 socks. 🧦 Western Australia 🇦🇺
🤣🤣🤣 I will not be adding spinning! But so enjoy your journey 😅
Happy New Year, Martyn! Hugs from Deep South Texas.
Hi Martyn, brilliant idea weighing coming in and out. I'd love to have a spreadsheet of all m yarn, but I've been knitting and crocheting since I was seven and some of my yarn goes back, not all the way back, but I've more than likely got yarn in the bottom of a tub from the 80's. Honest I wouldn't be surprised.
But it's so rude of Mark to sneeze when you are counting! 😂
I know I couldn't cope with knowing I have that many WIPS. I'd be overwhelmed by the stress of them. I know I have some long standing WIPS, but I've no idea where abouts they are so they don't count.
I want to make myself a sweater, got the yarn. Black and gold 75/25 4ply, ebay bargain! Not found THE pattern.
Also one of our granddaughters, Olivia, 12 going on twenty!, crochet and we are going to do a year long blanket. Probably granny square style with motifs. So looking forward to doing that.
She's usually a free spirit crocheter, doesn't do patterns and has made herself tops, cushions, bags and more. The confidence of youth!
Looking forward to seeing your spinning. Glad you've found your book. If I lost my project book I'd be in a panic. I keep all m notes in it and any changes I've made, hook/needles size, yarn choice with a sample of the yarn and the yarn band.
Sorry long ramble! But that's me. Wishing Mark and yourself a happy, healthy and peaceful year. xxJane 🐑🌼
😇well done Martyn for having a plan! Thank you for sharing! I ALWAYS have at least one pair of usually vanilla socks on the go, I have a few 😂recent cast ons and (we won’t discuss the number) WIPS that you have inspired me to finish. I’m not sure I can commit to 10 hours but I do like having more than one project on the go…..available to work on depending on need. (And/or available head space) I do enjoy your weekly format. I’m off to see what I can accomplish on one of my WIPs today……if only there were more hours to craft…….
Hi Martyn, what happened to the basket? I loved that basket, and still need to purchase one for myself.
I need a Cordial but it is only 10 am.
I am doing the year of Gnomes - so hoping to have gift knits for Christmas sorted.Tried weighing my yarn use each month in the past - couldn't keep it going to the end of the year. Is your new spun yarn weighed into your stash?
The Gideon Method sounds very interesting, but I don't think it's for me. I know people who work 10 rows a day on two different projects. It seems like a lot to keep track of to me.
I will be working WIPs but also joining Ange in her 12 cast ons. She's kind of cheating, too. She cast on 9 (yes, NINE) pair of socks and are calling it one. That's crazy!
So, for WIPs, I have a Smalt Hat, a Fortoken Scarf, and a pair of socks. I've cast on another pair of socks and a dishcloth so far.
There are a lot of people who track their grams of yarn used. It's pretty fascinating. I may have to give it a go this year.
What cordial? Neither if the words are understood by Americans.
Happy New Year!!
I love your idea about grams worked vs gram in. 💕
I look forward to seeing your spinning videos. 🧶