It’s a new year, and it is tempting at moments like these to announce a clean break with the past. You know: get a gym membership, quit smoking, knit from stash for a whole year – that sort of thing. However, as The New York Times cautions today, New Year’s Resolutions are hard to keep. Turns out we’re not very good at making changes.
Or, as I prefer to think about it, the new is never completely and utterly new, but always bears traces of the old.
So it should be unsurprising that my “new” project for the year – Nakniswemodo – looks so much like my “old” projects (VIB and ReVIB). No, don’t worry, I won’t be knitting a million baby sweaters. In fact, one of the few rules of Nakniswemodo (National Knit A Sweater a Month Dodecathon) is that the 12 sweaters you knit in 2009 have to be adult-sized. Which is great, since I have been dying to make more sweaters for myself.
But it isn’t just the grandiose scale of Nakniswemodo that should seem familiar to readers of this blog. It’s also a few of the projects. I’m hoping to come back to a number of sweaters that have been enjoying extended time outs, and actually finish them off. Top on my list are Poppy and Roam. But I also want to restart Somewhat Cowl (which I had to completely frog after getting 75% done) and to go back to Norah Gaughan’s Cabled Coat. If I can find the yarn, I’ll finish off Kelly Cardigan, too.
And then there are the glorious new projects. I’m human, so of course instead of being virtuous and starting with one of the WIPs, I want to cast on for something new. But what to cast on? Kim Hargreaves’ Still, Tender, or Jasmine? Iris Schreier’s Mesh Lace Cardigan? Teva Durham’s Brilliant Retro? Sarah Hatton’s Sorrel? And already I’ve now listed eleven sweaters, all drool-worthy, all with yarn in the stash – again the new project is connected to the old stash. So many sweaters, so little time!
I am not yet sure how I am going to make the decision, but rest assured that once this blogpost is in the ether, I am grabbing a pair of needles, and settling down to watch a few episodes of 30 Rock. What better way to bring in the new year than with Tina Fey?
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Episode 8 is full of meditations on the relationship between the new and the old. First, we’ll take a look back at 1980 with the song that gives today’s post its name – a fabulous kitschy and catchy song by John Lennon. Then I’ll review what I’ve been knitting and spinning. My FOs and WIPs are a mix of the old and the new – projects I finally have finished after months of avoidance, and projects I just had to cast on to keep myself from casting on a Nakniswemodo sweater before it was time. Old techniques, and new techniques learned.
I’m insisting to myself that my movie review this week is going to be of something new. I haven’t been getting out to the theaters to see anything lately, and I need to make that change. Seattle is the movie-watching capital of the U.S. – more movies watched in theaters per capita than any other American city. I’m simply not carrying my share of the weight – and that has to change. If you’ve got a movie to recommend, or something you’d just like to see me review, leave it in the comments!
My essay this episode will reflect on the relationship between the old and the new in knitting. Knitting, I think, is remarkable for how it highlights the juxtaposition between the two. Then, I’ll review a new book from my knitting book collection. And the kitties will wrap it all up with their last meow.
Phew! There’s a lot of knitting and writing to get done to pull this all together. I’m going to get on that right now. But, before I go – a very Happy New Year to you and to yours from all of us here at Casa KP!
My NaKniSweMoDo 12 will consist of some UFOs, as well as new projects. I think I have about 3 sweater/cardigan projects that need to be finished. Good for you for bringing back the older projects. The Sorrell project really looks like you.
Happy New Year to you and Mr. F. Hope Seattle is treating you well!
Posted by: Wanda | January 02, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Hey lady! Glad to *hear* your voice again. I'm just finishing my Christmas cards - hey! I send them out during Christmas (which has 12 days, remember) - and I realized I know that you've moved but don't have a mailing address for you. Please shoot me an email and let me know.
Wishing you the best in 2009!
Posted by: Laura | January 02, 2009 at 11:16 AM
NaKniSweMoDo seems like a great goal. I like your plan to revisit and finish old sweaters too! Best of luck!
Posted by: Kristi aka FiberFool | January 02, 2009 at 07:43 PM
Happy New Year! And here's to a successful NaKniSwMoDo.
Posted by: Chris | January 05, 2009 at 09:10 AM
A sweater a month? I'll be lucky if I can get one done in a year!!
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Kaykat | January 05, 2009 at 03:19 PM
hi there, thank you so much for your comment on 42 again. it's made me a little misty eyed. i'm so happy to be here in seattle too. we saw 'let the right one in' on saturday night - it was great!
Posted by: Amelia | January 06, 2009 at 12:05 AM
oh, and happy new year of course!!
Posted by: Amelia | January 06, 2009 at 12:05 AM
Happy New Year!
I love all the sweaters you listed for Nakniswemodo! Glad you're able to get back to knitting some sweaters for yourself :D
Posted by: Terrie | January 14, 2009 at 04:54 PM
Happy New Year! NaKniSweMoDo is very popular! I am not even going to pretend that I can meet that kind of goal. ;) I do like your taste in sweaters, though.
Posted by: JayJay | January 21, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Happy New Year! And here's to a successful NaKniSwMoDo.
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