It’s now 2026 and there’s a 100% chance I’m not the same person I was at 34.

In the last few years, I’ve found it hard to show up here. Writing just didn’t feel easy like it did back then. I was using this blog as a kind of journal in those days, which was fun.

This week, during the quiet moments at work, I went through and read some of my old posts. My voice was loud and clear for those first few years. I was having a great time posting what I was up to – not just what I was knitting on.

So, what happened? Why did I stop sharing my life? Am I just boring now? Is what I’m up to just not interesting? (No, that’s not it. Haha. I might be more interesting now because I give less shits.)

There are so many things I’m passionate about that are not knitting. When I started this blog, I was just getting into spinning. A few years ago, I started making some of my own personal care products. I could write you a whole post on the things I (don’t) use to help our little planet. I discovered lino carving, dabbled in embroidery and recently discovered leather work. OMG! SO. MANY. THINGS!!!

I really hate that I have to work. Legit, I resent that I can’t stay home and be creative all day every day! Alas, I have to pay for my lovely house and support my yarn/travel/book addictions.

Last year, I stopped buying yarn. I have a very BIG stash. I have yarn that’s been around since I discovered yarn shows in 2006. (And this is only part of it. I also have fibre stash under the spare room bed. Hihi)

And what did I do? I started buying books instead. I even had two more shelves built for my wall of books. And still I have piles of books on the ground that have no permanent home yet.

I have learned something about myself: When I discover a new way to express my creativity, I have to be very careful to not go crazy buying all the things. It’s easy for me to get obsessed with something and want to buy all the supplies to do that thing. Then I discover something new a month later and I want to buy all the tools for that craft. So you can imagine what my office/library/yarn room looks like.

So, I’m making myself a promise to show up here and just share what’s on my mind, what I’m working on, what I’m loving and other cool shit. I’m also making myself a promise to show up on my YouTube channel whether my hair is washed or not, whether it’s gloomy outside or not. No more excuses.

My creativity is THE most important thing for me. If I can inspire just a few people to try something new (like knitting an Icelandic sweater) or to get back to something they loved once, then it’ll be worth it.

What are you working on? What are you loving? What are you reading?

How ridiculous is that!  Is anyone still here?  Who knows how many people read my blog years ago when I was consistent but I suspect they’ve all gone now.  That’s what happens when you drop the ball!  Haha.

It’s definitely not because I haven’t been busy knitting!  Let me tell you.  I don’t even know what to do with all my knits.  Does anyone else have that issue??  How many hats can one head realistically wear?  And don’t we usually go for our favourites??  Which are usually the most recently finished hat we have on the shelf.  Tell me I’m wrong (I probably still won’t believe you).

My friend Louise and I went on a little roadtrip to Montebello, Quebec yesterday.  The shop name is Wööl and it’s small and charming.  Naturally, I spent too much money.  I got some construction orange yarn to knit myself a Musselburg that will match the zipper pulls on the coat I purchased in Iceland (oh yeah!  I should probably write about my visit to the Alafoss store).  It’s a ridiculous color, honestly.  I’m also not sure I can pull it off.  But I’m gonna do it anyway because it makes me happy.

This year will be all about doing things that make me happy – all the creative things.  I also saw an embroidery kit that I almost purchased but didn’t because of the guilt I felt over the amount I spent on yarn.  But I think I’ll try to figure it out on my own with some cheap felt at Michaels – that way, if I mess it up, it won’t have cost $40!  (Coupons baby!)

Back to the yarn…  I also got some alpaca/silk yarn by Emilia & Philomene (which I’ve never had the pleasure of using) to pair with the yarn I spun for my Traveller Shell.  

I HAVE TOO MANY THINKS I WANT TO KNIT RIGHT NOW!  

I have to finish the Icelandic sweater I started for my friend Sandy but forgot the colourwork at the bottom of the body and sleeves – he wants it “authentic” so I ripped out the hems and am adding the color work now.  Let’s not tell him I made it top down.  He won’t know.

I then have to make the same Icelandic sweater, but smaller, for his wife.  How cute is that!  Same same.  

I have a colourless Icelandic sweater to make for my brother-in-law.  I’m not sure why he wants one because I’ve made him sweaters in the past and have never seen them on him.  But they paid for the yarn and I’m going to be knitting something anyway.  So whatever, right?

I also have two sweaters’ quantity of yarn from Iceland to make MYSELF sweaters but at least one of those will wait.  Do I want to make the green one or the orange (not construction orange this time) one?  

The Traveller knitalong will totally be over by the time I manage to cast on my Shell but the yarn is spun and the fluff is purchased so it’s getting done.

Is anyone else feeling pressure to knit with their stash because they recognize that they have TOO MUCH YARN?  It’s like very time I come into my office to use the computer, the yarn is giving me the gears for having sat there too long.  RUDE!

I also want to make the Nimh Shawl by BohoKnits.  It’s been in my queue forever and I’m pretty sure I have enough Cascade Eco in my stash to knit it. 

My sister wants a shawl but she wants a Gro Shawl by Fiber Tales but I don’t have yarn for that.  It’ll likely take her forever to get to the yarn shop to buy some so I’m off the hook for a while I think.  (Fingers crossed.)

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll have seen that I put together a mystery sock thing.  I went through my stash of fingering yarn and picked out 12 skeins I wanted to knit sooner than later.  I put each skein in a paper lunch bag.  The skeins that weren’t too heavily variegated or self-striping got assigned a pattern I had in my queue or in my library.  Then I folded up the lip of the bag so I couldn’t see the pattern and put them all on my yarn shelves.  None of them are marked or numbered in any way. So on the first of each month, I’ll pick a bag and knit those socks.  I was really excited for my January socks – self-striping by Mudpunch (Canadian dyer extraordinaire). 

That’s it for me for today.  I have too much to do and packing for Boston this weekend.  Woot!

Before I left, I decided I was going to pack carry-on only.  I always pack too much.  Plus I had some funky transfers and I didn’t want my luggage to get lost on the way there.  Who cares if it gets lost on the way back.  They deliver it to you when it’s located anyway.

Why do we always over pack?  Who knows.  Maybe we’re afraid we won’t want to wear what we brought so we bring extra?

Suitcase dimensions:  17″ wide x 14″ high by 7″ deep.  That’s pretty small.

Here’s what I packed:

1 travel pillow – used.
1 camera – never took it out.  Not once.  Used my phone the whole time.
1 sweater – which I mostly wore in the A/C house in the morning when I got up.
1 pair of running shoes – wore them one when I knew I would be doing a lot of walking.
1 pair of flip flops – used every single day.  Also handy when going through security at the airports.
3 bras – one black sport, one white sport, one beige big-girl bra.  I only used the two sports.
3 long sleeved blouses – only wore two.
3 long pants – only wore two.  I wore my new Lululemon Studio pants a lot.  I love them.
2 long skirts – only wore one.
3 thin long sleeve thin open front shirts (to go on top of tanks) – wore them all
7 tanks – only wore four
2 PJ tank/boxer combo – wore both
4 pair of ankle socks – only wore one.
1 swimsuit – wore it.
1 dress – didn’t wear it.
1 scarf – wore it and purchased a few more.  
14 underware – they don’t take a lot of room. I used one pair per day. I didn’t need the extras.
1 coat – wore it until I got to the airport.  So if you’re getting a ride from the same person to/from the airport, ditch the jacket.
1 portable battery pack to re-charge my phone on the go.  Get a good one.  Mine overheated and it made me worry.

The first picture is what I packed.  The second picture is what I actually used.

It must be noted that my clothes are small.  If you were a 6′, 250 lb dude, this wouldn’t work.

It should also be mentioned that I had access to laundry.  I washed two outfits.

Conclusion?  I wore my favourite stuff more than once.  I think we all do that.  Even if you don’t have access to laundry like I did, get some little travel laundry soap thingies and wash your stuff in the tub and hang to dry.  Might make for some stiff pieces but they’ll soften up when you put them on.  Alternatively, use the laundry service in the hotel if they have one.  Or hit up a laundromat if you’re not in a super remote area.

If you’re a traveler (as opposed to a “vacationer”), packing light is important and way more convenient.  Imagine how quickly you can get your transfers when you don’t have to wait for your luggage to come off the plane.  And it’s so much easier to lug around when you just have a few small pieces.

Other tips:

1. Put all your liquids in one leak-proof bag and put them somewhere you can easily access them – like one of the front pockets of your suitcase or pack.  If they ask you to show them all your liquids when you go through security, you’ll be ready.
2. Wear shoes you can easily slip on and off.  It’s handy when you’re getting all your stuff after it went through the scanner thing. Trying to lace your shoes while everyone is rushing past you is no fun.
3. Don’t wear a belt.  It’s a pain in the arse to get back on after you’ve gone through security and rushing to gather the rest of your things.
4. Don’t wear more than two layers of clothing.  They’ll make you take off everything that’s not directly covering skin.  This will save you time.

If you feel like checking out some of my pics, you can find some in Instagram @mimimustknit.

The planning and execution came about very quickly – I’m a bit impulsive that way.  In about 12 hours, we picked a destination, researched a bit, booked our time off and booked our trip.  We leave in less than a month.

I feel like leaping off a cliff!  I won’t.  But planning travel always makes me feel like I can fly.  Strange, I know.  What can I say.  I’m addicted.

I got to see these two this weekend:

Makes my heart sing.  (My son and my sister.)

The new workshop is a go.

The blanket is finished.

Gauge checked and ready to rock on the sweater.

I’m going to finish this post and cast on before my night shift.  Woot!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR and all that good stuff.