Christie C. How are you creative?
“There’s great value to knitting or digging up your garden or chopping up vegetables for soup, because you’re taking some time away from turning the pages, answering your emails, talking to people on the phone, and you’re letting your brain process whatever is stuck up in there.” —
Chellie Pingree
Finding My Style
2024 has been a massive year for me in regard to fashion and creativity. Life’s challenges and circumstances inspired me to take more risks, and one of these risks was just dressing how I wanted to dress. It seems benign, insignificant, and frivolous, but, if I may open up a little here, I spent a good chunk of my life not being me.
As most people do, I code switch on a regular basis, adapting to a dominant environment, whether it is the environment of family, peers, coworkers, or any other elaborate ecosystem that requires some form of survival skill or civility to make it through the next year, month, or day. I am sure many of you can relate. But, this regular shapeshifting is exhausting. I used knitting for over fifteen years as one of several coping mechanisms. I’d be lying, however, if I said I loved everything I made unconditionally. Many of my past pieces feel like a mishmash of what I thought would blend nicely into the crowd. This year was different.
What inspired my will to be creative with my garb were some words of wisdom by aesthetics business woman Iris Apfel (rest in peace). In an interview with The Talks, she says:
“I think most people don’t know who they really are. They feel secure if they look like other people or if it’s the look that everybody says is in… People agonize about the way they look! It’s unbelievable! They don’t know what to wear or how to do it, and they’re very unhappy. But you can’t learn style. Style, I think, is in your DNA. You can learn how to be more fashionable, you can learn how to be better dressed, but I don’t think you can learn style. I think that’s something inherent. You have to know who you are first and then proceed from there—and that’s a lot of work! Most people don’t want to do it. And if they don’t want to do it, and they feel stressed by doing it, I always say it’s better to be happy than well-dressed.”
That line… You have to know who you are first and then proceed from there… took me by surprise. So, I took a gamble and started dressing how I wanted, and a lot of this involved making a lot of my own pieces through sewing, knitting, and crocheting. Fortunately, I don’t feel stressed figuring out who I am; so far, it has been an incredible journey of mistakes, unlearning self destructive philosophies, experimentation, and being satisfied with both my successes and failures in every aspect of my life. I’m still figuring it out! And, when I look at everything I’ve knitted in 2024, I can see the difference in what I made in the past (as a way to fit in and people please), versus what I make now, which is entirely of my own volition. And that, my friends, is true creativity.
Everything I Knitted This Year
The Littlewoods Aran 2015 is a vintage pattern from the 1980s or early 1990s. The original pamphlet is out of print, but the pattern is available at Shadows Patterns on Etsy. I used Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed in Cream, which is made from Irish wool; I have a weakness for heathered tweed, especially if it’s in an oatmeal color. This yarn knitted up into a highly textured fabric with loads of dimension. For a single-ply yarn, it is also very durable and does not pill. The buttons are from the shop Lyanwood on Etsy, which is one of my go-to spots for buttons. They are Japanese inspired wooden buttons with a beige floral pattern.
1. Littlewoods Aran 2015
I made the cardigan two sizes larger than my typical size so that it would have an oversized fit. It took me about a year off and on to knit, but I am thankful that I took my time because this was the first piece I’ve made in years where I’ve unraveled a hefty number of stitches so that I could fix mistakes. Being patient with this knit made the end result more satisfying because now I’m not self-conscious about any errors.
It has gotten a lot of wear and compliments at work, Broadway musicals, and strolls at the local bookstore. I find every excuse to wear it.
2. Wool and the Gang Amanda Sweater
Because I torture myself with knitting multiple sweaters that take a year or more to make, I like to have a bulky one on a pair of needles for instant gratification. This is the Amanda Sweater from Wool and the Gang. It has roomy sleeves, a sleek moss stitch pattern, and it so warm that I can wear it in place of a coat sometimes. It is knit with soft and chunky Crazy Sexy Wool in Eucalyptus.
Although chunky single ply yarns are notorious for having a… short shelf life, I try to be careful when I wear my Wool and the Gang pieces by only wearing them as outerwear, and using a lint remover to help reduce pilling.
My kitty Cleo is in love with it more than I am. She attacked it while I was making it, then slept on it when I was trying to block it.
3. Bluebird Pine Shop Colorblock Cardi
This chunky cardigan from the Blue Bird Pine Shop was part of my experiment to create an entire outfit in under two weeks. It also helped to break the monotony as I knit three sweaters using tiny yarn (oh, the torture). It was made using Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn from Lion Brand in Fisherman, Oatmeal, and Kale.
Cleo is a fan of this one too. I made it to serve as another blanket, over-sized piece that I could enjoy around the house, but also feel comfortable enough to wear it outside. I am most proud of the coconut buttons, which took me seven years to find a total of four. 😭
This is the project that inspired me to actually wear my favorite colors. It’s incredible how few clothes in stores are green. I made a pair of leggings and a tank top to match the cardigan. It’s a cute outfit, but honestly, I rarely wear the pieces together. I prefer them with other clothes.
4. All About Ami Dotty Cardigan
This is the Dotty Cardigan Knit Pattern from All About Ami on Etsy. This is probably my favorite make of the year. It only took a few months, it fits wonderfully, and I am in love with the olive color. The darn thing almost broke my heart because I did accidentally felt it while trying to shrink it after overstretching the wool, but thankfully it still fits, the dot stitch pattern is still visible, and it has been a hit every time I wear it outside.
The yarn I used is the Kelbourne Woolens Germantown Bulky in Olive. I was originally supposed to use Berroco Vintage Chunky, but the gauge wasn’t adding up correctly and the pattern wasn’t showing up very well with the Spruce color. Germantown ended up being a more suitable yarn. I originally wanted to use green marbled buttons, but Hubby thought the wooden ones gave it more color. After thinking about it, he was right; the green ones were washed out against the fabric. I got the buttons from Lyanwood again! They have these decorative swirls that remind me of Elder Scrolls Skyrim.
5. Obsidian Ribbed Beanie
This is my freehand knit beanie that I made using Knit Picks City Tweed Aran/HW in Obsidian. Unfortunately, I think the yarn is going to be discontinued because this color as well as another color I have (Snowshoe) is no longer available.
This was the first in a series of hats I made to replace twenty-something year old hats that have seen better days. Hubby loved it too, so I ended up making one for him as well. I will share a pattern soon.
6. Blusher Slouchy Beanie
This is another free hand beanie I created using yarn recommendations from the owner of my local yarn shop. I made two of these, one using Kelbourne Woolens Scout in Autumn Heather and Berroco Aerial in Poppy, and another in Kelbourne Woolens Scout in Ocean Heather and Berroco Aerial in Cherry. The cool thing about these beanies is that I used color combinations that I normally wouldn’t choose. I adore the outcomes.
The yarns used are definitely on the luxury side, but the drape, color, and texture on these beauties are unmatched. I’ve worn these hats every week since fall. The colors are mesmerizing, and the mohair adds silken fluff to the wool.
I plan on make more. Will share a pattern soon.
7. Diamond Dust Beanie
This hat was inspired by the Brooch Pom Beanie Toque Winter Hat originally from Torrid. The hat is sold out and discontinued, but I figured I could make my own. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Yarn in Black. I then purchased rhinestones and five brooches separately to attach after knitting the beanie. The 5″ Black Faux Fur Pom & Loop by K+C is from JoAnn.
This hat gets worn regularly along with my Blusher Beanies. I love going to work and watching the rainbows reflect off the rhinestones in the morning. It’s almost as though the hat is wishing me a wonderful day.
8. Monkey and Minnie Christmas Stockings
These super fun Christmas stockings come from the Beginner Christmas Stocking Knitting Patterns Bundle from Monkey and Minnie on Etsy. They’re based in the UK, and offer several special occasion patterns that are easy to follow.
I love how customizable these patterns were. I ended up making three different stockings. I added some hollies and a reindeer and used primarily scrap yarn. Had a lovely Christmas with these hanging on our mantel. Hubby gave me the best stocking stuffer: a t-shirt that says Every Villain Is Lemons, inspired by Spongebob. Yes, I am such a child.
How Am I Creative?
I think my creativity truly shined with this year’s knits because I took special liberties to be myself and choose the patterns, buttons, and yarns that spoke the most to me. Instead of buying knitwear, I made my own. Instead of sporadically choosing yarn, I strove for quality, texture, and color. Instead of going with simple buttons, I chose the loud and extravagant buttons. Instead of my knitwear collecting dust in my closet, all of these get weekly use (except for the Christmas stockings, of course). 😅
I still have a long way to go, but I look forward to seeing what I can create next. Happy New Year!
