I am fundamentally an optimist (if a slightly cynical one), so I will not discuss all of the trials and tribulations and disappointments of 2019.  Ending the decade on a low note means that we will hopefully go up from here in the next decade.

There have been lots of lovely things this year, including my knitting and this blog.  I have finished fewer projects this year, but have enjoyed them all and each of them gets lots of wear.  I finished 7 projects:

Clockwise from top, these are: (Links are to my post with the finished project; further details can be found therein.)

1. Highland Rogue Cowl, designed by Kate Davies
2. Raven Hat, designed by Janine Bajus
3. Sunset Mesa Cowl, designed by Jennifer Berg
4. Tensho Pullover, designed by Beatrice Perron Dahlen
5. Sparkling cardigan, designed by Sus Gepard
6. Tadami Cashmere Scarf, designed by ITO Yarn and Design
7. Sofi Jacket, designed by Hanne Flakenberg

The item which has been worn the most is undoubtedly the Tensho pullover.  I knitted this one for my daughter Leah, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it has been worn for 60 days so far this year.  I think she would live in it if possible.  (This makes me so happy!)  For me, the most worn item is definitely my Highland Rogue Cowl, which took seemingly forever to knit, but which I like more every time I put it on.

I wrote 51 posts this year, which amounted to 22,000 words.  This is my 440th post since I started the blog.  I had viewers from 106 countries this year, with the top five being the US, Poland, the UK, Canada, and Germany.  Knitting blogs seem to have taken a hit this year once again, with all of the action seemingly moving to Instagram.  I am not on Instagram so am nearly a dinosaur here blogging away, but I like it, so here I am!  My top posts this year were:

1. Business Class Cowl  (written in 2016)
2. To gusset or not to gusset  (written in 2016)
3. A baker’s dozen of men’s knitted vest patterns  (written in 2017)
4. It’s all in the finishing: Hanne Falkenberg’s Sofi Combi Jacket
5. Highland Rogue Cowl
6. Laceweight Cashmere Shawl
7. Tensho for the win!
8. Time to learn Danish!

We did some travelling this year, with trips to Berlin (with the girls!), Vancouver (twice!), Arizona, Denmark, and Spain. I managed to break my ankle in Denmark, from which I am still trying to recover.  We modelled hand-knitted hats at Lake Lillooet in British Columbia, Canada in June:

And we modelled silly Christmas hats last week here in England:

I wish everyone a healthy and happy New Year! May the new decade bring renewed hope and activism, and lots of creative endeavors, knitting and otherwise.