Hi. I’m Kelly. I’ve been writing this blog since 2011. This surprises even me.
About me: This is a primarily a knitting blog, so obviously I like to knit and to write about knitting. Sometimes I muse about other things. I have lived in the US, Australia, and Germany, and currently live in the UK with my Canadian husband. I have a PhD in Linguistics, and have taught at universities, been a stay-at-home mom, and managed a neuroscience research centre. When our two daughters left home to attend university in Vancouver, I decided to pro-actively combat Empty Nest Syndrome by enrolling in an Executive MBA programme. Perhaps I should have bought a Jaguar XKF. Instead it led me to my new role as a faculty member in a business school, and, as of 2025, a published author.
I learned to knit as a child, was a fanatical knitter in my twenties, gave it up in my thirties due to repetitive stress injuries, and am now fast approaching fanaticism again. I started this blog rather reluctantly at the insistence of my daughter, Emma, and have become rather attached to the idea. My Ravelry name is kellydawn.e
Behind the scenes, I am cheered on by my husband Doug, who takes many, many photos of knitting and yarn, and who is frequently gently mocked on these pages (don’t worry, he gets his own back). The blog also owes much to both my daughters, Emma and Leah, who in addition to everything else, are frequent recipients of knitted garments, and who not only wear them, but brag “My mother made this!” to all and sundry. They have all read each of the 661 posts on this blog (and counting!).
Emma, Doug, and Leah (each wearing sweaters that I’ve knitted for them):
A note about AI: Absolutely no generative AI has been used to contribute towards this blog. As creative people and lovers of words and art, we believe that the process of creation is as important as the final result.
Comments: Any detailed questions or comments too long for the blog can be directed at Kelly at: knitigatingcircumstances@gmail.com
Please Ask First: A lot of work has gone into the photos you see on the blog, so please ask for permission before reproducing or distributing the images you see here in any format.
Thank you for blogging, I spent a whole evening reading after I looked up some finished projects and yarn ideas for ‘Smoulder’. Best wishes from Amsterdam, Stefanie -MiStrick on ravelry
Hi! I came here via googling short rows, and landed on your picture tutorial: http://knitigatingcircumstances.wordpress.com/tag/german-short-rows/ I don’t see a place to comment there, so I’m leaving this a Thank YOU! here. I thought you might also find this interesting as you posted about short rows. I originally was looking at an Elizabeth Zimmerman blanket on Ravelry, and this user posted photos of all her swatches of short row techniques: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/anomaalik/knitted-garter-stitch-blanket-in-sheepsdown
I don’t know if Japanese ones are included in there, but maybe that helps.
Regards, Jessica
Hi Jessica. Thanks for the comment, and thanks for the link; what a useful resource! Sometimes you just need to see a picture. I’m glad you enjoyed the blog.
You two are so cute! Love the mum and daughter duo.
Kelly, I just ran across a small knitting magazine produced in the UK called Pom Pom. Are you familiar with it? It looks like they have great contemporary designs. And they are having a 5 yr anniversary party in London in July so, of course, I thought if you! 😋