September was not the month for yarn crafts around here.

In 2023, my only yarny goal is to knit something every month. Nope. Zilch. Nada.

So. What about you, kitten?  What have you been working on? Do you have any exciting makes in your future?

Take care of yourselves and each other,

XO,
Manda

And like that, August is done. Not that I remembered until almost two weeks into September that it had finished.

The extreme heat and humidity paired with symptoms from my chemo treatments has continued to make wooly crafts unappealing. Any crafts, really—for a second month in a row. But I did manage to finish the small project Kate “bullied” me into casting on, and then I cast on a matching one for someone else.

In 2023, my only yarny goal is to knit something every month. Early on in the month? Yes.

So. What about you, kitten? Is your summer/winter crafty and full of making? Has your weather started to turn yet? What have you been working on? Do you have any exciting makes in your future?

Take care of yourselves and each other,

XO,
Manda

Another month come and gone.

The extreme heat and humidity paired with symptoms from my chemo treatments has made wooly crafts pretty undesirable this month. Any crafts, really. But I did manage to get a small project cast on thanks to a visit from my good friend, Kate, who gently pressed me to start something and knit just a few stitches. I can’t work much, but it is soothing to have wool in my hands again and slowly construct something for a loved one.

In 2023, my only yarny goal is to knit something every month. Check

So. What about you, kitten? Is your summer/winter crafty and full of making? What have you been working on? Do you have any exciting makes in your future?

Take care of yourselves and each other.,

XO,
Manda

Another month in the bag, and 2023 is halfway over.

My crafting desire continues to be very hit or miss, and fortunately for this monthly yardage tally, June was a big hit for knitting. I knit an entire long sweater vest this month, in the span of about two weeks. It’s DK weight, so it used quite a lot of yarn and is more than a full sweater for many people. I was excited to think of a way to use up a more recently acquired Precious Yarn. Hopefully I will make a post with some photos soon-ish. I’m not sure I want to post up Chemo Me photos on this blog, even if it’s an honest snapshot of life at the moment. My facial hair is now falling out, and frankly, my eyebrows look like they have the mange. So. I think it’s understandable that I may not feel like sharing that on the wider internet. I’m allowed a little “vanity” in this case. I’m very happy with my knitting output this month, and I’m hoping I will feel like knitting some more in July, when I’m in the homestretch of my final two chemo treatments and awaiting whether or not I need radiation therapy as well. It’s unbearably hot and humid right now, so working with wool isn’t the most pleasant unless I’m directly under an AC vent. So sticky on the hands. I think this is a second year I will be sitting out the Tour de Fleece, and that does bum me out some. I couldn’t have known last year that I couldn’t participate this year. Hopefully I will be back on the wheel with a spin in the last quarter of 2023, when it’s “cooled” to a more reasonable 70-80 degrees most days, and the humidity has substantially decreased. I’m really in love with the idea of more sweater vests, and I have plenty of larger spins that could make some very lovely pieces.

In 2023, my only yarny goal is to knit something every month. Yup! Worked through 5.5 skeins of DK this month.

So. What about you, kitten? Is your summer/winter crafty and full of making? What have you been working on? Do you have any exciting makes in your future?

Take care of yourselves and each other.,

XO,
Manda

May…just, flipping a double bird salute at May 2023.

Chemo continues to suck, and there are several related reasons why I barely crafted this much—ones that I do not feel like getting into quite yet. If I talk about them, they’re real, and that’s something I’m still trying my best to deny.

I started the month with some still going crafting mojo, and did manage to finish a pair of socks for myself during my second chemo cycle at the beginning. But then…? Not much, if anything. I’m just not moving at the moment, but I’m sure once I get over the initial inertia, I’ll be moving again for a bit. I’d really like to finish a couple knit projects before the summer is over. (I suppose it’s “lucky” for me that I live in a place where summer is roughly March through November every year. At least I have length of miserable weather working for me.)

In 2023, my only yarny goal is to knit something every month. I did, early on. CHECK.

So. What about you, kitten? Is your spring/fall crafty and full of making? What have you been working on? Do you have any exciting makes in your future?

Take care of yourselves and each other.

XO,
Manda

April was another high stress month. Oof.

Chemo, it turns out, was more of a beast than I had anticipated, and it knocked me on my butt longer than I had expected. I’m in for a very sick and unfocused spring and summer.

I still managed to get some crafting done, though, thanks to my lovely friend Kate and her spending so much time chatting with me while I was sick and miserable. I knit my fourth and final hot water bottle sweater, a pair of socks for a sibling, and quite a lot of a sweater for myself—which I ripped upon realizing it’s large in a ridiculous way instead of a stylish, fun one. Oh well. I’m currently figuring out how to fix it so I can recast on and hopefully get it finished in May or June along with at least one other gift project I want to get done.

In 2023, my only yarny goal is to knit something every month. Absolutely did.

So. What about you, kitten? Is your spring/fall crafty and full of making? What have you been working on? Do you have any exciting makes in your future?

Take care of yourselves and each other.

XO,
Manda

Somehow in the chaos that is my current situation, I forgot to post up March’s numbers. Whoops.

The month started with a tonsillectomy. Mid-way through, I found out I have cancer. And then the rest of the month was a blur of appointments, jabbing, sticking, prodding, poking, and preparing for my first chemo session in early April. It’s not surprising that posting up March’s numbers slipped through the cracks. It’s not like they’re any less accurate now than they were a month ago.

I was quite crafty last month as I worked through even more anxious energy for all of the afore-mentioned medical issues. I managed to knit a full size shawl, a hot water bottle sweater, and start a sweater for myself that month. I needed something to focus on and keep my hands moving.

In 2023, my only yarny goal is to knit something every month. Check.

So. What about you, kitten? Is your 2023 full of crafts so far? Have you been working on anything you’d like to share?

Take care of yourselves and each other.

XO,
Manda