December 29, 2018June 16, 2020

My 2018 Gratitude List

I missed writing this one for Thanksgiving (as I did a few years ago), and this year I’m less interested in end of year resolutions as focusing on gratitude.

I’m grateful for so many things, for all of you first of all. The year has not been perfect, at times is was hard, at times wonderful. But through it all there was always yarn, knitting, sheep, friends, and all of you.

A Look Back – 2018 Knitting Year in Review

In no particular order the things I am grateful for.

1) New relationships

This year I entered into three great new relationships.

This year WEBS took became the official yarn vendor of my KALs. They are so great to work with, and I’m super excited to be teaching at their Spring Retreat.

When Kristy Glass and I get gabbing we just have fun. We had so much fun filming her video podcast during Costa Maya we did it again during Harbor Springs. So, buckle up for a wild ride. . . Kristy will be joining us in doing the spring KAL. She’ll be knitting it along with us and we’ll be checking in on her progress with some video visits. Maybe this time she’ll publish our out takes!

I was over the moon when I was asked to join the coolest writing staff of the coolest website in the WORLD (nope, I’m not exaggerating), Modern Daily Knitting. I’m so happy to write Ask Patty each month. Do you have a burning knitting question? Not sure how to tell your mother you don’t want to knit her and her 12 cousins Intarsia xmas stockings? Just email your question to askpattymdk@gmail.com.

2) All the amazing students

I’m terrible at remembering to take pictures while I’m teaching. This year saw 24 teaching trips and nearly 8000 students (yikes!). You all challenge me, teach me and make me laugh.

You even give me ideas for new classes. There were so many knitters with good design ideas, ways to change and alter patterns, and you so often asked me how to do it, you gave me the idea for the newest class that debuted in 2018, Chart it, Swatch it, Love it. I’m teaching it first thing in 2019 atVogue Knitting Live NYC .

3) My fellow teachers

Much of my traveling teaching life is a solo affair, but with the larger knitting shows, knitting retreats, and knitting cruise I am lucky enough to get to work with my brilliant friends.

4) My knitting (and that it travels easily)

One handy thing about our knitting is we can take it everywhere, on vacation, to the movies, to the park . . .

5) Getting to design things I care about

Looking at my year I’m struck by how much my designer goals have shifted in the past 4 years. I used to work for so many magazines at once I was publishing over 20 designs each year. That meant I wasn’t able to knit all my designs but had to use sample knitter. Also there were times when hitting all those deadlines felt wildly uncreative. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

In the past three years I have totally changed my business model and I am so much happier. Fewer designs that I actually care about, working with Vogue Knitting Magazine (so proud of my maker feature this year), and since I love teaching, 2- 3 full video garment classes. I love doing the video sweater classes and this year started with Costa Maya, then Harbor Springs and now I’ve just finished filming the tutorials for the Jetson Sweater kit.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

2019 is starting with the Jetson Sweater Kit, the Labadee Cowl video KAL, then the Roselle Tee video KAL for spring. I have a fun one rattling around in my head for the fall. ⠀⠀

6) Getting to knit along with all of you!!

The best part of my year is always the honor of being a part of your knitting life. There were so many amazing finished sweaters in the KALs but the biggest thrill is when I get to meet you all at classes and see them in person!