Ten years ago today, I started The Twisted Yarn with this post. I didn’t know whether anyone would read it, let alone like it. Perhaps the Internet would take one look and burst into guffaws of derision. I didn’t know where this yarny journey might lead, but I needed to chatter about knitting, and if I could make anyone smile along the way, so much the better. I’d only returned to knitting the year before, inspired by my wonderful friend whom I met when she was frustratingly-briefly posted to the ward where I then worked. Around this time, one of the twinnage suffered a near-fatal head injury (aged two) and knitting was a worthy distraction from worry as he recovered. He’s fine now, thank goodness, but there was therapy to be had in forming stitch after stitch after comforting stitch in yarn. (Yarnery was also a comfort when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thank goodness for yarn… and modern medicine.) To celebrate this day, there probably ought to be cake.
Patient long-term readers will recognise this cake from my very first blogiversary, when the Stoic Spouse commissioned this delicious beauty as a celebration. Yes, I wheel the same photos out year after year… but it was a fine and delicious cake, and for some strange reason my husband has not spent his hard-won time and money commissioning cakes any time since (other than this rather wonderful birthday creation).
As it happens, this is also my 500th blog post, which feels medium-crazy because HOW many hours have I spent trying to make you lot laugh? And knit? And laugh whilst knitting? And knit whilst laughing? And laugh whilst laughing? Seriously, I should probably get a hobby. Any ideas?
You, lovely reader, are the reason that I keep chattering away on here, and I’m grateful for your loyal readership and comments. Some of you – yes I recognise your names – have been here for years and years, and for that feat of dogged endurance, I salute you. Please award yourselves a day off because you’ve suffered enough.
When I began drafting this post (by hand in a notebook, as always) I pontificated pompously about all the wonderful opportunities that have followed from this little blog. But then I stood back and thought – not for the first time this year or even this hour – “Twisted, you sound like a smugly self-satisfied knob. Just stop it.” So I’ll try not to turn this post into some kind of CV (translation: resume for US readers).
But I will say that yarny people (that’s you) are the best people. You’re creative and colourful, witty and wise. It’s an honour to be part of the knitting and crochet community. One thing I’m happy to shout about is that blogging here has led to half a dozen wonderful real-life friendships. (For example, a reader recognised my description of our eccentric postman and realized that we live in the same village in south Oxfordshire. She’s now a treasured friend and the reason that this website is generally functional.)
I don’t know where we go from here. Tiktok has maybe stolen the crown of social media, but I’m not much of a video person. I like to read stuff and look at stuff. Perhaps I’m a dinosaur. But regardless of whether or not there are enough of us dinosaurs, thank you from the bottom of my cold old heart for reading this blog. May your yarn never tangle and your stitches never deviate from gauge.
Happy blogging… you have indeed made me smile and kept me knitting, and I even learned to crochet thanks to you. I too am a Dinosaur.. not into TicToc, Pentrist, Facebook, or Twitter… I do indulge in Instagram. I love your blog and wish you a happy year ahead, with lots of laughs and yarn.
Thank you, and may crochet continue to bring you many hours of joy. Dinosaurs together, you wonderfully artistic woman!!
I just came across your blog a few months ago and thank you for continuing to post. I don’t use Facebook, Instagram, tiktok or other social media and I hugely appreciate the time you put into writing this blog. Thank you and I look forward to the next 10 years
And thank YOU for such a kind comment.
Happy blogversary from one (far older) dinosaur to another (much younger).
Dinosaurs together! Thank you.
Happy Blogiversary! I have prayed for you and your family, and am glad to celebrate with you. You do make me laugh, AND knit more – I love your patterns! I’m knitting your Hiking Reindeer cowl, modified to a moose in honor of my trip to Montana last year, where I found lovely local wool. Knitting does have the power to keep me calm under all sorts of scary and boring scenarios.
Thank you, I’m honoured that you’re knitting my pattern. May every stitch turn out well. And thank you so much for your kind words.
Hi,
I just wanted to say that your blog always makes me smile and improves my day! That’s the reason I stay subscribed even through times when knitting isn’t bringing joy – you are and I just thought you should know that. Happy Blogiversary!!
Sheri
Sheri, thank you so much. And may knitting bring you a great deal of joy over the coming months.
Been here since the beginning. I too love and miss the reading. Video is not the same. I have knit through illness and tragedy. I’m not sure I could have come out the other side without it. Thank you for finding the humor.
Hi Bev, and thank you for saying all of this, long-term reader. May you only have to knit for pleasure and not whilst enduring illness and tragedy in the future.
Congrats on the blogiversary,l write to you from New England! I look forward to your missives! Keep on keeping on!
Thank you so much, Joanne. You’re very kind.
Happy blogversary!! I am a relatively new reader compared to the ones who’ve been here from the beginning. I enjoy every one of your posts!! Keep on blogging and spreading the joy.
Thank you so much. I’ll try!
I think of you as Superwoman: twins, spouse, garden, demanding job and the most amazingly positive attitude to life and its vicissitudes. Thank you for the joy you bring whenever your blog lands.
You’re very generous but I. Am. So. NOT. Superwoman. Honestly. OK, I can laugh in the face of misfortune, that’s true, but as for the rest of it? I carefully show only the good bits. Am not too proud or too dishonest to admit that. But thank you for your lovely words.
Happy Tenth Blogiversary. I much prefer blogs to other internet offerings like Instagram that I’ve given up using due to many videos and the fact what I see is their choice not mine.
Long may you continue and I will continue reading.
Thank you VERY long-term reader, I always appreciate your presence.
I think you are brilliant. I love reading your blog. You indeed make me smile and I appreciate the knitting info. Even when you had breast cancer. Thank you for your efforts.
And you’re making me blush! Thank you. May there be many sources of smiles in your life.
I’m so with you on video. I’d much rather read your blog than have a video. I probably would not have found your entertaining stories if they’d been recorded. You’re very right to pat yourself on your back for all the great fun you’ve created. I sincerely hope for another 10 years.
Aww thank you, fellow video-swerver!
Happy Blogiversary! And many more! I, too, am a dinosaur who never uses any social media. I did learn to knit mostly by watching YouTube videos, but now almost never watch them, and would rather read printed directions. But I do use an e-reader, so maybe I’m a partially evolved dino?
But, right now, I am so obsessed with that multi-drawer cabinet in your photo that I am green with envy. Is it a printers cabinet? Originally used to house the teeny-tiny letters that were put one by one into a form to print a page? And, being nosy, what does it hold now? I’m imagining it filled with knitting needles and crochet hooks. One drawer for each size?
If someday you return home to find all is well except that one piece of furniture is missing, you will know that I travelled across the great North American continent, flew over the big blue ocean, snuck silently into your house, bought off the little fur balls with tasty treats, stole away with the cabinet, and then shipped both the drawers and myself back home again.
Stay safe and keep blog-knitting
Sharon, your comment made me giggle! I will set up multiple cameras around the place in order to catch you in the act of befriending my kitties and stealing my drawers.
They’re three sets of envelope drawers (like this: https://www.sue-parkinson.com/gifts-c223/under-100-c240/the-home-collection-mini-rustic-wooden-envelope-drawer-p38444 although they were much cheaper when I bought them.) And you’re absolutely right that they’re used for yarny paraphernalia. I’m not remotely interested in yarn stash, but this is my needle/hook/etc stash!
Also, if you DO decide to cross an ocean and burgle us, please stay long enough for me to return home and offer you a glass of wine / a cup of tea / knitting time beside the fire.
Oh, how Dinosaur of you …. envelope drawers, no less. As in, writing in cursive with “pen and ink” (as the teachers used to say all those decades ago when we were learning the art of writing) on actual paper, not a screen, and then neatly folding the paper, addressing the envelope, putting a stamp in the corner, and mailing it away (that’s “posting” to you, I think).
Yes, if I ever do cross the big continent and the big ocean, I will wait patiently for you to return home and spend a little time knitting or crocheting. If you put the kettle on, I might have remembered to buy some cookies (aka biscuits) to go along with the lovely cup of tea. I hope I will remember to buy the kitty treats as well, so that they won’t notice me packing up the drawer units.
And, likewise, should you ever cross the big blue ocean, then head to the desert Southwest, where wine, tea, or whatever will await you along with a comfy place to sit awhile. And you can admire the lovely Envelope Drawers that newly grace my yarn room. Ha ha ha ha ha
As the darling Len Goodman, long time dancer and host of Dancing With the Stars, once said, “I am a cup of tea in a world of lattes!” Please keep blogging!
You always make me smile and make me feel guilty too because I really don’t knit as much as I should. Thank you so much I shall do another few lines of my Scottish fishing gansey
Happy Anniversary
Chris
Happy BlogAnniversary!
I don’t usually comment as there are usually such a lot of comments that I think another one would be superfluous in the light of all the others.
I have enjoyed everyone of your blogs-they make me laugh which is such good therapy for all of us so I do appreciate you taking the time to write the blogs out by hand (a fact I didn’t realise but it makes me appreciate them even more). I appreciate it so much more as often I think twice about actually taking up pen and paper and writing (actually I use pencil as I often make a mistakes and change my mind when I do write things out so at least I can rub out the mistakes and messy bits!) as it seems to take up so much time. That sound awful even as I write ( I should say type not write!) it.
Anyway, thanks again for the laughs and knitting inspiration! By the way your colourwork is amazing-something I have never attempted as it looks so complicated.
Blessings to you and your family,
Kerrie
Congratulations, from a fellow dinosaur!