One Year and Counting ...

Today's the day. It's been one year since my first blog post! One year since I started reading blogs and thought, Hey! I could do that!

In the past year, I've conquered my fear of dyeing with Kool-Aid.

When I started my blog, I thought size 6 needles were small. Now I have no fewer than three sets of size 0 needles, and I often feel I need more.

Right before I started this blog, I sold a bunch of stash yarn and knitting books on e-Bay. One of the books I sold was Knitting on the Road by Nancy Bush (cue collective gasp). I distinctly remember saying to myself, "Face it, Laura, you're just never going to be a sock knitter." (cue collective HA!)

When I started my blog, the number one thing that attracted me to a pattern was the possibility of finishing it quickly. I still get seduced by the quick knit, but I'm a more patient knitter.

A year ago, I didn't even know what a knitalong was. Now I've hosted two.

A year ago, I was unaware that I had a long-lost sister, from whom I was clearly separated at birth.

When I started my blog, I didn't know anyone in England, Sweden, Finland, Spain, Iceland, Norway, or Portugal. But now I do. I have made many, many friends all over the United States and the world through my blog and all of yours and for that I feel very, very grateful.

In Cara's recent article in Knittyspin, she describes the relationship between the folks at the Spin Out this way: Most of us were strangers to each other but everyone had a familiar feel. I know you. You're just like me. I get that feeling every time I catch up on my blog reading, or check my comments here, or get an email from someone who reads affiknitty, like the really nice ones I got recently from Linda and Phyllis. We may be living in different circumstances, in different places, look different, talk different. But we share the same enthusiasm and passion and, in my book, that makes us siblings.

I love that, in an important way, we're all alike. But I also love learning about our differences. I may never spin like Meg, keep finches like Stephanie, crochet socks like Amanda in Colorado, fly airplanes like Amanda in Oregon, or have a chicken in my bedroom like Jessie. But I sure do like to read about it! However, all the lovely sewing projects I have seen on blogs like Erica's, Jennifer's, and Jenny's really make me want to buy a machine and learn to sew. It may happen. My resolve is weakening. And Jennifer of Craftylilly makes me want to get out all my old beading stuff. You expand my horizons.

All of this is really to thank you for everything I've learned from all of you and all the happy moments I've had reading your blogs and your comments. But enough sentimentality. In the next few days, when I get organized about it, I'll be having a little "thank you" contest. Because a sappy post is nice, but sock yarn is much better.