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Favorite Knitting & Crochet Patterns of the Year

Each year I like to reflect a bit on your favorite projects from the blog, what I’d like to see in the new year, and hopes for my personal life. Today, I wanted to share some of this with you, including the top patterns of the year! Then I’ll get down to thoughts on my personal life for 2021 as well as my blogging highlights for 2020 (scroll down!)

Winter Cuddler Throw Knitting Pattern – this blanket has been a favorite throughout 2020!

Wintertide Throw Crochet Pattern

Comfiest Knit Cardigan Pattern

Modern Mountain Throw Knitting Pattern – the kit I designed for Lion Brand with this pattern was their top seller for the 2nd half of 2020!

Verano Longline Cardigan Crochet Pattern

Telluride Knit Kimono – an oldie but still a fave!

Vail Topper Crochet Pattern

Coziest Cable Cardigan Knitting Pattern

What a great year of projects. I hope you enjoyed them as well!

Blogging Highlights of 2020:

Some of my fave blogging highlights included being a judge for the Crafties for Love Crafts, designing each month for Lion Brand Yarn, working with WeCrochet, having a feature in Mollie Makes Magazine, and simply being inspired by you! It was also a thrill to have my stocking featured on The Pioneer Woman at Christmas time. Lastly, I was super humbled to learn my Modern Mountain Throw was the top selling kit for Lion Brand Yarn over the last half of the year. Several kits of mine were in the top 10, and I thank you for your support!

Personal Thoughts on My Life in 2020/2021: Oh wow. This year. I really go back and forth about it because there were indeed great things, and so much to be grateful for. At the same time, it was a real struggle for me in many ways. With my daughter doing school from home since March, we had to navigate a new way of life just as many of you did. The funny thing is that she had asked to be homeschooled for a long time. I always laughed it off and was like, “No honey, ha ha ha, you should be in regular school with your friends.” THEN came 2020. Her wish came true! Never, and I mean never in my wildest dreams did I think of home schooling. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, it just wasn’t an option in my mind. She misses her friends on a level that I’m not sure anyone truly understands.

At the same time, what a gift to have so much time with my little girl. She is, and always will be my priority. It’s really her fault that my blog even began! I wanted to stay home with her and decided to blog about my knit and crochet projects when I stopped teaching. That decision, to make my child my priority, caused me to land in a dream situation where I can be with her as much as needed while supporting my family as well. This does not come without a ton of work though. I really used to hesitate to call my blogging “work” because I feel so lucky to do it. But just because I love it, doesn’t mean it ain’t work!

Each year when I write these little summaries, I’ve hoped to find “balance” for the upcoming year. I think I’ve done better with it the last year or two, but 2020 taught me is that there is never 100% true balance in life. For 2021, I want to roll with things. Some days I need to help my daughter with school, and can’t post that project. That’s okay. Some days, I might work at night rather than during the day, and that’s okay. Not only is it okay, it’s such a privilege to be able to do that! Some days a pandemic might come along, and all seems a mess, but I’ll roll. I’ll just roll and be grateful. I read a quote, but I don’t know where it came from, so I apologize. But it said something like, “This is life – beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.” While it seems oversimplified, it also is true. Roll, just keep rolling. (And knitting and crocheting of course…hehe!)

My angel when I started blogging almost 6 years ago. I was making her many little hats!

Finally, let’s remember the bond we share as humanity. We are humanity made up of many cultures, religions and beliefs, but we have the same blood in our veins and beating hearts. I’m going to set aside being “right” all the time. Instead, I hope to continue to remember and help those less fortunate, neighbors that need a hand, and those who are judged or treated unfairly. My hope and prayer is that we find our humility and recognize the fleeting time we have together. One of the greatest thrills of blogging is hearing from you – literally from all over the world, each in our own bubbles, yet connected through yarn and life.

I hope you each have a better year than last, and we all get to knit and crochet the things our hearts desire.

Much of my livelihood, joy and purpose wouldn’t be possible without you. Thank you my friends and family!

XO,

Jessica

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39 Comments

  1. Lovely Jessica. I have been enjoying your patterns for years. I made a college blanket for our older daughter and know our ‘baby’ is hopefully going to college in the fall and I’m starting hers with bitter sweetness.
    I hear you – finding balance is everything in my opinion and always at the top of my lists. With current crazy times, going with the flow doesn’t sound bad. We’ve been going day by day for months now – and it seems the trend will continue. Thank you for your creativity and for sharing.
    You can find me podcasting (modernpersianfood.com) and blogging about healthy food (ovenhug.com) – stay well, best wishes for the new year and yes, go with the flow!

    1. Lovely to hear from you here, and I know you’ve been a loyal follower! Thank you so very much for all your support! That’s amazing you’ve got a podcast. I’ve yet to listen to any, but it should be a goal for 2021 to try out podcasts. My best wishes to you my friend!!

  2. You said that beautifully and are such an inspiration. I love your blog and so look forward to new ones. I’m a crochet-er who can do basic knitting, but am wanting to try one of your kniting patterns, okay many of your patterns, and this may be the year that I do. Thanks for always making me smile!!

    1. Hi Sharon!
      You totally can pick up knitting! It’s actually really nice to be able to knit and crochet so you have even more options. Thanks for your kind words about my blog and thank you so much for all your support! Happy 2021 to you and yours. 🙂

  3. Thanks for sharing your blog and your positive thoughts. . Like many people I am so glad 2020 is over. In fact I even posted a funny pic of my bird wearing a sign (photoshopped) with the message 2020 bad year would not recommend. Out of 5 stars it only got half of one! Lots of comments on FB and I was glad to bring a smile to lots of folks. Regarding knitting, keep designing unique patterns so beginners like myself can follow them and be successful. Some patterns are hard to understand and follow and patience is a virtue. In fact, I completed most of the patterns you posted! I am almost done with the cable cardigan. Next is the blanket #8 in pictures. BTW beautiful little girl!

    1. Haha!! Sounds like you have a funny little bird. 🙂 That’s awesome! Thanks for the kind words and I’m thrilled you’re finishing the cable cardigan. Thanks for the sweet words about my baby too. Hope you have a great 2021!

  4. You are so talented, Jessica and a bright light in this world! Your projects inspire me on the regular and I loved reading this personal post. Here’s to an encouraging 2021!

    1. Thank YOU for letting me know Rhonda! It’s so fun for me to share these. 🙂 Happy 2021!

  5. Thank u so much for sharing your beautiful creations with us!! I’m happy to see a few of my FAVs made your top 10 list ❤
    Wishing you a wonderful year ahead

  6. Thank you for all the patterns I made the market bag many times since I like projects that are quick I hope you have a good year , good health and your gratitude and thoughts of helping others is wonderful Thank YoU Peggy Awald

    1. That’s awesome! It’s almost market bag season again, so maybe I need to design a new one. Thanks for the reminder! Lolo! Wishing you and yours all the best in 2021, Peggy.

  7. Thank you for your beautiful
    words . It is always fun to see your patterns ! I appreciate that you make them as easy as possible. Please have a wonderful blessed 2021!

  8. Thank you Jess for the I spring and uplifting message.
    I wholeheartedly agree with you.2020 took so much from us but it also gave us so much. I was lucky enough to be part of a school team who provided meals to kids and households during the difficult lockdown period and it was such a fulfilling thing to do to be able to help and support.
    I have lost lots of friends and family in this time but I am grateful.
    Thank you for your beautiful designs ,I love your work and appreciate it.
    Keep creating
    Xxx

    1. Ahhh thank you for your help in providing meals to kids. That has been so crucial in these times. And you’re certainly welcome for the patterns! Happy new year to you! XO

  9. Jessica, most of your favs were mine, too, and I’m waiting anxiously to finish a project to get to one of yours. I’m so glad we met and I learned about your site- you are so talented. Thank you for all your work on these patterns!

    1. Hey Jami! I’m so glad we met too! I just googled something the other day, and your gorgeous blog popped up! Thanks so much for following along and for the sweet words. Happy new year to you!!

  10. Jessica, they were my favourites. I made cardigans for my girls for Christmas (22 and 16 years old – hold every moment with your girl because they grow SO fast!). I made ‘ the comfiesst knit cardigan’ and your ‘cozy cable knit cardigan ‘. They turned out so well. Thankyou for all your gorgeous patterns. Roll on 2021!

    1. Haha! Thanks for the “rolling wishes”! I’m thrilled to hear those cardigans worked so nicely for you! You’re welcome and happy 2021 to you and yours. 🙂

  11. Thank you for all of your hard work! Please join us at Crochet Club Gone Wild on fb. We have almost sixty thousand followers and we show off our work all the time and help one another.
    Thank you again

  12. Dear Jessica, What a blessing to have your daughter home with you. Embrace every moment. And thank you for sharing all your unique beautiful patterns with me during these times. They have keot me busy and made it easier for me NOT to see my granddaughter, she’s 5. Wow do I miss her. Talk soon. Barbara

    1. Thanks for the kind note, Barbara. These babies grow too fast! I hope you get to see your granddaughter soon.

  13. I like what you said about balance. I agree that many things are OK that I would have said a year ago “this has to be done”. 2020 has taught me to lay back a little and enjoy the little things.

    1. Totally! I agree that 2020 has taught us to step back a bit and enjoy the little things. Thanks Charlene!

  14. Your comments are so heart felt. You are obviously a kind and generous person and an amazing knit and crochet designer. Keep up the good work and best wishes to you and your family for 2021. These are difficult days.

    From Canada

  15. Dear Jess, thank you for sharing your creativity with us. You take crochet to a new level:modern and trendy but full of heirloom quality. Many hugs to you and your family and a happy new year! Mila from Stockholm, Sweden

  16. Hi Jessica
    I’ve been reading the other comments and what I wanted to say has all been said but for the record I love your website! You bring such enthusiasm and fun to knitting and crocheting. I’ve just read that you were a teacher and I would say that you still are! I have been knitting since I could hold the needles but learnt to crochet much later (I;m 71 now). I seem to be fine with circular and triangular but need to improve my straight projects. (I’ve started the Wanders Wrap three times)
    However as I write this I am wearing the Agape wrap in green which I love. Anyway thanks for all you do for us and best wishes for a happy 2021 from Leigh on Sea, Essex. UK.
    PS the photography on your website is stunning.

    1. Thank you Angela!! I love that you’re enjoying those patterns, and I bet the Agape Wrap is stunning in green. That’s my favorite color!! I don’t use it much in my knitting and crochet, but need to. 🙂 Best wishes to you in the UK and thank you for taking the time to leave me some sweet words.

  17. Hi Jessica!
    I just started teaching myself to knit a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely LOVE your patterns. I’m so excited when I understand what you’re saying and can actually envision myself making it. I can’t wait to see what I can create using your designs. Thanks so much for them!

    1. I forgot to point out that I live in Florida, so I won’t get many opportunities to actually wear these beautiful sweaters and blankets, but that won’t stop me from making them anyway!

    2. Ahhh, you’re welcome Crystal! I’m so excited you can understand them easily! That’s always my hope. 🙂

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