Making Miscellany: 12

Dispatch from a cardboard Christmas and an invitation

Hello, hello, from the twelfth and final Making Miscellany of 2023. A quick (well, as quick as my long-windedness will allow) dispatch today from that quiet period between Christmas and New Year that I enjoy immensely, even if I can’t quite bring myself to call it [Be]Twitxmas (clever a portmanteau as it is, when did it become so ubiquitous? Or has it always been a thing and I just spent 30-odd years not noticing?)

Without really intending, or even realizing it, December was almost entirely (and perhaps unsurprisingly) devoted to festive making. It began with ornaments for the tree: mushrooms made from air dry clay, a happy reminder of autumn mushroom forays with a good friend, along with a wee squash racket:

A family effort: air dry ornaments, 2023

And progressed to a cowl to keep Nick warm, knit with yarn bought when we first moved here:

The Hawick Cowl by Rachel Atkinson (a free pattern)

Then to a cardboard puppet theatre, with a princess puppet to take up residence in it (my entirely predictable response to my four year old declaring she wanted a princess who lived in a castle for Christmas):

And a wee tree for birdies to live in, fashioned from an empty tissue box, spare cardboard and wool felt, for the littlest member of our famliy:

This season of making sat at a happy intersection: of using up materials I already had (aside from a few extra pieces of felt, purchased specially); of improvising, and feeling creative; of using various materials and processes; and, perhaps most importantly, of working without much worry about deadlines. I hoped everything would be ready for Christmas, and as it happened, it was. But there was no fuss, no stress, no late nights, just a focus on a few enjoyable projects, that I hoped my little family would like.

I had great plans for the things I’d finish after Christmas, before ringing in 2024. I intended to finish the the Calix Cardigan I’v been working on for the past few months (possible, but more doubtful by the hour); complete some already begun sock mending (achievable) and clear my sock WIPs (pipe dream) — more on sock aspirations in a minute; and to whipup some of these hair ties (they’ll keep til New Year). But now, as we see out the last wet and windy days of 2023, I’m feeling content to just enjoy some cozy time before work and (pre)school resume, puzzling over puzzles, listening to music, getting out when the weather isn’t too bad, and fitting in a row or two when I can.

Boxing Day walk at the beach

One thing, though, that I absolutely will make before 2023 is out is my favorite crab dip, and I thought I’d share the recipe in case you’d like to make it, too. My ideal way to see in the new year is at home, with party food, a tradition I grew up with and carry on in our house. This dip has been a staple of my family’s new year’s eve celebrations as long as I can remember. It’s easy and delicious, and I am already looking forward to enjoying in it in a few day’s time.

New Year’s Eve Crab Dip

• 2 pkgs cream cheese, softened

• 1 tsp Laury’s Seasoned Salt (this is from the original recipe — I don’t have it in the UK, so I just use a mix of salt, paprika, garlic and onion powder; I’ve also used Old Bay)

• Dash of tabasco or other mild hot sauce

• 3 tsps lemon juice

• 100 g prepared crab meat

Preheat oven to 350 F/170 C. Mix everything but the crab meat to a cookie dough consistency, either by hand or using a mixer. Gently fold in crab meat and put in small oven safe dish. Bake for 20 minutes, the switch oven to broil/grill for a few minutes to finish. Serve with little toast, rice crackers, chopped veggies or Bugles corn chips, if you can get them (what we always had with it growing up!)

An Invitation: Make Socks/Mend Socks 2024

I’ve been thinking a lot about my making plans for the new year, but they’re still a real tangle of intentions and ideas — perhaps next month, I’ll be ready to share. But one thing I do know is this: I want to give Make Socks/Mend Socks another try this year. For the past two years, I’ve aspired, if not entirely succeeded, to organize myself and anyone who wanted to join in a making and mending socks challenge. I wear handknit socks nearly every day, but, for saying that, don’t have all that many pairs. So my socks see a lot of wear, then get holes, then go into the mending pile, where they sit while the non-holey pairs get worn even more … you say where I’m going with this. Anyway, my idea the past two years has been to add a pair of socks back to my drawer every month, either by finishing a new pair or restoring a pair from the mending pile. I’ve started strong both years, then as the year goes on, lose momentum and/or count, often discouraged when socks I mended at the start of the year end up with new holes.

All that being said, I still really love the idea of this gentle challenge. And it was so lovely to see some of you take it on board last year, gamely posting your progress even after I petered out. So here’s what I propose for Make Socks / Mend Socks 2024: I’m going to set myself a challenge (probably a dozen pairs of made or mended socks over the year, though maybe I’ll rethink since this seems difficult for me to achieve!). And I’d love if you join me. If you’re interested, make the challenge fit your making desires/your sock drawer needs. Ideally, it’d include some mending (I think that’s what sets it apart from other sock drawer challenges) but maybe you have magical socks that don’t get holes — if so, that’s fine! (And if you need some inspiration for your handknit sock drawer, this from yarnstorm is egging me on!)

Sometime at the beginning of January, I’ll start a separate thread here where we can share our Make Socks / Mend Socks 2024 intentions. After that, I’ll set up quarterly threads for sharing how you’re getting on. I’m determined to organize some little making and mending related sock treats this year. I’ll draw a name once a quarter from anyone who posts here and/or uses the #makesocksmendsocks2024 hashtag on Instagram and send the winner some goodies. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, put your sock thinking cap on and I’ll be back in a few days for the Make Socks / Mend Socks 2024 kick off! Together, we can encourage each other, swap mending tips and generally celebrate the magic of handknit socks and warm feet in 2024!

---

Right, a puzzle’s calling, and the sun is threatening to peek out, so I’m off! Thank you so much, as always, for allowing me to pop into your inbox — it’s hard to believe that this closes out a full year of Making Miscellanies! Back in early 2024 with Make Socks / Mend Socks plans, and with my usual missive at month’s end, but, until then, wishing you a happy and peaceful new year!

xo Katherine