Where I Knit (and What’s On My Needles Right Now)

by Heather Hurst September 19, 2025

I started this knitting store because I knit a lot. Truly, everywhere. I almost always have multiple projects going at once, and over the years, I’ve been told I’m one of the most productive knitters around. I don’t just knit for the shop — I knit for my family, for gifts, and honestly, for the sheer joy of it.

On average, I knit about 15,000 yards of yarn every year. In a really good year, I’ll push past 20,000 yards — though, like with anything, life sometimes gets in the way. To put that in perspective, 15,000 yards is about the height of the Eiffel Tower stacked 42 times, or the Empire State Building 31 times. That’s a lot of stitches

Tracking the Yarn (Yes, I’m a Nerd)

I’m pretty strategic about my knitting. I track all of my projects in a spreadsheet (complete with tabs for yarn knit and yarn purchased each year). My goal is always to knit more than I buy — a challenge, since I already have a pretty significant stash. I've heard people joke that they have two hobbies: knitting, and buying yarn, and that's definitely true for me! I compare my knitting output month-over-month and year-over-year and amuse myself with trends and aberrations.

Different Projects for Different Moments

I always keep a mix of projects on my needles, with a range between both categories:

Mindless projects — things like basic sweaters, where the stitch repeats endlessly. These are perfect for car rides, dark theaters, or even a walk on the boardwalk. They don’t require me to look down, so they’re great for multitasking.
Complicated projects — intricate lace, cable work, or slippery yarns that need careful attention. These aren’t portable, but they’re deeply absorbing. Oddly enough, they’re also the most relaxing, because they demand full focus and pull me out of everything else.

I'm limited by the number of knitting needles I own in different sizes. Since each project requires a pair, I can only juggle so many at once. But I like it that way.

I’m the same with books — I like reading multiple books at the same time (usually around 6-8, the same number of knitting works-in-progress that I have!) so I can pick one that matches my focus and mood.

Where I Knit

The short answer: everywhere.

On a recent beach vacation, I knit while waiting for a restaurant table, while stretched out on the sand, while reading in our rental home, while riding a surrey, and even while walking the boardwalk. That time I was knitting a colorwork poncho — the pattern was simple enough to keep my hands busy while I strolled.

At home, you’ll find me knitting in all the usual places: the couch, the porch, the passenger seat of the car. If I can bring my knitting with me, I will.

What’s On My Needles Right Now

At the moment, I have seven projects going. Here’s a peek:

A detailed shawl with an eight-row repeat — simple enough to memorize, but still requires glancing at the pattern. It's knit with two yarns: a cheery bright pink and white with colorful speckles.
A colorwork sweater for myself, now at the mindless knitting stage. It’s perfect for soccer sidelines, where I can chat with other parents and still keep a close eye on the game.
The colorwork poncho I mentioned from the beach — nearing the finish, just a few short rows left to shape the fit.
A Christmas gnome with a cabled hat, a repeat of a pattern I’ve knit before after someone requested one for themselves.
A cabled sweater for myself in a deep charcoal gray with a v-neck and a mix of lace and cable stitches. It’s slow going but incredibly fun.
A lace scarf in a saltwater blue yarn, inspired by the ocean and a reminder of my recent beach trip.
A chevron baby blanket, knit from leftover yarns in blues, pinks, and purples. It feels good to turn “leftovers” into something fresh and useful.

Why I Keep So Many Projects Going

Keeping a variety of projects means I can always maximize my knitting time. Some pieces are perfect for grabbing on the go, while others let me sink into deeper focus. Between the quick knits and the complicated ones, I keep myself balanced — productive, but also relaxed.

And honestly? Every project, big or small, brings its own kind of joy. Except for the ones that are a disaster - but I'll save that for a future blog.

Anyone want to guess how many yards I've knit so far in 2025?

✨ Thanks for following along with a peek into my knitting world. If you’re curious, many of these projects — once finished — make their way into the shop, ready to be worn and loved.