September 2025 – Tractors, toothaches and tote bags
September has been filled with those annoying life-admin tasks that feel both huge and overwhelming, but far too dull to actually talk about here. You know the endless phone calls, the forms, and “could you just pop in for an appointment?” stuff that somehow swallow entire afternoons. Completely necessary to function as a real-life adult. But nourishing they are not. So I’ll spare you the tedium.
Instead, let’s talk about the more charming bits!
It was, mercifully, a slower month overall. Not restful exactly (I do have a toddler, after all), but at least a step down from the chaos of summer. We managed a week off to hit pause and take stock of everything: the balancing act of work, motherhood and a house renovation that still resembles a building site with aspirations.
And in between all that sensible slowing down, we squeezed in the fun kind of busy, like taking our tractor-mad small boy to the local ploughing match, where he experienced what can only be described as toddler nirvana in the form of combines, cows and machinery of every size.
Then came a milestone I didn’t know I’d get sentimental about: our first swimming badge! You better believe I sent off for the little fabric patch – pure 90s nostalgia. My mum has kept all of mine in a binder so it’s a full-circle, slightly teary moment (which I’m blaming entirely on the chlorine).
And knitting wise, there’s been lots going on…so let’s dive in!
Finished Objects
Absolutely none. Ok, so when I said there was lots going on, it’s not in the form of FOs…
August was a flurry of cast-offs, so I’ve been deep in WIP territory this month – keeping the plates spinning, getting some rows in between real life.
WIPs
Here is where the main action happened this month.
Chantal Sweater by Moreca Knit – Still on pause. The slip stitch section is stunning, yes, but currently giving me palpitations. It’s on hold until I’ve got the emotional energy (and a steady hand) for it again. I’m stopping on the body for now and plan to knit the neckline and sleeves to maybe break up the boredom.
Penny Tote Bag by Moreca Knit – We’re nearly there. And I’m determined to have this finished and slung over my shoulder by mid-autumn – ideally with a clementine and paperback novel poking out the top for aesthetic purposes.
Cloud Sweater by PetiteKnit – My new favourite cast-on. I paired Isager Soft in E0 with Drops Brushed Alpaca Silk in Marzipan 40, and it’s honestly like knitting a cloud with… a softer cloud. It grows so quickly, which is very good for morale, and I’m dying to wear it.
Hans Sweater (again!) by Pernille Larsen – Yes, again. This is number… four? Five? I’ve lost count. A birthday gift for a friend’s little boy, who’s now big enough that it actually takes more than two evenings to finish. Still as satisfying and sweetly structured as ever.
Yarn acquisitions
I caved. Obviously.
I picked up some Knitting for Olive Merino (a classic) and (for the first time) their Silk Mohair, in Rust and Blue Whale. I’ve got plans to swatch up both the Inge and Norma sweaters, and whichever sings the loudest to me (or matches my stash cream KFO Merino best) will get the go-ahead.
Patterns I’m eyeing up
It’s been a strong season for swoon-worthy patterns (we are going into the knitter’s peak season after all), and these are calling to me like sirens:
- Facet Sweater by Le Knit – I’m obsessed with the colourwork pattern. It’s saying modern twist on the 70s. So elegant.
- Harriet Sweater by Le Knit – It must be all the mono colour sweaters I’ve been making, but I’m really drawn to colour work and a sweet pattern on my garments at the moment.
- Beats Sweater by The Odd Row – The colour work and line design is beautiful. I’m itching to try it in deep navy or burnt orange.
- Arches Blouse by The Odd Row – I love the Arches Sweater so much, but this soft, romantic, slightly architectural blouse is calling out to me.
- Ciro Sweater by Moreca Knit – As soon as this came out I bookmarked it. The structure is quietly clever, with just enough detail to keep you interested but not so much that you’re weeping into your stitch markers.
Let’s all pretend I’m not going to cast one on before finishing everything else. (I definitely am.)
What I’m looking forward to
October always feels like the start of proper knitting weather – the first excuse for woolly jumpers in the morning and hand-knit socks in the evening. This month we’ve got a few things on the horizon that I’m genuinely looking forward to.
Our annual pumpkin patch visit is top of the list — a full on autumnal cliché and I couldn’t care less. Mud, wheelbarrows, lots of photos and a small child attempting to lift a pumpkin larger than himself. Name a better way to spend an October weekend.
Then there’s wedding dress shopping: take two. I can’t wait to revisit a dress and try on a few more. We have ages before the wedding, so I’m enjoying taking my time on these big decisions. And let’s face it, it’s nice to wear something that’s not covered in carrot puff dust and yoghurt.
Beyond that, I’m looking forward to more slow evenings – a candle, a cup of tea and a few uninterrupted rows of knitting. That’s the dream, really.
What I’m reading
With a full week off and four child-free days in September, I read four(!!) whole books – two of which were actual printed books and not audiobooks (which I love by the way – great for knitting, and it’s not cheating to listen to your books, no matter what other people might tell you).
Here’s what I read over the month of September:
- Sarah’s Quilt by Nancy E. Turner – I finished this beautiful book after struggling to find time to dedicate to a physical book. I loved it but not as much as the first. I’ll be picking up the third one in the series soon.
- A Promised Land by Barack Obama – A mammoth of a book, but such an insightful read. Obama is IMO one of the great speakers of our time. A compassionate leader and a steady, rational voice. Worth every hour to listen to this, and I got a lot of knitting done while I did.
- Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid – I’ve read a few of TJR’s books now and have to say this was my least favourite. It still flew by, and I listened to this one – the narrators were excellent. Sadly the story went a little adrift from what I thought it would be in the end. More domestic, less space…
- Slow Productivity by Cal Newport – I needed to take advice from this book. Talk about right place, right time. I’d already begun to slow down and see the value in more focus, less haste. While a bit surface level in some places, I have taken on some of the advice and already seen the benefits.
A note on life
After August, I said no more this month.
No to a few social things, no to unnecessary obligations, no to piling too much on the calendar. It felt a bit uncomfortable at first but slowly, something shifted. I feel clearer and more present.
A key thing I’ve really embraced this month is getting back into reading (as opposed to scrolling my phone). I’m an English Literature graduate, so for a significant portion of my life I have spent it with my head literally in a book. Somewhere along the way, I stopped and I have no idea why. Not much else calms me down than getting lost in a few pages of a novel. It’s working wonders – my phone is telling me my usage is way, way down and even without that, I can just tell my mood is improving.
It turns out that saying no (or “not this week”) is one of the kindest things I can do both for myself and for the people I love. It gives the things I say yes to more weight. And, importantly, it gives me more time to stare at my yarn stash and mutter about swatching.
Comfort corner
This month, I’ve been coming back to my original comforts – the things that make me feel most me. Namely: knitting and reading.
It sounds obvious, doesn’t it? But after months of juggling work, renovations and general life noise, I’d somehow drifted away from both. Then I sat down one evening with a good book and my needles nearby, and (wouldn’t you believe) I actually started to feel like myself again.
There’s something quietly grounding about returning to the things you loved before life got so full. No pressure to be productive and no deadline.
Snapshot of the month
I have a blog coming up soon about all the knitwear I’ve made for my son to date. Here he is on his way outside in the Loui Sweater by Pernille Larsen. I made this last autumn and I’m so pleased we’ll get another winter’s use out of it, because it’s a beauty!
Your turn
How did your September go? Are you gearing up for the glorious season that is autumn knitting? What are you casting on now that the air’s gone crisp?
Beth x