Blogiversary

It's astonishing, but today marks the first anniversary of Go Knit In Your Hat. Yes, it's my blog-iversary. And as I look back on the past year, I can only say "thank you" to all of you, the faithful readers.

I have enjoyed writing this blog more than I ever thought I would. And I have met more interesting and funny and kind people than I ever knew were out there. People like Mindy, to swap bunny and little kid stories with. People like Bonnie, who shares my quirky worldview. Rosie's customers like Mary Kay and Sherry and Wendy and Christina, who I had known casually but now count as friends. And Lars, and Ted, and Lee Ann, and so many more of you that I can't name.

I am frequently amazed at the readers who leave comments. Funny comments, snarky comments, comments that add immeasurably to the topic at hand. I knew that my circle of close knitting friends would read this blog (and I do loves me my Wolvies, Mar and Joe and Kathy and Franklin and Liza and Selma and Lisa and Loopy), but I didn't expect a significantly broader readership, or one that displays the generosity and good will I have experienced.

I certainly didn't expect to begin an internet business, but I have found great joy and fulfillment in Black Bunny Fibers and been touched at the willingness of the fiber community to support me in my new endeavor.

I also didn't expect the extent to which blogging would change me. I envisioned the blog as a snarky venue in which I could vent about things that annoyed me, kvell about things that I liked, and create a record of my fiber projects. Sure, I am able to do those things -- and do -- but the blog has morphed into something more. (Or at least I hope it has.) As someone who has learned so much from the internet knitting community, I have found it fun and rewarding to help give back a little by writing posts that help knitters with technical or substantive issues. I have found myself deciding which political issues -- like equal rights for the GLTB community, or dissatisfaction with the corrupt party that now controls the U.S. government -- really mean something to me, enough that I'll say what I think without caring who doesn't like it.

And perhaps most important, I have found that viewing my world through the lens of this blog has changed the way I see it. When I go to a fiber festival like Rhinebeck, I find myself looking around, really seeing the things in front of me: examining color and patterns, noting interesting or inspirational images, appreciating the offbeat and the beautiful. I remember more as I make mental notes of things to blog about. When describing what I've seen and experienced to all of you, I make connections between my life and the bigger world. In short, my blog has made my day-to-day experiences deeper and richer.

Thank you for reading my blog. I look forward to continuing this journey with you for a long time to come.