My Word of the Year: Refine
My word for the year: refine.
January always arrives a little quieter than we expect, especially in the knitting world.
After the rush of the holidays — the gatherings, the projects, the half-finished ideas — I notice an unfamiliar pull. Not toward doing more, which is usually how I start my new year, but toward clarity. Toward easing back into my knitting, my teaching, and my creative work with intention instead of urgency.
Over the years, I’ve learned that a single word can be far more supportive than a long list of resolutions.
A word gives me something to return to when things feel busy or scattered. It offers direction without pressure.
This year, that word is refine.
Why a Word (Instead of Goals)
As makers, we already work slowly — whether we plan to or not. Knitting teaches patience stitch by stitch, reminding us that progress happens gradually, not all at once. Quilting done by machine helps us keep a faster pace, but the overall steps it takes to finish a quilt can feel like a long journey.
Traditional goal-setting can sometimes clash with that rhythm. Goals can feel rigid. They can quietly turn something nourishing into something performative. A word, on the other hand, leaves room to adjust. It meets us where we are.
A word doesn’t demand perfection.
It invites awareness.
Why I Chose the Word Refine
When I sat down to think about what I wanted this year to feel like — not just what I wanted to accomplish — this word kept surfacing.
To refine is not to start over. It isn’t about scrapping everything or chasing something new for the sake of it.
Refinement is quieter than that. It’s about paying attention and about noticing what already works and gently adjusting what doesn’t. I say gently, but sometimes we need to do some pruning. But with care. (I’m talking to myself here.)
For me, refine means:
Deepening skills instead of rushing toward the next project
Clarifying how I teach so things feel more approachable and confidence-building
Letting go of excess — in my making, my plans, and my expectations
It’s less about adding more, and more about shaping what’s already here.
Sketchbook moment: refining focus
What Refine Looks Like in Practice
In my day-to-day creative life, refinement shows up in small, practical ways.
It might look like swatching again instead of pushing ahead. Choosing yarn more thoughtfully. Rethinking and adjusting my color palette. Making a slight fit adjustment rather than throwing in the towel, abandoning a sweater altogether, Teaching the same technique, but explaining it a little more clearly and with more resources to support it.
These aren’t dramatic changes. They’re subtle — sometimes almost unremarkable. And yet, over time, they add up. This might feel strange to you, I know it will for me.
Refinement honors the process. It allows learning to settle in. It builds confidence quietly (yes, with even me) — which is precisely how making works best.
Color play, taking the time to choose a palette.
An Invitation (Not a Requirement)
If you’ve chosen a word for the year, I’d love to know what it is.
And if you haven’t — that’s perfectly okay too.
You don’t need a word, a plan, or a resolution to belong here. You only need a willingness to keep showing up, needles in hand, refining as you go.
This year, I’m letting refine lead the way — one stitch, one choice, one thoughtful adjustment at a time.
If you’d like gentle support as you build confidence and clarity in your knitting, you’re always welcome to explore Sweater Club or my beginner-friendly classes. No pressure — just an open door..
A small gift for you
As I was working with this word, I found myself wanting a quiet visual reminder—something I’d see every day that felt calm, spacious, and encouraging rather than demanding.
So I turned the refine watercolor into a phone wallpaper for myself… and then decided to share it with you too.
If it feels supportive, you can download two free iPhone wallpapers below:
One with the word refine
One with just the watercolor paper and soft splashes of color
Use them as a gentle reminder, or simply because they make your phone feel a little more peaceful.
No pressure—just a small offering, from my studio to your day.
