December came and went. While I’d promised myself a strong start in Italian, the progress has been—to put it mildly—modest. My LingQ stats show a humble 31 words. I likely know a few more from reading elsewhere, but my pace has been slow, and I’ll admit I haven’t been pushing myself. German, on the other hand, remains a constant; my love for the way it sounds provides all the motivation I need to keep listening and reading every day.
Still, a certain guilt lingers over my neglected Italian studies. That time was largely claimed by a few knitting projects. After finishing a sweater by Kate Davies, I finally cast on Andrea Mowry’s Douglas Cardi. I’ve admired this design since it was published in 2021—there is something about those stripes that just feels happy.
The final spark of inspiration actually came from a crossover of my two worlds. While watching the German YouTuber Joseph DeChangeman (part of my daily immersion practice), I noticed him wearing a colourful cardigan. Although the design was different from the Douglas Cardi, that bold and lumpy sweater feel really spoke to me. It’s rare to find such joyful colorwork in commercial clothing, and I find myself drawn to that unique, handmade feel.
As a result, much of my free time in December was spent knitting the Douglas Cardi. Knitting is inherently peaceful and soothing, yet I found myself unable to justify the time spent on a garment I really don’t need. With only 24 hours in a day, it’s hard not to feel the “opportunity cost” of every row worked.
The saving grace? My knitting time wasn’t entirely lost to language learning. I’ve made it a habit to watch German Netflix series or listen to German podcasts while I work through the rows. It’s a small redemption. Knitting is a wholesome pursuit, but as the year turns, I’m still searching for that perfect balance between the the solace of the stitches and the challenge of a new language.