Knitting, painting, writing: My creative resolutions for 2026
15.1.2026
Translation: machine translated
A shelf full of wool and a head full of ideas: My creative resolutions for 2026 should help me to bring some order to them. Instead of rigid goals, however, I want to focus on general guidelines: Use more of what I already have, finish what I've started and learn new things.
In December 2024, I dug out all my wool over the festive period, sorted it and made a systematic note of it. In doing so, I realised how much was actually accumulating and made the resolution to reduce my stash.
At the turn of the year 2025, I took stock and realised that I had failed: My wool stash actually grew by 2163 grammes! I also added up the weight of all my wool and was a bit shocked. When it's all tucked away on the shelf in individual balls and skeins, you underestimate how much has accumulated over the years.
Well, how much wool do you think I have in kilograms? The answer will follow shortly.
Source: Julia Escher
If you want to see this in moving image, I have also posted everything as a video on my YouTube channel. The video is in English.
Need more wool that I already have
33.7 kilograms. That's how much yarn I have according to my notebook. That's too much for me and my space. That's why I'm determined to reduce my «stash» (English knitting jargon for wool stash) in 2026 and have declared this year to be my «year of the stashdown».
On the one hand, it's a year of the stashdown.
On the one hand, it's overwhelming to visualise this amount. In my case, it was also very inspiring and I immediately had lots of new ideas. So my first project is already on the needles, even if this is getting in the way of my second resolution, but more on that later.
I want to knit myself a fluffy oversized jumper to match the low temperatures and have chosen the Jilli Jam by Anne Ventzel. I'm combining different yarn remnants and individual skeins, some of which I've had for ten years. If I wasn't constantly opening up new ones because I change my mind as if to choose a new colour, I'd make pretty good progress with the large 7mm needles.
Source: Anne Ventzel
Finish off what you've started
Even though I'm going to use up a lot of wool with my oversize jumper, I don't want to keep starting new projects. My second resolution is to reduce the number of projects I have started. I currently have 13 (!) so-called WIPs («works in progress»). That's definitely too much for my mental capacity. This includes many long-term projects, such as three blankets I've started, two jumpers, a cardigan and two scarves. My goal is to systematically bring this number down and finally finish the things I've started.
Source: Julia Escher
The main reason for the many WIPs is that I see inspirations and have ideas that I want to realise immediately. The familiar is then no longer as interesting and is left lying around. As I usually have several things on the needles at the same time anyway, my plan is that at least one of my active projects should always be one of these WIPs. So I'm constantly working on projects I've started. That's why my motto this year is: don't just start new things, finish old ones too. This not only creates space on my shelf, but also in my head.
New year, old hobbies
My wrists thank me when I don't spend every spare minute knitting. In order to still be able to live out my passion for colour and creativity, I have resolved to get out more of my other artistic tools in the new year
As I used to paint and draw a lot, I already have a lot of material. A few months ago, I discovered colouring books for adults. Inspired by this trend, my coloured pencils are back in regular use. My husband also gave me three great colouring books and a set of Ohuhu brands for my birthday and Christmas. Now it's time to get colouring and I'm already looking forward to it!
The alcohol-based brands from Ohuhu are new territory for me. As I mainly use coloured pencils and gouache, I haven't quite got the hang of it yet. I'm still struggling with shading and colour transitions in particular. I'm planning to learn a few things from illustrator R.J. Hampson, who occasionally makes so-called «colour-along» videos on his YouTube channel. You can see exactly how he colours his own pictures and what techniques he uses. I find it particularly exciting how he paints a base colour with brands and then works out the shades with coloured pencils.
Another challenge: these alcohol-based markers bleed through quite a bit, depending on the quality of the paper. Unfortunately, most of my colouring books are printed on both sides, which means that the back is always ruined. That's why I'll probably be buying another single-sided colouring book in the next few months, which is also suitable for markers. Do you perhaps have a recommendation for me?
Source: Julia Escher
Back to the roots
Finally, I want to write more again. And by hand. My daughter often writes little stories in her favourite, scrawly primary school handwriting. This reminded me of how I not only loved to immerse myself in books as a child, I could also write stories by hand for hours.
Unfortunately, I haven't kept any of my old texts. They would certainly be amusing to read. At least the Waterman fountain pen from my youth is still in my possession. After digging it out of the depths of the drawer, I first had to give it a long wash to remove dried ink pigments. But now it's back in working order and will accompany me in my everyday life.
Like many of us, I have loads of unused, pretty notebooks that I keep saving. These should finally be filled with ideas, interesting passages from books or my own handwritten stories.
This isn't just in line with the current trend of young people increasingly turning away from the digital world and turning to the analogue. It's also good for the brain. Studies have shown that our brain stores information better when it is written by hand. All the more reason to put my resolution into practice!
Have you made any creative resolutions for the new year or have any of my plans inspired you? Do you have any tips and tricks for me for colouring with brands or can you recommend a one-page colouring book? Let us know in the comments!
Julia Escher
Freelance Editor
julia.escher@ik.meI started knitting 14 years ago and love experimenting with fibres and colours. When I'm not working with wool, I’m gardening or pursuing my other great passion: reading and writing about Chinese (art) history. You can find my knitting projects on Ravelry under Julia-knitsalot.
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