The time between Christmas and New Year has to be one of my favoruite times of the year. Free from obligations and expectations. As a family we’ve always spent this week holed up in a favourite cottage, away from the outside world and doing the things that make us happiest -short walks, lots of board games, fires - you get the idea.

This year I’m deliberately resisting all forms of shiny new planners, diaries, reviews and courses. All of them promising a new me, or at least a marginally improved and more efficient me.

I have though taken the opportunity to think about a few gentle resolutions that I want to remind myself of in 2023

1. I'm going to make a determined effort to try something new. I've been thinking I'd like to try Tunisian crochet or double knitting for ages but haven't got around to it. I'd like to free myself of the expectation that I have to make something useful/pretty with it and just experiment with making something small using a new technique.

2. Giving myself permission to frog what isn't working out. I need a perennial reminder on this and I plan to set aside a little time at the start of each month to revaluate what's on the needles. If nothing else it might free up some 4mm tips.

3. Know your worth. I learnt this one a while ago but I still see so many posts from knitters upset that their handknit gifts aren't well received. It's a useful time to remind oneself that your time and skill are invaluable - don't waste it on those who don't appreciate it.

4. Stash review - I need to remind myself that yarn comes and goes. I don't need to be the custodian of it all and if it no longer meets my needs it's OK to pass it on to someone else who will love it and use it. I've successfully whittled my stash down to more manageable levels in the last few years but there are still skeins lurking that I know in my heart I'll never use. Time to set them free I think.

What about you - what would you add to the list of gentle resolutions this coming year?