![\"worldvisitors\"](\"https:\/\/ittakesballstoknit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/worldvisitors-640x368.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIt seems I had an anniversary last month that went by so quietly that I didn’t even realize it! On January 13th, I turned 5!!<\/p>\n
Yes, I have been doing this blog\/website for 5 years now! Wow, where has the time gone?? In that time I have averaged almost 3 posts a week and have had visitors from literally all over the world! Looking at the analytics of the site, I have had visitors from places I have never even heard of before! Here is a map showing density of visitors to the site by geographical location.<\/p>\n
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This might seem like me bragging, but I assure you, it is the exact opposite. I am so humbled when I look at this map that I am beyond words. When I started doing this 5 years ago, I wasn’t sure what it would evolve into, and I was okay with that. Truthfully, I’m still not sure but the path is a lot more defined now than it was then. I did know that I wanted to help anyone become a knitter, or a better knitter, or inspire someone to continue. I am willing to try things in order to do that and at times it might seem like I have no idea what I’m doing (sometimes I don’t), but I promise you in my head it seems clear enough. I plan to do this for another 5 years, and another 5 after that, and so on, and so on …<\/p>\n
So seeing as it’s a birthday, there should be presents, right?? Well, there will be! I say will because I’m pulling this out of my butt right now as I type this post! If you’re here from a direct link and haven’t been here before, you need to click on the HUGZZZ tab and read the first part of that at least. See the sweater I’m wearing? This one …<\/p>\n
It’s an old Paton’s pattern that I made many moons ago when I had more persistence than ability. A lot of you have asked for the pattern and I’ve promised to try and hunt it down (I lost my original copy a loooooong time ago). Well, copyright laws would prevent me from just copying it and sending it to you anyways, but I have a better idea. I have some amazing Organic Merino wool that would work perfectly for this. So, I’m going to make something similar (love the saddle shoulder) and make the pattern available to you for free! Now you know my take on “free” patterns, but I assure you that it will be tech edited and test knitted to make sure there’s no bugs. If you want the original, check Paton’s database.<\/p>\n On a closing note (for this post), I’d like to thank each and every one of you that have visited in the last 5 years and especially those who re-visit. I will endeavor to make this a site that you will want to continue to come back to for the next 5 years. If there is ever anything I can write about on here, please let me know and I’ll do my best! I would like to invite you to sign the Guestbook (see the tab) and let me (and the rest of the world) know that you’ve been here and where you’re from. You’re part of a wonderful Close Knit Community and your continued support means the world to me!<\/p>\n![\"me-sweater-web\"](\"https:\/\/ittakesballstoknit.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/01\/me-sweater-web.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/a> Boo! Eeeek! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> Simmering along … this is the look I’m searching for … <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> Are there 8 strands there? I wonder what that’s called? <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>