Episode 90: First Socks, Projects and Books of 2025 🧦🍄📚 & Sock Heel News

Hello Makers & Welcome to the EarthtonesGirl Channel, My name is Denise and this is my space to share, inspire, encourage and motivate in my own earthy tone of voice.
In today's episode, I welcome New Year, share my first finished socks, projects and books of 2025. I also announce my first "Ask Me Anything" style video, topic: Shadow Wrap Short Row Heel

WHERE CAN YOU FIND ME:

EARTHTONESGIRL DESIGNS

FINISHED OBJECTS
Socks
Yarn: 2023 Advent Skein by Freckled Whimsy
Pattern: Soxploration Shadow Wrap Heel by Yours truly

Gnome
Gnoodle from The Gnomes of Grimblewood by Sara Schira
Yarn: minis from stash

YEAR OF GNOMES 2025 KAL

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
The Booklover's Library by Madeline Martin (author of The Last Bookshop in London)

MY TIP JAR
Or click the link below

Thank you so much for watching friends. See you all again soon.

[sabinebauerle]

Knitting helped me keep my sanity. When my husband died 5 years ago and my whole world turned upside down, knitting was my salvation and still is. And when looking at the world and what is going on, knitting gives me warmth and happiness. The global knitting community gives me the feeling that there is still hope for humanity.

[markishabunn]

This holiday season was the first since 2021 that I didn't knit any gifts and the level of calm was amazing!

[julietnusbaum]

I’m so glad you decided to post. We need our crafts and creative outlets even more at times like these. I live very close to the Eaton fire. We are safely home now but were evacuated for 6 days. The fire burned 2 structures in our neighborhood (not homes, thankfully). We spent the first 24 hours pretty sure we were going to have no home to come back to. We are so so grateful to be here, but heartbroken and anxious for our community. Our son is in 5th grade and we’re not sure when our school and district will reopen. I went to my wonderful LYS in Pasadena (Wollhaus 💗) today to check on them and it was packed. They’re giving yarn and supplies away to people who have been displaced, and they’re a haven for a lot of anxious people. All that to say, the community is one of the things we love about knitting, so please don’t feel that your work is “trivial.”

[corgikat]

Denise, I find you and your space here on YT to be my oasis of calm and serenity and I value what you have to say and share and look forward to “visiting” with you when you are able. You help to smooth out the emotional bumps I feel with the current events. I am also glad that you post what you want and when you want and take the time you need for yourself and your family. Keep doing you!❤

[ericksja]

The world needs more Denise!!!! Thanks for recording and sharing yourself with us!

[etoylemckee]

Word for the year is “And”, I feel that is opened ended, leaving room for growth, acceptance and resilience. I

[angelacole]

Love this ep Denise. I have now been introduced to the world of gnome knitting... I can already see the look on my husband's face when the first one is done...and when he realises there will be more! Ps. I also saw that reel by Lily Kate Makes on knitting the short row heel without turning your work 🤯

[Vanquished]

Denise, you are such a ray of sunshine. Keep being unapologetically you.

[craig]

5:54 years ago I was at a conference and the speaker had a phrase Embrace The Suck… but she had such a great approach to the phrase, when things are rough or sucky for you, your are actively growing and learning. You can also find bits of joy and humor in during these rough phases.


This year has started out rough, kids are all sick, so I will say I really appreciate your video. It brings some joy and humor to this rough patch!

[sdschantz]

I just heard Summer Lee say in a Q & A session on her podcast that she doesn’t wear many of the socks she makes either. Interesting. She considers them as pieces of art she’s made, much the save as an oil on canvas. And it’s what makes her happy, her passion. I knit mostly socks and I understand that feeling. Although I do wear my handmade socks everyday, there are some that are just too precious to me to risk wearing out. I feel the same way about my other knitting passion, Gnomes! I’m so excited you are making Gnomes this year too!

[brennaw.]

Storygraph is a good alternative to Goodreads! It's cool because it gives you charts and graphs of your reading (genres, length, pace, etc) and is less social focused

[patriciahall]

In need of normalcy, I believe that is what you are saying, and I agree 🙏🏻

[alleneburnett]

My gnomes also got out of control! I made four for gifting, and made three for myself, including two that I made much smaller, so they can be tucked around my hours. They made me smile. They are perfect for leftover sock yarn.

[amandatrask]

Knitting gives me the strength try to deal with what is happening in the world, and I believe this is true of many. So this does not feel trivial to me.

[debbyflowers]

Of course we recognize the song! The gnomes are so adorable! And your socks, wonderful!

[OkTxSheepLady]

45, 000 people who love calm and beauty. That’s encouraging!

[JudyRomagnoli]

My order of the year: grateful. I have so much to be thankful for, and I never want to take anything for granted 😊

[EllenHelms-co]

I'm returning to your wonderful podcast after a couple + years of being away and your laughter and joy of knitting and gnome cuteness clears all the world craziness away! What a God-send you are ❤ my word for the year, sort of, is "consistency", being consistent rather than following too many impulses...long story 😉

[jenlittle]

I have picked a word for quite a few years. This year is Delight.

[joannsullivan]

So glad you decided to do this video. Although the world is going crazy right now, we also need an outlet that brings a sense of comfort. I always enjoy your videos. Hopefully these videos are too stressful for you but a release. WE have to keep praying for our world.