My Not-To-Do List
Bringing intention to my work as a designer and maker, CraftDoodling Designs News etc.
Happy New Year 2026!
I had a restful break, with time to enjoy the holiday season and meet with loved ones. I also took some time to pause and reflect on 2025. I hope you had a wonderful year-end and a great start to the new year too.
I might have confessed here more than once that lists are my favorite things to write. I am starting 2026 with a list of things I intend not to do.
The idea for a not-to-do list came from one of my most favorite authors.
“You would not feel uncomfortable reading that list, as you will have already admitted that these are things you do not want to do—and will not do.”
― Alexander McCall Smith, The Colors of All the Cattle
Not to aim for fast knitting
Knitting has to take the time it needs. Good things often do take time. I have noticed that I start talking negatively about my “knitting speed,” despite knowing the things I know. I even apologize for being a slow knitter.
If the knitting doesn’t grow with time, the right thing to do is probably to look into where that time went. I intend to put this to practice more often this year.
Not pursuing ideas that have stopped working
At some point, I read some well-meaning advice for creatives to “collect ideas” for their work. Being the kind of list maker that I am, I have hoarded and accumulated a considerable amount by now. But truly, not every idea, experiment, line of thought, or note on a scrap of paper is meant to become a full-fledged design.
Sometimes I tend to pursue things as an experiment even when I realize clearly that they are not working anymore.
There are ideas that will flourish if you push a little more. There are ideas that will fall flat no matter what. The key is to know the difference and have the prudence to stop or change course.
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Not designing for an imaginary audience
The design process is full of decision-making, and it helps to stick to a handful of goals for a design and go with them. It is also easy to second-guess every decision and get stuck. For example, it is always tempting to add something “interesting and clever to keep the knitter’s interest,” or to cut down a feature because “knitters might want it faster.”
Wearable designs are always my primary goal as a knitwear designer, and I believe this guideline is good enough to drive basic design decisions. Additionally, I am fortunate to be in conversation with real knitters: test knitters, my class students, newsletter readers, fellow designers, yarn dyers, and yarn business owners.
With all this in hand, I hope to double down on the intention and meaning that I bring to my designs.
Not overthinking my content, photos, colors that ‘suit’ me, etc.
With social media, my goal has always been to keep things realistic. Despite that resolve, I sometimes fall into unwanted comparisons and start overthinking my designs in general, the colors I choose, my photos, and so on.
I am going to try not to let this get the better of me. Clear and honest presentation of my designs is the goal, and I am going to act accordingly.
Not to completely shut out social media
I know. It seems counterintuitive to say something like this when a lot of people seem to be quitting or cutting down on social media. I have tried different things over the years, and what works for me is using social media as a tool to reach people, network with fellow makers, and stay in the know about trends.
Neither overdoing the posts nor completely going AWOL helps me much. I intend to post what makes sense, meaningfully interact with people, and keep trying to cut down on the dreaded doomscrolling.
I hope some of these resonated with your knitting journey as well. I’d love to hear about your making interests and goals for the new year. Let me know in the comments! ♥️
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CRAFTDOODLING DESIGNS UPDATES
My designs Reshma and Soie Kerchief patterns are currently being tested. As always the testers have created brilliant versions of the design. Please keep an eye out for the mini collection to be released later this month.❤️
Reshma & Soie Sneak Peek My classes for January and February are scheduled at Uncommon threads and Fillory Yarn. See if you are interested in any. Here is a link to the Double Knit Button Bands class, if you have been looking to take it.❤️
I’ll be teaching at the Next Level Knitting Conference organized by the The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) in April 2026. You can check the event schedule and classes list here. Registration opens only on January ‘26. ❤️
OTHER THINGS YOU MIGHT LIKE
My earlier essays on similar lines:❤️
Review, refocus and recommit for 2025
Where is my design compass leading to?
READING UPDATES
Finished Reading 📖
Made to stick - Chip Heath & Dan Heath
Writes and lovers - Lily King
Heartwood - Amity Gaige
Currently Reading 📖
Palaver - Bryan Washington
Until next time,
Kavitha. ♡
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Brilliant reframing on the whole "not pursuing ideas that have stopped working" thing. That prudeence to recognize when an idea has flatlined takes way more skill than people give credit for. I've definetly wasted months on projects that were clearly not going anywhere just cuz I felt I'd "invested too much," but dunno, sunk cost is real and letting go actually freed up mental space for stuff that actually worked. The imaginary audience trap is sneaky too btw.
Lovely that you have had a nice holiday break Kavitha. I remember how that has been a challenge in recent years. Forever wishing we had time for family or something new in our lives is not likely to get us there. We need to 'make time' for such things. And discover the reward for doing that! Which it sounds like you have done. Your classes all sound like winners!!! And love the sneak peaks on those knits!!! See you in 2026!! :-)