Things Fall Apart, the Center Cannot Hold: On Entropy and Mending

One can only assume that when WB Yeats wrote the poem The Second Coming in 1919 he was rather more focused on the recently ended Great War, his pregnant wife nearly dying from the 1918-19 influenza pandemic, and the Irish Rebellion, but it applies to my afghan too.

I’ve been on a multi-year afghan bender, and why I decided that making blankets was my thing, I’m not entirely sure, but with multiple (ten *cough*, ten) current blanket WIPs this obsession shows no signs of abating.  I am particularly fond of the granny square, which begins in the center and grows outward.  Those familiar with crochet will likely be aware of the “magic circle” which is a nifty trick that allows you to start in the center of a motif without joining a circle of chains.

Upside?  It’s easy and tightens up like a dream, leaving no pesky hole in the middle.  Downside?  If you don’t take great pains to secure the end, that neatly tightened circle is gonna open right back up again.

 

The center literally did not hold.

But back to Yeats.

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

In Yeats’ cosmology, history plays out as a series of epochs or “gyres.”  The widening gyre is the current era of modern civilization that is spiraling out into chaos.  The rest of the poem describes a vision of the future that subverts the imagery of the ‘second coming’ from the arrival of a heroic savior to the coming of a dark beast,  “suggesting that civilization’s sense of progress and order is only an illusion.”   

If we’re being honest, I’m rather less interested in the religious imagery in the second half of the poem than I am in the implications for the 2nd law of thermodynamics in the first.  Physics tells us that the universe began in a state of order with low entropy, and that things have been going down-hill ever since.  The ever-expanding, ever-accelerating universe craves disorder and “mere anarchy … loosed upon the world.”   Entropy will always, inevitably, increase over time, afghans will wear out (you were wondering if I was going to bring it back around, weren’t you?) and ultimately disorder and chaos will be victorious.

And yet. 

According to astrophysicist Adam Frank, “the very act of trying is what defines being alive.”  I heard this NPR interview when it originally aired back in 2013, and it stuck with me (and bless NPR’s archives for making it easy to find.)  Frank goes on to say, “even more, it's that act of trying that makes life - your life, in particular - a cosmic victory. Life, you see, is the triumph of order over chaos. Life is order hammered out if only for a time. And with that effort, something new, something wonderful appears in the universe: creativity.”

In some ways Yeats was absolutely right.  The center cannot (and did not) hold.  Things will fall apart.  Spend a few minutes perusing the day's headlines and you’ll see anarchy loosed all over the place.  On the other hand, what’s our responsibility to push back against the inevitable chaos?

Things fall apart, and then we fix them until we cannot fix them anymore.  If, as Jonathan Larson penned in Rent, “the opposite of war isn’t peace, it’s creation”, then the opposite of despair is mending. 

It is a radical act of defiance to continually reinvest energy into a decaying system.   The center will not hold; things will fall apart. But then we will put them back together.

Note: I wrote the initial draft of this back in the summer of 2024, and damned if it isn't more relevant now than it was even then.  Also, you'll be pleased to know I finally fixed the hole in my afghan. 

References:

Essay on W.B. Yeats' poem, The Second Coming.

NPR's "Don't Try to Clean That Messy Desk," interview with Adam Frank.

A Season of Expectation and Hope

 Note: This was written on December 17, 2025, but never published. It's fully a month later, but I've decided to post and back-date it, so I'd have the record of what I was thinking about the week before Christmas.  

We're about a week out from the Big Day, and I am feeling remarkably zen about it.  I have very nearly finished my shopping, know more or less what I bought for whom (more or less), and am embracing a sense of chill merriment for the season.

This is so historically unlike me that I am not sure I know who I am anymore.  Maybe it's because my children are all adults now or maybe it's because I am fully embracing my fairy light era -- I don't know exactly what combination of holiday magic is conspiring to holly my jollies, but you better believe I'm taking notes so I can try to recreate it next year.

One thing that I know for sure is contributing to my delight in the season is an aggressive pursuit of coziness (see above, re: fairy lights) coupled with some intentional crafting.   I'm often comfortably ensconced on my couch, under a festive holiday blanket of my own making, staring at a beautiful tree and other festive bits and bobs, and this year I'm knitting not one, but two pairs of advent socks. 

I am not sure why I decided to two pairs exactly -- I usually only knit one in December, but here we are.  Shockingly I'm keeping up with both pairs -- heel day was a bit of a marathon, but otherwise it's been smooth sailing. 

Future Bekah here again.  I didn't have a photo from that week, but (SPOILERS!) I finished both pair a day or two after Christmas.

In fact I'm enjoying it so much, and had so much success with the "few rows a day" experiment with the cabled sock, that I am planning to carry on with something similar in January.  I'm not making any big announcements about an annual goal or anything, but in January I'm planning to cast on a patterned sock and knit somewhere around 12 rounds a day until they are done.  

Basically, I'm riffing off of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Self-Imposed Sock Club, but one month at a time and I'm picking the patterns as I go.  If I do it more than once.  

If it goes well and if I still like it, I might do it again in February.  You don't know.

Getting Back on the Proverbial Horse

After last week's goal review session and a quick perusal of my Ravelry notebook, I've come to a few conclusions.

Conclusion the first:  an annual planning cycle doesn't feel very useful to me right now.  Time is wily and so are my interest and focus.  I am thinking about a quarterly approach for 2026 -- basically the opposite of what I did for 2025.  2026 goals will have more focus, more structure, and a much shorter time horizon from conception through to fruition.

Conclusion the second: it's a good thing I like socks.  I wonder if I can take what's great about them (portability and ease, for example) and apply that to other things I might like to make?  I live in Tennessee so I don't need a ton of hats, but it's worth thinking about anyway.  I really do like socks though, so if it ain't broke, maybe I don't need to fix it.
 
Conclusion the third: I do not finish blankets at the same rate that I start them.  I have all different kinds going - dead simple, complex, knit, crochet, Disneyland-threw-up levels of scrappiness, highly structured colorways … I have a blanket WIP for pretty much any whim or occasion.   I would like to start rotating a few towards finished, so my planning for next year should take that into account.
 
Conclusion the fourth: I have a few not blanket or sock WIPs (I know! I was shocked too!) and I'd like to move them along before the new year. 
 
To that end, I've picked my cabled socks back up and have started doing a four-row repeat a day.  I'm treating it as a bit of a road test for the Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Self-Imposed Sock Club method.  It's a clever bit of business where she pairs yarns with patterns (that's the sock club part) and then she knits about 10 rounds a day.  Much like the advent socks lots of folks (myself included) like to knit in December, if you keep that schedule up you have a pair of socks at the end of the month without hardly trying.  I could see this as a helpful way to get patterned socks knit faster than the heat death of the universe.
 
As for the cabled socks, four rows a day won't finish them fast, but it will finish them.  That's better than what I was doing, which was picking up the project bag and moving it around every couple of weeks without ever actually touching the knitting.  I'm on the gusset increases for the second sock of the pair, so once I've turned the heel and wrapped up the cables, I can just go "whoosh!" and they'll practically finish themselves. 

I should clarify - these socks are lovely, and no hardship to knit.  The cables are dead simple, and the rest is just knits and purls.  I just … wasn't.  So now I am, and that's a win!
 
Other focus projects at the moment are a vaguely Christmassy star-shaped afghan, the current backpack sock, and I also spontaneously decided to cast on Joji Locatelli's MKAL shawl "One Love" -- I'm really enjoying both the pace and the pattern.  Glad I jumped in!

I'm toying with the idea of a bit of giftmas knitting, so we'll see where that goes.  I also have more ideas for December knitting than I have December, so I need to figure that out soon too.

Checking in on What I Said I Wanted

Long-time friends of the show know that I like to do a bit of goal-setting and planning about my crafting.  I remain allergic to resolutions, but I do love a list.

Back in late December of 2024, I sat myself down with a cup of tea and a notebook and gave the coming year a good think.  Sometimes I really enjoy very detailed lists and other times I set a few guidelines or intentions and call it a day.   This past year I was leaning far more heavily into the vague than the specific.  Sometimes it just be like that.

 

So, without further ado - here's what I thought I wanted to do 11 months ago, what I've really done so far this year, and what I might still prioritize as we wrap 2025 up.

 

1. I would like to continue to work on cross stitch as well as knitting and crocheting.

Am I on Track?  Not really, no.  I was going strong right through about March or so, and then suddenly my interest kind of fizzled.  Admittedly based on limited data, it looks like I'm kind of a seasonal stitcher?  Over the past two years I've been quite interested in cross-stitching across the winter months … which is wild since my vision is kind of dodgy and apparently the urge strikes during the darkest part of the year, go figure.  My brain is a wild and wonderful place, I tell you.

What's left for 2025? I'm not too fussed about it, to tell you the truth.  I am enjoying what I am working on, and I expect the urge to stitch will return at some point.  One thing I may do is pull out the Christmas tree ornament that I was close to finishing and see about getting that on my tree this year.  After that, who knows?

 

2. More Socks

Am I on Track?  Assuredly.  Socks are the only thing I'm consistently knitting these days. I've finished 12 pair for the year and am on track to finish a few more.

What's left for 2025? I'll finish up what's on the needles (a vanilla pair in festive colors and a cabled pair in a lovely dove gray).   I am also planning at least one and maybe two pairs of advent socks…which means I need to prioritize the two active pairs in November, now that I think of it.  The cabled socks don't "have" to be finished in 2025, but it would be nice.

the story thus far...

3. Get new glasses

Am I on Track? Totally, and it really did make a difference in my crafting (as well as all of the other parts of living, like being able to see the computer monitor to do my job).  I also discovered that taking them off completely helps for really close work, but that strains my eyes somewhat so I try to do it sparingly.

 

What's left for 2025? Nothing - this one is a one and done for the year.  Woo hoo!

4. More out than in (stash management)

Am I on Track?  lol

What's left for 2025? I don't have any active stash acquisition plans for the rest of the year, beyond another One Row mini skein delivery in December.  I did quit my Yarnable subscription earlier this year, so I'm no longer getting that monthly deposit in the yarn bank, but between a couple of fiber events earlier this year, advents, blanket kits, and the occasional wild hair, my stash continues to grow.  A grip.  I need to get one.

 

5. Sweaters.  Start with stash and queue.

Am I on Track?  Again, no.  And at this point I'm starting to wonder who I thought I was going to be in 2025, because my track record this year is not great.  At least in terms of hitting the goals I set last December anyway.  I've gotten lots accomplished, but not a lot of what I said I wanted to do.

What's left for 2025?  I started a sweater vest earlier this year and I'm more than half done with it  -- I'm going to focus on getting it wrapped up and then start some swatching to see if I can't get excited for a January 1 cast on.  I still want to knit (or crochet!) sweaters for myself, and Lord knows I've got the stash.

 

In Summary

I should have just put "Haul off and start another 16 blankets" on my goals list for the year.  I'd have been closer to the mark, if we're being honest.  I am ungovernable.

 

One thing that definitely threw a monkey into my wrench works is that I quit my long-time wizard-based internet crafting game at the end of March.  I've planned so much of my crafting around the rhythms of the House Cup for the last ten years - when I quit it left me a little adrift, I think.  I spent the rest of the year just working on whatever I felt like, whenever I felt like it.  I'm not mad, and probably needed the break, but I think I need to decide if I'd benefit from some light structure in my crafting, after running amok for 6+ months.

 

I really do have a silly number of blanket WIPs.

More Working on All the Things. As One Does.

It's been a fairly calm week here at chez woolly.  We're all recovering nicely from our bout with The Plague(tm).  I still get tired really easily (and can't tell if the brain fog is due to Covid or from being a Woman of a Certain Age), but overall I am feeling loads better.

I am continuing to make steady progress across several projects, and that feels great.  I haven't worked as much on the blanket as I thought I would, but enh, it's whatever.  It'll be done when it is done - I only have 4.5 border rounds to go so once the mood strikes it won't take long.

I have, however, made lots of progress on the Glittering-Whatsit shawl that I abandoned last year.  I mathed it out that if I can knock out 8 repeats a week, I'll have it done by the end of April.  So far so good!

The sock continues to see some action, albeit not quite as much as I'd hoped.  Patterned socks (even patterns as simple as a 2x2 Broken Rib) always take me longer, and I always underestimate it.

This picture was taken on Saturday on my way to meet up with Rhiannon for Modern Daily Knitting's Nash Yarn Fest, where I suffered from utter and absolute camnesia.  Truly a blogger's fail, I tell you.  But I did run into some lovely friends who live in the internet, which was wonderful, and Rhi and I had a great time.  The crowds were a little overwhelming (and the weather a little exciting), but all in all I'm very glad we went and excited that they've already announced that they plan to do it again next year.

In other making news, I decided to cast on the Spring pattern of the Stardew Valley socks that Rhi got me for Christmas year before last.  I thought the equinox was a perfect time to start it, and even queued up one of the Spring songs from the OST to listen to while I worked on it.  A++ nerdery, would go again.  I would show you the picture I took with my laptop open to the Stardew Valley soundtrack on Spotify, but after I took the picture I realized that my laptop screen is filthy, and that will not be going on the internet.

My current plan is to start the summer pair on the Solstice and so on and so forth.  I may only knit one of each pair and hang them on my wall in sock blockers as art - I haven't fully decided yet.  More on that as it develops!

Apparently March is Also for Finishing

The last two weeks passed by in a fugue of coughing, going through mountains of tissues, and generally feeling as though all thoughts were being processed through a vat of cold oatmeal.  After five years of antisocial and hermit-like behavior, I finally got got and contracted baby's first Covid.

We had friends over for our semi-regular D&D session Friday before last, and then woke up Saturday morning coughing.  I think the final body count was seven friends and family taken out by this thing.  0/10 stars, do not recommend.

While I did still kind of work last week, I also had tons of enforced couch time, so I was shockingly productive - and not just because this is two weeks since my last update ... although I imagine that isn't hurting any either.

I missed finishing the Wasilla Poncho in February by just a few days, but done is done, and I'm playing by no one's rules but my own.  I ran out of yarn at a weird place in the pattern and briefly considered finding another skein of the Lion Brand Mandala so I could end at a better spot.  I really didn't want to do that though because using every bit of the yarn was entirely the point of choosing a top down project like this in the first place.  I set it aside and noodled on it a bit until I was hit by a brain wave.  I had a sudden vision of a yarn that I bought long enough ago that the store it came from has been closed more than 15 years.  In my mind's eye the color and texture would be perfect, AND (get this) I knew exactly where it was.

I'm pretty pleased with myself, truth being told.  My mind's eye knows what's up.

Heady with that success (and the over-abundance of phlegm I'd recently taken on board), I turned my attention to the Beach Walk blanket.  I finished up the remaining granny squares, got them joined, and have 2 out of 8 border rounds completed.   We're still on track to have it finished by the end of the month if I can stay consistent with it. I'll try to share an updated picture next week.

And if that wasn't enough, genties and ladlemen, let me please introduce you to Delores de Colores.  She is perfect and I love her.  For all that it took me ten months start to finish, this was a remarkably fast knit.  I probably only worked on it a handful of days all in and I couldn't be happier with the results.  Plus I used some old-growth stash up, so wins all around.

Did I need a stuffed rainbow chicken?  Don't be ridiculous, of course I did.

In addition to all of the above, I moved my Riptide vest along and got both the left and right front shoulders done and the neck shaping to the point where I've joined the two together into one front piece.   It's in an unwieldy and un-photographical state at the moment, but progress is assuredly happening.

And finally, you had to know that there would be a new sock. 

Next week's plans include more progress on all the things. I'm feeling highly motivated to keep knocking down the old WIP list.  I even pulled out my 2024 Hiberknitalong Shawl to see if I could figure out where I was with it.

The border is not nearly as annoying to knit as I remember.

More specifically, I plan to:

• add two more border rounds to the blanket
• add four more repeats to the shawl border
• turn the heel on the sock (bonus points if I can finish it)
• get Riptide to the point where I can join in the round

On the one hand, that feels ambitious.  On the other hand, that feels ambitious and I like it.

Heeding The List

I've started doing this wild thing where I write down what I'd like to get done in the month, and then I give it a think and decide how much that means I should do each week, and then I write THAT down, and fellas, I think I've revolutionized this whole productivity thing.

This past week The List told me that I needed to get 13 squares for Beach Walk done in Week 3 of February, and another 13 in Week 4 to get my total of 52 squares by month's end.  I'm well on track, having finished last week's allotment and 5 more for this week's.  No pictures this week; I'll show you again when something interesting is going on.

The List also advised that if I'd like to finish the crochet poncho by end of February, I should add one of the skeins of Mandala to it last week (check) and one this week (on track).  I'll give it some more love over the next couple of evenings and hopefully pull out one more February is for Finishing victory.  Worst case it's done the first week of March, and that's okay too.

These socks were supposed to be finished by last Sunday, but sometimes The List is a jerk and has unreasonable expectations. They're finished now though, so all is as it should be.  This is another 75/25 commercial workhorse yarn that I picked up from Wool Warehouse a few years ago, because no yarn should travel alone, and that goes double for yarn coming across an ocean.  They were just the shot of Valentine's cheer my February needed.  

Pattern is my standard vanilla with a Fish Lips Kiss Heel, this time with 68 stitches, and a 1x1 rib for the cuff.  I ended the toe with 24 stitches on the needles instead of 16 before grafting, to make a wider toe box.  Ever in search of the elusive perfect fit and all that.

also in search of that ever elusive spring - note the photobombing daffodils

In addition to all this yarnish industry, I've also done a spot of stitching, including February Cottage by Country Cottage Needleworks and Big Hearted Tiny Town by Heart in Hand designs. (Links go to 123Stitch to show the designs - my cross stitch photography could use some improvement.) I won't finish either this month, but that's okay.  I've decided, for now anyway, to remain unbothered by my cross stitch WIPs and to embrace the idea of seasonal stitching.  I'll put them away, and odds are good there will be another February next year for me to work on them.

Plans for the rest of the week include finishing up the poncho and my remaining Beach Walk squares, and then on Saturday I may indulge in a spot of starting things.  On the cross-stitching front, there's a March Cottage and Blooming Tiny Town to consider, or perhaps a Hobbit House (or perhaps all three). 

I'll also continue to work on Riptide, start some new socks and try to figure out where I left off on my poor spatchcocked Emotional Support Chicken.

Oh!  And I'll finalize The List for March and see if I can't keep this train on the tracks for another month. 

It does not escape my notice that I'd get more done faster if I were to focus my efforts the tiniest bit, but it's spring, baby, and I cannot be contained.