We made it! However your week's gone — full-on, quiet, a bit of both — I hope you've got something nice planned for the next couple of days. I'd love to know: what's been the highlight of your week? Big or small, doesn't matter. And if this week's been more "just about survived it," that counts too — no judgement here, we've all had those weeks. A little shoutout to: @Debra Verrall did you finish that ton of work to before you went to bed? @Gayle Lunau Sherman how are you getting on with your sweater? Oh, and did you check out the beginners start here module? @Mirijam Pasquini did you resolve your foil problem? @Joy Green did you try out more lace patterns on your machine? @Glenna James how's your vintage pattern hunting going? You can always ask inside this community - pop a post and use the category questions. @Donna Mnisi have you checked out the classroom yet? The beginners start here is the best place to learn the basics. @Auli Takala what's on your knitting needles this week? I hope @June E Mackenzie is enjoying her holiday! @Jane Harbison how's your week gone? Any highlights for you? @Lindsay MacGregor I know you're having some time away at the moment, but I just wanted to check in with you and ask how your week's gone? It's not always about the knitting. @Suzanne Bell I know life is hectic for you at the moment, but just wanted to say hi and I hope you're week's getting a bit calmer for you. @Claire Amelia how's the chickens and the ducks after the sad event this week?

There are small things on your machine that quietly underpin everything — and the sponge bar is one of them. You might know it as the needle retaining bar. It sits along the front of your needle bed, and its whole job is to hold your needles gently in place as they move. When the foam inside it is fresh and springy, you barely notice it's there. When it's worn out — and it does wear out, usually slowly enough that you don't realise it's happened — your needles start to feel loose and bouncy. They're not sitting where they should be. And that instability shows up in your knitting: dropped stitches, uneven tension, needles that feel like they're doing their own thing. The good news is that replacing the sponge bar is one of the most satisfying maintenance jobs you can do on a domestic machine. Not because it's difficult — it really isn't — but because the difference is immediate. You finish, you run your hand along the needle bed, and things just 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 right again. There's a guide in the classroom - what to look for, what to buy, and what to expect — so that this is one of those jobs you can tick off with confidence. 🧶 Have you replaced your sponge bar before? Or is this something you've been putting off? Let us know in the comments — you're probably not alone.

Rate your crafting motivation this week: 🔥 On fire (ironic, given the weather) 😊 Ticking along — slow and steady 😴 Gone. Completely gone. Don't look at me. Drop your emoji below 👇 we're all in this together! 🧶

My Kh881 is now set up with enough room to use the lace carriage properly 😎😎 Moved the double table with the 2 machines and junk to where the 881 was, and moved the 881 to in front of the other wall where my yarn is kept. Loads of room to knit actually 😁😁

Good morning from Toronto, anyone else here in Canada? If so where do you source your yarn from? 💚