Skip to main content

2018 Knitting Goals



I’m a creature of habit.  I eat the same thing for breakfast, the same thing for lunch.  I drive the same way to work.  I exercise the same time every day.  Trying new things does not come easily to me.  So I created a bucket list in 2017 with the hopes of pushing me outside my comfort zone – to innovate. 

My list was ambitious, and while I didn’t accomplish everything I had hoped to in 2017, I’m pleased with my progress…and the finished handknits.  I knit fewer socks and more shawls.  I learned several cast ons and cast offs.  I knit my kits, including my first toy.  And while I failed to pare down my stash, I did focus on creating versatile, wearable wardrobe staples.

1.       Complete shawl that requires garter tab cast on

2.       Knit a toy

3.       Complete a sweater (kind of, if you count the sweater on the Velveteen Rabbit kit)

4.       Knit something for the house – blanket

5.       Knit something lace weight

6.       Knit holiday ornaments

7.       Use a gradient cake

8.       Knit a set of mittens and a pair fingerless mitts

9.       Knit my kits

10.   Use mini skeins

In 2018, I plan to continue with last year’s list, with a particular focus on knitting a sweater.  I’ve also compiled a list of To Do’s and one, all-encompassing Don’t.

1.       Do knit from stash

2.       Do knit at least one garment per season

a. One sweater for fall/winter

b. One tank/tee for spring/summer

3.       Do begin building a handmade wardrobe with heirloom garments

4.       Do knit kits

5.       Do try colorwork

6.       Do DIY dying and

7.       Don’t buy yarn, especially self-striping, speckled, fingering weight, minis, and gradients. 
Lastly, in addition to learning and trying new things, I am committed to being more intentional in 2018 – with projects and yarn.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Back to Basics

The first week back after a long holiday is always the hardest.  I also find it’s where I tend to lose focus of my goals…and so it went this week for journaling and the yarn diet.  While I managed to journal four nights in a row, I missed three by week’s end.  I also fell off the destash wagon visiting a charming LYS seven minutes from a conference I was attending for work.  I don’t feel as badly about that relapse since I bought a non-fingering weight yarn in a 100% marled alpaca.  They also had some knitting notions that I’ve only seen online – bamboo chunky circs and a Knit Kit. The Knitting B, Richmond, VA But how to explain the sock yarn purchase?   FOMA (fear of missing out).   One of my favorite dyers posted a 24-hour- only skein to celebrate her 6,000 th sale on Etsy.   Those exclusive speckles did me in. Canon Hand Dyes by the amyleeshow on Etsy This week has shown me that it’s easy to get off track, so before I ...

Outlander Sockhead Hat

So in keeping with my school year resolution, I cast on for my first Sockhead using a limited edition color of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Fraser.   I love the color orange and I debated whether or not to knit up a pair of socks or cast on for something else, and I don’t know why, but a hat using yarn named after Jamie seemed most appealing.  I’m a late arrival to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and when I saw all the publicity for the Starz television show this summer, I knew I had to check out the book.  I was not disappointed.  This is my first time making a hat with fingering weight yarn, so my patience and WIP commitment is being tested.  Plus, I’m a bit unsure over the fit.  I’ve read through a lot of modifications on Ravelry and I’ve cast on fewer stitches as well and have knit only 2 ¾ of the ribbing instead of 4.  I will probably shorten the body of the hat from 9 to 6 inches too.   I have a really small ...

To Frog or Not to Frog: My Foray with Fingerless Mitts

In all honesty, I did make an effort, twice, to be eccentric.  Unfortunately, neither yarn worked the way I hoped it would.  I’m knitting something I need, and I’ve always found that when I’m on the hunt for a particular item, I tend to leave empty handed.  The same cannot be said for things I don’t need, which appear in abundance (yes, I’m looking right at you self-striping sock yarn).  Fall has arrived on the east coast and the mornings are chilly, but not cold.  It’s a bit overkill to wear a puffy coat and mittens at this point.  But even with my coffee mug in hand as I walk the kids to the bus stop, I’m still cold and a pair of fingerless mitts would be enough, but not too much.  I have small wrists, so I knew getting the right fit would be a bit of a challenge.  I purchased some Quaere sport weight yarn in Tokyo Underground, but unfortunately, the density seemed more worsted, than sport.  After knitting up a swatch, it felt less, o...