Recently in Goals Category

I love the end of the year. I get to reflect upon what I accomplished (and didn't!) and look forward and dream about what the next year has in store for me.

2007

This year had some nice highlights for me. I tackled my knitting nemesis (a really great thing) and made my first (and definitely not last) knitted skirt.

However, I didn't get done nearly as much as I had hoped or would have liked. I have 11 FOs from this year and I feel a little unfulfilled because of it.

It's not just the fact that I only finished 11 things (although sure, I'd love to have a couple more hand knit sweaters in my closet and a drawer full of hand knit socks [very cool pic, you have to click]), but more so my reaction is that I didn't finish many of the things I started.

2008 - start less, finish more, sew more, frog less

I've given this one a lot of thought. For 2008, I'm going to make a serious effort to finish things. I never would have finished St. Brigid had I not had the Rhinebeck deadline. Same goes for the wedding stole I just finished.

Part of the cause of this not-finishing thing is that I have a tendency to start projects on a whim, and once I see it's not doing what I want it to, I abandon it for the next thing.

This goal has a second benefit too -- stash management. My unwieldy stash is at least in part caused by the fact that I start so many projects. It's hard for me to go back and use an "old" yarn. So, finishing things will make for a smaller stash (and a happier me).

My 2008 goals are really pretty simple:

• Finish what I start.
• Knit 12 projects from books or magazines I haven't knit from yet.
• Knit more socks. I knit 3 pairs last year (although if you count half-pairs I probably knit twice that amount). Let's make 6 a goal for this year.
• Branch out more into mixed-media knitting. This could be a bag with a fabric lining, or a sleeve with some embroidery, or a top with some ribbon applique, or a small sewn quilt with a lace edging. I miss the other crafts so you'll be seeing more of them in the coming year. I won't just be knitting, although I'm sure I'll be knitting more than anything else.
• Keep the stash organized.
• End the year with less stash than I started.
• No deadline gift knitting. (I've been good the past two years, so this is just a reminder for myself)

The book idea originated in a NJ knitters' group forum on Ravelry, and is one I really love. Knitting books are beautiful, and having so many great books at my fingertips gives great inspiration, so I don't often stop myself from buying a book. However, I want to knit more projects from them in the coming year. There are some really great patterns out there.

While i'm not choosing which 12 things I'll knit from my books in the coming year, I did put together a few possibilities.

click for descriptions

I already have yarn in my stash for many of these sweaters. A small confession -- I'm secretly hoping to knit three sweaters next year. In reality, I should be able to do it if I stick to the finishing thing. But, for the past 4 years I've finished exactly 1 sweater per year, so three feels a little pipe-dreamy for me.

click for descriptions

And here's a sampling of accessories I'd like to knit. There are also a few bags that have caught my attention. Can you believe I've never knit a bag? Two of the bags in the latest KnitScene are great! Pam Allen's applique bag really speaks to my desire to mix media in the coming year too. Plus, who doesn't like an excuse to go fabric shopping?

In closing, I want to thank you all for the comments, advice, inspriation, support and encouragement. This community is an awesome resource and I'm thrilled to continue to be a part of it. I wish you all a wonderful 2008, filled with your favorite yarns, your best needles and your prettiest FOs!

ps - I upgraded to MT 4 over the weekend. It's going to take a bit of time before I have my templates updated, but for now this one gives a glimpse of what I plan for this blog in 2008.

Last year I published my knitting life list. I plan to reflect on it each November as a way to check in, celebrate what I've accomplished, and see what might need to be tweaked.

1. Approach knitting like a hobby and not a project that needs to be managed. In other words, keep it fun.Well, knitting St. Brigid was definitely more like a project than a hobby, but I'm really enjoying the end result. This may just be the hardest goal on my list. I'm so used to managing things, making lists and planning out projects that it just comes naturally.
2. Knit St Brigid or another Starmore aran. Done! When I wrote this list last year, I never dreamed that this would be the item that I'd cross off this year. I think I love St. Brigid now more than ever. Remember a few weeks back when I said I was bittersweet about it, and that there were things I'd do differently. Well, none of that matters now. It's 30° outside and I'm warm. In my own handknit aran. It doesn't get much better than that!
3. Start off each year with less stash than I did the year before.Not even close. See below for more details on my stash. Oy.
4. Knit something special for everyone special in my life. I don't mean a pair of socks here. I mean something unique and treasured -- the perfect thing for everyone who matters in my life. I've done very little gift knitting this year.
5. Keep the stash organized and catalogued. Done better than I could have imagined. As of this weekend I have everything input into my stash page on Ravelry.
6. Knit what I love, and love what I knit. I was faithful to this one, including frogging a few partially-knit project that I knew I'd never finish.
7. Don't forget to let go of the knitting occassionally. A corollary to #1.
8. Go to camp.Not yet, but someday
9. Knit a colorwork project. I'm not talking a hat here. Something large, but something I'd actually wear. Jade Starmore's St. Aula (love the hood!), and Kaffe Fassett's Brocade from Rowan 38 come to mind.I don't think this will be in the next year. I need to get better with colorwork before tackling a big project like this.
10. Share the craft with others. This could be through formal teaching, or helping out a friend, or even tutorials here on the blog. I've put together a few technique posts in the past year.
11. Publish some patterns. I realized this year how hard this is while having a job that takes a lot of my focus. But I know if I don't do this, I'll regret it. It may not happen for a while, but I don't want to lose site of the fact that I really want to do this.Not this year, but maybe next

I did pretty well with everything except #3 -- start off each year with less stash than I did the year before. In some ways I did OK. I haven't bought much sock yarn in the past year. But, I have bought several sweaters' worth of yarn, and I only knit one sweater. When I have bought yarn they've been (mostly) better purchases that I don't regret later on. And in the one case when I did regret, I didn't let my guilt of exchanging it stop me (yes, I've kept yarn I decided I didn't want because I felt guilty returning it).

But, I still have a lot of yarn. After returning from Rhinebeck this year I just couldn't ignore it any more. I photographed and catologued everything in Ravelry. So, here goes. Here are my stash numbers:

I am shocked at how large my stash has gotten. Back in February 2005 I catalogued all my yarn and I had 454 balls. That means I've bought approximately 100 balls of yarn per year more than I knit. What have I been thinking?!?

In the past month I've been stash swapping and selling on Ravelry, and I think this will be a big help. Firstly, I've both sold yarn and swapped yarn for something other than yarn (look at my cute little box bag!). I've also swapped yarn I knew I'd never use with things I think I'll use. So, I have a little extra in my PayPal account and a little less in my stash.

Wanna see what I have up for trade? Go take a look at my trade/sell page.

Does this mean I'm declaring a yarn diet? I don't think so. I know that may sound ridiculous but hear me out. As soon as I tell myself I can't buy yarn, I become obsessed with buying yarn. Any yarn. All yarn. Sale yarn. Yellow yarn. Mohair boucle yarn. With sparkles.

Okay, maybe no sparkles, but you get the point. So instead, I'm going to be very mindful of what I'm buying. For example, in my last post, I pictured the start of Roam. Well, I've knitted about a third of a hank and have determined that there's no chance I'll have enough yarn. Instead of buying 2 more hanks, I'm going to frog the little bit I have knitted and save the yarn for something else (I'm thinking maybe a vest?). I think some of you may be thinking this is a bit extreme, but I have many other lovely yarns that I could use for Roam, and I don't want to buy more yarn just so I can make it in the berry color. So, Roam will go on the back burner for now, and I'm just fine with that. Instead, I'll daydream about different vests that I can make with the yarn instead (I'm thinking something with a colorwork band across the upper chest might me nice?).

I really do want to knit through more of my festival stash too (you can see it listed on my sidebar of my home page). Again, I'm improving, but I still have a long way to go.

So, if this year was the year I tackled St. Brigid, this next year will be the year I tackle the stash.

What about you? How do you feel about your stash? Any stash-busting tips you'd like to share?

That's the number of days until MDSW.

This will be my fourth year going, and it feels like it got here quicker than in the past -- mostly because I finally went to Rhinebeck last year. That was such a good time that Christy, Heather and I have already booked our cottage for this year's fest. We even added an extra day.

Can't. Wait.

But right now, it's all MDSW here. While reflecting on the goals I set out for myself last year, I realized I have done absolutely poorly! I haven't added much to the stash since Rhinebeck, but I also haven't knit much of what I bought. That's what pushed me to hold last week's sales.

Each year I get better at knowing what I like and knowing what to buy. I have the shortest list I've ever had going into Maryland this year. The more I think about it, the more I realize I don't have a big need for anything. I'm sure I'll buy (how can you *not*?), but it will be things that speak to me, things I can't walk away without.

I'm going to try my hardest to stay away from multicolored handdyed sock yarn. I just don't have a big desire to knit with it -- although I love looking at it. If I could, I'd create little shadowboxes of handpainted yarn and place them throughout my house.

Unfortunately, the kinds of socks I crave to knit are much more patterned and better-suited for subtly dyed yarns.

I want to check out Tess' Yarns because I only get to see her once a year and that seems like as good a reason as any. I also want to visit Brooks Farm and get something I finally like from them. I think I'll be sticking to pinks and purples this time -- more my speed.

There are some other things I want to get if I see them. Barberpole sockweight! I've wanted this for 2 years now. And can you believe it -- in a moment of stupidity I decided to show restraint and wait a day before buying it at Rhinebeck? Of course, it was all gone when we went back. I probably won't find any at Maryland as that vendor doesn't do Maryland.

I'm not sure what else I'll be getting. I do still want to knit St Brigid. And I really want to design a multi-color modern pullover. But that'll take a whole bunch of sketching and photoshopping to come up with the right color palette. So that's probably a no-go for next weekend as well.

What are your plans for the festival? Any noteworthy new vendors? Since I'll be skipping the Socks That Rock, the first hour of the fest is probably mine for the taking.

I guess what it comes down to is, I'm not sure what I'll be coming back with. Even if I bought nothing it would still be a great day. I get to spend the day with Christy (which doesn't happen nearly enough) and catch up with a lot of bloggers (more of which move into the friend category from year-to-year). That alone is worth a couple hours of driving in each direction.

Re-reading this post, I have 2 goals for myself for the fest:

• No multi-color sock yarn
• No Socks That Rock mediumweight

If I can stick to that, it will be a perfect day.