Recently in Goals Category
It's a new year and I want to start it off right. This year is all about commitment and the only way I see making those goals a reality is to keep them in my sights. I want more follow through and accountability for my goals. Here's my first step toward that.
My goals for January are:
- Finish a pair of socks - I have 2 pairs actively in progress so this should be doable.
- Finish the hoodie for my niece - I'll admit that this goal is the biggest stretch. I'm making matching Necco Wafer Hoodies for my niece and nephew. They live in Dallas so I really need to get both of them done by end of February at the latest. I'm about halfway done with my niece's hoodie.
- Blogging - Post once a week here, and post twice a week to my professional blog jodypirrello.com
- Connect with the community - I wrote about this on my professional blog but this is a goal for both parts of my life. I'm commenting a bit more on blogs (especially those who comment here) and I've become more active on the Sock Knitters Anonymous and the Stash and Burn Sock Yarn Knitdown forums. I also joined the Philly Burbs Meetup Group. My goal is to attend one meetup per month.
- Working out - go to the gym 3 times a week and do the treadmill at least twice a week.
- Cook healthy meals for leftovers - I want to make at least 4 meals this month that create leftovers. Good food and easy lunches plus saving a few bucks - can't beat that.
- Continue weight loss - I want to be careful about setting a number goal for each week or month because I believe my success can be attributed to *not* having short term number goals. Approximately 1.5 pounds per month will keep me on track. But, if I don't hit that number - or even if I gain a bit - I'll use the following month to course correct. This may sound contrary to my opening sentence about follow through and commitment but it's really not. It's about committing to a healthy, life-long approach to weight loss and weight management.
- Post about these goals and next month's goals by the first week of February.
That's it for January. I've listed several goals that tie back to my 2011 goals I posted last week. If I meet all these goals I will have started off 2011 strong, proud - committed.
I plan to switch from Movable Type to Wordpress in the next month or two. Once I do that my old feed won't work any more. I've setup a feedburner feed that will transfer when I make the move. You can point your RSS reader to the blog right now (the feed link has been updated), and if you need the link itself here it is.
I'm all prepared for the Ravelympics tomorrow night! I have my patterns, yarn, and needles. I've had the projects picked out for weeks now and it's been so hard not to CO right. now.
My goal is to knit 2 pairs of socks in 17 days - roughly a pair a week. With President's Day on Monday I'll have 7 weekend days out of the 17 Olympic days. When I say it like that it sounds so simple, right? Piece of cake. Do you convince yourself of craziness like that too?
I purposely selected 2 simple patterns - both are just St st - because I LOVE watching the Olympics and can't imagine needing to keep track of a stitch pattern or read a chart at the same time. Plus, I'd never get two pairs done if they were patterned. Oh yeah, and I'm using stash yarn exclusively.
I'll be representing two teams - Team Tufty from the Sock Knitters Anonymous (SKA) group and Team Knitmore from the Knitmore Girls podcast.
The pair for Paul is St. Peter Port Stripes from Folk Socks by Nancy Bush. Grey for the main color, blue instead of the black stripe, and orange instead of the white stripe. I can't wait to do that little latvian braid!
The pair for me is also a Nancy Bush pattern - Hiiumaa Mismatched Mates from Knitting on the Road. I'm using leftovers from my Baktus (about a half skein of each) of Creatively Dyed Calypso.
Have any of you knit socks out of Calypso? It seems a little thick for my standard sock gauge.
Almost exactly 24 hours until CO. Are you ready yet?
I plan to switch from Movable Type to Wordpress in the next month or two. Once I do that my old feed won't work any more. I've setup a feedburner feed that will transfer when I make the move. You can point your RSS reader to the blog right now (the feed link has been updated), and if you need the link itself here it is.
My first FO of the year.
Pattern Child's First Sock in Shell Pattern from Knitting Vintage Socks
Yarn Tess Yarns Supersock and Baby approx 370 yards
Needles 1-24" US 1.5 (2.5mm) circ
For a relatively simple sock I did a lot of frogging - the ribbing, the short row heel (the first time I didn't center it), and an unnecessary attempt to add mini gussets above the heel (I didn't need extra fabric afterall).
Mods
- My first CO was too tight to go up far enough on my calf. Since I liked the fabric I got on the 1.5's I didn't want to go up a needle size, so I added one more rep on the leg.
- I did a short row heel with 10 sts left unworked
- I reduced down the extra leg rep by working mini gussets of 6 sts per side
- Nancy's toe is more pointy than mine is. I was feeling nostalgic so I wanted to try her toe but I'll stick with mine from now on.
This FO helps me with three goals for 2010 as well - stash yarn (why was this in my stash for FOUR years?!?), neglected pattern books (I can't believe I never got around to making a design out of this book), and knitting more socks. I also knit this as a part of the Sock Knitters Anonymous January Challenge (btw, what an *awesome* group).
I have 3 pairs planned for February - my two Olympic pairs (more on that later this week) and my SKA February challenge. My goal is to knit 5 pairs before Maryland, and with these I'll be at 4. I have a few sock UFOs too and they'll count as well so I should be all set for Maryland.
Who else is in the Olympics this year?
