Vera says:
Some years ago, I made a resolution not to make any resolutions, and it has been the easiest one to keep, but the freshness of the new year combined with the temptation to list has finally gotten to me, and I’m ready to make a break with tradition. This time around, though, I want to be gentle about it.
In that, spirit, I present my crafting resolutions guidelines for 2012. No pressure, no stress, just some I can achieve them–or not–things to do.
Remain “Stash Conscious”:
I have enough yarn to open a small shop–or be the focus of an episode of the show Hoarders. Still, I don’t want to place an outright ban on yarn purchases. When I see a project I want to make, I will try to think of the yarn I already have rather than just running out the door to the nearest shop or jumping online to buy it. It worked out pretty well last year, so I’ll continue.
Finish up Some UFOs:
I can easily spend 2012 working on my UNfinished Objects without starting a single new one, but I know that’s setting myself up for failure, so I will endeavor to thin the herd.
Two of the biggest offenders in my UFO Hall of Shame wouldn’t take long to complete.
This is the Penina Bolero from Cool Crochet that has been stewing in my closet since 2005!!! I ran out of yarn, had to buy more, and just “got out of the notion” while waiting for the yarn to arrive.
I just need to finish the second sleeve and sew her up.
This is the Funky Funnel-Neck Fun sweater from one of my first knitting books, The Yarn Girl’s Guide to Simple Knits. I probably started this in 2003. 🙁
Had I finished it, she would have had distinction of being my first knitted sweater. Like Penina, I just need to finish the second sleeve and assemble (sensing a theme here).
I also need to locate the other needle and the book.
Acquire Some New Skills:
I love to learn something new. I taught myself to knit continental, but couldn’t purl, so when I returned to knitting, I relearned English style. Now I want to try continental again to make my fair isle knitting faster.
I learned to knit socks top down with double pointed needles, and that while that will always be my preferred technique, I know how knit them toe up, on, two circular needles, and using the magic loop method. Since I suffer from second sock syndrome, maybe it’s time to try two socks on circulars. However, instead of having one sock done, I might end up with two socks half done.
Sighs.
I also would like to knit a pair of gloves. I knitted mittens, and and fingerless mitts, so while gloves isn’t that much of a step up, I just never been there.
More, More, More:
I’d would also like to blog more, teach more (virtually and in person), and, organize more.
What are some things you’d you’d like to accomplish in your crafting life for 2012? Please share in the comments.
Have a Happy and Fabulous New Year!
Vera Hannaford lives and crafts in Charleston, South Carolina. She plans to do some instructional videos, but needs a manicure first. You can follow her adventures in needlework on Vera’s Crafty Blog and on occasion, get some helpful hints @KnittingTips on Twitter.
I have decided to finish some of the books that or partially read! I also am planning on doing monthly resolutions to set myself up to win. Usually I am able to continue a new action and not have it feel like a burden…Happy New Year to all of you!
@Jenifer Monthly resolutions sound like a nice way to keep yourself on track or to try something new.
I have a pair of socks to finish….I think I will get to those again when I finish the scarf I am making. Also, I have one strap to make for a pair of Mary Jane booties I have been crocheting for my granddaughter…and that reminds me of the sweater I need to try on her so that I can make a decorative edging and block it so she can wear it….that is all for my yarn u.f.o.’s…. And….that thought lends itself to the sewing I want to do….my goodness I am getting motivated just thinking about it!
I’m hoping this year will be the one in which I finally get a craft area set up in my home. I say ‘hope’ because it will involve building, and building involves cost of materials and time, both of which are in very short supply. I pretty much had to quit crafting more than a decade ago because everything is in boxes and there’s nowhere I can set up to work at home that the cat and dogs won’t get into. So it sits. I moved my jewelry making kit and painter’s easel (which holds my supplies) to my office because these things are compact and can be quickly taken out and put away, and I can work on my second desk when I have time or need to de-stress.
We are planning to move into a newer home and have a lot more space by the end of January. Many of my goals center around this.
1 – I want to get our home organized and set so everything has its place. Once that monumental task is accomplished…
2 – I want to organize my crafting room so I can actually get into my crafting full force once again! (I am with KeterMagick not being able to easily craft for years! I usually only work on small projects that can be accomplished quickly.)
3 – I also want to de-junk and de-clutter by getting rid of things we won’t ever use.
4 – I want to finish projects I all ready have started that were pushed aside for one reason or another.
Well….I think that is a pretty tall enough bill for me!
I put my stashes in zippered plastic bags (the kind sheets come in) along with a copy of a pattern that can be knitted with that amount of yarn and a set of needles. Then when I’m traveling I just grab a bag or two and knit in the car or on the plane – it dwindles the stash considerably and leaves room for new yarn in the bin.
@RubyB That’s fantastic. I’m always looking at yarn that I have no idea why I brought it.
@RubyB I AGREE!!!! That is an awesome idea! I always end up with a bunch of partially completed projects all in one bin…it never occurred to me to separate them! Hahahaha! Everything we need to know we learned in kindergarten…you remember the bins with each activity in it! Hahaha! I may be buying a bunch of XL size zipper bags….hahahahaha!
I hope to do some instructional videos, sooner or later, starting with crocheting first.
@VeraThomasHannaford if you want, we could make them together, I’ll deal with the editing, unless of course you meant you wanted this over on Vera’s Crafty Blog.
@HeatherSolos@VeraThomasHannaford Heather ~ That is such a sweet and fabulous offer. I appreciate your willingness to help others! I love to see Kindness in the world…it warms my heart and renews my hope for all! 🙂
@deneicer1 , @VeraThomasHannaford is awesome and I would totally help her out with video. However, in this case there was definitely some self-interest involved in the offer. Many of you have requested video tutorials so anything I can do to make that happen is as much for me as for her. 🙂
@HeatherSolos Thanks so much. I think that Patrick can take the video, and we’ll upload them to YouTube. I may start out with a supplies video. Seriously, I need a manicure…