2009 is going to KICK EVEN MORE ASS. I'm so pleased at meeting most of my 2008 knitting resolutions that I thought I would set some more knitting goals for 2009. I learned a lot of new techniques last year. Learning how to knit socks on one needles made go from hating to knit socks to almost loving it! I also learned to spin this year, so there are some spinning resolutions on my 2009 list! I hope I can do even better than 2008 and meet all of these goals!
Knit something in Entrelac - This is a rollover from my 2008 list. I didn't get to this one, but I still really want to learn this technique. I still go back and forth about whether I like how this technique looks, but I think it would be a useful thing to have in my repertoire.
Knit 5 projects from my books - This is another rollover from last year with a slight modification. Instead of trying to knit one thing from each of my books, my goal this year is to knit 5 things total from any of my books. I'm going to try and make these all substantial projects. In Progress - Embossed Leaves Socks
Knit 5 items for charity - Again, something I did not get to last year. I still really want to do this, and this resolution that I missed is most disappointing. Charity projects are never designed to take up much time, but I still didn't really make an effort to do any. I am going to push myself to get this one done especially this year.
Finish version 2 of my Champy Hat and publish the pattern - I designed a hat featuring Champy, the Lake Champlain monster last year, but I wasn't too thrilled about the quality of my knitting for the first prototype. I started a second version in much nicer colors and I'm going to really pay attention to my knitting. After this version is completed and I am happy with it, I'm going to write out the pattern and make it available in PDF format for FREE!
Spin at least 3 types of fiber other than wool - I really want to make time to do more spinning in 2009, and I really want to experiment with different fibers. When I have ordered fiber, I go straight for the wool, because I know it will come out decent due to all of my practicing with wool. I really want to step up and try bamboo, silk, and tencel.
Spin at least 5 skeins of yarn in original colorways - So, I have this really cool idea for a line of handspun yarn. I will explain more when I actually get into this project, but I want to experiment with different colors to make my own colorways. It's going to ROCK.
Learn how to Navajo 3-ply yarn - I just recently learned what this technique actually is and how valueable it can be when creating multicolored yarns. I MUST learn how to do this, and I'm really excited to try. Done - Navajo Plying
Learn how to double knit - This technique scares me a little. It looks so hard! Most things that have looked hard to me before become pretty easy once I sit down and try them, and I hope double knitting is the same. I think it would be really cool to double knit a scarf in two colors and have a reversible design.
Enter a project (either spinning or knitting) into a contest - I have read some other knitter's blogs, and some have had posts about how they entered some of their handspun yarn or knitting items into contests at a fair or festival or something like that. I don't have any high hopes of winning anything, but I think this is a kind of competition I could really get into. I'm not very competitive, but something like this could give me some good drive.
Reclaim yarn from thrift sweaters or other wool garments - I have seen people writing about doing this on their blogs, and it's something I really want to try out. I think it would be fun to go hunting for the sweaters and then knit something brand new out of them. It's also a good way to reuse something that someone else doesn't want.
Knit at least 1/2 of my sock yarn stash before buying more sock yarn - I have become quite fond of knitting socks this past year. Sock yarn is so easy to buy, and I have accumulated a nice little stash. I'm not really a stash person, and my sock yarn situation is starting to feel out of hand. I only have about 15 skeins(?), but I want to nip this in the bud this year.
I think this is a good list for me for 2009. Like last year, I already have some big plans for 2009 that don't involve knitting. I'm also hoping that a few of these resolutions will expand into bigger and better fiber adventures!
Wow! Impressive goals, good luck. I'm looking forward to the champy hat pattern!
Posted by: Jen | January 05, 2009 at 07:33 AM