Do you make a knitting resolution each year? Some of us thrive on challenges, while some of us instead choose not to impose vague standards on our craft. Which type are you?
I like a good challenge. But I'm the type of person who won't take on something that I know is fruitless or nearly impossible. So I set reachable goals for myself. Like this year I would like to be healthier and I would like to have more fun. Both things I think I can definitely accomplish and have a good time doing. I don't have a negative feeling about either of these things.
As far as my knitting goes, I seem to give myself yearly goals or "resolutions" too. In 2010, I knit only for myself- treating myself to my talents and filling my own sock drawer with much needed matching pairs of fibery goodness. I'm still reaping the rewards of that, with many a pair of wonderful socks, though I did knit just ONCE for someone else that year. In 2012, I tried to learn patience, and I think that having a baby and five year old around day after day as greatly helped with this lesson.
In 2013, I look forward to knitting for others again. Others who I think will truely appreciate my time and effort. It's not that I don't think that most of the people in my life would appreciate a hand knit gift, I just want to concentrate on my husband, my sons, and a few very generous friends who make my life great. I'm being realistic- I know I don't have a lot of time to finish projects right now, so I want to knit for just a few.
Do you have a knitting resolution this year? Do tell.
Do more Charity/Committment knitting i.e. blankets for Linus Project. Cotinue to enjoy ongoing projects and finish many pairs of socks. Start Christmas gifts now.
Posted by: Mary | January 02, 2013 at 11:20 AM
I like to challenge myself, so knitting resolutions include choosing patterns with something new to learn. Last year I learned and got comfortable with different types of heels and toe up cast ons. I'd like to continue that —sweet tomato heel for one! I'd also like to make a scarf with hand dyed yarn which uses the lengths of color to best advantage, ie.vertical stripes. That one might test my patience!
Posted by: Sue | January 02, 2013 at 11:27 AM
I've decided to challenge myself to having no more than 2 projects on the needles at one time. This way I might actually finish more things. But, I've also decided to make this the "year of the hat" - I go by a facility for the homeless everyday on my way home from work. Next winter, I want to be able to give them a goodly number of warm hats.
Posted by: Leslie Fehr | January 02, 2013 at 11:50 AM
My knitting resolution isn't a good one for SSYC - knit from the stash, mostly. I use knitting as a way to relax and stay sane, but my knitting closet currently houses a stash that is causing me stress. So time to open up some space on the shelves by knitting what I have.
Posted by: Sarah | January 02, 2013 at 11:58 AM
New Year's resolutions have never struck a chord with me - maybe because it doesn't really feel like the start to a new year to me. Late summer, early fall with the beginning of the new school year seems like a more logical transition point to me. If I did have a resolution, it would be just to spend more time knitting.
Posted by: Donna | January 02, 2013 at 12:24 PM
Learn to spin - and I'm already signed up for lessons! Also, knit socks from the toe up, on circs. I've knit two pair toe-up using dpns and short rows. Last night I knit a toe using the Turkish cast-on, on circs - took me an hour, but I did it!
Posted by: Abby | January 02, 2013 at 12:28 PM
Try and get through the WIPS and don't cast on anything else big.
Posted by: Susan | January 02, 2013 at 01:41 PM
I plan on making 6 shawls for hospice by the end of June. My goal is to knit from stash predominently in the first half of the year as I will be moving in in September. I'll then have more room for fresh stash!
Posted by: Kathleen B. | January 02, 2013 at 02:50 PM
Start knitting sweaters and vests, up to now it's been many socks and scarves.
Posted by: sharon | January 02, 2013 at 03:24 PM
I would really like to branch out a bit more, try something a bit different and learn a new technique. I'm self taught and have to fix my own mistakes and I really have to concentrate on my knitting to keep it looking good, so I'd like to have the courage to move on to something with some simple patterns in it, maybe even a simple lace project.
Posted by: Brenda B | January 02, 2013 at 06:14 PM
I'm going to knit other things along with my socks this year...I really need to finish the several scarves I've got going and most especially my son's sweater.
Posted by: Karen M | January 02, 2013 at 06:41 PM
I don't make resolutions of any kind - I'll just break them! My new year will include more sock knitting with some challenging patterns, shawls and at least one sweater. I knit for others throughout the year so I just need to plan who and when.
Posted by: Kay L | January 03, 2013 at 12:54 AM
Love the beginning of a new year. I try to maintain the same goals every year and reflect on them again and reenforce the goals I set for myself. However, this year, I'm going to try to expand just taking care of myself better on a personal level. As far as knitting goes, I have so much pleasure and comfort from my knitting as it is and don't feel a need to change anything. I would like to knit more from my stash but I already know i won't be able to resist your beautiful yarn offerings. I keep telling myself just this one more skein and then I'll stop. Won't happen.
Posted by: Susan Hill | January 03, 2013 at 10:30 AM
I am going to learn to make socks! I've tackled shawls and sweaters, so socks should be a no-brainer, right? NYDay I practiced handling five needles, yesterday cast on and knit about two inches of quite holey sock. So ripped back and now have a good half-inch down. I'm doing a simple pattern for my first, no heel turning, just to really get the hang of the needles. Thereafer - a pair a month?
Posted by: SallyBC | January 03, 2013 at 01:05 PM
This year I am joining in with my LYS to knit chemo caps. These are beautiful caps/hats knitted up for cancer patients and donated to our local cancer treatment centers for distribution.
Posted by: Amy St. Amour | January 03, 2013 at 04:47 PM
My knitting resolution for this year is to begin making Christmas gifts by February 1 and to be done knitting gifts by December 1. I would really like to take the stress out of the gift giving process. Knitting is so relaxing for me normally, but trying to finish stuff up the week of Christmas is just not very stress-free.
Posted by: Debby | January 03, 2013 at 07:19 PM
I'd like to knit a sweater for each of my grandchildren. Soon to be 5. The oldest is almost 11. I am finishing the baby blanket for Andie Grace - due 2/3/13 and I am wanting to knit a Verybusymonkey shawl and socks by Michelle Hunter and Adrienne Fong. Oh, if only I had more knit time!
Posted by: Renee' | January 06, 2013 at 05:33 AM
I don't know that I necessarily have a knitting "resolution" but my second year of projects started this weekend and I'm hoping I can make a dent in my Ravelry queue. We'll see :)
Posted by: Renee Anne | January 07, 2013 at 10:56 AM
I hope to prevent myself from getting caught up in too many deadlines, which always end up in frantic knitting marathons during which I neglect my husband, my house, my friends and neighbors, etc. When that scenario happens, much of the joy is removed ... I love knitting too much to let that keep happening to me.
Posted by: Donna Shelby | January 16, 2013 at 09:29 AM