Norfolk Hotel, Nairobi (Taken with instagram)
First Quarter Check-in for 2012 Knitting Goals
Phew, I set many goals. What was I thinking?
-So far this year I’ve knit 4,033 yards , which is one quarter of the way to my goal. Better keep up the pace.
-I am queueing to my heart’s content, which is really fun, but I think I prefer to be more organised. I’m planning to pull back a little on the queueing. Maybe spend more time knitting than dreaming about knitting…just a thought.
-I made it a goal to knit more mittens. I think I’ve only completed one pair so far, I’ll blame the disturbingly warm winter.
-I did complete one close-to-finished sweater! Yay, me! It’s the Varese Hoodie (minus the hood) pictured below. Two years in the making, but it’s finally done and fits!
-Knit all patterns already purchased…no comment…
-Cut stash down to 50 entries. Ha, ha, ha, ha. There’s no way this can happen. I just inherited a stack of stash from my MIL. Entries are over 90 now. My new goal is to have more “all used up” than in the stash by the end of the year.
-Haven’t used up any laceweight yet. Better get on that!
-Haven’t knit any skirts yet. Will get on that. I already have the yarn for two skirts.
-Haven’t designed a sweater pattern…yet.
-Just finished the lovely scarf above. The pattern is Shallows by Bonnie Sennott. I have one more on the needles now and I’ve taken up weaving, which means more scarves are on the horizon.
-I have knit some colourwork items and plan to knit a few more. It’s really rewarding and warm!
Sh*t knitters say…
Review of 2011 and Planning for 2012
At the start of 2011 my goals were:
- Knit 15,000 yards
- Complete one pair of socks per month
- Knit 6 sweaters - Dark and Stormy, Whisper Cardigan, Kowloon Cardigan (in photo), Pilvver, Different Path, and Varese Hoodie
Here’s what I did:
- Knit 16,364 yards
- Completed four socks, considerably less than the plan. Very early in 2011 I lost my sock knitting mojo and it only returned around December.
- I knit 4 sweaters, again short of my goal. Kirigami, Plivver, Side Impact and Wispy. My Different Path and Varese Hoodie both had some knitting love, but not enough to finish them. Hopefully in 2012!
- One thing I did not see coming at the start of 2011 was a blanket making frenzy, but by the end of the year I’d knit 4 blankets and I definitely have plans to knit more in 2012.
2011 was my most productive knitting year ever also my most stressful and challenging year career-wise. It surprises me that I managed to knit and complete 30 projects. Perhaps stress helped to spur me on?
2012 should be a little bit easier as far as work goes. Will this help or hinder my knitting productivity? Time will tell.
My knitting plans for 2012 are to:
- Knit 16,000 yards
- Queue to my heart’s content
- Knit more mittens
- Complete the so-close-to-finished sweaters I have on the needles
- Knit all patterns already purchased
- Cut the stash down to 50 entries or less!
- Use up at least one laceweight yarn currently in the stash
- Knit 3 skirts
- Design one sweater pattern
- Knit 3 scarves or shawls
- Knit more colourwork projects
Wish me luck!
I just backed a proposal for a single and homeschooling mom starting her own yarn upcycling business on Kickstarter.com. She needs more backers by December 7 to reach her goal of $610.
Her fundraising goal is modest for a business start up. I hope she succeeds!
If you wish to back her proposal, it is here.
December Knitting Goals
- Vibrant red sweater in lovely Madeline Tosh DK for me to wear during the Christmas holidays
- Finish the two sweaters that have been sitting in my UFO pile since 2010
- Finish The Boy’s Baktus scarf
- Finish Joe’s Christmas socks
- Knit two Roars for my nephews
- Knit Turbine for my brother’s birthday
There’s something to be said for upbeat music.
