Reflecting on 2016 goals

Tags

hat, knitting, socks

I’ve just been watching Mina from the Knitting Expat Podcast talking about her 2016 knitting (in incredible detail) and it has inspired me to pull out and review my list of goals for 2016.  I’m happy with what I achieved despite mixed success in meeting my goals.

Goal number one: Knit from stash – Keep a wish list and purchase wisely.

I’ve not been all that circumspect in my yarn purchases this year as I’m sure my colleagues at work will attest (they saw almost all of my yarn arrive at my PO box in the city).  I managed to control my very expensive Plucky addiction (mostly), but had problems resisting sock yarn this year.  I now have a very healthy stash of yarn appropriate for socks!

I made this goal because I had three large overseas trips planned in 2016-17.  All of these plans have changed and so I allowed myself to relax and indulge a little (ok, quite a bit).  I still have plans to travel overseas next year (hopefully to Rhinebeck 2017, maybe) and my savings for this trip are growing nicely.

Stepping into Fall socks by Sivia Harding, Yarn is Must Stash: Autumn Afterglow.

Goal number two: Knit a pair of socks per month

I made this goal easily – I have knit 14 pairs so far this year and there is one pair on the needles right now that may be finished before the end of the year…

Goal number three: Knit gift hats

I failed on this, mainly because I had a couple of conversations with family members slated to receive the hats who didn’t seem to think they’d wear them.  I was happy to keep the hats I’ve made this year for me… I have 7 new hats!

Goal number four: knit a gift shawl for Miriam (my MIL)

Utter fail, still haven’t picked a project or yarn (she is hinting for socks now). 🙂

Goal number five: get my WIP count down

Specifically: finish Verdea (Michelle Wang), Ropedance (Melanie Berg), Playground Shawl (Justyna Lorkowska) and Candy dish (Plucky knitter).

50% success here! I did finish Ropedance and the Playground Shawl, I worked on my Candy dish (no finish yet, will finish next year).  I think I will unravel Verdea.  I still like the yarn and pattern, but it was ambitious to try it as a first sweater!

New skills

An unwritten goal for this year was to learn new techniques.  This year I dabbled in Brioche and also tried knitting socks two at a time (I don’t really get second sock syndrome, but can see why this may be a fun way to finish a pair of socks.)

Finishes and Works in progress (WIPS) for 2016

I have had 26 finishes this year – not bad, eh!  (I acknowledge that these were all accessories and not large projects by any stretch of the imagination) At present I still have nine WIPS – four are sad languishing ones from before this year.  I am considering ripping these so that the yarn can go back into stash.  I am expecting to finish one of the current WIPS before the end of the year, the others I am happy to carry over to the new year and will keep working on them all.

Looking forward to 2017

I haven’t as yet set goals for 2017, but I expect it will be more of the same, reduce WIPS by finishing stuff, try to use what I have and learn new things.  I think 2017 will be the year I finally make my first proper sweater.

Wishing you a happy 2017 filled with joy and productivity.

 

April 2016 knitting progress

Tags

hat, Hunter Hammersen, knitting, Koko bean, Nomadic Yarns, plucktober, socks, The Plucky Knitter

April was a super productive month for me! I finished two pairs of socks and a hat and made progress on my “Plucktober leftovers cowl”. Here’s a collage of the finishes.

My first finish this month was a Koko Bean Hat by Judith Carter.  The Pattern was a gift from my friend in Tasmania. My hat was knit with The Plucky Knitter Primo Aran in the Classics Colourway, Babysitting Blues.  It was a quick knit, I finished it in a weekend – it was a fun knit (it would have been even more fun if I had a set of empty circular needles to use instead of the metal DPNs  I used for this project).  This hat is not for the gift pile.  It’s all mine! (Of course now I have a 1 hat deficit in the gift hat pile).

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Next up, I finished my Sybaritic socks by Hunter Hammersen. My socks were knit with Plucky Knitter Plucky Feet Yarn in the Classics Colourway, Taffeta Darling  I was a little afraid that these wouldn’t fit, as there isn’t a lot of give /stretch – but they are lovely in every way.  The first (right) sock is not exactly correct (I managed to confuse some of the decreases on the chart), but I am happy with these and will not be engaging in a ripping festival to correct the errors.

And my last finish for the month was another pair of “How I make my socks” by Susan B Andersen (My favourite sock recipe for commuting).

My socks were knit with Nomadic Yarns Trusty Sock in the Rhinebeck Sweater Weather colourway with some Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids in Italian Plum for the contrast heels and toes.  There’s not much more to say about these other than I love them.  I had them on all day yesterday and my feet looked so cheerful!  What’s more they were toasty warm. We’re finally starting to experience autumn weather down under.

Other progress: I’ve picked up one of my WIPS that I want to finish this year… The Candy Dish Cowl by The Plucky Knitter I’m using the left over yarn from last years’ Plucktober knitting.  When we last saw this project, I was cursing myself for dropping a stitch in the lace section.  Now I am sort of motoring along having gotten past the intensely boring 46 rows of seed stitch.  I actually enjoy stockinette stitch more.

Things to look forward to: I think I’m also off to the Bendigo Sheep and Wool Festival in June – this will be my first time at that event.  A couple of Perth girlfriends have organised the accomodation in Bendigo, I just need to book my flight and hire a car (and figure out if I’m going to extend my stay in Melbourne or head straight back home).

Dr K and I are starting to make plans to take off for a week in the South West sometime in August.  We last did this a couple of years ago and we had such a lovely time.  The weather will be cold and blustery and we’ll enjoy setting up home somewhere luxurious and enjoying listening to the wind blowing and rain on the tin roof snuggled inside by the fire.

I also managed to register for the Craft Sessions this year – this event was super popular this year, it sold out in 5 minutes! More cut throat than a Plucky update and I’m right out of practice for those.  I’m looking forward to finding out which classes I will be going to soon.

Wishing you a productive May!