So new year, new resolutions... I seem to make the same resolutions every year and it can be disheartening when I don't achieve them entirely. I always set some easy ones and some stretch ones, so I can beat myself over the head when I don't achieve them. It reminds me that we are all human and without the failures, how can we appreciate the successes?
happy new year everyone!
Knitting Goals
1. Address second sock syndrome, tout de suite. This is absolutely shameful to end up with one sock when I need 2 for a pair. I must mate these up as soon as possible.
when I'm done with that, I can treat myself to starting something from this.
or this Alcazar, The Moorish Palace, by Hazel Carter. I've loved this particular shawl for a long time.
or this, Joan Schrouder's Oregon Shawl. It's so lovely but I will definitely not knit it using the Douceur et Soie recommended.
These lace projects all need a bit of commitment but they do look fun and interesting.
2. Finish my sanquhar gloves. It would be a shame to have these as UFO's in 2007
3. Knit some more challenging projects. There's going to be a Poetry sweater in 2006 and something Starmore. I'm thinking about making Secret Garden for my god-daughter.
4. Knit something for my husband. He deserves it, I haven't embarassed him in a long time and the last big project that I did for him was in 2004. I'm hoping that he'll pick something in DK weight but it'll probably be 4 ply.
Stashing
1. Reduce stash. I'm going to keep a record of incoming and knitted up by weight and meterage to see how I do for this whole year (let's see how long that will last).
Personal
1. Wean myself off pain au chocolats, no more than twice a week, in hopes of reducing weight by 10 lbs. Drink at least 1 litre of water a day.
2. Stop procrastinating and get on-top of paperwork Answer emails and mails when they arrive. Work on de-cluttering. (OK, Geek, you can pick yourself off the floor, I know that this one is on shakey grounds, but I had to set a stretch goal)
I just finished the Alcazar shawl after seeing it on your website - it really is beautiful. I did it in Halcyon Yarns Jaggerspun silk/wool laceweight, really lovely stuff and very good value!
Posted by: Amanda at May 31, 2006 03:39 PMI'm a brand new knitter, and I loved reading your 2006 goals! I think you should take the single socks and frame them - together, they are Art! The de-cluttering is something I also have as a goal!! Good Luck in 2006!
Posted by: Keri at January 8, 2006 08:11 AMI'm a brand new knitter, and I loved reading your 2006 goals! I think you should take the single socks and frame them - together, they are Art! The de-cluttering is something I also have as a goal!! Good Luck in 2006!
Posted by: Keri at January 8, 2006 08:11 AMPolly,
Happy New Year to you and yours, and what an inspiration you are.
I just can't wait to see the Oregon Shawl (who needs socks, one always gets lost in the wash anyway!)
Take care for now
Love Steph
To avoid OSS (other sock syndrome), I suggest knitting the 2 socks at once on 2 long circulars or knit them on 2 different sets of needles during the same time.
Good luck to you and happy knitting!
Posted by: Latoya at January 6, 2006 12:29 AMYour very ambitious with your resolutions but giving up pain au chocoalt is simply going too far!
Posted by: Ali at January 5, 2006 09:14 PMBlogRing.Thanks - I was a bit confused and thought their was some kind of email - hadn't ocurred to me to check my blog!
Posted by: India at January 5, 2006 08:54 PMYes, I've made a spreadsheet for my little molehill of a stash and struck off the number of balls I used up. And it is a sobering fact that I'm using much less slower than I acquire. But then, being sober seems to take away much of the fun and sometimes, I just choose to be drunk :D).
Posted by: Siow Chin at January 4, 2006 09:20 AMI think you have some wonderful goals for 2006! I love all your single socks.. but I guess they would work better with a mate :) I love the shawls you posted too :) Especially the second one.. I say go for it!
Posted by: Dani at January 4, 2006 02:28 AMI am toying with Jean's idea of a spreasheet or simple database - I tried the yardage and it doesn't work, it's difficult enough to just log the stuff, let alone measure or estimate yardage! even getting the scales out is not ideal.
I might join you in an icelandic shawl kal, but Rowan is due out next month isn't it (and lots of stuff that looks nice, or is that just by comparison with the last mag?)
Dawn:)
Posted by: dawn at January 3, 2006 10:42 PMI love the idea of knitting 2006 into the second glove! Just think of all the fun you can have telling people that they're "turn of the year" Sanquhar gloves. :D
And I'm so in lust with the Oregon Shawl now. Must have.
Posted by: Colleen at January 3, 2006 06:31 PMI like the stashing meter idea... good luck!
Happy New year.
Posted by: jess at January 3, 2006 05:47 PMOh It will be very fun to watch the stash meter. Great idea.
As for the socks, I simply don't start another pattern, until I finish the second sock. Good luck .
Posted by: kathy b at January 3, 2006 02:40 PMHere's my solution (and not necessarily anyone else's---tee hee!!) to the resolution on unfinished sock pairs---resolve not to knit any more socks!---then proudly wear mismatches ala Dr. Seuss. You never know when one will be a leader in fashion revolutions!
But seriously....love your blog and your knitting. Wish I could pop off to Liberty today, but sadly too far away in the US!
And there will be another chance for resolutions on the 29th when the year of the dog wags its tail.
Best!!!!
Posted by: Darinka at January 3, 2006 01:53 PMNever mind weight and meterage -- just set up a simple spreadsheet for balls-of-yarn-in and balls-of-yarn-out. Of course it's not fair -- you can knit stripes for months and hardly finish a single ball. You can knit lace for years, and likewise. But by the end of the year, it's still interesting. And you're much more likely to keep at it.
Happy New Year! Jean
Posted by: Jean at January 3, 2006 01:47 PMi would love to see you knit something from that icelandic shawl book. i have been eyeing off that book myself for quite a while but haven't gotten around to buying it yet.
i just know that you would be the perfect person to convice me to do so.
happy new year xx
Posted by: jacqueline at January 3, 2006 09:37 AMHappy New Year, Polly.
I look forward to seeing that shawl!!
Happy New Year ! Wish you all the best in 2006 !
Posted by: Eva Shiu at January 3, 2006 08:44 AMHappy New Year and Good luck with your resolutions!
Posted by: eyeleen at January 3, 2006 03:18 AMYour goals for 2006 are laudable! I think I have knit the other four single socks to match yours. I have to overcome sock boredom as well as well. Nice blog! Thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Alice at January 2, 2006 11:30 PMOh, I know you can do it! you do such beautiful work and I have loved all your pictures! Just know I'm 'rooting' for you...you can do it! WE ALL CAN DO IT!!!
Posted by: PJ at January 2, 2006 11:09 PMYou've done it now! We will all be waiting to see 4 pairs of socks BEFORE we see you wrapped in the total shawl. I think your resolutions are wonderful. If you never achieve any of them, we'll love you all the more for being "one of us". Yours is one of the most enjoyable blogs I read. Good luck to your husband to get another sweater before the end of 2006!
Posted by: Renée from Wisconsin at January 2, 2006 09:02 PMI haven't made any resolutions this year ... but you can imagine me nodding all the way reading this post! :)
I don't have the Poetry book, but I have the Norwegian one and a fingerless kit ... that's one thing I would make this year.
Good luck in fighting SSS.
Poetry....ahh my favourite!
Posted by: Tracy at January 2, 2006 08:52 PMooo, i vote for the oregon shawl, complete with identical modelling ;-)
and bah, second socks - who needs'em!?!
happy new year!
Posted by: kris at January 2, 2006 07:28 PMHappy New Year! Good luck with the Resolutions!
Posted by: Daisy at January 2, 2006 05:39 PMAll good resolutions. May 2006 be a successful year for you in allways.
Posted by: margene at January 2, 2006 04:16 PMHappy New Year Polly! Good luck with your New Year Resolutions. Are you going to knit 2006 into your second Sanquhar glove? :0))))
Posted by: gill at January 2, 2006 01:28 PM