Ravelympics!

I've been a bad blogger, and knitter, but all that is going to change with the Ravelympics! I still have obscene amounts of stash yarn I want to use up and I tend to be glued to the tv during the olympics anyway so I'm diving in (or because these are the winter olympics, bobsledding in?) to the craziness.

I've decided to make the Pikkuveli sweater. It's so cute and it seems like a reasonable pattern for the next two weeks.

And because I haven't cast on yet I'll share a bit of what I have been working on while I've neglected this blog:

A Year in Preview

My truncated goals from last year:
Post more often
Don't buy excess yarn
Organize yarn projects/work on Ravelry
Sew more
Try embroidery

I was able to work on a couple of these items. I did stop buying excess yarn and I did start to sew more. I get a BIG fail for posting more often though and while I've been using Ravelry more, I haven't really uploaded my own projects. And embroidery? Not so much.

So, my 2009 goals are pretty much my goals from 2008. I think I'll focus on working through my yarn and using Ravelry more. I have projects that are in the back of my mind and I need to really tackle them, along with projects from last year that I've put on the back-burner.

One thing I'm borrowing from Little Lugs is making more handmade presents. I am really inspired by all her hard work and hope to make even more gifts for others this year. I'm not very artistically enabled so when I can create something that I like, I need to remind myself to keep it up!

And I'm moving in August, so I might just get that Room of My Own!

Hello 2009

Happy New Year!

This is what I wrote last year around this time:

With regard to knitting in particular, I have begun to develop a list of specific project goals and sketch out a timeline for getting them done. I've resolved to buy no new yarn or clothes for 6 months in an effort not only to economize but also to focus on working with the materials I already have to create new clothes (or refashion old ones). And charity knitting is still a goal, both with the group at work and on my own.

My crafting goals for last year were a bit vague, it's true. Having a project list, and starting a separate blog to track gift-making, really improved my crafting productivity and helped me achieve my goal of giving more handmade gifts. A couple of times I broke my resolution to give up yarn and clothes buying for six months, but the offending acts were pretty minor and once the deadline passed, I continued to exercise considerably more restraint in these areas than I've shown in the past. And I did participate in two charity crafting projects through work, in addition to doing one project on my own. I had planned a second solo project for 2008 but it's not done - I'm aiming to finish this month and send a box of knit hats to a local shelter.

So...2009. I want to make a quilt with the old clothes I've been saving. I want to continue crafting for charity - 2 solo projects. I want to knit a sweater for myself. And I want to improve on my handmade gift-giving - start planning earlier, and diversify by learning a new craft. Sounds do-able, right?

Inspiration!

I was hit with the design bug the other day. I just happened to be online window shopping at this store called Forever 21. I found 60% of the tops to be completely great (if not reeking of "Hi, I'm made in a sweatshop overseas"), but quickly realized that the name of the store, while sounding like it would be for anyone over 21 wishing to remain young and hip, is really one of those Seventeen magazine deals, where it's really appealing to 15 year olds wanting to look 21.

I forged on though because the tops were so cute.

Like this one:

And these...the yellow is so great. I think the one on the left is linen. If it had a wide collar-band, I'd really love it. I started sketching out pattern pieces instantly.





Then, I saw this shirt:...and fell in love! I knew it was well out of my design skills, but the nearest store is 3 hours away. Can I really drive there? Buying these clothes from the online store is just asking for a return hassle. But trying to make them could be even more soul crushing.

In any event, I think the whole point of this post is to show this video:

A Shirt Story

Because, this is what I'm afraid my sewing skills will result in! (Sorry, I wanted to embed the video but it was a no go)

New Year's post

I don't think I really made a list of New Year's resolutions last year so I'll start with a clean slate this year.

First, I think my first new resolution should be to post more often! I always set out with the best intentions and something sidetracks me. I'm too busy creating and not documenting enough. One non-knitting goal I have for myself this year is to photograph the world around me more, and I'm sure my knitting will feature prominently in that endeavor.

Second, I will no longer buy yarn for imaginary projects, even charity baby items. I have a very small space to store yarn and most of it is taken up with bad yarn choices. I have reached a point where I need to bag all the yarn up and walk into a random knitting group, slip in beside someone else's chair, and walk away slowly. I have so many better creations to work on.

Third, I need to organize my queued projects and prioritize. I might work on Ravelry to make this happen, but at this point I'm not sure I want to fully jump into that community.

As for non-knitting resolutions...
I hope to dabble in embroidery a little this year.
I've made some progress with sewing and I want to keep that up. Limited time and space really are hard to work with though.

And finally (and I've been wishing for this for a while), I want a room of my own (but since I just renewed my crappy apartment lease, I don't think that'll happen this year).