New Year's Knitting Resolutions

I have mixed thoughts on New Year's Resolutions in my personal life, so I've mostly focused on the concept of Living Well for 2008.

As far as knitting, however, I have some very specific goals and ideas which I'd really like to be disciplined about.


My 2008 Knitting Resolutions*

1. I will not buy new yarn. I will only knit from my stash.


2. If I want to start a new project, I will either finish or decide to frog one already started.


3. I will try my very best to make a pair of socks each month, sanity permitting.


4. I will not let projects languish because I'm afraid of seaming or other finishing (cough, sewing on buttons, cough).


5. I will learn to cable without a cable needle, or at least try it.

To facilitate these goals, I have a few policies for myself, which I've been trying to introduce recently. Most notably, I'm going to keep a smaller rotation of WIPs going at a given time, as follows:

• one super-simple brainless project, like a tube of stockinette in the round or a project for which I don't need to consult the pattern


• one complex or fiddly project, like a lace shawl, a sweater with a lot of shaping, a cabling project, or something which uses my full attention


• one small, portable, and easy project for traveling

Once I have these three categories on the needles, I'm going to try not to start something new (as per item #2 above).


*Exceptions, Clauses, and Ways to Weasel Out:

- I am allowed to break rules 1 & 2 for gift knitting, though I will do my best.

- Disclosure: I have a big box of yarn supposedly sitting at the post office, already purchased, and at some time between now and eternity, I should be getting a sweater's worth of Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool from discountyarnsale.com, which will technically count as a new purchase when charged to my credit card, but was ordered back in October (grrr).

- To clarify item 2, I can do small, instant gratification projects from stash yarn without finishing a huge sweater or something. So no new big projects until I finish the ones I have going.

- To keep with goal 3, I'm allowed to have two pairs of socks going at a time, if one is not as easy and portable as I'd like it to be.


I think this is a good set of goals and resolutions. I really want 2008 to be the year where I turn the boxes and boxes of yarn in my apartment into a closet full of beautiful hand knits.

What about you? Do you have any goals or resolutions for 2008? Suggestions, ideas or tips? I'd love to hear them!