New Year’s Knitting Resolutions

Happy 2014 everyone! The time has come to reflect on the past year and to set goals for the new. 2013 was quite a wonderful year for me, and I am moving into 2014 full of excitement, hope and ideas! I find myself creating a subset of resolutions just for my knitting life and projects. Before the list gets too long, I will stop and share what I have.

One: Practice better form and posture. I have this odd habit of raising my shoulders while knitting. I get tense and serious, and I do not even realize I’m doing it until they start to ache—or go numb! My left shoulder in particular sometimes feels as if a vampire has drained it of blood after about an hour of “tense” knitting. Even though I get excited and I want to see results, I need to slow down and realize that I’m not competing in a race…unless of course it is Christmas Eve. Then it would be a race against time! http://www.allfreeknitting.com/Tips-for-Knitting/29-tips-for-avoiding-knitting-pain

I can has shoulder?

Two: Continue to keep track of all the due dates and genders of the seemingly endless stream of babies being born around me. Bonnets, hats, booties and the occasional amigurumi toy take no more than a few evenings to whip up. Not to mention they make for warm, fuzzy happy babies!

Three: My ever supportive boyfriend is by now more than sweater worthy! If he can hold still long enough for me to take measurements, this should be my first major project of 2014. He’s down with the plan, I found a pattern that seems legit, and soon he can join me for yet another afternoon at the yarn shop while I hunt materials and plague the staff with dozens of questions. Truth be told, it will be the first time I’ve knit a garment that large. I’ve made a few halter tops and some miniature sweater ornaments, but a man’s sweater will be a new frontier for me. http://www.knitpicks.com/patterns/Tiny_Holiday_Sweater_Ornament_Pattern__D51077220.html

Behold! The largest sweater I have ever knit! 

Four: Get around to reading The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. I picked it up on a whim last summer, and it’s still collecting dust on my nightstand while I make my way down my reading list. It has some mixed reviews and it seems like chick-lit at its finest, but I couldn’t resist the pull of a fantasy yarn shop right on Broadway. It may be the light hearted, palate cleanser I will need after Killing Jesus. Brutal! http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/friday-night-knitting-club-kate-jacobs/1100315491?ean=9780425265260

Time to chill out and read. 

Five: Keep blogging! It seems like a no-brainer, but the pressures of daily life can sometimes get the best of our blogging/social media intentions. As of right now I have no shortage of material, and I will be able to at least keep it fresh, if sporadic at times. 

Five things over twelve months seem quite attainable. With the support of my friends, family and faithful readers out in the blogosphere, a busy year full of growth awaits! Peace.