2016 The Year Of the Finisher

Well, it's time to get on with my knitting goals for 2016.  I am semi-recovered from my Spartans loss on New Year's Eve.  We had planned our trip to the Coastal Cottage based on when the Spartans would play in their NCAA Football Final 4 game.  We drove to Mt Airy (remember Mt Airy from the Andy Griffith Show?  Aunt Bea was always going shopping in Mt. Airy), spent the night and watched the Spartans.  Sad!  Sad! Sad!  Well, on to Spartan basketball.  

​I am calling this The Year Of The Finisher because, well, you'll see why as you read my goals.  I'd thought about calling it The Year Of The Closer but that just seemed too baseball or too interrogation rather than about joyous completion.  

Goal #1 is to organized and keep organized the Stash Studio.  I was all set this year to have it ready when Kathy came for Christmas then the flu knocked me out and I didn't have enough energy to climb the stairs let alone clean and organize. It is such a wondrous space, I don't know why I let it get out of hand.  I really missed taking knitting up stairs during the Christmas season and listening to Christmas music.  You've seen it at its best, you've seen it at its worst and in 2016 you'll see it in perfection. While I'm organizing I may practice my new found power and cull my stash a bit.

Goal #1 leads right into Goal #2 which is to have my knitting buddies new and old (I don't mean in years of age but years of knitting together) over for a knitting party.  I think I would use the same format as Jocelyn Brown used for Stitch Together: Bring something you've knit, a pattern to share and a skein of yarn from your stash to trade.  Wouldn't that be fun!?!?!?!

Goal #3 is to finish two things which are partially knit.  That could be my Valentina Devine. . . 

or Kauni

But as much as I love it it probably won't be the Rainbow Cardigan I started last year at Sunset Beach.  Remember?

Isn't it beautiful?!?!?! But you may remember it like this. . . 

Nightmare!!!!!! If you have just recently joined me you might want to dig into the archives and read about the making of the Rainbow Cardigan during January of 2015.  You know now that I look at the picture, I love it.  I think it is kind of like childbirth, you don't remember the pain just the beauty of the end product.  We'll see.

Goals #4 is to finish two things I have yarn and pattern for but haven't started.  I many, many, many little kits that I thought I just couldn't live without.  I even have yarn and patterns which used to be a kit but some how got separated.  Will I ever really know what they were supposed to be?

Goal #5 is to make two projects from my UDY (undesignated yarn) collection.  I think this will probably included something from the fabulous Twisted Fiber Arts.  As I organize the Stash Studio, I plan to open every tub and get reacquainted with all of my little darlings.  This will definitely rekindle the love.

Now from goals 3, 4 and 5 I definitely will have treasures just awaiting someone for Christmas next year.  

Goal #6 is to plan 2 unique classes for Ann's By Design.  I have learned that I love to coach and help people solve problems much more than teach a class so maybe my classes will revolve around that.  I kind of envision one on fixing mistakes or different cast-ons and why you use them.  

Goal #7 is to not let Knit The Sky become synonymous with journaling.  You know, you get a journal for Christmas and have all of the intention of writing every day and before you know it it is June and you haven't touched it since February.  So far it is going great, but then it has only been four days of knitting.  

Goal # 8 is to visit a new LYS.

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Remember Evie my best friend from collage?  Remember the afghan I gave her for Christmas?

Evie's granddaughter Taylor fell in love with it and has decided to learn to knit.  My last goal, Goal # 9 is to connect with Taylor this year and mentor her along the journey to life long knitting.  

Do you think I've been over exuberant?  Do you think I've planned too much?  Well, there definitely is a stretch here.

Oh, wait!!!!  I forgot a goal.  I think the number should be even.  So my Goal # 10 is to learn to brioche and use this beautiful Twisted Fiber Arts sock yarn to make a scarf.  Hazel's grandma had one on at the last TFA yarn tasting and it was fabulous.  

Well, now I am significantly overwhelmed and I think I need to go knit!