2009 Craft Resolutions

Even though it feels like we are already well into the new year, I decided that I should make some craft resolutions anyway. I made a list of general resolutions, but I feel that my crafts deserve some extra attention this year. I could write a million things I want to do, but I’ll try to edit and select the few that I must do before the year’s end. Hopefully sharing with all of you will help me carry these through and all of them will be checked off by the end of the year.

Knitting

1. Learn to knit my first sweater or cardigan by hand. I have already started knitting a summer cardigan for my mother, but I want to make one for myself that fits perfectly, and in time to use during this winter season.
2. Learn to knit a hat. It seems pretty simple, but I want to make a hat that I love that I will actually wear around without having to worry that it’s so tight that it will ruin my hair and give me hat head. I want to make a cute warm hat that is soft and loose.
3. Knit a sweater and scarf using my new knitting machine. I read the reviews and it looks like it takes a lot of time to learn how to use this thing and a lot of patience to make it work well, so I need to devote some time to this endeavor so that it will save me lots of time in the long run. Hopefully this will help me finish making all the gifts I’ve promised all my family members.
4. Knit baby booties for gifts. I’ve created a couple of baby booties, but none that are soft and cute enough to make as gifts. I’d like to find my go-to pattern for baby booties that would make the perfect baby shower gift. I might need to add mittens and a hat to that, or a baby sweater. If I find a good pattern that I can use on my knitting machine, it would save me a lot of time, but might cost me a lot of yarn. The goal is to find the perfect baby present for a boy and a girl.
5. Meet some knitters at a local knitting group. I’ve found a group through Ravelry that I just need to make time to attend. It’s good to meet fellow crafters out there!

Crochet

1. Learn to crochet. I have many patterns picked out. I want to crochet a beautiful scarf pattern that I have already picked out.
2. Crochet a cardigan. I have a very easy pattern and yarn all ready to make once I’m done with my knitting projects.
3. Crochet baby booties. I found very cute girl baby booties that I want to make. And if I have extra time, a pair of cute slippers to keep my feet warm during the winter.

Sewing

1. Sew a dress for myself that I love and can wear to an event this year. This one is already in the works since I’m taking a sewing class and have the pattern already picked out. If I can finish this by the end of February, then I have an charity event in March that I can wear it to. That would be exciting!
2. Sew pants for myself. Finding those perfect pair of pants are not easy, but I have a couple that have been altered to fit me. I would love to find a pattern that I can alter or create a pair of pants by making a pattern from an existing pair.
3. Learn to drape on a sewing dummy and create a new outfit for myself without using a pattern. I bought a dummy online that should be coming soon. I just need to buy or borrow a book on draping to educate myself and find an outfit I want to make.
4. Sew a dressy blazer/jacket that I can wear on top of dresses.

Photo Albums

1. Organize photo albums. What a mess. There are so many albums, unused and old ones that need to be consolidated.
2. Create an updated photo album or scrapbook. I don’t think I’ve created an album since before I started dating my husband, so I’d like to create one just for my husband and I.
3. Order wedding albums. This one is 3.5 years past due, so hopefully I (or my husband) can get this one done this year!
4. Digitize photos. Going electronic means less baggage we have to carry every time we move.
5. Create a family photo book. I found a cool site called www.blurb.com that can publish books. I would like to create family photo books along with descriptions for both my family and my husband’s family.

I think these are enough resolutions to keep me busy this year. Basically I want to learn to knit, crochet, and sew to an intermediate level. These are all brand new hobbies for me, so it’s going to be one very exciting year! The resolution about the photo albums are there because it’s one of those projects that have just been sitting on the back-burner year after year that I just need to get done this year. I’d like to hear your resolutions if you have posted.