This the first year that I created a knitting “plan” . Previously I just bounced from one project to the next based an a class that sounded good. But now I have sufficient confidence in my ability to make socks, sweaters, shawls, etc. I can think more along the lines of what do I want to make and for whom.
Turns out my plan for 2019 was a little aggressive but pretty good. I’m a pretty slow sweater knitter. I planned a lot of socks and indeed I made a lot (7 pairs). Argyle socks turned out to be quite difficult so they got delayed into 2020. They will be a Florida project. I did make my first pair of fingerless mitts. They are even easier than a pair of socks.
I did knit two shawls as planned but did change which shawl and yarn once I found yarn I wanted in Miami last February. The other was difficult for a first project brioche shawl. It took a lot more time than I had planned.
I did really like the experience of creating and following a year plan. This way I could make sure I wasn’t trying to do too may projects at the same time. I did update and substitute during the year – like the shawl.
As I’m preparing my 2020 calendar I created a point system to better estimate how many projects I could realistically do in a year. Socks are quicker than sweaters. This helped me realize I was planning way too many sweaters for 2020 unless I suddenly become a much faster sweater knitter. I already have a sweater that I started this month that will carryover into 2020. Plus those difficult argyle socks. I have at least 6 sweaters I really wanted to make but will be lucky if I can get 4 of them done. Thus I already have sweaters for 2021!!! I know that I want to have “braindead” socks for social knitting. Plus I have some beautiful sock yarn that I really want to knit up. I know that I’ll have a sweater and a sock project going at all times.
The net is that a yearly knitting plan is helpful for me. It helps me feel in control of my knitting rather than my knitting is controlling me. I don’t feel overwhelmed by all the projects I want to make because I have them on the schedule. I know when they are planned. They can move forward or back based on how fast a current project is going. This will also help me to decide what projects to pack for snowbirding in Florida. I certainly won’t need to buy yarn as I already have at least two years of projects in project bags in my knitting nook.
Knitting Is So Fun 