
I knitted a semi-tonal red Meddybemps (pattern designed by Kate Lemmers) for a friend’s birthday. Photo use courtesy of Kate Lemmers Designs
I have been busy as of late, which seems to be my norm. But I have the age-old adage “Being busy means work. And work means money.” That motto has been (and still is) effective in my life. Why spend money needlessly when you could be making more during your free time? In my instance, my busyness alludes to taking care of my daughter and work. This first post of 2014 would not be complete without some goals to reach. For work-related items, besides the work I do for Westminster Fibers, I have some fairly large “behind the scenes” projects. One of them requires fourteen (yes, you read correctly — 14) handknitted pairs of socks. The other projects are secret, but I hope to release their information soon. The closest I come to combining work and pleasure knitting is when I have the opportunity to knit up Kate Lemmers‘ innovative designs, and use the various patterns and/or yarns from WFI. Pretty much anything and everything designed by Tanja Steinbach, Renate Foos, Sarah Hatton, Lisa Richardson, Martin Storey, Jem Weston, and Marie Wallin jump to my MUST.MAKE.NOW attention.
Since their release in North America, I have been smitten by Ann Kingstone‘s “William” pullover and am plotting to knit it for myself and SlytherBun. Both Georgina Park and Rachel Coopey have wonderful sock patterns that use Rowan Yarns’ Fine Art. I happen to have a Fine Art skein of the colorway Tawny, and am torn between using it for one of their patterns, or selecting one of my favorite handdyers (in alphabetical order) like Enchanted Knoll Farm, Holiday Yarns, KOIGU, Lisa Souza, Lorna’s Laces, Mad Color Fiber Arts, Miss Babs, Moose Manor Hand Paints, Spunky Eclectic… Shoot, I have a lot of people whose works of art I collect!
Though I do my best to find time to knit or crochet for pleasure, pretty much everything that I make has had a targeted purpose. For my first example, currently I am down to the final 10 “Thank you” washcloths of SlytherBun’s long distance and/or yarn-crafted shower gifts. Knitting up these tokens of thanks has been a journey of sorts, and for 2014 I am applying “Duty” and “Achieve” from “My 3 Words” as encouragement. If you could imagine the little engine that could climb up the mountain, that is exactly how I feel whenever I work on these washcloths. As of this time I have over 20 made, and I “savor” the potential excitement of what these friends will have upon opening their packages.

Steven Hodell’s Chemo Cap – I altered my 4-Pointed Halo pattern (created for Halos of Hope) into a 5-Pointed Star for this male breast cancer fighter.
Linda Young
8, January 2014
Goals….knit or crochet everyday…fiber related things got put on the back burner in 2013…learn to make biscuits!!
Susie Pitts
8, January 2014
Goals for 2014, ummmmmm……. knit as often as possible, finish my koigu jacket, knit an afghan for my son, travel with my husband and try to continue losing weight. Hadn’t actually written these down before this, so I guess this makes them “real.” Now I just have to really accomplish them. 😉
Laurel
8, January 2014
2014 goals–make baby blankets for friends who are expecting, even ones who are expecting thru adoption of older kids. (Everyone deserves a special blankie) Make sure both my kids pass their current grade & get their medications right. (2 special needs kids)
Anne Bean
8, January 2014
My knitting goal for 2014 is to do more knitting for pay: my Etsy shop, test knitting for pay, etc.
Karen
31, January 2014
2014 goals: Clean out the craft room of stashed yarns that I will never use; take a cruise for my 40th birthday in November; finally create a “knitting portfolio” from the saved Knit Picks catalogs of my work; reknit several sweaters that are now too big for me due to weight loss.