2016 Goals - What Happened & What About 2017?

So again, Carin from Round the Twist got me thinking about goals.  She says she didn't set any last year.  But I swear she did.  I have been too lazy to check.  *laugh*

My Goals for 2016 - Yes or No?

Participate in all the SSK KALs

Yes!  Thrilled with that.

Got into SSK again this year.  Can't wait to see what the KALs are.

Socks - Complete three pairs
No. 

Completed a pair in January 2016 that I started Oct. 2015. 

Finished Socks on a Plane as one of the SSK KALs in June.

Have the Bolshevik Muppet Socks finished *except* the afterthought heel by the plane trip home from SSK. Did I get a heel done in 5 months?!!  NOPE!  *sigh*

Darning

Big fat no.  Not one pair...  Not even part of a pair.  Nada.

Finish DH's Sweater

*sigh*  Nope. Don't know why really...

A Spin on Spin the Bin - Spinning 12 bits of fiber

Nope.  Spun one thing before the TdF then 4 fibers during it.  Spun no silk which was part of this goal.

So out of four, I failed on three.  *head hung low*

What about 2017?

I think I am taking a year off goals.  I wish I could say they help me.  But this year was not so good.

I may change my mind.  But the more I think on it, the more meh I feel.

I think I would like to work on some of last year's goals.  But I am not etching them in stone. Or keystokes.  *grin*

Something I learned.  I don't think I can do SSK & commit to the Tour de Fleece.  Though this year, I am driving so I can bring my own wheel.  I can spin at SSK which I couldn't last year since I borrowed a wheel for classes only.   

But I realize that I get kind burnt out with TdF and often don't spin at all until November or December.  And between TdF & then SSK, I was just too fried.  I haven't touched my wheel SINCE SSK IN JULY!  (Other than completing some TdF plying.)  Not good.

It is especially not good as I really should have practiced what I learned in Maggie Casey's classes.  She was awesome.  And had I practiced what I learned when I got home, it would have been so much smarter.

Though I also confess that wheel struggles at SSK made me reluctant to spin when I got home...    I did finishing plying what as on the wheel.  But then I just stopped.  I think it was a valuable lesson.  I need to practice what I learn during SSK.  And if I have been so focused on spinning for the TdF, it won't happen.

I think this year, I might try to participate a bit in TdF, but NON DOUBLE BUMP MADNESS this year!  *laugh*  A braid or two of Into the Whirl.  Maybe some other stuff. But not committing to daily progress reports, pics, etc..  If I am spending time & money on spinning classes, I want to practice after my classes.

We will see what I think when the time comes & what is happening the the SSK KALs.

I think if I say one thing as a goal it is to try and craft regularly.  I have been playing too many games and not crafting as much.  Knitting or spinning both kinda faltered.  And I know that isn't good for my sanity!!

Not committing to every day.  But at least a little as time permits!

Another Year When Carin Has Me Thinking about Goals

Carin from the Round the Twist podcast mentioned goals for 2015.  And looking back, I realize that she has inspired me for several years in the past.

I wasn't going to take on any goals.  But listening to hers, I was inspired to set a few. 

I am not going overboard.  Here's what I am thinking.

Participate in all the SSK KALs
I am still stunned I got a spot in the Super Summer Knitogether this year.  I have been listening to the Knit Girllls for many years.  But this is the first year I tried for a spot.  And I got in!  I am super excited.

They are having five KALs before SSK.  Each one earns tickets for raffles.

Charity KAL - Items made for certain charities and brought to SSK - runs right up to SSK
Romi Hill 11/20/15-1/31/16
babycocktails - Thea Colman 2/1/16-3/31/16
mercedesknits - Mercedes Tarasovich 4/1/16-5/31/16
Pattern by any SSK participant including teachers: 6/1/16-7/15/16

I can earn one ticket for every 100 yards.  I can also earn 2 tickets for using one of the SSK vendors.  And 2 for handspun.  Coolness.

I like that most of them are two months long.  So it is a good chunk of time & completely doable.  

SocksComplete three pairs this year.  And yes, I am counting the pair currently on the needles and nearly done.  But hey, it is something. 
 I should set a higher goal.  But I have been lagging on socks lately.  I get past the foot & then just stall on the leg.  Feels like I should be done, but it isn't.

I just checked.  I only knit *two* pairs for all of last year.  So three is an increase!  I wear my handknit socks all the time.  So I definitely need more!

Darning 
Thinking about my socks.  I realize that I should *darn* some of the pairs I have that have holes that can be repaired!  So my goal is for two pairs to get fixed. 

Finish DH's Sweater
I started it in 2012!!  For the Year of the Sweater.  Again, Carin from Round the Twist inspired me.  It needs a buttonband & buttons.  That is it.  But I fowled it up and haven't had the heart to rip it out and start again.  *sigh*  So close...

I fear it may wait until Stash Dash in May.  But so long as it is this year, I will be happy.  DH might be happier sooner however.  But it has been a warm winter so far.

A Spin on Spin the Bin
I am still trying to find details on this.  Lara form the Knit Girllls has done it several years.  Leslie is doing it this year unofficially.  I think I may have already missed the deadline to join in the group. 

In looking at the Knit Girllls group, I have decided on a different spin on this.

I want to spin 12 bits of fiber.  I say 12 but am not locking in what they are.  This way I can spin things as they come into the house rather than locking in things now. 

Also, I say bits of fiber rather than braids or batts.  This is because one of those should be some silk. And they aren't in the standard braids or such.

I went crazy at NY S&W shortly after I started spinning.  I have multiple bits of silk.  I have an entire silk kit with different types of silk.   And wanna guess how much I have actually spun?!  I have spun part of a silk hankie with a spindle.  But other than that, I haven't spun any pure silk.  And even the spindle one, I haven't spun the whole hankie!

I have even bought the download video of Spinning Luxury Fibers Volume 1: Silk when Interweave was having a sale.  But I don't think I have watched it yet.  Or certainly not all of it.

I think those are good goals.  They make sense and are completely achievable.  So hooray for that.

Wish me luck.