Saturday, January 1, 2011

52 in 52 in 2011

This year, one of my goals is to knit more- more gifts, more fun stuff, and more things to show off. I adore knitting, but sometimes I need some motivation to pick up the needles and string. Even though I know it calms my troubled spirit, some days I just don't pick up the projects when I really should.
Through a friend (Thanks, Ria!), I found a group on Ravelry that's all about getting projects done. The idea behind the group is to start and finish 52 projects in 52 weeks, or about one project per week. There's no specific type of project that has to be done, so it's entirely up to the knitter's whim. Theoretically, small projects which can be completed quickly make up for larger projects which may take several weeks. Also, if I decide to learn a new type of fiber art (i.e. crocheting or spinning), I believe completing these projects count as well.
I have several ideas for gifts throughout the year, so this will be a good motivation for me. I pulled out my entire stash today and matched up some yarn with patterns, so I've got several things ready to start. I don't have anywhere near 52 projects specifically planned, but I fear that may overwhelm me, so I'll just pair up 5-6 projects at a time.
Today I started the first of the projects, Plymouth Yarn's Baby Placket Pullover, a baby sweater for my niece who is due in April. It's a kit I purchased a couple of years ago and comes complete with yarn (Plymouth Yarns Cotton Kisses), pattern, and buttons. The pattern has two versions, one a pullover and the other a traditional cardigan style. I chose to go with the pullover style since I liked the styling better in the photos. I'm doing the 6-9 month size, that way it will be big enough for the baby to wear for a while and there's less risk that it will forever be too small for her. This project has already reminded me that I'm not a fan of cotton yarns, because they naturally have less stretch than wool and can be much harder on the hands. I'm glad this is a baby project, because it will be done faster and then I can go back to my beloved wool and wool blends!