Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts

Friday, January 2, 2015

2015 Goals



Happy New Year! Some of these goals have been carried over from 2014.
  • Knitting:
    • Knit from Ravelry queue. The ESK yarnathon KALs should help with this since most of the yarn was bought from ESK for the projects in my queue.
    • Knit with "X" brand yarn before buying more to see if I like it.
    • Knit (use/destash) at least 10,000 yards
    • Limit Ravelry time to 1 hour or less per day
  • Quilting:
    • Organize the sewing room - right now piled full of boxes with yarn or overflow from other rooms
    • Get in the sewing room and sew a couple days each month
    • Finish Washington Medallion quilt top
  • Reading:
    • Read at least 30 books
  • Health:
    • Get back on track - cut back on soda and sweets, get back to smaller portions.
    • Get back to exercising 3-5 hours a week.
    • Get my sleep schedule back to normal.
Wishing you the best in 2015!

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

2014 Goals - How Did I Do?

Below are the goals I posted on January 1st this year. This year has been such a whirlwind, I don't think I ever looked back at this throughout the year to evaluate how I was doing.  Some items will be carried over to 2015.
  • Knitting:
    • Only order yarn when I'm ready to swatch or start for a new project. I started out the year good, but the second half was a major fail.
    • Knit with yarn other than Madelinetosh. Success! 1 of my 17 projects this year was knit with Madelinetosh.
    • Knit with older stash. Fail. The first couple projects were with older stash but the rest was new yarn bought for that specific project so at least it was used right after I bought it.
    • Knit from Ravelry queue. Another fail. I think 3 of the 17 projects had been in my queue prior to the beginning of the year. This was partially due to Camp Loopy, ESK challenges, and Loopy Academy project requirements. This year should be better.
    • Do not order more of other brand yarn until I've knit with it to see if I like it. I did pretty good with this, although there is room for improvement.
    • Knit (use/destash) at least 11,000 yards. I was close - ended up using 9,621.
  • Quilting: - FAIL, no quilting at all
    • Finish Washington Medallion quilt top
    • Quilt at least 1 top
  • Reading: - Success - read 37 books
    • Read more, both kindle and paper
  • Health: FAIL - definitely a priority for 2015
    • Cut back on soda and cake/cookies/ice cream
    • Get back to smaller portions
    • Continue exercising

Looking Ahead to 2015


I have to admit I'm not looking that forward to 2015 as it will bring a lot of change. My office is closing and the employees have the choice of transferring to our Green Bay or Milwaukee offices. This will double my commute time each day. Also the contract where my husband works is coming due in the fall, and the last time there was almost a strike. That being said, I choose to believe that whatever happens is supposed to happen and have faith that together, hubby and I will deal with whatever comes our way.

First and foremost, I need to take care of my health.  Up until this year, I had been doing really well with my weight and eating. With the work stress, everything I worked so hard for the last 6 years went out the window. I need to get exercise a) to lose weight, b) get back to a regular sleep schedule, and c) help blow off some of the stress from work. Also I need to cut out soda, reduce the sweets intake, and reduce my meal portion sizes.

Stash Down - At the beginning of this year I went 90 days without buying yarn. The middle of the year went OK, but the last 4 months I went crazy. I'm not going to say I can't buy any new yarn because that will lead to a yarn binge. I would like to use more than I purchase. To use some of the yarns I've never used before I am going to try knitting with a different (stashed) yarn/brand every other project. So I can't knit more than two projects in a row with the same yarn. Even though I have a ton of sweaters I want to knit, I'm thinking there will be more hat and scarf projects this year (at least for the beginning of the year).

Less computer time. Get off the computer and do. Limit my Ravelry time to an hour or less each day.

Let it Go. Surround myself with people who want to be around me, rather than trying to find ways to keep those who don't want to be around.

There may be more items that come up along the way, but these are my main focus items.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Knitting 2015

A while ago, Judy blogged about her Knitting Plan for 2015. She chose a pattern or two to concentrate on each month.

Before the end of the year, I want to finish Carabe which needs sleeves and buttons. If there is time, I'd also like to finish Heathered which needs one sleeve, a button-band, and buttons. That will probably be pushing it with the holiday festivities this month.

My current short list (all Ravelry links) of projects I'd like to knit is below. I know with my office's upcoming move in May, I won't have a lot of time to knit, but hopefully I can knit a couple of these next year.

Sweaters

Hats


Cowl/Scarf


While I know I don't need any more yarn, I can't say I won't buy any next year. I'm hoping to keep buying to a minimum though. This year I did pretty good until things at work got really stressful.

Of course, the more time I spend on Ravelry, the less likely any of these items will be knit. ;0)

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2014 Goals

Happy New Year! I have some goals that carried over from 2013 but also some new ones.
  • Knitting:
    • Only order yarn when I'm ready to swatch or start for a new project. 
    • Knit with yarn other than Madelinetosh. 
    • Knit with older stash.
    • Knit from Ravelry queue.
    • Do not order more of other brand yarn until I've knit with it to see if I like it.
    • Knit (use/destash) at least 11,000 yards.
  • Quilting:
    • Finish Washington Medallion quilt top
    • Quilt at least 1 top
  • Reading:
    • Read more, both kindle and paper
  • Health:
    • Cut back on soda and cake/cookies/ice cream
    • Get back to smaller portions
    • Continue exercising
Wishing you a happy, health and prosperous 2014!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Tough Love

Seeing that the new year is fast approaching, I figured it was time to think about my goals for next year.  The other day I sat myself down for an intervention.  I had been looking at all the packages I had just received from Eat Sleep Knit's Black Friday sale and realized I needed to make some changes in the new year.  Prior to knitting, I went overboard on buying fabric.  I have traded one addiction for another.  Now I am going overboard buying yarn. 

The one good thing is that 80% of the yarn that I buy has a specific project in mind.  I see a pattern that I like and immediately want to order yarn so I can start it, but then another pattern comes along and the cycle repeats itself.  To most people this would sound like a reasonable system, but in my case I don't knit that fast so I have a fewlot of projects in my queue on Ravelry.

So my goal for next year is to work on knitting the projects in my Ravelry queue and only buy yarn for the project I'm going to work on next (if I don't have the yarn).  The only exceptions are the current yarn club I'm in and Camp Loopy.

On the quilting side, I want to continue working on Washington Medallion...hopefully even finish the top.  I also need to make a baby (girl) quilt for a close friend's daughter.  She's due in May so I will need to get started soon.  I bought a kit on our trip to Iowa in August that I think will be cute but I'm waiting to hear from the mom-to-be if they have a theme or color scheme for the baby's room.  On the wish to-do list (and repeat goal), I'd like to reduce my flimsie pile and get some of them quilted.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Goals for April

Basketball season is over, but now it's baseball (Go Brewers!) and, very shortly, racing season (spectacting at the local tracks)!

  • Cut sashing for t-shirt quilt
  • Start sewing sashing to t-shirt blocks.
  • Continue paper-piecing the HSTs for Part 7 of Washington Medallion
  • Finish knitting Tart Sky Ladder scarf 
  • Choose MadMay knitting project(s) and wind yarn before end of the month
  • Finish sleeve #1 on Vodka Gimlet
  • Log at least 30 miles of walking/slogging and continue working on longer distance runs
  • Participate in the Run 4 Home 10K Run - done!  Finished 18 minutes faster than my first 10K last year.  Woot!
  • Participate in another run?!?!?!? - Nothing currently scheduled.
  • Start Phase 2 of new flower bed - pull weeds/clean up brush
  • Plant peonies

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Goals for March

It's March Madness and the end of the basketball season.  Now it's time to get busy finishing projects again!
  • Finish putting borders on smaller blocks
  • Cut sashing for t-shirt quilt
  • Start sewing sashing to t-shirt blocks.
  • Paper-piece the HSTs for Part 7 of Washington Medallion
  • Start Fuyu (cowl) - another Toshdown project
  • Finish collar on Vodka Gimlet
  • Finish sleeves on Vodka Gimlet
  • Log at least 30 miles of walking/slogging for the 100-mile Challenge/my Virtual Walk (currently at 73 miles for the 100-mile Challenge)
  • Participate in the Blarney 5K Run/Walk
  • Participate in the April Fool's 5K Run/Walk or Run for Home 10K Run (leaning towards the 10K!)

Friday, February 3, 2012

February Goals

The regular basketball season will be coming to a close this month, so I might have more time to work on my goals.  Here's my to-do list this month:

  • Square up last 5 t-shirts
  • Cut sashing for t-shirt quilt
  • Start sewing sashing to t-shirt blocks.
  • Start Part 7 of Washington Medallion (6 left to go)
  • Weave in ends on Mork
  • Finish Milanese Loop for The Loopy Ewe 1Q Challenge (use yarn with silk in it) / Madelinetosh Toshdown
  • Start Fuyu (cowl) - another Toshdown project
  • Start Raina (tee) or Vodka Gimlet (cardigan) - only after Mork and Milanese Loop are done
  • Log at least 30 miles of walking/slogging for the 100-mile Challenge/my Virtual Walk
  • Participate in the Seroogy's 5K Run/Walk

Review of January Goals

Where did the month go?  It seems like January just started and now we're into February.  Maybe it's the weather, which in NO means am I complaining about.  I LOVE not having to drive in the snow or deal with icy roads.  Let's get to it.

  • Stabilize and square up last 5 t-shirts - half done
  • Cut sashing for t-shirt quilt - nope
  • Start Part 7 of Washington Medallion (my goal is to finish a "part" each month; still have 6 to go) - nope
  • Cut binding for Infinity Star - done!
  • Attach binding to Infinity Star - done!  I still need to take a picture of the finished quilt.
  • Finish knitting sleeves for Mork - done!
  • Seam/finish Mork - done!  Just need to weave in ends!
  • Start on Milanese Loop for The Loopy Ewe 1Q Challenge (use yarn with silk in it) / Madelinetosh Toshdown - started!
  • Start Bedford sweater - done, finished the neckband on Wednesday (Feb. 1st)
  • Log at least 30 miles of walking/slogging for the 100-mile Challenge - slogged 34.5 miles!
  • Participate in the Samsom's Stomp @ Milwaukee Zoo (depending on weather) - done!
  • Finished Leg #1 of my Virtual Walk to visit Amy from Amy's Passions.
  • Spent 7.5 hours quilting
  • Spent 84.25 hours knitting (yikes!)

I didn't do too bad with knitting and exercising, but quilting definitely needs some work.  I really need to get the t-shirt quilt done. 

Sunday, January 1, 2012

January Goals

I woke up to the new year to find a snow storm!  I was perfectly fine without snow, but I guess it was bound to happen eventually. 

I'm going to try posting monthly goals here again.  We'll see how it goes.
  1. Stabilize and square up last 5 t-shirts
  2. Cut sashing for t-shirt quilt
  3. Start Part 7 of Washington Medallion (my goal is to finish a "part" each month; still have 6 to go)
  4. Cut binding for Infinity Star
  5. Attach binding to Infinity Star
  6. Finish knitting sleeves for Mork
  7. Seam/finish Mork
  8. Start on Milanese Loop or Honey Cowl for The Loopy Ewe 1Q Challenge (use yarn with silk in it) / Madelinetosh Toshdown
  9. Log at least 30 miles of walking/slogging for  the 100-mile Challenge
  10. Participate in the Samsom's Stomp @ Milwaukee Zoo (depending on weather)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

2012 Challenge/Goals Update

A while back I had posted some items I wanted to work on in 2012.  Some were items I was hoping to have finished before the end of the year.  Here is my updated list.
  1. Finish Aidez (knitting)
  2. Finish Coastal Hoodie (knitting)
  3. Finish Tea w/Betsy & Martha top and send to Alycia (quilting)
  4. Make 4 patch blocks for Regina (quilting)
  5. Finish quilting Infinity Star (quilting)
  6. Bind Infinity Star (quilting)
  7. Finish t-shirt quilt for friend (quilting)
  8. Finish Claire handbag (quilting)
  9. Quilt and bind Star Struck from Jill (quilting)
  10. Continue working on Washington Medallion (quilting)
  11. Quilt and bind Go Green (quilting)
  12. Continue working on Cobblestone Lane (quilting)
  13. Continue working on Cider Apple Medallion (quilting)
  14. Start and finish pair of mittens (knitting)
  15. Start Mork pullover (knitting)
  16. Start Sprossling cardigan (knitting)
  17. Start Wintry Mix pullover (knitting)
  18. Start Zephyr cardigan (knitting) - part of the Toshdown KAL
  19. Start Whippoorwill shawl (knitting) - part of the Toshdown KAL
  20. Start Morgandy mittens (knitting) - part of the Toshdown KAL
  21. Start a cable sweater - either FLAK or Dark & Stormy (knitting)
  22. Walk/run at least 350 miles
  23. Participate in 2-3 10K walk/runs (hopefully one w/Amy from Amy's Passions)
I also am going to participate in the Madelinetosh Toshdown KAL on Ravelry.  The goal is to use some of the Madelinetosh yarn that is in our current stash, while still being able to buy more if we choose.  I've started a list of potential projects to work on.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Looking Forward

Judy posted about her 2012 challenge projects, which got me to thinking about my goals for next year.  I failed miserably with this year's UFO challenge.  So rather than chosing a particular project each month, I'm going to post knitting and quilting projects that I'd like to finish, start or work on in 2012.  In no particular order:
  1. Finish Aidez (knitting)
  2. Finish Coastal Hoodie (knitting)
  3. Finish Tea w/Betsy & Martha top and send to Alycia (quilting)
  4. Make 4 patch blocks for Regina (quilting)
  5. Finish t-shirt quilt for friend (quilting)
  6. Finish Claire handbag (quilting)
  7. Quilt and bind Star Struck from Jill (quilting)
  8. Continue working on Washington Medallion (quilting)
  9. Quilt and bind Go Green (quilting)
  10. Continue working on Cobblestone Lane (quilting)
  11. Continue working on Cider Apple Medallion (quilting)
  12. Start and finish pair of mittens (knitting)
  13. Start Mork sweater (knitting)
  14. Start Sprossling cardigan (knitting)
  15. Start Wintry Mix pullover (knitting)
  16. Start Gimlet cardigan (knitting)
  17. Start a cable sweater - either FLAK or Dark & Stormy (knitting)
I'll add to and modify this as it changes.  A couple of the items I'm hoping to have done before the 2012.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Goals

For whatever reason, I woke up around 4 a.m. and started thinking about next year.  Before we know it, it's going to be 2011.  Have you thought about your plans/goals?  I have been.  Actually I started thinking about them back in July already.  How sad is that?!?! 

With the uncertainty of hubby's job and the slow season coming where I work, my main goal is to cut my spending....drastically!  A couple of weeks ago I totalled up what I've spent on fabric/quilting supplies and yarn this year.  While quilting wasn't too bad, the knitting was shocking.  It seems when I start a new hobby (or collection), I go overboard.  I can't stop accumulating because I find all these projects I want to make.  It's new and exciting, what more can I say!  After a while (sometimes a long while), it sinks in that I can't possibly use everything or (sadly) I lose interest.  So, I am planning on joining a sock club at the beginning of the year and then only buy yarn for specific projects, and only when I'm ready to start that project.  Wish me luck!

I do have several other goals but you'll have to wait until we get closer to see them. 

What are your goals for 2011?  Will you do anything differently?  Will you learn a new hobby/technique?

Thursday, July 1, 2010

July Goals

A couple weeks ago I was updating my WIP list and realized that it was outdated.  So I updated it and have decided that each month I need to work on one item on that list, along with one "new" quilt project (if I wish to start something new).  So here's what I'd *like* to work on this month:
  • Piece Border #3 for Morning Splash.
  • Finish lining on the Claire handbag.
  • Work on pockets for Claire handbag.
  • Finish "B" blocks on Memorial Day QOV.
  • Add borders to Memorial Day QOV.
  • Cut fabrics for Timberline Log Cabin.
  • Cast on and finish a waffle dishcloth.
  • Cast on first sleeve for Melbourne sweater.
  • Finish reading Mercy.
  • Walk at least 20 miles.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

June Goals

These are the projects I'd like to work on in June:
  • Finish Claire handbag
  • Continue working on Grape Jam
  • Cut fabric for Judy's Memorial Day QOV
  • Get Morning Splash into a flimsie
  • Cast on and finish the Melbourne sweater front
  • Cast on scarf for my aunt

Saturday, May 1, 2010

May Goals

I'm really looking forward to May.  It will be another busy month, with a mini road trip and a fun walk/run that'll take me into Lambeau Field.  I think it'll be a great month! 

Here's what I'm hoping to work on this month:
  • Finish Birdseye star blocks
  • Start piecing the 9 patch alternate block
  • Finish at least one BOM block
  • Work on Morning Splash
  • Finish alligator sock #2
  • Cast on Melbourne sweater
  • Walk/slog at least 30 miles

Thursday, April 1, 2010

April Goals

Can you believe it's already April?!?!  We've got quite a bit going on this month, but here is what I'd like to at concentrate on during the month of April.
  • Finish the 9 patch blocks for Birdseye
  • Finish Chili sock #1; start #2
  • Finish Easy Breezy sweater
  • Start knitting Christmas in July gift for my aunt
  • Walk/slog at least 30 miles
  • Quilt Fall Back in Time
  • Make at least one BOM block
  • Watch Brewers!!!

Monday, March 1, 2010

March Goals

Most of the items I listed as goals for February are ongoing or being repeated for March.  My time in the sewing room will become more limited as the weather gets nicer.  I know I won't get these all accomplished, but I'll give it my best shot.  Honestly, if I don't get something done this month, guess what...it'll still be there next month (unless the quilting fairy visits)! 

~ Finish Cobblestone Lane BOM - Month 4 blocks
~ Bind Square Dance
~ Quilt Fall Back in Time
~ Quilt one other flimsie
~ Make Step Lively into top
~ Make Morning Splash into top
~ Work on Washington Medallion BOM blocks
~ Finish sock #2
~ Continue knitting Easy Breezy sweater
~ Walk 4-5 days every week.