Just As It Oughta

I woke up to big soft floaty flakes of snow this morning! Usually, I’d be cursing, but I’m trying to cultivate a new point of view this year. It really is beautiful and we’ve been lucky to have had quite a stunning variety in our weather this fall and winter. Things are, really, just as they oughta be.

It’s also fitting to use my first post of the year to share some plans I have for the upcoming year (or at least, the foreseeable future). I am filled with admiration for Amy over at the Stranded Podcast for her ability to set and achieve goals. Amy writes them down and tapes them to the back of the door. I see the wisdom in that, keeping the list right before your very eyes for constant reaffirmation, and I certainly can’t argue with her success! She hit, like, 90% of her goals! Amazing! For me, it’s important to have something to keep me accountable, so I’ll post the “short list” here (the “Big List” is on a clip board on my desk ;).

BLOG

My first goal is to renew my commitment to my blog. I really do love my little blog and it seems it’s the first thing to be dropped from my To Do list when the going gets tough. That’s no fun and no fair so no more of that! I’ve got many tools to help me make the most of my blog; I’d like to use them. I’d like to spend a little more time writing researched/technical posts, I do enjoy digging up information about knitting and I enjoy sharing it, but really, I’d like to get back to the simple, conversational posts that keep me connected with other knitters. Same goes for reading blogs. I truly love checking in with the people whose blogs I follow. In my mind, these folks are my friends and when I don’t pop in on them, I feel lonesome!

PODCAST

In the same way, I’d like to make a serious commitment to my podcast. I gave podcasting a go last spring, but felt I was way out of my depth technically. I don’t enjoy editing video. AT ALL. And I certainly don’t enjoy watching video that is badly edited. In fact, the podcasts I most enjoy are those that are simple and honest and feature a personality I really like. It’s a way that I can get to know people who have similar interests. It’s just like blogging only with moving pictures and sound. It’s a way for people to get to know me in real time. So, I think I’ll make it much simpler and have another bash at it.

FREE PATTERN FRIDAY

Remember that l’il creative challenge I set myself last year? Free Pattern Friday? The one where I killed myself writing and releasing a new pattern every week? Wow! What an experience! I met so many wonderful new people, learned A TON about design and pattern writing and had a blast (when I wasn’t pulling my hair out). Truly, I could not have achieved that goal without two really incredible people, Christine F and Annette B. These two amazing artisans tested and sample knit the Free Pattern Friday items just about every week, hitting the deadlines and contributing feedback and original ideas as only truly creative people can. I’m so indebted to them both! So…what will happen to FPF in the new year?

SHAWL SERIES

As demanding as the process was, I’ve enjoyed it so much that I can’t quite give it up! Though I can’t commit to a pattern every week, I certainly can commit to one a month, which brings me to my next trick! Starting the first week in February, I’ll be launching a brand new six month shawl series. These shawls will be of varied shapes and sizes and showcase a variety of technique. We’ll start at the heavy end of the yarn range with worsted weight in February and work our way down to lace weight in July. I’ve managed to secure some yarn support from Cascade Yarns and MillaMia of Sweden, and am working at finding more yarn producers and dyers that might be interested. In the meantime, between now and February 3, I’m going to be launching a little Free Pattern Friday retrospective, re-releasing the paid-for patterns as free-for-a-limited-time offerings. These will be fully formatted Ravelry downloads, although you’ll need to pop in here at the blog to pick up the coupon code.

So! I think this all sounds fun, don’t you? I’m excited to get started! Let’s all have a happy, knitty and productive new year!