Pages

Crafty Resolutions for Knitters & Crocheters in 2019

Will you be making any yarn-related resolutions for 2019? The new year will be here before you know it, and now is the perfect time to set some goals to guide your knitting and crocheting next year. Here are some ideas you might want to try in 2019!

2019 "Make Nine" Challenge
If you only had time to make 9 projects in 2019, what would they be? We've gotten lots of inspiring pattern ideas just by exploring the hashtag #2019makenine on Instagram. The "Make Nine" challenge  is self-described as "A gentle, self-guided slow fashion initiative for fabric and yarn lovers," meaning that it's low-stress AND easy to customize for your preferred craft and skill level. You could challenge yourself to make 9 simple baby hats or 9 adult-sized steeked color work sweaters if you are so inclined! Following along with what other folks intend to make and how they progress throughout the year will be just as fun as sharing your own to-do list and progress.



Ravelry Project Challenge
Let's face it, most of us knit or crochet more than 9 projects in one calendar year - that's where a new feature on Ravelry can come into play! Earlier this year, Ravelry introduced the Project Challenge. If you look in your Notebook on Ravelry, on the menu bar at the top right (under your profile), you’ll see a Challenge button:


Simply click on that button and enter how many projects you wish to complete in 2019 to set your personal goal for the year, and Ravelry will automatically update your running count of projects for each one you mark complete in your notebook. Similar to #2019MakeNine, this is also a self-directed challenge that can be as high or low stress as you like!

Maybe you’re looking to try a new technique in 2019? There are so many groups on Ravelry that you’re sure to find a group of people who love the technique you want to try. Have you always wanted to learn brioche but were scared to try? The Brioche Knitters group can help. Wanted to cable, but were intimidated by the addition of a cable needle? Check out Cable Lovers. Have a life-long goal to tackle that Niebling lace? Try the group dedicated to the work of Herbert Niebling. We’re confident that there’s a group for you no matter what you want to try.  

Did you want to focus on crafting a certain type of item in 2019? Are you a sock addict? Try Sock Knitters Anonymous for those who just can’t stop knitting socks. Bump it up a notch and knit 12 or 19 sweaters in 2019 with this ambitious group! Or take on the 12 Shawls Forever challenge and knit 12 shawls in 2019 and beyond. Whatever you want to knit, there’s a group for that!



Yarn Tourism
A great way to meet fellow yarn lovers and dive deeper into your craft is to a attend special events and classes. There may be several fun events happening right in your own backyard, but have you ever thought about traveling to a special destination to celebrate all things yarn?

There are knitting events held worldwide that are amazing to attend, destinations such as the NY Sheep & Wool Festival (often referred to as simply Rhinebeck, for the name of the town the event is held in), Maryland Sheep & Wool, and the Taos Wool Festival, are popular destinations for fiber enthusiasts. Stitches Events and Vogue Knitting Live events are held at different times of the year in various cities around the country. If you live outside the U.S. or are up for big travel try the Edinburgh Yarn Festival in Scotland or Knit City in Canada.

You can also check out what your local or regional fiber guild has to offer or plan to attend one of the big shows elsewhere in the country; Clara Parkes keeps an extensive list of events here on the Knitter's Review website.


Make Yarn A Part of Non-Crafty Resolutions
At the start of a new year, lots of people pledge to get better organized or start a new health or workout regimen - and wouldn't you be more likely to stick to those resolutions if they somehow involved yarn?! That's what we thought!

There are lots of fun bags, bins, and boxes you can knit and crochet to take control of the clutter in your life. Here are a few free patterns to try: Small Hanging Basket by Hobbii Design (Crochet, shown below)Geometric Basket by Jamey from Dabbles & Babbles (Crochet)Piece of Cake Basket by Ladybug Designs (Knit) or the Sandhills Basket by Winnie Marie Designs.


You'll be less likely to blow off yoga class if you have a lovely hand knit or crocheted yoga mat bag to show off! Try the crocheted New Year, New Yoga (Mat Bag) by The Yarn Engineer or Miriam Katherine's knitted Behold the Spirit Yoga Mat Bag, both of which are available for free on Ravelry. For FitBit users, there are a few free knit and crochet patterns cropping up on Ravelry (see them all here); shown below is the Fitbit Pocketby Mwaa Knit, which looks like a fun way to use up leftover yarn to create a colorful necklace to keep your fitness tracker safe. 


CONTEST
We'd love to hear about your crafty resolutions for 2019 (or how you plan to incorporate yarn into your non-crafty resolutions!). Share your resolutions in the comments for your chance to win a Knitter's Magnetic Necklace Kit! Be sure to also mention your Ravelry ID or email address so that we can contact you if you win. We'll randomly select one lucky winner to announce on our first blog post of the new year on Friday, January 11. Good luck!

Like this post? Pin it!

33 comments:

  1. I've had surgery on both thumbs in the last two years, and I'm working to get mobility and strength back. My resolution is to be able to knit again by the end of 2019. hardwarequeen on Ravelry

    ReplyDelete
  2. Learn brioche!! And finish ufo’s from
    2018.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ann (Rav: Peppersmom314)27 December 2018 at 07:58

    I plan to do the #2019makenine challenge but I haven't narrowed down my nine yet. I know one will be a colorwork hat from Milarrochy Heids (I'm already working crown decreases on one of them) and I bought a fair isle vest kit this year that I want to complete in 2019. Other than that, I have so many patterns in my Ravelry library that it's hard to decide on the remaining 7 projects. My other big knitting goal is converting my spare bedroom to my knitting room.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My first grandchild is coming in April so I’m planning a couple baby blankets. And hoping to make a big blanket for our living room. Patterns and stash already determined!

    ReplyDelete
  5. My resolution for 2019 is to finally knit a sweater! I've got the yarn, the pattern, and the swatch, I just need to buckle down and do it!
    Ravelry ID: goosey1019

    ReplyDelete
  6. I want to finish the projects that I've promised to make for others. It would be a lot easier if people would stop having babies...

    Rav id awagers

    ReplyDelete
  7. My 2019 goal is to knit a pair of socks each month. Fingers crossed!
    Ravelry is: cmccrochets

    ReplyDelete
  8. I want to learn brioche and knit a fair isle sweater in 2019. Wendydancer on ravelry

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am ABSOLUTELY going to finish "Holly" by Kaffe Fasset. (And by finish, I mean take off the first row I cast on 2 years ago and then froze. *hanging knitters head in shame* Knitsensei on Ravelry

    ReplyDelete
  10. Use more of my stash. ��
    Rav ID: risingphoenix23

    ReplyDelete
  11. Tamara(Ravelry: theilman6427 December 2018 at 11:33

    I want to learn how to knit socks.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I want to knit 2 sweaters next year

    ReplyDelete
  13. Would like to finish a pair of socks a month!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love to start new projects so I have several UFO's. My first resolution is to finish all UFO's or unravel them. Next I would like to work on my yarn stash and donate items that I no longer love. I also plan to knit a bit each day.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I plan on not buying yarn until I've finished at least three UFOs. Also not starting any new projects I have lined up until I sort through some of my finished projects and give the gift of hand knit to a few lucky people.

    ReplyDelete
  16. My resolution is to make a colorwork sweater. I’ve mastered sweater making and I learned colorwork this year so now I want to combine them! My ravelry name is MrsMinar.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I plan to organise my stash and work with what I have as much as possible coz who am I kidding I'm still gonna buy yarn! Plus I plan to pull out my UFOs and either finish or frog them.

    ReplyDelete
  18. The #2019makenine challenge sounds like fun. Maybe I could combine that with my goal of making socks for Christmas ... If I start now, I might actually finish on time! I also want to learn brioche. (asimplehomestd on Ravelry)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I plan to knit Christmas gift for 2019 in the first three months so I can spend the rest of the year when I get busy on me to help keep me calm and collected.

    ReplyDelete
  20. In the new year, I would like to learn how to knit gorgeous brioche projects, as well as make my nieces and nephews Christmas gifts they’ll love. I would also like to visit a few local yarn shops with my Mom wherever I may be..... and buy some more yarn to knock off a few projects I have queued up on my Ravelry account, which is;
    CakesMckenzie22

    ReplyDelete
  21. My resolution for 2019 is to knit socks! I always want to but get distracted by other things and my feet really need some. My rav id is catwalk82

    ReplyDelete
  22. My resolution is to knit more yarn that I purchase. I have a large stash and need to use some of it before I purchase more. (Said no knitter ever!)

    ReplyDelete
  23. My 2018 goal (accomplished!) was to enter my work in my state fair. My 2019 goal is to win a ribbon at the fair. Rav PDXMama

    ReplyDelete
  24. My resolution is to knit lots of hats with yarn from my stash and a coat with lots of cables!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I decided I have to do my projects, I have everything for them. Making a scrap blanket for friend. Its helping me get projects done so I will have scraps. So far its working!

    ReplyDelete
  26. My goal for 2019 is to knit a fair isle sweater. I have done some smaller projects, but I want to do a sweater. lyknnits

    ReplyDelete
  27. I want to finally knit a sweater!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I’m using the ravelry challenge tool to track my goal of starting/completing six projects for which I have the patterns & materials. I’m going to organize and catalog my knitting tools. I’m hoping to “knit nine” cowls/wraps/shawls!

    My ravelry ID is yarntangle

    ReplyDelete
  29. I plan to knit more for myself. I say that every year, but then see a pattern that I know my daughter or daughter in law would love or look great in.😄

    ReplyDelete
  30. I want to join and knit 9 for 2019. I know I am knitting atleast 1 hat,2 fingerless mitts and a shawl just have to figure out a few more items. Lotsofhermies on Rav

    ReplyDelete
  31. I would like to improve my yarn-dyeing skills this year. My goal is to dye a sweater quantity. knittingcounts on Ravelry

    ReplyDelete