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!

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