Looking back, looking forward

 I am both pleased and disappointed when I look at what my goals were this time last year.   I did go from 35 to 29 WiPs in all categories; so that's a win.  My highest number of WiPs was 40 back in the spring of 2019 after I found the bin with the projects from the 70s and 80s in the basement.  WiPs and UFOs are just started projects; doesn't include kitted needlework, projected sewing projects, quilt idea list or Ravelry queue that has yarn assigned. 

Needlework - totally blew my goals out of the water.  Finished the rest of the Victoria Sampler Four Elements, the Sampler Sweetbag set AND finished Millennium.  Made good progress on Dutch Beauty.  Total unstarted items in stash went from 119 to 114 (there were discards as well as finishes); things partially kitted stayed at 23.  Total 137

Knitting had mixed results.  I didn't get Rosemarkie finished, it stalled at the buttonholes. But I got the oldest UFO (the hexipuff cushion) done.  One completed pair of socks, and one partial pair of socks currently on the needles.  However, the yarn usage was the smallest it has been since I started keeping track a decade ago; good news is that is was still positive - more out than in.  Ravelry queue went from 50 to 49, but I am at four WiPs instead of the three at the start of 2020, so not really a reduction per se.

Quilting was also a disappointment.  Not one bit further on any of my quilts.  I burned out making masks last spring, put the sewing machines away and never even got them out after about May.

On the other hand, on the success front - stash growth.  I completely "cold sheep-ed"/no stash purchases for eight months of the year.  In the other four months, purchased just the yarn for Kimi's muppet that is in progress and a fabrics for WiPs.   Two very small purchases of needlework.  One of which I intend for my 'new year, new start' at the January virtual retreat coming up on January 22. And the other will be the next "modern" project after that.

So going into 2021.  Hopefully we will be post plague at SOME point this year, but I am still going to minimize purchases and continue to work on UFOS as much as possible.  

2021 Goals

Quilting

•  It was the 80s - FINISH (it's a bottleneck!)
  
• Lucy Boston Table Topper - all main blocks done and setting decided on, alternate blocks also done, work on setting pathway blocks
• Fox and Geese - get it basted and the hand quilting underway
  
• Aunt Lottie's Garden - assemble top and decide on applique border design
  

Needlework - continue with the four slot rotation, ten hours per slot.  Plus a slot for finish/frame.

• Antique/Vintage Sampler/Smalls:  Dutch Beauty - goal is to do the large fritillaria baskets on page 16/part of 17 and part of 18/19.  Also small motifs on Page 16 / Page 19 (between the lily and fritillaria motifs), and the remaining bottom border. That will leave just the large center motif with the waterbirds, cattails and swan family remaining to do on the bottom row.
  
• Pictorial:  JC's USMC seal.
• Modern Sampler/Smalls:  Finish stitching on  Elizabeth Designs "Garden Delights", Just Nan "Drive a stick", measuring tape case (for SB Garden Smalls).
  
• Other than Counted Thread: Finish the cutwork napkins (just one to go).  Choose one of the remaining three UFOs in this category , get it set up and make progress on it.  (I picked the Unicorn Pillow.)
  
• Finish and Frame:  Framing on Damaris Underwood, Millennium and Four Elements.  Finish Garden Delights into a project bag.  Finish "Drive a stick" as a flat fold.  Finishing on tape measure case (SB set).  Pull out of cedar chest everything 'to be framed' or 'to be finished' - log and prioritize.
• Figure out what's going on with the Plaza Sewing Bag - pictorial or modern ?
  

Knitting/Crochet

• Sock yarn Blanket - continues to be an ongoing project.  Round 8 finished.   Round 9 and 10 in navy plus navy I-cord border to do.
  
• Finish all of the other WiPs from the first of the year - Grey Socks, Kimi's Yip Yip, Rosemarkie
• Christmas Stocking for my brother in love (my little sister was sporting a ring at Christmas dinner!  That means he is knit worthy.) 
• Future Projects
  
• Socks from finished handspun
  
• Cable sweater