2022 Recap by the numbers and some knitting goals

2022 saw the finish of several long term projects, like the Sock Yarn Blanket, the Unicorn Pillow (the needlework part), JC's USMC Seal.  And Dutch Beauty of course.

However, Quilting was a disappointment.   While the first half of the year saw steady work on the Patchwork of the Crosses table topper (Lucy Boston), I didn't work on any quilting at all in the second half of the year.  But at least I didn't ADD any projects to the stash or UFO list.  My other hobbies are quick to pick up and set down, while quilting demands larger blocks of time.  The major roadblock for me, though, is the set up and tear down that has to happen for me to get my sewing machine out.   I do not have a dedicated sewing room or even a sewing space, and there is not really a place in this house that would work well as one given the current furniture layout and need for a home office (working from home three days a week).  I am hoping that once I retire, the time constraint at least will be solved.   And I'm thinking about a way to rearrange and put things on a cart or two to solve the space issue.  Goal for 2023 is to make progress on at least one UFO/WIP and hopefully finish something. Anything.

On the other hand, Knitting went well.  I used 5,398 yards and purchased 1,976, for a total stash reduction of 3,422 yards / 3,129 meters.   This is the twelfth year in a row that at least 1,000 more yards of yarn went out of the stash than came in.   Which says something about my buying habits prior to 2011!   I used retail yarn therapy extensively from 2004 to 2010 - in that time: my husband died and JC left for the Marine Corps, and then he deployed.  Carl was born premature and spent over a month in NICU and they were halfway across the continent at Camp Lejeune. Then there was my mom's stroke, rehab, and just four years later cancer diagnosis, hospice and death.  Much stress lead to MUCH yarn therapy plus inheriting mom's stash.  At one point, I had six storage tubs of yarn plus several loose bags and multiple WIPs!  I am down to one WIP (I prefer to be a somewhat monogamous knitter) and four tubs, though I will admit that they are pretty well stuffed full to bursting.  The queue in Ravelry is down to 37, mostly via triage of projects that I have lost interest in.  Goals are 'more out than in' again this year, and the queue to one page (30 projects or less).   I'd like to get at least one sweater knit. 

There are several sweater's worth of yarn in my stash, but the top contenders are a heavy cable jacket with a separating zipper in a heavy worsted (Scottish Heather); adapted from a pullover sweater by Alice Starmore and her wool, too.

The next option is a self designed colorwork yoke sweater.  I have a sweater's worth of light worsted (Fisherman's Wool by Lion Brand) in heather brown and enough of the same yarn in cream solid for the contrast colorwork.

And the last idea is a summer casual sweater from a lush blue acrylic (Magnum by Zitron, a sadly discontinued yarn).  I have 1500 yards, which should be enough for a tee with elbow length sleeves.

 There was no change in the fiber stash (need to get back to spinning that down).

I track purchases divided between yarn/spinning fiber and everything else (needlework, quilting, sewing);  I have the goal of a minimum of three 'no buy' months.  The rule is that yarns/fibers/threads (including floss) and notions to finish an existing project do not count.  All fabrics and threads/notions for a new project do count.   I logged five 'no buy' months in 2022.  I purchased four new needlework patterns, one of which (Corgi Caboodle) is done and framed and another (My Day Complete) is underway.   One (Mead Dragon) was kitted and the final chart (Canine Heirloom Santa) just has the perforated paper, no floss pulled yet.  I also purchased replacement fabric for one project (Sugar Skull).   Most of my crafting budget this year went to framing with six projects either framed or at the framers.

All in all, I finished 13 Needlework projects and fully finished or framed three older projects for a total of 16.   Two of those older projects are still at the framers because I told them to put them after their holiday rush pieces. Three finishes are going into the Christmas Wall Quilt (3 more blocks to make), one (the Vintage Unicorn) needs to be made up into a pillow. The total in the finish and frame spreadsheet and box went from 48 to 45.  Only the pillow top was added to the 'under the bed box' for future finishing (Dutch Beauty will be going to the framers next week.   The shop is closed for the holiday, and besides, I need to iron her and check to be sure I got all the page basting out).

The needlework stash continues to decrease.   As of today (12/31/2022), I have 106 107 fully kitted projects and 7 partially kitted projects for a total of 113 114.  (revised to correct numbers 2/25/2023)  Down from 121 last year as I continue to both work from the stash and triage out projects that I am no longer interested in and move those materials back into the general stash.  See tomorrow's SSS post for my starting point on the Needlework WiPs for 2023 as I will do my 'annual reset of the rotation' then.