Last week we discussed the knits I finished in 2014, and the intention words around which I’ve chosen to focus my year. I also mentioned needing a ‘plan of attack’ for my WIPs and yarn stash. For the stash, I’ve ruthlessly gone through and and either donated or put up for destash all of the skeins that I don’t foresee using anytime soon. (If there’s anything in my regular stash that you’re interested in, feel free to inquire as well, I might be persuaded to let it go.) For the WIPs, I’ve decided to split the year up into quarters (3 month chunks) and have listed a 5 ‘new’ projects (began since Dec 2014), 4 sock WIPs, and 3 other WIPs (projects begun prior to Dec 2014) to work on each quarter.

Knitting plans for Jan – Mar.

Let me tell you, when you only allow yourself a certain number of projects to knit at a time, it really forces you to choose wisely! I’ve given careful thought to the yarns I want to work with, the variety of projects I like on my needles, and the finished objects I’m anxious to wear to sort out my lists. I have not planned out every new project through the entire year, but I did assign all my WIPs to each quarter so I will at least be required to either finish them or frog them at some point soon. The above photo represents my first quarter knitting plans (minus 2 sock WIPs that I forgot to pull out).

New Projects:

• Camelot Monkeys – Monkey socks, knit with Barking Dog Yarns Opposites Attract
• Garnet Filemot – Filemot shawl from Hunter’s new Curls book, knit with VG Zaftig
• Yak Ecclefechan – Ecclefechan Mitts, knit with Bijou Basin Ranch Himalayan Trail (as discussed for Inspiration Saturday)
• Thrummed Slippers – Cadeautje, knit with handspun Spinzilla Jacob
• Yaksi Cancan – French Cancan shawl, knit with BMFA Yaksi

Sock WIPs:

• Alchemy – pattern of my own design, knit with BMFA Heavyweight
• Blue Loasa – Loasa lateritia socks, knit with BMFA Mediumweight
• Mom’s Flocked Socks – Flocked Socks, knit with Miss Babs Yummy 3-ply
• Lillypad Take Two – pattern of my own design, knit with VG Bugga

Other WIPs:

• Overdyed Cypress – Cypress vest, knit with overdyed BMFA Twisted
• Deep Dark Stellaria – Stellaria shawl, knit with VG Codex
• Kelp-y Kelpie – Kelpie shawl, knit with BT Loft and a Black Trillium gradient kit

Phew! I bet you guys are sick of lists by now, but I have one more.

Spin the Bin 2015

This year’s CTA Spin the Bin Challenge! The idea for this challenge is to pull out 12 ‘types’ of fiber from the depths of your stash, put them in a bin, and commit to spinning the whole shebang this year. This helps a spinner stay focused when the shiny, new, colorful braids are being too tempting. You only need to count 2 oz as one ‘type’ of fiber, so it’s easy enough to spread large bunches of fiber out over several categories, and it doesn’t mean that you can’t spin new fiber, just that you also commit to spinning up some of what you’ve had for a while. Here are my 12 types, many of which have been lingering in stash since 2012.

Spin the Bin 2015:

1. Loop! Kermit Coordinate Bump – 5 oz
2. TwoSistersStringworks Gotland in Rime – 4 oz
3. TwoSistersStringworks Gotland in Canopy – 4oz
4. BMFA Sheep 2 Shoe Kit in Single Cell Dating Pool – 4 oz
5. BMFA Sheep 2 Shoe Kit in Single Cell Dating Pool – 4 oz
6. Woolgatherings Polwarth/Silk – 4 oz
7. Woolgatherings Polwarth/Silk – 4 oz
8. Woolgatherings Polwarth/Silk – 4 oz
9. BFL x Cormo locks – 2 oz
10. BFL x Cormo locks – 2 oz
11. BFL x Gotland locks – 2 oz
12. BFL x Gotland locks – 2 oz

As you can see, I’m taking what are really 7 different fiber stash entries and spreading them out over the 12 ‘types’ for the year. There are plenty of other things I want to spin this year, but these bin spins are on the list because I don’t want to keep putting them off, especially the BFL cross locks. I’ve only committed to the minimum for those fibers, since I’m considering washing and prepping them by hand to be part of the challenge for me. Plus, I have a full pound of each and I’m not yet sure what I want to do with all of it, the goal this year is just to sample them.

And those are all of my lofty plans! If I manage to accomplish all of my first quarter knitting and the first three Spin the Bin goals, I will have used up 20 skeins of yarn and 13 oz of fiber. Not bad, right? Here’s hoping I can make it!