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Goodbye 2015

The days seem to pass so quickly. Not so much the days . . as in an individual 24 hour period, but just time in general. I often wonder . . is it because I’m older or is it because I have so much fun every day? It seems like just yesterday that we were ending 2014 and welcoming 2015 and in what seems like the blink of an eye, we’ll be saying goodbye to 2015.

So, no matter what I think or what I wish . . 2015 is pretty much history and it’s time to see what 2016 has in store for us.

I can pretty much forget about New Year’s Resolutions because I know what’s going to happen . . nothing! Weigh loss, better organized, cleaner house . . but here are some things I really want to do in 2016:

  • Make some 18″ doll clothes with matching outfits for Addie. I have a couple of patterns for doll clothes and I can easily adapt little girl patterns and we all know I have plenty of fabric!
  • Learn to steek. That’s a knitting term where you knit in the round, then cut up the middle and add a button band. It’s pretty necessary for colorwork but it also avoids a lot of purling and who likes to purl? In one of my Ravelry groups, there’s a “Steek-Along” starting the second week in January and I think I’m going to do that. It’s only yarn, right?
  • Spin. The spinning wheel issues have been resolved and I have everything I need . . just have to find some time to practice.
  • Rug Hooking. I find this to be relaxing but it’s kinda like my guilty pleasure. Knitting the past few months has been to meet deadlines and it seems like any time I have a minute, I’ve felt like I should be knitting so rug hooking and spinning have been on the back burner. I’m not doing Camp Loopy or the Yarnathon in 2016 so that gives me more time for doing whatever I want to be doing instead of what I “need” to be doing.
  • Bags. I want to make some bags. My friend, Judy, and her daughter make the most adorable bags. I have some patterns and supplies . . I just need to do it. I think it’s zippers that have me avoiding getting started but I’m going to do it! In 2016!

On the homefront, I would love for Vince to raise some quail and meat rabbits. That’s another thing that I’m more interested in doing than he is and he will end up with more work than I will so I don’t want to push too hard and so far, he hasn’t jumped and said “That’s a great idea!” so we’ll see how that goes. I bought some quail and am going to smoke them and maybe he’ll think that’s the best thing he’s ever eaten and decide to raise some.

Other than that, it’s the usual knitting, gardening, trying new recipes that will keep me busy and out of trouble.

Is there anything you want to do . . learn to do or something you used to do and haven’t done in a long time?

Whatever you do, I hope you have an amazing 2016 – fun, happy, healthy and prosperous!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. 2015 was an amazing quilt year. This year I want to slow down and enjoy the sheep and garden more. Then I have a new Scan n Cut I want to learn and knitting machine that I want to use.

    I think the days go faster because we fill them to overflowing and there is no way we can do all that we want to do.

  2. I’m with you on the steeking, I just got the yarn for my project and might make a practice swatch with a steek this week. I am going to knit Hedgerow by Ann Kingstone.

  3. Check out ikatbag.com for zipper tutorials – she’s starting a teaching series on all kinds of zippers. She is a really good seamstress, bag maker, cardboard creator, etc.

  4. I have weaving and rug hooking on my must do list next year. I am going to get back into dyeing fabric and am toying with yarn.

  5. Ha ha – new year resolutions! I think the reason I found this site was weight loss – was it last year or the year before when “the diet” was going strong. Alas, we are all the same……

  6. I plan to continue Rug Hooking because it’s relaxing to me. I also plan to make one quilt a month. In past years that has worked and I can sure whittle down that fabric stash. Diet and exercise….that needs to be a lifestyle for me not a New Years resolution.

  7. I just bought a ScanNCut yesterday and so I NEED to learn how to use it for not only my fabric cards but for some of the other things it can do. Then I’d also like to really learn how to digitize ,machine embroidery designs. I’ve done a few simple ones but would like to learn more. And I plan to go to Orlando to volunteer at Wycliffe Associates for February and March. That’s my plan. We will see what transpires.

  8. In 2016 I’d like to get my yard in better shape. It has been so wet this fall that I’ve done next to nothing outside. Also I have a stack of UFOs that need to be quilted this year and a quilt to make for my guild’s challenge before the May meeting. Will my stash get smaller? Naw! I love every piece! I don’t understand those who say they don’t like some of their fabrics. I still cherish pieces I bought 25 or more years ago. I mix them in with the more current ones.

  9. It sounds like you’ll be having a fun 2016! As far as zippers go, if I can make a zippered bag you can too. I found that the scary zippers weren’t as big of a deal as I made them up to be!

    I do want to learn something new but more than ever I want to get back into a regular routine of knitting, quilting, and stitching. 2015 brought work stress (its been resolved) that put me in a funk. So funk begone in 2016 is my goal!

    Wishing your both a happy, healthy and safe new year!

  10. I’ll be working on precision with paper piecing (Mariners compasses) and working on composition for art quilts.

  11. My goal is to aim for one mini quilt a month and to get my sewing room more organized. I also need to learn to clean and oil my new (1929) treadle machine. I’d also like to get back into cross stitch, sew doll clothes and learn heirloom sewing and smocking. Plus the usual healthier eating and exercise. LOL

  12. We raised meat rabbits for years – and except for the coldest of winters when their water would freeze and we’d have to change it out a few times each day – they were very little work. If you build their hutches right in the garden – even less work! My 2016 is going to be all about CHANGE. I have lots of mini goals (quilting more, spa time for me, healthier eating for the entire family) – but I know lots of changes need to take place so that’s where my focus is !

  13. 2015 was a mixed bag of joy and stress! I did not get as much quilting done as I wanted to but joined a guild and that has been fun. 2016 will no doubt be more of the same. I’m going to continue to work on old and new quilting projects and hope to get more rhythm in my cross-stitching and wool appliqué. I do love handwork! I’d like to learn how to cook more interesting meals–we seem to eat the same things every week. My new crockpot with a removable insert should help with that.

  14. I love to purl and I’m considerably faster than on a knit row. In fact one of the reasons I
    don’t particularly like working in the round is it’s all knitting. I carry the yarn in my right hand and can work very quickly, but not as fast as our Mum, who was like a machine. Keryn and I have been knitting for 51 years and I still love it.
    Happy New Year, and keep telling your stories, I love reading your blog.

  15. After reading your posts about the instant pot I bought one. I still need to get it out of the box and figure out how to use it. My husband loves our rice cooker so I don’t think I will use it for rice but would like to try it for roasts. I get home late from work most nights and it would be nice to have the instant pot to cook dinner more quickly.

  17. I’m looking forward to seeing what patterns, etc. you find for Addie’s American Girl doll. My 4-year-old daughter is asking for one, so I think I will get it for her birthday with a wardrobe, so I’ll be sewing along with you!

  18. In 2016 I would like to finish quilting all my 16 quilt tops that have been waiting patiently for their turn . I plan to try more new recipes, in general and in my InstaPot, knit some new items other than socks -i.e. hats, mittens,maybe even try a sweater. I’m learning to make kombucha and saw your post on making yogurt in the IP, that appeals to me too. I love following your adventures in the kitchen, garden and hobby rooms. I want to increase my walking each day– shooting for 3 miles/day, but already I missed that goal today. Oh well, there’s always tomorrow. lol

  19. Happy New Year to you and the family! Can’t wait to read what things you and Vince get up to in 2016.

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