Year of Projects, Year 2: The List
I’m so excited to be embarking on a second Year of Projects along with the folks in the Come Blog-A-Long group on Ravelry. Last year, I aimed to work my way through Crochet Master Class: Lessons and Projects from Today’s Top Crocheters
The Projects
If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that I like to donate charity projects each year made from stash yarns. My first project goal is to crochet 52 granny squares for charity. (I crocheted 40 this year, so I’m hoping this is manageable.) To keep things interesting, I plan to use 52 different patterns – there will be no two squares alike!
Granny square books from my collection for inspiration.
I also plan to participate in the (newly renamed) Ravellenic Games for the first time this year. I will attempt to complete my very first pair of knit socks.
Sock knitting books from my collection.
I’ve already started my Holiday Stashdown Challenge, and I have quite a few small holiday projects that I’m planning to make in 2012. But I’d also like to make my mom a very special bedspread in time for her birthday in February. So far, I have a few ideas, but I haven’t settled on anything. This will need to be a really great one, since she is celebrating a milestone birthday next year.
The Techniques
This year, I’d like to learn a few new skills, and improve others that I picked up in the past year.
Learn to spin.
Continue to develop my Bruges lace skills and create my own Bruges lace pattern.
Learn overlay crochet, a technique frequently demonstrated by Melody MacDuffee.
Create my own hairpin lace pattern.
Try double-knitting.
Try out domino (modular) knitting.
Make something cool inspired by Pop Knitting.
Add knit entrelac to my entrelac repertoire (along with single crochet entrelac and Tunisian crochet entrelac).
I’d also like to create a crochet lace shawl pattern or recipe to use in my spring crochet classes at DC37. I’m familiar with broomstick lace, hairpin lace, pineapples, and Tunisian lace, but I can always learn more about crochet lace!
The final list
I learned last year that I need about a month to work on each technique, so my final YOP list for 2012-2013 has only 12 items on it. I seem to work best with books as my inspiration, so I’ve included links to the books I’m likely to use for each goal.
- Crochet 52 granny squares for charity. Likely inspiration: 50 Fabulous Crochet Squares
, 99 Granny Squares to Crochet
, 101 Granny Squares
, 200 Crochet Blocks for Blankets, Throws, and Afghans
, 201 Crochet Motifs, Blocks, Projects and Ideas
, Beyond the Square Crochet Motifs
, Contest Favorites Afghan Squares
, Go Crochet! Afghan Design Workbook
, The Granny Square Book
, and When Granny Meets Filet
.
- Knit my first complete pair of socks. Likely inspiration: The Knitter’s Book of Socks
, Socks a La Carte
, The Sock Knitter’s Handbook
, and Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks
.
- Make my mom a special bedspread for her milestone birthday. (Suggestions for stunning crocheted blanket patterns are welcome! I might even consider knit patterns, but since I’m a slow knitter, that might be too daring.)
- Learn to spin. Likely inspiration: Respect the Spindle
and Start Spinning
.
- Design my own Bruges lace pattern.
- Learn overlay crochet. Likely teachers: The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet
and Crochet Master Class
- Create my own hairpin lace pattern.
- Try double knitting. Likely teacher: Extreme Double Knitting
.
- Try domino (modular) knitting. Likely teacher: Domino Knitting
.
- Make a small project inspired by Pop Knitting: Bold Motifs Using Color & Stitch
.
- Learn knit entrelac. Likely teachers: The Complete Photo Guide to Knitting
and Entrelac: The Essential Guide to Interlace Knitting
.
- Design a crochet lace shawl pattern or recipe for my DC 37 crochet class students.
What a good idea to put your books to good use during this year.
Welcome, Wool Diaries! I love to put my books to good use, and I can travel with them even when there is no internet.
Wow, that’s some list. Your 52 squares caught my attention and those books !!!!!!!! Amazon here I come. I’ve followed your progress this year just gone and I know you’ll do well with your 12-13 list. Look forward to seeing lots of pics. That Bruges lace is gorgeous. xoxox
Thanks, Dorothy! Compared to your hats from last year, the squares are just a small project
.
I love your list and really looking forward to seeing what you do. The 52 granny squares is such a great idean and I’d say totally doable for you and all different, cool ! As someone who knit their first pair of socks this year, you’ll love it !
Really looking forward to seeing more of your Bruges Lace, I love how it looks.
Thanks, Ruth! I’m glad to know you tried out socks this year – it feels better knowing there are others out there lol.
What a fab list, and I love how you’ve used your books to guide you. I’ve got such a huge heap of them, I hope to do some reviews through the year, but I’ll be particularly interested to hear which book you find more use for learning to spin. I’ve got ‘Respect the spindle’, but if I’m honest, I found it a tough one to get on with. The other I picked up at the library and liked the look of a lot more.
Not that I think you need any enabling, but I love the Berocco Afgan book – “Comfort knitting and crochet – Afgans”. I’ve adapted the knitted basketweave pattern for Tunisian and it’s coming out beautifully. Look forward to seeing what you decide on
Thanks for the suggestions, Laura! I have enjoyed reading Respect the Spindle so far, but I haven’t tried it it yet
.
You were my inspiration to actually add a knitting related book to my list this year
Glad to see you’re still utilizing more books this year as well! I haven’t had the opportunity to try Bruges lace or Hairpin so those are two I’ll be especially excited to see when they come about in your list 
Good luck this year!
Yay Nicole (ScarvesEtc)! I’m so happy to inspire another YOP list
.
Good luck! I am planning out my Year of Projects list today as well.
Thanks, Vanessa! I did pretty well last year and met a lot of new (to me) bloggers, so I’m really looking forward to this year.
I never even thought of putting my books on the list. What a great idea. Hmmmmm……..now you have me thinking.
I love to get other people hooked on crafty books, Keri!
Great list, love all your ideas…..I do like your book list, I must get that two at a time book, I also like the look of the domino knitting one, although the thought of knitting a blanket makes me shudder a little at all the time it would need.
So exciting starting this second year, can’t wait to see all the new projects!
Hahaha, Faith, I’m glad I’m not the only person who fears knitting a blanket.
That’s a really interesting list, I love to see the books other people have and the patterns they choose from them.
Thanks, HillyT! I love seeing other people’s bookshelves, too.
Great list, judging by how you answered all your challenges last year, I am sure you’ll do wonderfully! Can’t wait to see them.
Thanks, Emma! I’m looking forward to it!
What a great list!!!! I’m excited to see your progress. ( I’m planning a September Sock KAL which may be of interest if you’re ready for your socks by then, it’ll be a toe-up pattern suitable for beginners)
Have a great first week
Xxxxx
Thanks for the KAL tip, Sarah!
For your Mom’s spread, I really like Sunny Spread – so many lovely examples!
As for learning to spin, I tried books, videos and online tutorials but I really found that a three hour class was the best way to learn. A lot of it you have to get “a feel for” rather than relying on what you see.
Your blog has always been jam packed with information, education and inspiration so I’m looking forward to another year!
I love the sunny spread, too, Minding My Own Stitches, but I think I might go vintage… That makes sense about the spinning class. That will be my second option lol.
awesome! i love all the books you list, i cannot wait to see everything you learn and post!
Thanks, Shateen!
I’m really looking forwad to seeing how you get on! Double knitting is fun and I really enjoyed it, but I can’t stand entrelac – picking up stitches is not my thing! I’m really looking forward to seeing you try spinning! I’m trying to stay away from the temptation myself – I have trouble fitting everything in already!
Good to know about knitting entrelac, Liz. I don’t plan to spin all the time but I do want to try it out for all those great fiber festivals I visit!
Nice variety, I can certainly see why you wanted more variety after the one book thing last year. Noticing your books for the square a week (52), you’ll love the 99 squares pattern book. I’ve used that one alot. Best of luck as we all embark on this mission of year 2.
Thanks, Sandy! I like it so far and I’ll probably use it for some hexagon patterns, too, for the Christmas stockings I’m making.
wow, impressive skill set you are developing. I’ll be very interested in watching your progress on the spinning. That was on my list last year before it all went haywire.
Thanks, misty! I saw that your list this year is short and sweet. You can always add spinning again if you need more things to do
.
I’m joining in this year too
Great list here – puts my teeny one to shame but I’ve erred on the side of caution and can always add to it. I too would love to learn to spin in the next 12 months, though that’s not on my list.
Welcome, Annie! I love checking out the other lists!