Time for some goal-setting

I've been thinking a lot about what I want to accomplish, craft-wise in 2013.  But I'm also wary of making too lengthy a list and setting myself up for failure.  So in the end I decided to keep it pretty simple.

When I think back to how I felt about sewing one year ago, it's really evident to me that I learned a lot over the course of 2012.  At the beginning of the year, I was pretty discouraged; my goal was to learn about and implement alterations for getting a great fit, but all the blogs I was reading left me feeling like everyone was "getting it" but me.  I spent a lot of time trying to discover everyone's secrets and find out how they learned these things.  And I kept on sewing and trying out new techniques and patterns along the way.  In the end, I think the answer was just that - continued reading and research combined with a lot of practice.  I certainly don't know it all yet, but I have come a long way toward achieving that goal.

This year, I have two main goals for sewing:

1.  Learn how to line or underline a garment.  Any garment, whether the pattern includes instructions for it or not.  To help me get there, I've ordered a book called Easy Guide to Sewing Linings, which got great reviews on Amazon.  I can't wait to receive it!

2.  Grade a pattern.  I have loads of vintage patterns to choose from, and sewing one of them this year could even be counted as another goal, because interestingly, my desire to grade a pattern has more to do with the technical aspects of it than the practical.  Am I becoming a process-oriented sewing enthusiast?


I also have a couple of very specific goals related to sewing:

3.  Make a lined coat.  I really meant to do that this fall, but time kind of got away from me and suddenly the weather had turned too cold for the pattern I have in mind.

4.  Make that darned Anouk Dress!  I do mean to be wearing it this spring - perhaps for Me-Made-May?

5.  Make a complicated quilt.  More about this in a day or two!


And some goals for knitting and the like:

6.  Knit a vintage pattern.  I've done this each of the last 2 years, and really enjoyed it.

7.  Knit a Phildar pattern.  I keep buying the magazines, but hardly ever make anything from them!

8.  Do more spinning.


And in the category of "other":

9.  Join both the 7 and 8 Million Meter Clubs.  Last month I told you all that I was doing the Concept 2 Holiday Challenge.  I did complete 201,000 meters on the rower between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.  Toward the end of this month, I should be logging in my 7 millionth lifetime meter.  I'd also like to make it to the next million - doable if I stay on track with my average of 162,000 meters per month!


Well, maybe not such a short list after all . . .

Lately

I guess it's probably obvious that I haven't felt a lot like writing lately, so I've kind of taken a step back.  But I have been working on projects, to varying degrees of success.

My main project these days is not crafty:  I've been participating in the Concept2 Holiday Challenge, so I've been rowing much more than normal.  Sometimes I feel like it's kind of taken over my life!  But in a good way.  In addition to raising money for charity with every kilometer I row, I'm also hoping to get rowing firmly back into my everyday routine with this challenge, as I'd fallen off the wagon over the summer with all the  goings-on around here.  As of yesterday, I've rowed 14 days straight, averaging 6 to 8K per day.  I made myself a little button on the right, so if you are interested, go check out the C2 site!  This year I'm supporting the NRDC.

In knitting news, I frogged two projects that I wasn't in love with:  a pair of mitts, and the Beatnik sweater I'd started about a month ago.  But I have almost completed a little cardigan from one of my vintage magazines.

Here's what mine looks like:

I'm using Kidsilk Aura in Forest.  I bought this yarn last year in a super sale, and then couldn't find a pattern I thought went well with this color.  Until I bought this issue of Vogue Knitting Fall/Winter 1963 a few weeks ago.

This is just a simple, jewel-neck cardigan with elbow length sleeves, but the crocheted buttons are what make it, in my opinion.

I'm almost finished with this one.  All I have to do is the buttonhole band, the neck band and then sew the pieces together.  I'm also thinking I'll do some sort of facing inside the button band, as the buttons are a little heavy for this filmy fabric.

In the meanwhile, I've started a new Kim Hargreaves sweater . . .

Work Out

Today I went to the gym.

Concept2 Model C and Power Block set

Actually I go every day!  This is our little home gym, in a small space just off our living room (with a door that closes for when company comes over!).  The previous owners used it as an office, and while I'd love to have a home office, a gym is something I use a lot more consistently.  It consists of a Concept2 rower, a Bowflex treadmill and a set of free weights.  These items are among the best purchases we ever made.

This month I've been really stepping up my workouts, and today, despite getting only 4 hours of sleep, I rowed 10K at the fastest pace I've ever done (in a rowing career spanning almost 7 years now).  Then I did some leg work with weights. Later on today I'll do a nice, long yoga practice.

Why all the exercise?  Well, I find that I feel better (physically and mentally) and sleep better when I work out daily.  But I'm also currently in training.  What for?  A few weeks ago, hubby took me here for my birthday:

Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA

And I decided I want to learn to do this:

Surfers

So I'm going to need to be a lot stronger than I am now!

Chances are I'll lose my enthusiasm for it by the time we make it back there, but for now, it's keeping me motivated!