lists
Let's see, what have I accomplished in 2005?
1. Got my PhD. Lots of obtacles stood in my way (move from Long Island to the city, major change in project, general feelings of "I'm never going to make it"), but I still made it!!
2. Started a blog. I had been reading blogs for, oh, 2-3 years and it had provided invaluable help. I remember the first time I knit with cotton and I got horrible rowing out. I thought it was all my fault and that I was a terrible knitter until I read on Fluffa and the Blue Blog that a) cotton is inelastic and b) that often, purl rows are looser than knit rows. I had a big *ah ha!* moment. Of course, when you read so many blogs, you're secretly thinking of having one of your own... The final little push I needed came from the Spiders. One sine qua non condition of becoming a Spider was to have a blog. So I jumped in!
3. Met the Spiders. I had been knitting in isolation until I met them. Seriously, I learned knitting from books and blogs. Finding like-minded souls is such a relief! Finally, I can talk about patterns, yarns and yarn stores that I like (or dislike) and they know *exactly* what I'm talking about. Also, they are generous: Gleek brought us all presents from Japan and the yarns they brought to our yarn swap put my crappy acrylic to shame.
4. Became a Vidal Sassoon hair model. Instead of having unstyled long hair out of sheer lack of imagination, I let Arlene and Hamid do whatever they wanted. I was in shock after my first haircut, but grew to love it. Now I can't wait to go again!
5. Went to a Craft Fair in Brooklyn. Not the Renegade Craft Fair, but a simple, local one, at Carroll Park. My friend Rebekah makes amazing jewelry and I helped her out at her stand. It suddenly seemed so simple: you start out with a craft that you're good at, you make things, you sell them. OK, so I'm not designing patterns or selling knitted items, but I feel *thisclose*.
What I want to accomplish in 2006:
1. Get my first "real" job. Let's see what this 9-to-5 thing is that everyone's talking about. I am done being a student!! I can't wait to get a real paycheck. (Please don't burst my bubble).
2. Use up yarn in the stash. I still have not touched the Kid Classic to make Rapunzel whichI got *last* Christmas. I bought some Phildar ribbon yarn with a particular pattern in mind, and didn't do anything beyond swatching. I have sock yarn. I have lots of Habu's undyed soft wool (A-89B, now discontinued). I have 5 skeins of Artfibers' Kyoto. I have Debbie Bliss Merino Wool. I have 5 hanks of Manos Cotton Stria for W. I have much more, but I think you get the idea...
3. Design something of my own! Have you ever seen a pattern and thought "why didn't I think of that?!". (Tubey comes to mind). Well, maybe I *should* think of that. I can and I will. I have 2 ideas already! Maybe I should crack open Ann Budd's Handy Book of Knitted Sweaters right now, since I'm all hyped up just writing this list.
Happy New Year everyone!
