A New Year, A New Plan

Sorry for the big gap since my last post. After taking care of a sick household for 4 months (not kidding, at least 2 people at a time were sick since Labor Day), I finally caught a nasty cold. Then we went home to Pennsylvania for the holiday.

But now I'm back, re-energized and ready to start 2013. Like most people, I spent a few moments on New Year's Eve reflecting on the past 365 days and planning for the year ahead.

It seems that I have evolved into a goal-setter. So with that in mind, please allow me to share some reflections of my achieved goals from 2012 and line up some new ones for 2013.

Reflections of One Super Busy Year

• Sixty-five. What does 65 have to do with me? Why that would be the number of knitting projects I completed this year. Oh my! I was absolutely stunned that I was able to do this in a year that included being pregnant and giving birth to my son.

• Ah, Tommy. Yes, he is one BIG achievement. Super cute. Super snuggly. Super happy. Mr. Congeniality himself! His nicknames include: Squirt, Sir Thomas the Chunk, Lord Chunkington and Tommy Corleone. Okay, I'll stop... for now. But let me leave you with this...

• As you are well aware, this year also included my 12 in 2012 project of knitting twelve sweaters for members of my household in one year. Been there. Done that.

• Last year (2011) was my first year of blogging, during which I had planned to post on my blog once a week. I nearly met that goal of 44 posts (out of 52). Well this year I kept the same plan but smashed it to smithereens with 70 posts.

• Since January of 2012, I have had a few professional achievements too. I kept my goal from 2011 of submitting designs in the hope of being published. Last year I submitted 3 designs professionally. Of those, one was accepted (Sporting Beret), one rejected and the results of the last one will not come out for a few more weeks. I also self-published 5 new designs through Meg Roke Knits: Simple Stich Pillow, Rolling Cables Pillow, Spring Awakening Cowl, Playground Warmers and Warm Up Your Wine Set.

All in all, I'd say that 2012 was a busy year!




And now for a new plan...

The New Plan

• In my personal life, my family and I are planning to buy our first house this spring. So that ought to be interesting. My son will turn one, my daughter will turn 4 and I am not telling you how old I will be in exactly one month. But if you guess correctly, I will high-five you virtually or in person, depending on where you live.

• This year will bring a great focus on my designing. I intend to push harder with publishing both professionally (through yarn companies and pattern magazines) and personally with my self-publishing. My notebook is overflowing with ideas and I am eager to work them out as fast as my hands, brain and active children will allow.

• At home, I hope to become more organized with my printed and downloaded patterns and find a system that works best for me.

•  And finally, I vow to knit more from stash. Although, last year I did pretty well with 44 out of 65 projects from stash. Even so, it's time to downsize.

I've tossed around some other ideas such as knitting more socks (I have only one pair) and working more with breed-specific yarns, but I don't want to commit to those at this time. Maybe in 2014? We'll see....

For right now, I just want to knit.