New year thoughts

Knitterly intentions

Happy belated new year everyone. I started the new year without any resolutions but as the first week progressed I realised that I actually do indeed have a few areas on which I want to concentrate: I'd like to knit primarily from my stash which has grown beyond a reasonable amount. Not at least in regard to my apartment's storage capacity. Likewise I would like to use patterns I already own. It's very easy (and a bit addictive) to just keep on searching Ravelry for the next new and shiny pattern, but maybe books can give me a bit more 'grounded' and intimate connection with my project. Books and pattern collections also often have the advantage of offering techniques, trips or e.g. a cultural context. I'd like to recommend Karie Westermann's works as examples of that. Her Doggerland collection is made with inspiration from archeological excavation sites from the middle stone age and she's made some wonderful essays to go with each pattern. If I find the 'new and shiny' approach to be my preferred method I should and could offload at least some of my knitting book collection.

Stuff to make this year

Still on the knitting front I would like to knit more for my niece and nephew. I've basically only made them each a blanket and I should take advantage of them still being rather smallish (5y and 2y). My niece helped me a bit by designing hats for them and ordering matching fox hats for them both.
I like to make myself a few hats and headbands too so I've joined a hat challenge in the Stash and Burn group on Ravelry. Stash and Burn is a podcast that originally was intended to help you use your stash but over time probably have helped increase a lot of stashes around the world instead... Oops. In 2014 I finished a few longtime lingering projects and progressed a lot on a few more. So in '15 I'd like to finish the rest from before 2014 and start to mend a few that needs it.

Exploring nature

Non-knitting wise I also have a few intentions or resolutions but I havn't finished formalising them yet. I always keep pondering on the new year throughout January. I'd like to be outside in nature a bit more than I have the last few years. Plants and landscape is my life elixir (a bit pompous, eh? But pompousness is fitting for a New Year intentions/resolutions post) and I'm a bit sad that I've been neglecting experiencing it first hand. In the last week I've found a concept which seems very intriguing. It's called microadventures and is coined by Alastair Humphries. Microadventures is about not overthinking but just doing! Mr Humphries has made a 2015 microadventure challenge consisting of at least once a month sleeping somewhere outside with just a bivi bag or something else very light on equipment. I've already talked my boyfriend into doing the January challenge with me... I wonder how that'll go but at least it's only one night and if it's horrible we can always go home (I'm still talking myself into it as you can tell. Hahaha).

Habits for life

Lastly I'd like to cultivate habits. Especially the ones that makes my weeks and days get rythm and structure. For a while I've been working on a morning cluster of activities and I've also been dabbling in an evening cluster as well. When they are more established I'm going to expand with laundry, exercise and cleaning. Basically I hope to automatise the small things so I can get intentional on the big things.

Finally at the end of the year I should also be able to locate all African countries on a map (finally!).