There is never a bad time to make a goal or resolution, but there is something in the air with the start of a new year (especially the dawn of a new decade) that makes goals that much more exciting and inspiring.
You’ve probably already thought up some goals for your physical health, self care, career, and other aspects of your life that are important to you. But have you spent some time thinking about your intentions to grow in your yarn craft? I have a lot of things I enjoy to do in my free time, but crocheting is one of my favorite hobbies because it is a great way for me to relax while still being creative and productive.
I for one want to have more crochet in my life, and I bet you do too! Here are some yarn-related goals that you can work on if you are looking for new and interesting ways to expand your skills and revitalize your hobby.
Try a New Skill
There are a ton of skills within the yarn world that you can try if you are itching to try something new. The obvious choice is knitting, and with its variety of stitches and overt representation in the crafting world, knitting is a convenient craft to pick up. Many times I have seen a beautiful and refined pattern on Instagram or Pinterest only to find that it is a knitting pattern. I definitely need to take my knitting beyond just knit and purl stitches.
Another crochet skill that you may not be aware of is called Tunisian crochet. Many people consider Tunisian crochet to be the bridge between knitting and crochet; in a forward pass you cast on every stitch and in a reverse pass you work them off. You typically use a long afghan hook, but depending on the size of the project you might be able to get away with a regular crochet hook (for a headband or tie, perhaps). For me, it’s familiar enough that I caught on quickly yet exotic enough to keep me excited as I learned this method of making fabric. And Tunisian crochet comes with a whole lot of stitches and techniques you can learn in no other way, so this can be an ongoing goal.
While we’re talking about yarn crafts, we cannot neglect the creation of yarn: spinning. Spinning looms are quite the investment, but drop spindles are inexpensive and a fun way to try spinning for yourself. It takes some practice to get the hang of it, but there are lots of video tutorials you can follow. Just look at all the beautiful wool roving you can find at local yarn shops and fiber fairs! It would make anyone want to try their hand at spinning. This would make a great goal if you want to try making your own fabric from start to finish!
While you’re at it, you can make a resolution to try yarn dyeing, a fiber hobby that more and more people are trying. You can buy dyeing kits online or even forage in your own backyard or garden for natural dyeing products. There is a lot to learn about yarn dyeing, so I hope to spend the time to really explore it as a hobby and a craft. I’ll make sure to share what I learn with all of you! Learning to dye and making your own colorway is a great project in which to invest your time and energy.
Make Something New
The simplest crochet goal you can set is to try a new stitch. There are dozens of stitches to try and dozens more variations to those stitches. You can even buy entire crochet books about stitches to swatch! From the beginner crocheted to the most advanced, new stitches can spice things up for your craft as a short-term goal.
If you want a new way to use the stitches you already know, you can try amigurumi! Amigurumi is a Japanese style of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed animals and objects. It comes from a combination of two Japanese words, “ami” (crocheted or knitted) and “nuigurumi” (stuffed doll). If you are getting tired of making dishcloths, afghans, and even garments, amigurumi is a perfect palate cleanser. Once you get the hang of crocheting in the round, making stuffed shapes will become second nature in your crafting. And they are just so cute!
You can even make a resolution to crochet a particular item. This can be that *one* pattern that you’ve been eyeing, or a type of crochet item that you have never tried. If you have never made amigurumi or a garment, these would be great things to have as a goal to stretch your skills. It’s not as hard as you may think, so setting a goal like that is really manageable.
In a similar strain, if you have a specific work in progress (WIP) sitting around in your home, you can set a goal to finally finish it. As a crafter, sometimes inspiration leaves or our time runs short. Get that project done so that you can celebrate on finishing it! And then you can use it/gift it/etc. like you have been wanting to do. This type of resolution can be a planned out progression where you take the pattern one step at a time, or it can be a kick-in-the-butt, just-get-it-done-already kind of goal. Sarah Korth from SEK Handmade has a Facebook group and giveaway where you can cheer each other on as you try to finish those WIPs for this first part of the year. Find out more information on her Instagram.
Be a Social Crocheter
Crochet is a great hobby to do in your personal time, but what about making crochet a social thing? There are crochet-a-longs (CALs) online and on social media that you can sign up to join. A group, company, or designer will organize such an event with details about cost, pattern(s), and any related giveaways and deadlines. You can definitely still crochet at your own pace, but the organizer may have special resources and prizes available during a specific time frame. It’s also really fun to see how other people are crocheting the same pattern and to cheer each other on.
If you have a resolution to get together in person with more people, you can join a class or even set up a group of makers to meet together regularly. There is a group of ladies that meets at my local library once a week to knit together, and they have such a fun time! It can be fun to take a class with other people of your skill level and learn together, but it can also be fun to just see what different people are working on and learn more informally from each other. In our digital age, it can sometimes become hard to meet people with similar interests, so this can be a great goal to help you accomplish that!
You can always set a goal to make a gift for someone that you care about. It’s never too early to start prepping for the holidays, right? But really, a gift can be given for any number of occasions, and people will appreciate the time and effort you put in a thoughtful gift. You can make something you think someone will use, or you can plan of gifting them something specific to their interests. This may take a little time and research, but when you find the right gift to make, it will be worth every minute to make something so unique and handmade.
Maybe, you want a more meaningful resolution where you can fill a greater need in the world around you. An excellent way to do that is by donating your crocheted items for a special cause. This can range anywhere from donating newborn hats to your local hospital, making cold weather items for your local homeless shelter, or sending blankets to areas suffering from natural disasters. Currently, you can donate both crocheted goods and funds to help support the wildlife who suffered from bushfires in Australia recently. Check out the Facebook page of the Animal Rescue Craft Guild to learn more. There is always a need, somewhere, that you can fill with crocheted goods. It takes a little work to find a cause where you can contribute, but it is so worth it to donate your skills and crocheted makes.
Take Your Crochet to the Next Level
For the new year (and the new decade!), you can expand your skills beyond the simply making a project from a pattern you purchased. Have you ever thought about making your own pattern design? If you have, you also probably thought it would be too hard. But it’s not! Every pattern is made up of small building blocks (stitches) laid together in a way that forms a specific fabric. Anyone who crochets can make their own design by using the stitches and styles they already know. You can try making your own pattern for a specific gift you have in mind. You can also make a goal to figure out how to make something for which there is no pattern, or at least not a pattern that is exactly what you want to make. You can use this pattern personally, share it with friends, or even publish it for free on a blog or for profit on a selling platform. I have a list of my personal “20 Things to Do in 2020,” and publishing a pattern is on that list; this makes a great goal.
Another way you can expand your crochet skills in a less conventional way is through pattern testing. Most designers like to have their patterns tested before making them available to the public to help iron out the kinks. This is usually a volunteer position, but occasionally designers will compensate pattern testers for their time. As a tester, your role is to detect any math errors, unclear directions, or improper grammar to help the designer create the best pattern possible. This is a great way to interact with both designers and other makers, as well as improve your overall understanding of crochet. There are Facebook and Ravelry groups designated for pattern testing, and if you follow a designer on Instagram or through their newsletter they often have information about testing readily available.
Technical editing, or tech editing, is a small part of the crochet world that you may not have heard about before. Just like how most designers ask for volunteer pattern testers, most designers will hire a tech editor to review their pattern before it even goes to the testers. This is supposed to work out the majority of the math and clarification errors, and some designers even use tech editors to calculate out different sizing variations for their patterns. There are courses available online to learn tech editing if you are interested. If you like pattern testing, tech editing is a great opportunity to use your crochet knowledge in a different way and makes a great goal to work up to.
If you are looking for a crochet goal to get you out of your comfort zone, try selling your goods at a craft fair! This requires some research, since there are differences in fairs that you want to be aware of before signing up. Some things to consider when signing up for your first craft fair are: what types of goods are being sold by other vendors, how much renting a booth space costs, whether it is indoor or outdoor, how much foot traffic does the fair get, how established in the craft fair, if the fair is juried (only a select number applicants are approved), etc. Take the time to find a craft fair that is inexpensive but will bring enough visitors through advertising so that you can actually sell your items. If there are any craft fairs or festivals that you normally attend as a spectator, those are a great place to start! Selling at a fair also requires a bit of inventory built up, so plan ahead to have items to sell. No matter how little inventory you think you have or how disorganized you may feel when you show up for your first craft fair, you will find that you can still be really successful even if you are figuring out a lot of the details from experience. Plus, there is no “one right way” to sell at a craft fair. Take the time to experience a craft fair from a vendor point of view and you will learn what is a good method for you and your makes.
Make Your Craft Eco-Friendly
My big crochet goal this year is to use up a majority of my yarn stash. I want to declutter my things, make more space in my home, and gain greater contentment from the yarn I already have by putting it to good use. You can follow my journey here under the Attack My Stash tab, or on Instagram through the hashtag #attackmystash2020. If you are also looking to use up some yarn for prospective projects, join in! Not only will you be saving money by not buying as much new yarn, but you are avoiding just throwing away yarn you haven’t used. It’s a win-win!
Sometimes, though, you just still want to buy some yarn. Another goal you could make this year is to purchase your yarn from local yarn shops and other small businesses. This supports small business owners in providing for their families and avoids the large-scale environmental impact that purchasing from big box craft stores can have. These yarns tend to be higher quality too, with gorgeous colors and texture. You can even set a goal for the types of fibers you want to buy. Organic fibers, such as wool, cotton, and silk, are biodegradable, whereas acrylic fibers are actually a type of plastic that will last a really long time in a landfill. There are definitely options out there if you want to change your yarn money spending habits to be more environmentally and economically friendly.
Another way to buy eco-friendly yarn is by thrifting it. You can find some gems for extremely cheap at the thrift store (I spent $12 on 25 or so skeins of cotton yarn once- it was an awesome haul!). It may take a little while to find yarn you want since the supply varies, but buying yarn at a second-hand shop allows it to be put to good use rather than end up unused in a landfill after passing hands a few times. Or, if you are feeling adventurous, you can find a knit sweater in the thrift store to deconstruct for the yarn. This is often a fantastic deal for the amount of yarn that you get. I suggest checking the largest sizes first since you will end up getting more yarn.
Most importantly, when you are trying to think of resolutions for your craft, be intentional! Why do you want to try new things within the world of crochet? Understanding what you want from your goals this new year will help you better create a plan to accomplish them. These are just some ideas for you, but make sure that you take the time to do something that you love and brings fulfillment in your life.
There you have it- 20+ potential goals for you to think about as you continue into the new year if you want to elevate your yarn hobby. Whatever creative goals you set, I hope that you get to enjoy what you love about crochet and see some growth too. Leave in the comments down below what New Years resolutions you have this year for your yarn!
XO, Emily
