My Crafting Goals for 2021

Each year, I spend a lot of time crafting goals for the new year, and each year, I always end up kind of ignoring them. I’ve tried to keep this year’s goals a bit more manageable, and hopefully I’ll keep this space updated with them.

Sewing Plans for 2021

This year is a bit of a departure from years past–I have more plans around sewing than I do knitting or crochet. Sort of.

Last year, I really wanted to sew pants, and I did that! I didn’t really do a good job of documenting them here, but I sewed one pair of Glebe Pants, a pair of Diane Joggers, and a muslin of a pair of Scarlett Jeans.

This year, I want to really dial in on the jeans. They’re one of my go-to wardrobe staples and it would be fabulous if I could make my own.

My other big sewing goal for 2021 is to make a coat! I’ve ordered fabric to muslin the Tracey Trench Coat from Style Arc, and I also picked up the pattern for their Beatrice Pea Coat in a recent pattern sale. I’m also eyeing the Cashmerette Chilton Trench Coat and the Seamwork Baz coat.

While I was poking around the Style Arc website looking up coat patterns, I came across the pattern bundle for this whole look and fell in love (it includes the Beatrice Pea Coat). So I’m going to attempt to sew the whole thing. It includes pants as well, so that’s another opportunity to focus on that goal!

Quilting? In 2021?

Last year I got it in my brain that I wanted to sew a quilt. And me being me, I’m of course going for a big piece. I want to make a version of this Scrappy Cross Roads Quilt that I found while surfing the web one night. (Are we still saying “surfing the web”?) It was stitched by Rachel Hauser and her website, Stitched in Color, is awe-inspiring. She quite helpfully linked to the block pattern in her blog post, so I’ll be attempting to match her modifications to the tutorial from Bee in My Bonnet’s blog post.

One reason I was inspired to sew a quilt was to use up my scraps from my sewing projects. Keeping my sewing as low-waste as possible is one of my on-going crafting goals. Read: I don’t keep all my little bits of thread, but otherwise, I try not to throw out sewing scraps. I have one bag full of small scraps that I use for stuffing little toys (like Tessa). Then there’s another bag full of larger scraps that I’m cutting into squares for my quilt. And then there are bins of even larger scraps that I need to reimagine into other things. So anyway, a scrappy quilt really appealed to me as a way to beautifully turn those scraps of fabric into something usable.

Eventually. There’s a lot of cutting to be done.

Yarn Crafting Goals

And of course, there will be knitting and crocheting. Of the yarn projects I listed in last year’s goal post, I finished two of them. I made more than two projects last year, just… not from that list. This happens to me every year–I make a great list of yarn crafting goals and then get distracted by various and sundry other projects.

I also recently had a realization that I’m still working through. Many of the projects that I have in my queue are sweaters. I, however, have only one body, and rather limited space to arrange or store said sweaters, depending on the season. So I feel as though I kind of need to pump the brakes on sweater knitting.

But guess what. I also have more than enough socks. And I don’t really wear shawls. I could use a new pair of mittens. Have a solid collection of hats. But what’s a product knitter to do when she doesn’t need the products?

My yarn crafting goal for this year is basically to have a reckoning with myself. Make things that I can use and wear without having to buy any more furniture or storage bins, or find loving recipients for things I make because I like making.

Specific Yarn Crafting Goals

There are a few yarny projects I want to tackle this year. First up is the Hitaspà blanket. This one was on the list last year and it really should take next to no time to knit. It uses Bulky Lopi (which is a super bulky yarn) and US size 17 needles. I have started winding yarn for it so hopefully I can bust a move while it’s still chilly here.

I’ve also decided that I really want to bump up Chantalle by Vanessa Smith in my queue. I mean… just look at this beautiful sweater.

The other plan I’ll “commit” to is making these Trailing Lace Socks by Vicki Brown. Yes, I just said I have a ton of socks, but I don’t have any crochet socks so they’re different.

I have plenty more projects that I want to make with yarn this year, but I’m leaving them up to fate. If they happen, they happen, and maybe I’ll write about them. And maybe they just won’t happen right now.

This was a long way of saying my crafting goals for 2021 are kind of on the lighter side for me. But I think that’s probably a good thing. After years of kind of pushing myself to knit all the things, it feels right to just be chill about it.

Did you make any crafting goals for this year? Share them in the comments!