And Speaking of Goals for 2026, Let's Talk Yarn!

[kerravonsen]

Pondering ways of making inroads on my yarn stash; things that I do and don't want to make. My own thoughts, plus suggestions from kindly folks on Mastodon.

Don't:

• I don't like beanies, and I know only one person that likes them. (That person is probably going to be given one.)
• Mittens are pointless in Australia. Fingerless gloves are fine, but I made a lot a few years ago and I'm rather gloved out.
• I definitely don't want to make sized garments for anyone but me.
  • Yes, that includes socks.

Maybe:

• Scarves. I personally find them pretty useless, but they are useful to some people, and, also, they are one of the things which is accepted by KOGO (Knit One, Give One) my knit-and-crochet charity of choice (well, it's a sort of meta-charity, they gather stuff together and give it to multiple different charities, ones which give the items to people rather than trying to sell them).
• Cowls as an alternative to scarves.
• Emotional support chickens?

Do:

• Shawls. Unfortunately, arbitrary fashion has decreed that guys are allowed to wear a narrow strip of cloth around their necks, but are not allowed to wear a wider strip of cloth over their shoulders, so that cuts the potential number of giftees in half.
  • However, someone suggested that I make (rectangular) shawls and simply call them mini-blankets. This is deliciously subversive, I like it.
• Throw-blankets are generally useful, but they take a while to make. So I might start a blanket, but not necessarily finish one, this year.
• Soft toys are definitely on the agenda, now that I have three grand-neiflings, with another one on the way.
  • But I don't want to run headlong into complicated amigurumi.
  • However, I have been assured that embroidering a face onto a roundish shape will instantly transform it into a lovable toy.
• Crocheted baskets could be quite useful, though one needs to take care while making them, since the stitches need to be tight and the yarn needs to be stiff, and that can be hard on the hands.
• Bags of various kinds.
  • Small bags crocheted around lace-edged zippers, that way, no worries about trying to sew on zippers.
  • Larger bags made of 100% (non-superwash) wool, and felted. This could be interesting, or it could be a disaster; won't know until I try. Time to search out some howtos.
• Coasters and/or placemats
  • I usually do these in cotton, but someone suggested doing them in wool and then felting them. I like that idea. Less likely to be a disaster than a felted bag, too.