Photo by Ondrejk on Wikimedia Commons[/caption]

Happy New Year, everyone!

Welcome to 2015...let's get going!

Many of us have spent the last few months creating Christmas gifts.  After the frenzy of holiday parties and gifts, it’s nice to spend a few moments to reflect on the past year and what we hope to accomplish in the new year.  For many, this takes the form of New Year’s Resolutions.As knitters (or other fiber crafters) it can be fun to come up with some goals for our knitting in the new year.  Here are our top five picks for New Year’s Resolutions for Knitters for 2015.1. Knit More For YourselfAfter spending so much time knitting gifts for everyone else, it can feel like ages since you’ve knitted anything lovely for yourself.  What does your Ravelry queue look like?  I know mine is full of stuff I’d love to knit but just haven’t done yet.  While I do still have a few small projects for others going, I’m spending most of my knitting time working on a sweater for myself.  It’s been a long time since I’ve knitted myself a sweater, and while I still wear and like the others, it’s time for something new.  I’m working on Ink by Hanna Maciejewska.2. Knit Down Your StashThis can go along nicely with the previous resolution.  It might take a slightly different shape - choosing the pattern to go with the yarn, rather than the other way around.  But, you could easily kill two birds with one stone.  One of my favorite features on Ravelry is the pattern browsing function that allows you to narrow your results by yarn weight, yardage, and a wide variety of other attributes.  Just remember, though - sock yarn doesn't count as stash! [caption id="attachment_3874" align="aligncenter" width="800"]

Getting supplies at Alpaca Direct for 2015![/caption]3. Advance Your Knitting SkillsKnitting is pretty basic, really.  There are only two stitches - knit and purl.  But these two simple stitches can be combined in seemingly endless ways.  What technique is on your hit list for this year - cables, intarsia, stranded color work, lace?  Or maybe you feel the need to brush up your finishing techniques - master the mattress stitch, learn to block, or weave in your ends so that no one can tell.  Whatever it is, Alpaca Direct offers a variety of classes to help you.  Don’t see what you need?  Send an email and ask for it!  We’ll also be adding more tutorials here on the blog about these topics.  Sign up so that you receive the new blog posts in your inbox!4. Finish Your Pile of WIPs a few of these yourself.  Decide whether to finish them, or just send them to the frog pond (y’know where you riiiip it, riiip it) and reuse the yarn for something you like better.5. Learn a New Craft hobby - crochet, spinning, and dyeing to name a few.  Weaving is also a fun way to make textiles, and you can get started pretty simply with a Zoom Loom or a rigid heddle loom.  Not sure where to start?  We offer classes for beginning crochet and beginning spinning.  Not a knitter yet?  Well, we offer a class for that, too.[caption id="attachment_3602" align="aligncenter" width="720"]

Spinning Fiber at Alpaca Direct[/caption] Do you make New Year’s resolutions?  Did any of these make your list?  Any other fiber related resolutions you have?  Let us know in the comments!