2025 plans
I don’t often make plans in the beginning of a year, but I decided to do so now. I do want a change, so why not think about it first.
Sorting through stuff
So I started with sorting all my yarn and knitting projects.
A lot of it was in a poor state. Yarn and knitting together, with some fabric scraps in the mix, and a lot of tangled threads.
So I sorted all of it.
I have 10 works in progress:
4 sock pairs (bold for someone who doesn’t really enjoy making socks)
5 jumpers
1 vest
I also have 5 projects I want to unravel/reknit and 5 projects I haven’t started yet.
Then there are 5 single skeins of yarn with no projects in mind (almost all of them were left after I finished a project since I tend to overestimate how much yarn I need).
It’s all in a much better state now. On the left, are the projects that I’ve started, and on the right is all the yarn currently not in a project (although some of it is planned for).
For the projects that I plan to unravel/make something else out of I’ve weighed the projects and the yarn that I have so that I can plan accordingly.
For example, there’s a yellow jumper my wife helped me unravel, and I now know I only have 400 grams of it. Which might not be enough for the originally planned complicated garment, but might be enough for a plain sweater.
Actual plans
My plans for this year is to only make stuff using what I already have.
Which means finally finishing all my WIPs!
I also want to only make clothes myself. I’ve started already with a shirt, so that’s something!
2025 rules
What does it all mean practically?
I’m planning to do the whitest shit ever, which is a no-buy year. With some rules of course.
Rule 1
Paying bills/rent/buying food doesn’t count. Neither does going out because I find few joys here in Portugal without it unless one has a car and can freely travel through the country.
Rule 2
I cannot buy yarn for any new projects and can only use the yarn that I have.
There will be one exception though. I’m continuing with the Marshmallow jumper and am almost done with the body. However, it seems like the yarn that I have might not be enough to finish it. I’ll finish all the yarn and then will probably have to buy more. By my estimates, I’ll probably have enough for one sleeve, but not the second one.
Rule 3
I cannot buy any fabric unless I’ve run out of the fabric I have. Right now, I have enough for a few shirts and pairs of pants, and making pants scares me, so it will be some time before I get through the whole stash.
Rule 4
I can buy stuff necessary to finish a garment, like buttons, zippers, and other notions, or interfacing.
I also can buy fiber for spinning, but only if I run out of the fiber that I have.
Rule 5
I cannot buy anything that I can wear unless its something I cannot make, like cotton socks, underwear, or shoes. I have no interest in making my own underwear, because I don’t really enjoy working with stretch fabrics.
Rule 6
I cannot spend money on stuff. Unless it’s a gift for someone and I cannot for some reason make it myself. If I don’t want to make it myself, do I really want to give that person anything?
Rule 7
I can spend money on experiences and learning, no questions here.
2025 goals
So what are my goals?
The one that most probably I won’t be able to achieve is to finish all my current knitting works in progress
The one I’m more certain I can do is only start a new knitting project after I finish at least half of my current WIPs
Make enough clothes for myself that I can wear something that I’ve made on any given day and when asked about it I can always say ‘thanks, I made it myself‘!
By the end of the year, be certain that all the clothes that I wear are of proper quality (i.e., I’m sure it’s made well, and I’m not questioning the business practices). Which means, my the end of the year I want to only be wearing stuff that I’ve made. I’m not sure it’s realistic, but I’ll see how it goes!
Not spend money on shit.
Improve my sewing skills (it’s unavoidable if I’m to sew as much as I plan to)
Only use sewing machine for mockups and make the rest fully by hand. I like hand-sewing, so it will definitely bring a lot of joy!
Let me know what your 2025 plans are!
And I’ll see you in future episodes!