Happy 😊 New Year

I don’t do New Year resolutions.  I do have a three goals for the whole of 2018 though…

1. Refrain from buying any 100% acrylic yarn. One exemption is if people give me their unwanted yarn.

2. I have lots of acrylic in my yarn collection and I’d like to use most of it up through this year. I need to get weaving! You haven’t seen the size of my stash , ahem, collection 🙂

3. I want to make all my gifts for next Christmas yarny items.

This is doable but I don’t want it to cause unnecessary stress or pressure.

My ultimate aim is to have yarn collection made from natural fibres. I won’t exclude man-made fibres all together because they do have their merits, e.g. nylon in a woollen yarn creates a more resilient sock.

I have been thinking this through for some time now. I have to try.

 

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Author: yarnandpencil

I'm a Christian on the autistic spectrum blogging about life and my art/craft practice.

47 thoughts on “Happy 😊 New Year”

  3. I have been thinking a lot about this issue. Like you I would prefer to use natural yarn but recognise that, for example, pure wool socks do not last. I also find the pure wool jumpers are trickier to wash and dry than the synthetic ones and also are heavier. I still have not resolved these dilemmas but good luck and please let us all know how you get on. I am enjoying reading your posts.

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    1. My grandmother taught me to lay washed woollens on a towel, roll it up and then stand on the ‘sausage’. It removes a lot of moisture.
      Thank you so much for your kind comments, it means a lot 🌹 🌻🌼 ❤

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  5. Very good goals I think. I am not an acrylic fan myself, but as you said it does have its merits when paired with another fiber. My goal is to knit a sweater, there has been little knitting in my life lately and no weaving, I better get my loom back out. Happy New Year.

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    1. I tended to do big things in the past so it’s nice to do smaller things. I love the shawls you make ❤ My loom is hiding behind the couch… yes, time to get mine out too. Thank you 🌹

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  6. Happy New Year! I’m with you girl.
    I have my list…
    I have a guild friend who does this every year (makes socks) and so we keep each other on track throughout the year. Also, she made a cardboard pattern of every foot she makes socks for. I started doing that and at the big reveal at Christmas, everyone’s socks fit. Yeah! Took the stress right out of the equation. ( I had some maybe pairs of socks in my head in case I got to them but when I could see it wasn’t going to happen, it was easy to let it go.)
    I’ll do photos on my blog, but camera isn’t functioning at the moment.

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    1. Hi Maggie 🙂 I was thinking that today about templates as I got LH to draw around his foot on to a piece of paper and I thought I should transfer it on to card. I’ll look forward to seeing some photos when you are able to post some 🙂 Thanks for commenting 🌹

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      1. That interests me too – how to make a template for socks. Is it as easy as drawing around someones foot – I am assuming the foot flat on the paper ? What about the ankles and lower leg? Would sock blockers do the same thing? I am yet to get some sock blockers and really don’t know anywhere local that sells them. Your advice Tracey and Maggie would be appreciated 🙂

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        1. Yes it is that simple. My blogging friend Kat of https://crochetbykat.com suggested a sock book written by Ann Budd and it is very good as it explains everything. Ann also writes the size to knit to when you only have a shoe size to go by. I don’t have sock blockers so I couldn’t say. I’ll find the title of the book and post it as a comment under this one 🙂

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  10. Good luck! I can’t resist some of the pretty acrylics, especially for larger items like afghans, it just makes them so much easier to care for. I would like to start using more natural fibers for smaller items though.

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  11. I hope you reach your three goals, and yes concentrating on few goals is best to avoid unwanted pressure or stress. Wishing you all the best in 2018!

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    1. Same here especially around my neck. I find baby alpaca and some merino isn’t so bad especially if I have spun it myself. I don’t like wearing acrylic as it over heats me. I much prefer to wear cotton. I bought samples of other natural fibres at StitchFest like rose, seaweed, nettle, hemp, flax… to try spinning with. Thanks for commenting 🙂 🌹

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  14. I love the way you said “goals” makes it have less pressure and well just more able…
    Happy New Years to you and your family gurl…
    How was your Christmas and everything???…
    Hugggs n ♥♥♥
    Suzette

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    1. It was a quiet one pretty much which was just what I needed 🙂 We met up with our children and grandchildren on Wednesday which was special.
      Yes if these goals put the pressure on that will be the end of them 😃
      Happy New Year to you too 🌹🌻🌼❤

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      2. Sounds like you had “me time”… and that is always good : ) and also time with your family : ) I agree with anything that puts to much pressure on you then its time to look at the goals again…
        Awww thank you so much sunshine…

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  15. Happy New Year, Tracey! It pleases me to read that you are not going to buy any more acrylic. I have the same aim because I am concerned about the amount of microplastic in the environment and the damage it does to creatures in the food chain – including us!

    Scientists are blaming our clothing for contributing to the rise of microplastics in our marine environments. Microscopic fibres shed from our clothes in the washing machine. These microscopic sythetic (plastic) fibres are too tiny for the ordinary lint filters and find their way through the water treatment systems and into our environment. There is a campaign to make manufacturers include effective waste water filtration in their machines but wouldn’t it be better to just avoid synthetics in the first place? By the way, the natural fibre equivalent for strength in socks is silk.

    Certain chemicals in plastics are endocrine disruptors – that means they trick the body’s hormone receptors and cause hormonal imbalances which can lead to ill health. Studies done on the effects of pollution in animal populations is very scary and I do think we are seeing some of the same effects reflected in the human population of this planet. Some examples are gender confusion, endometriosis and distortions of the male:female ratios.

    It wouldn’t surprise me if, someday in the future, scientists will find a link between our obesity and diabetes epidemics and hormone disruptors and other problems in the food chain. The notion of calories in/out vs exercise is too simplistic.

    Good on you for spreading the news that you are not wanting to buy acrylic anymore!

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    1. Thank you very much Jodie. I have read about micro plastics. Thanks for suggesting silk. That’s brilliant as now I know how to utilise my handspun yarn for socks!
      I read a post a while back about the plastic bags caught on the ocean floor and how recycling companies are paying fishermen to dredge for them. Although I applaud clearing the ocean floor of plastic I also deplore the use of dredging as a way to fish. I only buy line and pole caught tuna.
      My efforts seem so insignificant but I have to try.

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  18. Pingback: I’m joining in with a CAL – yarn and pencil

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