I don’t feel like 2008 was a very craft productive year. I’ve been browsing through my Flickr photos and my Ravelry notebook, and I feel like I didn’t really accomplish very much, considering how much free time I had in 2008 and in comparison to other people. It’s a little disappointing.

I shouldn’t be too disappointed, given that I started my own Etsy shop this year, and I managed to sell 175 items in my first year. I produced 6 completely finished knitted items, 5 WIPs, 33 handspuns, and a couple of frogged project socks and sweaters. The handspuns have the potential to go on to be other things, and those 5 WIPs could definitely still get finished in the future. It just wasn’t a year for knitting.

I want to fix that in the future; I want more knitted FOs. So, while I don’t really like to make New Year’s Resolutions(TM), since I know how I am with sticking with initiatives and goals (I last two weeks, max), I’d like to try to knit more in 2009. With that in mind, I was browsing through kelp’s Flickr photostream, and I saw that she did a sock a month in 2008. It seems like a doable goal, and I think I’d like to do that, too. It works out well, and there’s extra motivation to stick to it. My big pile of tiny store-bought cotton ankle socks just isn’t cutting it this winter in Wisconsin. I have only 8 pairs of tall socks, four store-bought and four hand-knit. The hand knit socks have to be hand washed, so I’m constantly out of good socks to wear. I’m lazy about doing any laundry that needs special treatment.

I have to WIP socks that need to be finished. I haven’t decided if either one of those will count towards the finished monthly socks. Right now, I’m leaning towards yes on the Tyrolean Stockings, since those aren’t very far along (no progress since my last post!), but no on the Twisted Tweed socks I started last winter. They’re suffering from second sock syndrome, and with one sock completely finished already, it seems a little unfair to call that a full pair of 2009 socks.

There are some plans for more socks already, once I finish off the Tyrolean Stockings. I have some Pigeonroof Studios superwash merino roving on the way, and more than enough to be spun up into yarn for knee socks. I must have some knee socks! I also still have Sunshine Yarns sock yarn, and even though it was pooling like crazy the last time I knit with it, I want to try it again. Aquaphobia socks will probably be the best choice for that yarn. Hera and Bavarian Rockstar are both definitely on the list, as well.

So, here’s to hoping that 2009 is a more productive year for knitting. At the very least, I’ll grow my stash a little, and I’ll have at least a couple nice new pairs of socks to walk around in at work.