For most of us the new year is a time for reflection, resolutions and fresh starts. For me, this is also true of my crafting habits. I choose a project that I want to spend quality time on whilst others are occupied with Christmas goodies. As I don’t have a dedicated craft space at home, I often opt for a sewing project because I know I can dedicate a few days to it and fill the house with my machine and other paraphernalia. A friend of mine starts the year by making the gifts she’s planned for the following Christmas before she’ll craft something for herself. You may not like the sound of that, but when the festivities arrive, she has everything prepared. One New Year’s Day a couple of years ago, I photographed my yarn stash to upload onto Ravelry. It hasn’t happened since then, and frankly I would be embarrassed to confess to the total sum of my yarn habit in an online domain. For those of you who haven’t heard of Ravelry (ravelry.com), it’s a fantastic resource for yarn crafters. You can find every pattern you have ever dreamt of and some are available to download for free. There is also a lovely community of forums and groups to delve into.

A lot of people base their crafty resolutions on the amount of yarn they own – if you find yourself in this situation, why not use up your stash first and then reward yourself with a new skein? As well as listing your yarn stash on Ravelry, you can then match it to projects too which is a great way to stop your hoard getting any bigger! However you decide to approach the new year, make sure to find some time for yourself to enjoy your hobby – I’ve discovered I’m a much nicer person if I’ve had a bit of ‘me time’! The words ‘self care’ are bandied about a lot, and the time you spend on your favourite craft is a huge part of this. So when someone asks for your resolution tell them you are looking after yourself, having fun and being creative.

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