My 2017 resolutions.

If you've been around here a while, you'll know that I like to make resolutions every year. Even though I'm not the greatest at keeping them. :) There's just something really nice and exciting about a new year that makes me want to do better! I used to make huge, overwhelming lists of resolutions, but by this point, I've found that it works better for me to make smaller, more specific lists.

Bookish:

-Read 60 books. I think this is a good number for me. But if I read more, obviously I'll be okay with that, too. :)
-Get my own-but-unread books down to 100. This will definitely be a struggle for me because I love books and I love to buy books. (Cheap ones, which I can justify, but hello, they still take up the same amount of space on my shelves.) I currently own about 150 books that I haven't read yet (yes, it's ridiculous). So theoretically I could get the number down to 100 this year, while still allowing for a few rereads or new purchases.
-Read 5 new-to-me classics. I did this goal in 2015 and really enjoyed it...those five books were among my favorites of that year. I do have a few older books that I'd like to read for this goal, but modern classics definitely count, too.
-Read a really big book. I want to pick one that I've been putting off because it's so long. I don't know which it'll be yet, but I'm learning towards East of Eden or Middlemarch. (Either of those would count towards reading a classic too, ha.)

Yarn:

-Knit myself two sweaters. Sweaters are the one area lacking when it comes to things I've knitted for myself.
-Do more natural dyeing. I did so much in 2015, but last year I was very unprepared. And with natural dyeing, you have to be ready whenever the plants are ready!
-Learn the basics of weaving. On my little, basic lap loom.
-Be prepared. This just means not waiting until the last minute to knit craft fair inventory, gifts, etc. I need to plan ahead.
-Spin yarn from my own sheep and knit something with it. If all goes as planned, my sheep will be sheared this spring. I'd love to have a finished project knitted from their fiber by the end of the year!

Sewing:

-Sew a new quilt for my bed. Carrying this one over from last year. I want to use up most of my random fabric scraps.
-Start sewing a pair of jeans. I will count any bit of progress towards this goal, even if I just print out and assemble the pattern (it's a PDF)! Any little step towards sewing my own jeans will make me happy.

Well, this list was a little longer than I expected. :) I do have two other goals that don't fit into the above categories. I want to learn how to cook. For some reason, cooking is super intimidating to me. (Plus I'm a klutz- knives and ovens make me nervous.) I also want to continue saving money. I managed to save $1500 last year, which I'm very proud of! I know it might not sound like much, but on a babysitter's salary, it's quite a bit for me. :)