This year I’ve decided to design less and knit more, since 2024 was a “low output” year. As we neared year end, I started my prep-work to shorten prep time for projects.

In late November, after hunting and not finding, a yarn in my stash, I decided it was time to (re)-reorganize. My stash is organized by color. With clear storage college bins, I usually can quickly find anything. As I organized, I found the sought after yarn in a bin that was color mixed during a move.

This triggered a few other “organizing” activities. But I set a deadline for completion at December 31st.

Hanks can also a barrier to starting project, so next wound all of these into balls, cakes, skeins, etc. I had no idea this would take several weeks. There were a lot, but the real problem was quality (of hanks), rather than quantity. Almost all had loops, twists, redirections, even different dye-lots (see yellow silk in the photo below). Task complete with 10 days to spare.

Next, I went through my knitting queue. This i reduced to only the ones I was ready to start.

Lastly, I created “grab and go” project bags for the ones up first, complete with yarn, pattern, needles and notions. This left me with plenty of time to wrap up my last work in progress sweater before the end of the year.

I’m excited to see how this year goes!

If you have any ideas you have for knocking out a big year, I’m all ears!

PS: There’s a group on Ravelry some of us are using to keep the momentum. Feel free to join our knit-a-long called 2025 My KAL My Rules. You focus on completions, making what you want, how you want, rather than following someone else’s pattern, yarn, type of fiber art, etc. Fun! The goal is to make at least one project a month (or 12 over the course of the year). Join us!