I took some time to try to figure out some crafting plans from 2025, mostly because I wanted to be more intentional and focused than last year “oh shiny” approach. This is going to be more of a guidance than a list I want to fully tick off, but there are a few things I really really want to achieve, the rest is flexible.

In name of this intentionality, my current and future plans for this year will be guided by two main forces:

• searching for a new style
• learning new techniques

These will main apply to garment making, so sewing and knitting, but I have some less ambitious plans also for crochet and cross stitch home decor items. I’ve divided my plans in three categories:

• Finish: current WIPs
• Start: projects with 99.9% chance to get started because I have the material already and/or I really want to do them.
• Ideas: aspirational projects. Things I saw on Instagram/Pinterest, but need to be hashed out. Might or might not happen.

Cross Stitch

Let’s start with the cross stitch plans, which I had picked up during the pandemic, got absolutely obsessed, and then moved on to something else. This is also the craft that currently held the record of the longest WIP with a cat in space cross stitch started in 2020.

Finish

1. Cat in space: pattern from an Etsy shop, started in September 2020. Not much left, but a lot of blue blocks…
2. Pattern from OhMyStitchesShop started in May 2022. I got a set of 3 funny cross stich patterns for the bathroom, finished one that says “Wash your damn hands”, and I’m not sure what this one is meant to say as I can’t find the printed pattern anymore. Wanna know why I never finished? I knew I wasn’t going to have enough green to finish all 3… Not sure why this was such a big issues since they still sell floss… Go figure!
3. My own pattern, Catberus, inspired by my Lucy, started on January 2024. Will I finish it before next Halloween?
4. Cat cushion, giant yarn cross stitch kit, started in December 2024. This is a present from a friend.

Start

1. Happiness Potion by Daily Cross Stitch: I want to do a small cat-themed gallery wall in my room, and this is a cute addition.

Ideas

None.

Sewing

Sewing itself is fine, I struggle with the setting up, even more now since I decided I want to self draft… it also ends up taking much longer than planned (see my post on the skirt that was meant to take one weekend but it didn’t…)

Finish

1. Summer dress: I’ve started this last year, with the idea of wearing it for a work event in August. That didn’t happen. Then for a trip to Prague, that didn’t happen either. Then summer was over, so I parked it. Now waiting for the good season to pick it up again. The mock up is ready, I only need to update the pattern pieces… only!

Start

1. Corduroy skirt: I’ve been spending too much time on Pinterest looking for ideas to upgrade my style, and I saw this pin, and I really really liked the color. However, I’m leaning more towards a A-line or paneled skirt, as I’m done with pleats for now.
2. Cushion headboard: my mom gave me this idea. The wall behind my bed is empty, and this looks like a simple idea to fill it and also matching it with walls and curtains. Here‘s a little post on the bedroom makeover progress.

Ideas

As I’m searching for a new style, I really have a lot of ideas, but I’m trying to limit myself as I don’t want to get overwhelmed, but if I have some time left, I have something on the backburner.

1. Pinafore
2. Tartan skirt or dress

Crochet

Crochet is quite the satisfying craft: you can get items much quicker than knitting, but over the years I realized I prefer knitting. However, I still like to crochet small items here and there.

Finish

None.

Start

1. Easy Crochet Hat by Nicky Blade: my brother asked me if I could make him a hat with alpaca. When I went to buy the yarn, I also found sone yak blend. So in planning to make him two hats: one in crochet with yak blend, and one knitted in alpaca blend.
2. Knot bag (mixed with sewing): self drafted pattern. I was actually planning to make it for a friend’s birthday now, but when I started crochet with the cotton I got, the color was annoying me, so I decided to postpone it even if I had all the supplies. I’ll still get to it this year at some point.
3. Mushroom Guy by Stephanie Buckner: this is a last minute addiction, but I couldn’t resist. There’s a whole subreddit dedicated to this little guy, and I really want one too. I’ll be using yarn I have already, leftover from the Temperature blanket.

Ideas

1. Maybe a blanket: I really want a mauve/pink blanket for my bedroom, I started a mosaic one early last year, but frogged it because I accidentally changed hook size, and I also wasn’t enjoying the yarn I got. And blankets are soooo big.
2. Home decor: these would just be small random projects, like the little pumpkins I’ve done last year.

Knitting

And finally, my current obsession aided by social media… Last year, my knitted project were driven by what I saw on Instagram; this year, I really want to be more intentional, and do things I like the look of but also I’d enjoy knitting. I realized I don’t like too much stockinette: I get bored, so top down circular sweaters are out my list (even though it’s hard as I really like the colorwork yokes), and instead I’ll try to focus on new techniques such as cardigans or vests, but also more accessories as sweaters just take toooooo long.

Finish

1. Astrid dress: self drafted mini dress inspired by Beetlejuice Beetlejuice movie. Follow my slow progress here
2. All the socks: I saw Stone Knits on Fruity Knitting, and couldn’t resist to get a few patterns, and also her first book. I knitted a pair already, and I found the colorwork kept me engaged enough that I was able to fend off the second sock syndrome, so I have a few more I’d like to knit. I also got a bag of various sock yarn, some new, some I didn’t even know I had, so I’d better get to work…

Start

1. Brioche Basic Beanie by Marilynn Blacketer: second hat for my brother, and a new technique for me.
2. Curdach Cardigan by Carol Feller (Stolen Stitches): this was planned for last year, I even had purchased the yarn, but I got distracted… I’m looking forward to this as it looks interesting to knit. I’m thinking, however, to add a hood (because I like to make my life harder :D:D)

Ideas

As for sewing, I’m trying to limit my ideas, and focus on just a few, but if there’s time, these are two things I’d like to try.

1. Vest
2. Vintage inspired cardi

The current list is relatively short, as I know I will see stuff and get influenced, so I created a bundle in Raverly where I will save patterns (it includes also crochet) to keep track of what I see and like, and categorized based on their likelihood to get done at some point this year:

• Definitely: very likely because I have the yarn already in stash.
• Maybe: possibly will get done as pattern is achievable but I don’t have yarn yet.
• Ideas: these are patterns I am considering or I find interesting, and I want to keep them in my radar.

Final thoughts

I think overall is a balanced list, however, I know myself and I know I’ll get distracted. I’m also starting college again soon, and this will take away a big chunk of my free time. But I’ll try my best to stick to it, especially to avoid WIP stress. I’m going to try to write an update every quarter to keep me accountable and focused.