It’s the beginning of a new year, a time for resolutions, usually for betterment:  quit smoking, lose weight, save money, take a vacation.  This past year I’ve been successful in reaching a goal, or rather, getting really close to a goal I set back in the summer – July 17, 2011 to be exact.  It’s been almost 5 months and I have 5 lbs, or one size, to go.

I could resolve to lose the last 5 lbs or so, but it’s taken some time and my eating resolve has taken a beating over the Christmas holidays what with all the candy and chocolate just laying around in boxes and bowls.  It’s been easy to get back on the wagon but what I need is something that will provide a reward while aiding my resolve by keeping my hands busy.

I hit on the perfect thing – my backlog of knitting projects, surfeit of sewing fabrics and plethora of patterns.  What better opportunity to put in the time to finish long-started projects and begin new ones than now, when there is a much greater chance that I’ll be happy with the outcome if I’m happier with how I look. Here’s hoping it works.  If not, there’s always the end-of-the-world scenario.

In that scenario, the motivator that pushes me to finish my unfinished business is the end of the Mayan calendar which sees the world, or rather time, end on December 21, 2012.  What better way to face the new future but with a full closet of clothes to suit any situation?  I joke, of course, but it could be an interesting premise to tease out, especially if the end result is so profitable.  Sounds win-win-win to me.

I’ve amassed quite a collection of fabrics and fibers over the last 40 years.  There is material on the shelves dating back to my teen years that I bought at the Right House, a long-gone department store in downtown Hamilton.  What happens is that I like the fabric so much, the design has to be just the right one before it gets used.  On the weekend I went to Ottawa Street with my BDR.  I bought the most gorgeous dark grey linen, with a coarse but tight weave, a heavy hand and fluid draping.  I know exactly what I want.  Maybe.

I also buy yarn like candy.  I think I have almost every Vogue Knitting since 1991; I need never buy another pattern again there are so many I want to make.  And I have a fine collection of wool, silk and linen hanks waiting to be wound up into balls, not one of my favourite pastimes.  Then there is the desire to design an original pulling at my imagination.  The results will be stunning, no question about it.

Time to resize my dress form, dust off the sewing machine and dig out my projects.  I think that 2012 is going to be just the thing I need to finally tackle my old creations and get them done.  If I were to do the math, I’d probably find that over the the last 30 years, I’ve started four garments for every one finished.

This will be fun….