highlandheffalump

2025-2026 Year of Projects (YOP15) Starting List – Week 1/52

This is the Group’s 15th Year (YOP15), but my 8th Year.

Usually my lists are enormous, overly optimistic, often containing items ignored and a handful of brand new projects get added during the year. This year I am really trying to be more restrained in my list. (Edit: I wrote that sentence before drafting my list; okay, it’s still a bit long.) I have removed the Crochet, Painting, and Wood sections. If I do some, I’ll share them. (I’ve already thought of a crochet project I can do with some yarn in my stash…but I am just vaguely thinking about.)

I’ve included Ravelry links for more details.

Key:
↪️ carried over from a previous YOP year
*️⃣ started previous YOP year
✳️ started this YOP year

As the year progresses these will also be used:
✅ finished 🏁 week finished
🆕 added after week 1
‼️ abandoned
⏸️ on hold
🐸 frogged

NB. There are links to the Ravelry pattern or project page.

Main target for YOP 15

Make the most of the yarn, fibre and other craft supplies that I have in my craft room.

Acquisitions/Collection Curation

  • NO new knitting yarns. (Notice this says knitting yarns, I can still buy weaving yarns 😉)
  • NO new fibre. (I have a lot of undyed fibre that I need to dye and use, plus I have masses of already dyed fibre too!)

Dyeing

  • Practice microwave acid dyeing.

Felting

  • Ylva *️⃣YOP9! (This is a needle felted model of our dog which I started 6 years ago! She passed away last year so I really must finish her this year.)
  • Handbag (or bowl) using felting ball *️⃣YOP11.

Knitting

  • Finish WIPs
  • 3 garments from Ravelry queue
  • Socks
  • Make husband something with green New Lanark yarn ↪️YOP13
  • One pair of mittens from the book Tantulltussmittens
  • Dish cloths
  • Gnome

Sewing

  • Bunting for sunroom
  • Make an item of clothing

Spinning

  • Tour de Fleece 2025
  • January Spin Challenge 2026

Weaving

Dorset Buttons
  • Christmas Garland kit
  • Larger button kit
Rigid heddle loom
  • Hand/dish towels
  • Try at least one 3 heddle project on my 10” Sampleit
Inkle loom
  • Pick-up pattern from book
  • Tablet weaving projects (including shoelaces and belts/straps)
Tapestry
  • Tapestry weaving project

Other News

This week we binge watched Long Way Home on AppleTV. 20 years ago I wrote my one and only fan mail letter to Ewan McGregor about my love of Long Way Round. I also met Charley Boorman a few years ago and he signed my books. I really enjoyed this series. This is TV to watch, and not just listen to, and I still had some things to sort with my new PC. I also worked 5, instead of 3, days this week so that ate into my time, which meant I didn’t do any crafting!!!

Yesterday I was on a hen do (aka bachelorette in US). It involved an early morning train journey (8:41!), an escape room, cocktail making, lunch out, funny games. In the evening the others went to see a band and then went clubbing, but I knew my social battery would be drained by then.  It was a lovely day though and I am really glad I went.  The wedding isn’t until August so plenty of time to recharge.

My vegetable garden is doing well, lettuce and cucumbers aplenty and now my courgettes have finally started to grow. Beetroots look like we could dig some up to add to our salads grated raw. The birds really jumbled up the seeds of my different pea varieties. I now have some peas growing I don’t know whether they were mangetout I should pick now or the ones to grow into peas doh!

No luck with rehoming the parrot yet. A family came to meet her on Friday but she really did show them just how noisy she is!  We gave them some information about her to read but will have to see if they make contact.  My gut tells me they weren’t expecting her to be as loud and they won’t take her…time will tell. In the meantime I now sit in the lounge listening to the TV through noise cancelling headphones which dull her a little.

I’m working 5 days this coming week too, but Tour de Fleece has started so I should definitely have some spinning to show next week and hopefully either have cast on or warped up a new project.

This is a Year of Projects post. Officially the Group is in its 15th year, but this is my 8th year participating. If you would like to find more about the Year of Projects Group on Ravelry, as you’d be very welcome to join us.

Year 15 list.

22 comments

  1. I only buy yarn for a project I’m starting, but I am S.A.B.L.E. in spinning fiber LOL. I try not to look at fiber because I am very tempted to buy it even tho I could never ever hope to spin this much fiber ;).

    Hope you get through most of your projects before the next year starts :).

    I hope you find a new home for your parent where he can swak to his hearts content and you can have some peace and quiet :).

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    • I hope so too, the joiner that came found her louder than all 4 parrot breeds our mutual friend has (macaw, African grey, blue fronted Amazon and a much smaller parrot). I wonder if because they are all together they don’t have to shout as loud to be heard by who they are calling to? Not that we would ever get another parrot to test that theory.

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  2. I’m looking forward to seeing you make your way through your list. I also have my fingers crossed for the parrot, I hope you find her someone soon. 😊

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  3. Your list is great! So many ways to use fiber/yarn. I do hope you can find a home for your feathered ‘friend’. Is there no sanctuary that could take her? A zoo?

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    • The only parrot sanctuary in Scotland isn’t accepting more birds and their waiting list is full. There’s only Edinburgh Zoo 4 hours away but their bird house is now just got sloths and tortoises in.

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  4. Uhh, yeah. That looks like a pretty busy list but a fun one. I love the variety of crafts you are able to do. No fairies?? Best wishes on no yarn. I finally gave up on No. Even trying to do more out than in is hard but I’m really working on it this year. But the wool festival in September will be a challenge. Your hen do sounded like a lot of fun. So much better than these ridiculously expensive weekends that brides do now!!! Glad I got married before this tradition started. I loved your gemstones shawl so much I’ve added it to my queue as a means to use up scraps/minis.

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    • Fairies count as stock which I don’t usually share now on my YOP lists, not that I have done any felting for a year now. I am feeling pretty confident I can resist knitting yarns. I have no yarn festivals I am going to, we don’t have a local store, we are going to the Isle of Man on holiday later in the year so if there’s a yarn shop I may have more of a challenge. But I do feel like something has switched in my head about buying yarn.

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  5. I love the list, it’s got lots of varitey and interest and how adorably cute are the Gnomes! I’m so tempted but really I have enough and will watch you finish up yours and envy it. Best of luck with Tour de Fleece, I always admire those who participate, me I just watch the tour, but only because I’ve not ventured into spinning yarn as of yet! Looking forward to following along with you this year.

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  6. Hey, it is my 8th year too… we are twins….and both working on spinning for Tour de Fleece. Your list looks great – and I too said NO MORE YARN this year. We shall see how that fairs over time.

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    • Well that’s cool we are in our 8th year together. Must admit I’ve only been making rolags so far, haven’t spun anything yet but I feel fibre prep on the days is also ok.

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  7. I always enjoy seeing your always interesting, sometimes fun, and often beautiful projects, Liz. Looking forward to what this next YOP year has in store in regard. 🙂

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  8. Busy and great looking year ahead for you. I have always loved the variety of your hobbies and look forward to seeing your progress this year. It is great to be back to blogging and connecting with this group again.

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  11. That’s a busy-looking list, and I too like how varied it is! I still don’t have any idea of what I’ll do after my current stitching, haha… I love your chosen key emojis. 🙂

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