My Sweater Challenge and Other Goals

One of my personal goals for 2019 is to handspin the yarn and knit a sweater. My main inspiration has been the fiber-istas I am surrounded by. I know a lot of knitters and spinners alike who are sweater knitters. They are almost always working on a sweater and it seems that anytime I've seen them this winter they are wearing a different one. So darn it, I can do that too. 

Another reason is because I have become a bit disheartened with some of the, dare I say, cheap clothes in my closet. I used to by a lot of inexpensive clothing. It was easy to feel like I was not spending a lot of money while have a lot of choices to wear. Over the last year it seems that these inexpensive clothes I am buying are full of problems. They aren't constructed well, they lose shape when they are washed and most are made of synthetic materials and assembled outside of the United States. Plus, I'm in the textile and fiber industry, what am I doing wearing all these synthetic fibers? Practice what you preach as they say, buy local and know your source. So I made a conscious decision a few months ago to stop buying poorly made clothes and instead save up and seek out natural fibers and support locally (US) made garments. Just so you know, between a new business and a new restoration home, this means I haven't bought any new clothes. Ha! But that is ok, It means I will have a smaller wardrobe but of quality items. 

I'll admit my search for these perfect US manufactured clothes has not been easy. There are a handful of smaller clothing companies I love. They are putting out quality clothes that I think would fit my lifestyle - Mill, farm and general life. But a lot of times they are producing in small batches and when they restock I either miss the boat or don't have the money at that moment. This has really helped to kickstart me into my first sweater project in years. In addition I have pulled out my unused sewing machine and decided I can do this, I can make a few simple staple items for myself (please note that I hemmed a set of curtains which is the first time I've used this machine in the 10 years or so I have owned it)?

So let's see how this goes. The first 500 yards are spun to yarn and the sweater was officially cast on on Sunday. And so far, I am in love with the beginning of this challenge and goal. I'm thinking and planning grand things, and why the heck not?! I'll keep you posted on my journey. ​

---