Finish Your WIPs with the Maker's Dozen Challenge
I’m going to try guessing your knitting New Years' resolution. Ready? It was either:
Finish the massive pile of WIPs you have been slowly but steadily adding to
Not buy any yarn until your stash is fully busted
Find creative projects that will finally use up your wild selection of scraps
Weave in ends as you knit (or at least after you knit… eventually).
Okay, we all know we aren't going to weave in our ends as we knit, BUT if your resolution resembles a, b, or c, then read on to learn about the Maker’s Dozen Challenge!
I am very excited and grateful that the creator of the Maker’s Dozen Challenge, Miranda, agreed to answer some questions about the challenge. Here’s what we discussed:
Jeanette: Thank you so much for chatting with me, Miranda! First, tell us a little about you and how you got into knitting.
Miranda: My name is Miranda, I’m 27, and I live in Cheltenham, England. I started knitting around four years ago when I was doing some exams to destress. I then learned to crochet two years later when I saw lots of patterns online I wanted to make!
Jeanette: That’s why I started to learn how to crochet too! So many cool patterns out there. Okay, so tell us, what is the Maker’s Dozen challenge?
Miranda: The Maker’s Dozen Challenge encourages you to make 12 items throughout the year using yarn or materials that you already had in your stash at the beginning of the year. You can also finish WIPs that you started before 2022. The challenge is open to all crafts such as knitting, crochet, sewing, embroidery, etc. I decided to leave it open to different types of crafts because I know people who enjoy one craft often will soon want to try another one.
There will be a small giveaway on Instagram at the end of every month in 2022, which will be drawn randomly from all of the posts that have a finished item and that used the hashtag #makersdozen2022 in that month.
At the end of the year, anyone who completes their maker’s dozen, which means they finished 12 or more projects in total in 2022 (not necessarily one each month), will be eligible for a bonus giveaway. The end-of-year bonus giveaway will be drawn randomly from all posts about the completed maker’s dozen on Instagram.
The challenge is open internationally.
Jeanette: I love how you structured this challenge. What inspired you to start the Maker’s Dozen challenge?
Miranda: My inspiration for the challenge came when I was organizing my yarn. Over the past few years, I have been adding projects to my queue quicker than I can knit them, and buying yarn quicker than I could use it. As a result, I challenged myself to make 12 projects with the yarn I already had.
Jeanette: Yes, I think so many of us need a push to use what we already have on hand. Any ideas what will be in the upcoming giveaways?
Miranda: The giveaway prizes will be announced every month, so keep an eye out for a post about the January prize soon.
Jeanette: Ooo I love a surprise. Do you have all of your projects lined up for the challenge?
Miranda: I have lots of possible projects, so the challenge will be which to cast on and in what order!
I currently have 7 WIPs, including two pairs of socks, three scarfs, and two blankets. I would like to get this down to a more sensible number, but there are also some jumpers I am planning to make. I will probably focus on one old WIP and one new cast-on at a time to keep things interesting. I have seen a lot of people posting their finished items on the hashtag already, which is motivating me to work on my projects!
Jeanette:That’s awesome! I’ve seen so many people sharing their projects, which is super cool to see. Aside from the Maker’s Dozen challenge, do you have any other exciting ideas you’d like to share?
Miranda: Some of the WIPs are my own designs. I would like to finish these and write them up as patterns this year, but my main focus is on enjoying the yarns I have and making things that I know I will like in the end.
Jeanette: I really appreciate that final message, Miranda, and I think so many of us could use that reminder. Thank you so much for chatting!
I hope you are inspired to use up your stash and finish your WIPs to join in on the Maker’s Dozen Challenge! So many people are already taking part. Search the hashtag #makersdozen2022 to see what people are sharing! I’m not sure I’ll be able to finish a WIP this month (I’m working on not one, but TWO test knits at the moment). However, I do have three WIPs and a sizable stash, which I am eager to finish and use up now.
Make sure to follow Miranda on Instagram at @hadabashery to see what she’s creating, and so you don’t miss any of the giveaways or news on the Maker’s Dozen Challenge!