Category Archives: Yarn Stash

Stashbustin’ #3: Rye Socks

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I want to take another swing at socks. So for 2014 Stashbustin’ #3, I chose Rye Socks by Tin Can Knits! It’s a free pattern using worsted/aran weight yarn. Aren’t they gorgeous?

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(Photo from Tin Can Knits rav page)

I pulled the Caron Simply Soft in Sunshine (yellow) from my hibernating One Piece Pullover from back in 2013. It’s worsted weight and being acrylic will stand up to my beginner mistakes and subsequent frogging when it comes to making socks. If I like this pattern, then I may do it again with better yarn, lol.

I like this idea of socks knitting in heavier yarn. I find as a knitter I like instant gratification projects. Socks are fast anyway, but worsted weight yarn whooo boy! I might even whip up a pair for my husband and his giant feet 🙂

Happy Knitting!

’14 Stashbustin’ #2: Appi Slopes

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We are smack dab in the heart of winter here in Kansas. And I need more hats to cover up my noggin on my walks with the fur children. My Rav queue is LOADED with hats I want to try. So I closed my eyes and just clicked one…the winner is….

Appi Slopes by Melissa Mall!

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(Photo from Melissa Mall’s ravelry page)

This pattern calls for DK weight yarn on size US 3 needles. I just adore the stiffened brim! I pulled some Berroco Comfort DK in primary blue from my stash. I need a little pop of color in this the dead of winter. This yarn was fun to work with before, you may remember it from my lacy hats in 2013.

Now I just need to track down a bit of plastic canvas or other platic medium from which to cut the brim stiffening bit….I’m thinking milk carton…..I might have to think about this!

Happy Knitting!

2013 Knitting Wrap Up

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Being a consummate accountant and OCD organizer, I dearly love spread sheets and logging things. And thanks to the help of Ravelry and MS Excel I did a pretty good job of tracking my 2013 stashbustin’ efforts!

I didn’t set any goals or benchmarks. I simply knit what I needed to and wanted to. Then logged my activity. When it comes to knitting I have a hard time working on things that don’t speak to me or suit my mood. I don’t stick to deadlines or project lists very well when it comes to knitting. Hence my many cases of “start-itis” during the year.  Here is what I accomplished.

  • Attempted 59 Stashbustin’ projects total.
  • Completed 50 projects, frogged 3 projects, and sent 6 projects into hibernation/time out
  • Knit 20,287 yards, 60,860 feet, or 11.57 miles of yarn
  • Used up 148.63 skeins of yarn

Now on the flip side, I did add a little yarn to my stash…okay maybe a lot.

  • Purchased 19,992 yards, 59,976 feet, or 11.36 miles of yarn
  • Added 142 skeins of yarn

So I netted out 295 yards, 884 feet, or .21 miles down in “stash”. Roughly 6.63 skeins, lol! In my defense I really feel that over the past couple of years that as my skills have expanded, my taste in yarn has changed. I liken it to the drying of ones palette when you are a wine drinker. So even though I added back to my stash, I did so with better quality and finer yarns. I am getting rid of the “cheap” stuff and replacing it with “good” yarn.

How will I do in 2014? I don’t really know. And I don’t care, lol! I simply like to knit and just see what happens!!

Goodies In The Mail

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My mom is not an internet shopper but she really wanted to purchase some knitting swag for me for Christmas. So we compromised….I agreed to act surprised at Christmas and she agreed to let me pick out my favorites.

The result?

A Chica Interchangeable Needles case in black and white….

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I should be able to fit my Knit Picks Options interchangeables and my Denise plastic interchangeables all in one case 🙂

Next up, a new to me yarn: Knit Picks Reverie in Gemstone. This is an alpaca/acrylic blend that has great halo and softness. I’m thinking a great cowl or pair of gloves?

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This color is just gorgeous and definitely in my wheel house. What’s a little more blue in my wardrobe right, lol?

And lastly, some cable connectors for my Knit Picks Options interchangeables. Just in case I go insane and decide to make a ginormous blanket again.

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Now I just have to wait until Christmas to use and play with these delightful goodies. Merry Christmas to me!!!

So Many Choices!

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I recently purchased this amazing pattern on Ravelry, Mackinac Mitts.

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(Photo credit to earthchick on the Mackinac Mitts ravelry page)

I have several women in my life who adore butterflies, including my SIL. This pattern calls for worsted weight yarn and look to be an easy and fun knit. I just can’t decide what yarn to use….so I’m asking the wisdom of the blogging world.

Option A – Berroco Vintage in blue

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Option B – Berroco Vintage in a tweedy green

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What’s a knitter to do?

Stash Enhancement

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A very dear friend had a baby not long ago. That wee one is now a healthy and colicky six week old baby. I took some time to help my friend out as she is on maternity leave and her husband had to go back to work. Nights no less! So we talked, ate, and walked many a lap around her house trying to get a gassy/colicky baby to burp/poop and feel better. It was a long 36 hours for me as I’m not used to an infants schedule. Pretty sure I saw 2 am whilst sitting in a rocking chair holding a crying child. It’s a good thing she’s cute…

But I digress…on my way home I stopped by the LYS in the area. I just wanted to browse and chat with the amazing ladies who work there. And I found these…

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Lorna’s Laces sock yarn – Soulmate colorway

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Ruca Multy from Araucania – Color #23

Such beautiful yarns! I wish I had snapped a photo of the Lorna’s Laces before it was caked. It was breathtaking! I admit these two skeins were a splurge but I worked hard right? Oh, and the Ruca was a PAIN to cake! Thank goodness for the two yarn shop ladies and their persistence 🙂

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I can’t wait to find projects for these! But I think I will finish a few WIPs first….for my husband’s sanity….

Happy Knitting!!!

Stashbustin’ #44: Purl Ridge Scarf

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Remember these tasty skeins from my birthday?

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After some petting and smooshing I knew exactly what they wanted to be. I have been admiring Stephen West’s Purl Ridge Scarf on Ravelry. He is such an amazing designer! (I’m not sold on swants….but still)

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(Photo from the westknits Ravlery page)

This tweedy yarn is a mix of merino, llama, wool, and bamboo. It is going to feel so luxurious around my neck. Sure, I have a million other things on the needles. Sure, I have other cowls to keep me warm. But I NEED this one 🙂 Besides, it looks like a quick knit with just knit and purl rows arranged together.

What’s wrong with that logic?

Happy Knitting!

Yarn Splurge

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I was a bad bad girl on my birthday. I hit the “Going Out of Business” sale at my LYS like a Kansas tornado. I couldn’t pass up the 30% discount on the entire store stock. I snatched two sweaters worth of worsted weight, three single skeins of DK weight, some sock yarn, and finally some yummy tweed for a cowl or hat.

Wanna see?

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Berroco Vintage in teal

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Berroco Vintage in oatmeal

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Berroco Vintage DK in pink

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Berroco Vintage DK in purple

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Berroco Vintage DK in black

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Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet in burgundy

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Knit One Crochet Two Brae Tweed in green

Now to head over to my Ravelry queue to find some perfect patterns…..

Happy Knitting!

WIP Wednesday: Stashbusting Gloves

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I feel like shouting….”Once more into the breach!!!”

Are these gloves starting to look familiar? Well guess what, they should be! These are some Simple Fingerless Mitts (take three) or my Stashbustin’ #42 project.

P.S. sorry for the bad lighting….it’s getting so dark so early it’s hard to get good pics!

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I wanted to make another gift pair and do a little odds and ends stashbusting. I had some Berroco Vintage DK in orange from my first two pair of gloves and some Berroco Vintage worsted in yellow from my Brick Sweater.  They colors looked good together so off I went.

I weighed each remaining lot of yarn and divided in half. One half for each glove. I worked the orange (dk) in 2×2 rib until I ran out. Then I proceeded on with the pattern in the yellow (worsted) until I ran out of yarn. I wasn’t able to fully complete the 2×2 rib at the top, or really at all. So the mitt curls a bit…ok a lot. I’m going to give this first mitt a bath and a block to see if it solves the curl. Otherwise I’ll rip back and correct it. Then of course….knit the matching mate to go with.

Honest opinion time….do you guys think this glove works?

Only a few more weeks till Xmas…..

Stashbustin’ Stat Update

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This year is almost up!!! I can’t believe how fast it’s gone and Christmas is right around the corner. My Mom and I had a wonderful day this past weekend selling at the craft fair.  And boy howdy, are we tired! Being a knitting masochist, I have another craft fair yet to come before Christmas! I need to get back to my needles to “restock” my wares!

So today, instead of a object orientated post I’d like to share my “progress” this year on stash busting.

  • I have 42 Stashbustin’ projects in 2013 (not counting special request and craft fair wares)
  • I have completed 31 projects, frogged 2 projects, four projects are in hibernation, and I have five current WIPs.
  • I have knit approximately 8.56 miles and have another 1.88 miles on the needles
  • I have donated 1 mile of yarn to charity
  • And despite my best efforts…..added 8.94 miles of yarn back to my stash

Now I am still in the black as far as yarn in/yarn out. But I bought a lot of yarn this year. Some was for specific projects and special orders. Others was just because I could. I did get rid of some of my less than tasty bits of yarn and replaced it with better and higher quality fiber.

My stashbustin’ efforts may slow down a bit as we march towards 12/31, as I do last minute holiday gifts and restocking my craft wares. But I think I have made solid progress this year! I am still debating if I do another year of stashbustin’ in 2014 or some other method of measurement. I’m leaning towards another year of stashbusting just so I can see if I can beat my previous years levels…

Any thoughts?