The 2016 Sock Yarn Experiment 

I’ve reached that stage in life’s where I don’t need a lot of “stuff” in my life. Which makes Christmas and birthdays hard for those wishing to get me gifts. And lovely as my family is they aren’t initiated into the knitting obsession as I am and aren’t comfortable buying supplies for me. Therefor this year I got gift cards and straight up cash to spend on my knitting anyway I wished.

If you have been reading this blog for anytime at all you are aware of my current sock obsession. I listen to a lot of podcasts and read a ton of blogs that feed my yarny sock obsession and tempt me with fantastic indie dyed yarns. From this my plot was hatched….why not a 2016 sock yarn experiment? 

I made a spreadsheet m of all the sock yarn and dyers that I’ve heard about. Then I hit the Internet and priced out each kind, the fiber content, and colors available. I wanted to get a nice variety and try as many new yarns as possible. Based on my budget and the post Christmas sales I was able to grab these yarns (prepare to drool):

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  
I am probably insane and this is a tremendous amount of yarn. Who knows how long it will take me to get through. But I’m high on yarn fumes and right now I don’t care! I hope I have done a bit of yarn enabling as well!

Happy Knitting!

OCD Level: Expert

Jellybean took an extra long nap this past weekend so I had a few extra minutes to myself. I felt the need to organize!

  
That my friends is my entire sock history all neatly laid out in one pile. I took some old business cards and my pile of sock leftovers and went to town. Each card holds several yards of yarn neatly labeled by date, project name, and yarn name. These cards will be stored in a file card box in case of darning or other necessary sock repair. All the rest of my leftovers went into a baggy for a future leftover project. 

Does anyone else keep leftovers for repairs?

Central Kansas Yarn Hop: part III

Okay, stop number four is up today. It was Yarns Sold and Told in Salina, KS.

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I have been to this store a number of times and loved them all. The staff is so friendly and helpful. The yarn selection is good and I kinda fell down hard again at this store, lol. It was also at this point that I got kind of tired and forgot to keep taking photos. Below is a lovely snapchat grab from my friend who joined me at this stop.

Now for the yarn p0rn….

I was definitely in a sock place this yarn hop. I picked up some sport weight Regia for socks for the hubby. I’m hoping the thicker yarn makes the socks go faster for his huge feet. Next up was some more Regia but this time in Flourmania. And to round out the sock collection as some Tapping Tootsies by Dove Roving Company. And I was still on the hunt for some yarn for Jellybean so I picked up some Cherub Aran in Navy by Cascade Yarns.

Tomorrow due up is my last stop, so until then….Happy Knitting!

Central Kansas Yarn Hop: part II

This was my third stop, Unwind in Manhattan, KS. This store was beyond amazing. And I fell down HARD on my yarn purchases in this store.  This the lovely shop owner who kindly took a photo for me. And just look at that beautiful selection of yarn!

They wrapped my purchases so neatly and gave me a project bag. I think the bag I earned because of how much I dropped at this store, lol.  Now for the good stuff, yarn! I picked up two skeins of Uptown worsted in Navy destined to be a Jellybean sweater. Next up was a set of Hiya Hiya sharps in US 3 9″ circulars for some preemie hats and sport weight socks. But the ultimate was some Dream in Color Smooshy with cashmere. That’s 60/30/10 merino, cashmere, and nylon. I’ve read about other bloggers and heard pod-casters rave about this stuff and I just had to have some. It is SO UNBELIEVABLY SOFT. These two skeins were my favorite purchases of the entire hop!
 This store was so clean, so friendly, and so well stocked it will not be my last trip there. The parking and traffic weren’t the best but for cashmere I’ll learn to deal!!

Part three is due up tomorrow and until then…happy knitting!

FO Friday: Another Tutu

Tis baby season in these parts! I have three baby showers coming up. And lest I get caught with my circulars around my ankles, I started early. As part of my cast on storm this week I started a tutu (pattern by Smashlee Stitches)

 
These are so smart looking and easy to make. Totally my go to baby girl gift. (And a great stash buster for all the ruffle yarn I stashed when the scarves were all the rage, lol.)

TGIF and Happy Knitting!

Hey Look….A Squirrel!!

This is an actual conversation in the car with my husband this morning:

Hubby: You are like a squirrel stashing nuts.

Me: (looks up from my knitting) Huh?

Hubby: You have knitting stashed everywhere.

Me: No, not really. Just on my nightstand, in the car, in my desk at work, in the living room…..oh….

Hubby: (Devilish smile)

To be fair he is not bothered by this but rather amused. I’m just doing my best to take advantage of what little knitting time I have these days. I wonder if squirrels can knit with their tiny hands? But I digress, lol. I’m quite happy with my stashes of UFOs. It’s nice to sneak a stitch in here and there!

Happy Knitting!

Knitters Are Amazing People

It’s no secret I’ve been on a sock binge lately. And I’ve been trolling my sock yarn drawer and petting all the lovelies. It came to my attention that I have some single skein of Knit Picks Felici hanging out in there. How did I do that? You can’t make socks from one measly skein!

So I did what any good knitter would do and took to Ravelry. I hit up other Ravelers with single skeins in their stashes and pleaded my case for a swap or sale. And oh boy did they ever come through! I found willing matches for all my colors. Be still my knitting heart!

One of my swaps showed up today:



A gorgeous skein and a thoughtful handwritten note! They took the time to wish me and the yarn good luck. I firmly believe that knitters are the best kind of people in the world!!

Happy Knitting

Socks With Sarah Winner!

I was beyond excited to win in the #sockswithsarah giveaway. Her blog has fast become one of my favorites. From all the yummy fiber and yarn to her gorgeous chocolate lab (I’m a sucker for labs!)

Here is a little yarn p0rn of the delicious skein I won!

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It’s Plucky Feet by the Plucky Knitter in the medieval color. I literally smooshed this yarn on my face the minute I unwrapped it. I might have to pet this one awhile before I knit with it!

Happy Knitting!

Holiday Stash Enhancement

I was weak and couldn’t resist the Knit Picks Cyber Monday sale. Here is proof of my shame weakness great deals…

/home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/f00/39837473/files/2014/12/img_2035.jpgI managed to grab some Knit Picks Biggo in a neutral color for a baby blanket. I also chose several skeins of Shine Worsted, Comfy Sport, Cotlin, and some Stroll Fingering. While putting this away I realized I have more yarn than I could ever knit but these were such great sale deals I just couldn’t pass it up. I’m hoping some of these skeins will turn into some sweaters and accessories for Jellybean…time will tell!

Did you hit up any Cyber Monday sales?

 

Stash Enhancement

My OCD/planning has kicked into high gear while pregnant. I have a plan for the nursery, budget for daycare and diapers, and a tentative holiday schedule to get Jellybean to all the relatives. Our finances will definitely change post baby with fewer dollars for creative activities like knitting and video games. So the hubby and I sat down and for our anniversary we splurged on each other before the baby gets here.

I got a little stash enhancement courtesy of the Knit Picks Summer Sale….20140706-153210-55930526.jpg

 

I picked up:

– Felici self striping – Lighthouse colorway

– Stroll Fingering – Blue Topaz

– Stroll Tonal – Canopy

– Brava Worsted – Caution yellow

– Stroll Hand-painted – County Fair

– Brava Sport – Eggplant

– Stroll Hand-painted – Lullaby colorway

– Heather Stroll – Merlot

Just enough for a couple of sweaters and several pairs of socks to stock up my drawer. I’m guessing what little knitting time I get after Jellybean gets here that socks will be my best “pick up/put down” project. 

Pardon me I need to pet these lovelies before they got into my stash drawers 🙂

Happy Monday!!