Wool Gathering

Every now and then, my inner tree hugger nudges me to be a bit more conscious of my consumption. We all want, need, and get things at various rates in life, but at some point, you do try to carve out some kind of balance. When I think about my yarn buying habit, I know that I have already come close to exceeding how much I can actually use up before my children start to need tuition, but I find the temptation to buy much harder to resist at times.

To counter these urges, I try to implement the three R's. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Reduce my stash to a reasonable amount (so that I can have the joy of filling it back up again).
Reuse yarn and materials from sweaters that I can get at my local Goodwill.
Recycle said yarn into a sweater that once cost someone $60, but last Saturday cost me $2.79.

Have you seen this great tutorial on reclaiming yarn from previously knit sweaters? How about this one? Using the techniques that these thrifty knitters outlined, I turned this Gap Sweater...

Sweater Deconstruction - Snip. Rip. Repeat!

...into these yarn cakes. And now who knows what they'll become!


Woolly, tweedy, mounds of potential (color is truest here)

I highly recommend this folks. In fact, the prospect of getting those 1200 + yards so cheap and easy kept me from going to a 40% off sale at my LYS. Now that's just economically savvy! Right? Yeah, yeah I know. When I run it past the hubster, I'll try to make it sound a wee bit more convincing.

Save a sheep! Unravel a sweater!

Receiving is Pretty Good Too

You know the saying that it is better to give than to receive? I firmly believe in that, and like many of you, I get a whole lot of joy from giving. I mean real grin-a-kool-aid-smile kind of happiness. In fact, I'm such a fan of giving, that I started a whole blog adventure about it. One of the things I like best about giving someone something out of kindness is that moment when they realize that, at some point, you stopped alllllll the other things going on in your life to think about them. And then you didn't just think about them, you acted on that thought. You put your feelings into something tangible. In the case of giving something handmade, you put your time, your energy, your creativity and a little piece of YOU into that gift. And when you see that they appreciate it, or that it does them some good - man oh man. It's hard to beat that warm and fuzzy.

Well it's by that same token that I would now like to celebrate the wonderfulness of receiving...Yesterday I received two packages and you can just guess what was in them....

Mmmmm hmmm - some of my favorite stuff to give AND to receive. Yarn! This gorgeous, colorful, Knit! Me! Now! kind of yarn.

This one is Grandma's Blessing from Briar Rose fibers.
I received this as a Thank You from Kim - the wonderful organizer of the Hope Lodge Charity Blanket Knit-a-Long. I told her that being a part of something so meaningful was definitely thanks enough and I took that as my gift when I took part. But this squishy lovely bonus?? Why thank you very much, I receive it humbly and with much gratitude.

This next one is a yarn I've heard about for a long time, and never actually tried (I believe that counts as a double gift - new yarn, new yarn knitting experience).



This came in the mail from one of my all-time favorite podcasters, Nicole. Get this - I actually won this as a prize for knitting from my stash and decreasing it by over 1000 yards in April's Spring Cleaning Challenge [ravelry link]. In fact, I think knitting from our stash is a gift we should all give ourselves more often. And adding back to the stash through the kindness of others like Nicole and the lovely Ceylun (our challenge administrator) - now that's just good receiving! Oh what to make??! Send your suggestions pleez! I welcome them.

Sigh...I'm happy as a lark. (Why don't people say that anymore? It's just so fitting.)

Let's Do the Numbers...

204 days ago I set myself a goal.

365 days without buying any new yarn.

3 days ago I found myself completely unable to pick up my knitting needles (I really thought I might be coming down with something...turns out I was - I'm calling it the Knitting Blahs)

3 people told me the feeling would pass and that I should hold strong.

2 websites and 1 email foretold a sale on Patons Classic Merino Wool.

1 knitter (this one) happens to be completely in love with said Wool.

4 hours passed with said wool sitting in "pending" status in my online shopping cart while I debated the merits of sticking to a goal vs the psychological damage of forced deprivation.

60 minutes of no online activity means that your shopping cart status "times out" (who knew?)

1 trip down south to have lunch with 9 of my former colleagues meant that I had a

90 minute commute back home which took me right in the direction of the 1 store near me where the aforementioned wool was being given away (okay, not really - but we're talking CHEAP here people)

With 10 minutes of color selection and 1 very simple transaction...

8 new balls of Patons Classic Wool in (the most delicious) Chocolate Brown and Charcoal Grey followed me home.

So my counter for Number of Days Since I Last Bought Yarn resets to 0.

And you know what? I'm okay with that.

The Palindrom Reversible Cables Scarf

Click the photo to be whisked off to the pattern.

You Can Thank Me Later...Go Go Go

Knitting Daily is having a Contest for a Shopping Spree at your favorite Local Yarn Store. Go enter. I hope you win!!

Clapotis update...I'm in the decrease rows and the light is quite visible at the end of this tunnel. What is it about that segment of a pattern that just makes you fall back in love with the knitting? It must be that sense of "Oh yeah. I can totally do this."

ETA: Zeee Clapotis is FINI (ends weaved in at 4pm on Saturday...with time to spare)

Have a fantastic weekend darlings!

For the Knitter Who Has Everything

...and finds herself on a yarn-buying diet (57 days and counting).

What could be better than NEW YARN?!

No no, I didn't cave in, I actually won some scrumptious Artfibers Kyoto yarn by knitting - the irony. I won by turning this yummy yarn into a neckwarmer:

At the beginning of September, I started knitting some quick projects and entered them in the Stash and Burn One Skein Contest. Very simple concept - just knit and submit. With other fervent knitters like Crafty Carolyn in the pool (she knit 16 items!), I really didn't think I stood a chance. But apparently one project is all it took.




So let me take this opportunity to thank Nicole and Jenny and to promote their most excellent podcast, their Flickr group, and each of their blogs - Jenny is here and Nicole is here. There's a Stash & Burn Groupies group on Ravelry too, so choose your medium. There is a contest for October to knit with sock yarn - make sure you enter!



Luxe Neckwarmer from Knit2Together book
Schulana Cashmere Trend Yarn (100% Cashmere; 63 yds/ball)

As for me, I'm so pleased that I could do a cartwheel.

As a matter of fact...I think I will.

Full Disclosure

Hello all, I'm blogging "live" from Chicago, IL...home to one of the great knitting events, Stitches Midwest. My girlfriend and I came for a long weekend to take some classes, buy some yarn, see the city, buy some yarn, visit with friends from my past, buy some yarn, and eat some great Chi town food, then buy some more yarn. I'll have more to tell once I'm home and things are settled a bit, but for now, here's a photo glimpse of our trip so far (all photos enlarge on click):

Back out here very soon. Be well!

Knitty's Amy Singer & Lettuce Knit Loot

I keep getting these great reminders of why traveling for work doesn't entirely suck.

First stop - Tim Horton's Doughnuts - a Canadian gem!

I crossed the Canadian border last weekend and found a fiber haven - none other than Stephanie's infamous hangout, Lettuce Knit in the coolest, very hip(pie)st part of downtown Toronto. What a treat! I had this on my Sunday plan just as soon as I found out I'd be traveling to TO (which was 2 days before the trip by the way), but here's a photo review of some of the unexpected treats that awaited me there.


Green Art


Lettuce Knit Yarn Shop

Denny, TO's coolest LYS owner

Upon entering the store, I overheard a a fellow knitter and Knitty fan, Julie talking with another person in the store. Julie was just so sweet and modest that when I saw who it was she was talking to - I realized the source of her shyness. Knitty's Amy Singer was in the house! After some chit chat and some truly admirable patience(we'll get to that in a minute), a great little story unfolded.




The story behind Julie's patience is that when she very modestly introduced herself to Amy, and Amy greeted her immediately like an old friend, I could see a HUGE photo opp awaiting us, so I offered to be the photographer (knitters, bloggers, you know how this works.) Well, wouldn't you know it - my camera batteries picked that very second to crap out. But I don't give up that easily. Julie was getting this picture, and if I was lucky, I'd get one too. It took me 3 trips to 3 different stores and alot of running down the streets of mid-town TO to get them, but batteries were procured and photos were taken. I didn't post Julie's photo here because (duh) I forgot to ask her permission to do so, but she has my blog address now, she'll let me know ;)

Knitty Buddies

So, the only thing that could come a close second to meeting Amy Singer in person, is NEW YARN!

HandMaiden Ottawa

My first Manos del Uruguay!
Traveling for business and pleasure - such a welcome combination when you're a fiber fan. As a Canadian citizen, there's a special place in my heart for Canucks who love the yarn and the needles. If you've never been, I highly recommend a visit - tell them I sent you!

How In The...

Stash busting, Stash and Burn, Knit from your Stash, Year of the Stash
Sense a theme here? The time to tame the stash is upon us...well me anyway. So, what does one do when one wants to get a handle on just how much yarn one has been able to acquire in one's short short fiber journey?

We count. We count yards, we count skeins, balls, hanks, and even scraps.
Yes, we even count the itty bitty leftover bits that still have tags, though they have no apparent usefulness.

I have spent at least 4 lunch hours this week neck deep in my stash; fondling, organizing, winding, un-knotting, and counting...mostly counting. I created a spreadsheet after hearing Nicole & Jenny talk about it a long time back. With much toil, I now have a view of my stash by Brand, Yarn Name, Fiber Content, Yardage, Skein Count, Gauge, recommended needle size, and notes.

Where do I stand?

Current Stash Yardage = 37,735.5 yards
Total Number of Balls/Skeins = 209.5 (see, I even counted the little bits)

Not included in the count are Wally World acrylics - these will either be donated or they will be crocheted into charity pet beds and play mats for the kids. Translation: ignore those.

Strangely enough, this does not frighten me (yet). I haven't decided whether or not this is a completely unmanageable number (it is). I really enjoyed the review of where, when, and why I bought these yarns. I even thought about how many things I've been wanting to make from my stash yarns(for the gazillionth time). It's all good (send help). I can totally get this down in time for Stitches Midwest in August so that I can shop guilt-free (you can stop laughing now).
Have you counted? Where do you stand? Ankle deep, knee deep, up to your eyeballs? I'd love to know! I know, some of you dear readers are not knitters or crocheters; I imagine you are standing fiber-free on the sidelines shaking your heads at the insanity of the yarn obsessed. Don't pity us darlings, just keep telling us how much you love handmade afghans;).

Location, location, location

I've been working for this company in Jersey now for 4 months, and in that time, I have never managed to actually check out any of the local yarn stores...a first for me, as that is usually the primary non-business stop on any of my trips. The challenge has been finding one that I can get to over lunch, or one that opens late enough that I can stop in after work. No luck in the immediate vicinity...but I was not deterred!

Thursday night, Cindy and I met at Stix and Stitches in Montclair, NJ. Though we weren't so sure about what adventure awaited us in this south Jersey township, they did have a knit night until 9pm, so it looked promising. Not to mention that we haven't ever actually knit together in the 8 months since we met (and still haven't), we thought this might be good. Quaint little shop, small town, maybe we'd find a nice local restaurant to refuel in after our browsing...boy did we underestimate this adventure!

After 2 hours of strolling through the shop, jaw dropped, I managed to grab these at closing time

Mountain Colors Bearfoot handpainted sock yarns in "Sierra" and "Larkspur"

60 % Superwash Wool, 25 % Mohair, 15 % Nylon

There was just so much to see, and not just the skeins of loveliness on the walls; the ladies at Knit Night were working on some beautiful projects in lace, Fair Isle, and more!

We thought the night couldn't get much better. Wrong again...we stepped out into the freezing night air and realized we hadn't settled on a place to eat. Sheila (the store owner) was VERY helpful with this as well. She suggested an Ethiopian restaurant in walking distance, and we headed over. Masob (/mah sohb'/) was it's name and I was in love from walking in.










First time with Ethiopian cuisine for Cindy (she's such a trooper!)and a 3rd for me. Service was great, and the food was soooooo good. We both had Kemem shai tea (cardamon, cinnamon, mint, and about 3 other ingredients) and shared a sampler plate of spicy meats, veggies and injira.






I'm already looking forward to going back. Cindy and I have had pretty good luck with finding great new fiber and food stops. Who knows, one of these days instead of filling our stashes and feeding our tummies, we may actually just sit somewhere and knit together. But for now, why mess with a good thing?

Unfinisher's Log...Day 2341

Well, at least it feels that way...

As many of you that browse the web know, there is a group out there for just about EVERY old thing...

I've joined this stash busting effort (again) this year in the hopes that I can get my stash down to something manageable, and something comprised of only yarns that I just can't WAIT to knit with. I really want to tuck some more knitting techniques under my belt, but that means casting on new swatches at least; the length of the Yet-To-Be-Knit list doesn't let me feel free enough to do that yet. Woe is me!

Best way to take on a problem is to face it right? Yeah...that's what I thought when I pulled out every.single.yard. of yarn that I have in my (ahem) guest room and decided to photograph it for accountability. Brace yourself...





Now I know that some of you will look at that shameful shot and say "hmmm....that's not so bad", but others are having to hold on to something and breath very slowly, as I did. This was a wickedly rude awakening. Mostly because that photo doesn't actually show all the skeins (they couldn't all fit), and because it doesn't include the Mound O' Acrylic fire hazard:




Bah! Even that's a cropped shot (*shudder*). We don't want to hurt anyone's retinas; look away if you must.

My friends, something must be done! There is some great stuff in there! My ridiculous but lovely fiber haul from Stitches Midwest; some of Cindy's yarn; all my travel yarn loot; gifted yarn. Cashmere! There is cashmere in there people! It should have seen the light of my needle ends months ago. No excuse.

So, I'm good and determined. I last bought yarn on January 29th, and I'm on a minimum 2-month yarn embargo. My next knitting-related purchase of any substance will be a super nifty blocking board. Alas, that won't be until the unfinished knit and crochet item list comes down though. Oh...did I forget to mention that? The stash pile photo conveniently (mercifully!) does not include the stack of items not yet completed. That post will be for another day - maybe tomorrow. I need a lie down...