What is it About a Deadline

...that suddenly makes me OK with monogamous knitting?

I've woven in ends, I have one sleeve to go, and I'm happy with the overall (albeit baggy) fit. I think I just might make the deadline for my Stashalong goal for July.







Who knew I could churn like this when I put my mind to it? Better not tempt the Fiber Fates though...I'll get back to my project A.D.D immediately. Well...after that second sleeve is done of course.

Travel Tales / Super Saturday

Yesterday I returned from a 7-day trip away from home. Another one of my classic leisure/business combos. I found out that my friend Gia was going to DC for a conference and so I hitched a ride with another friend of ours from New Jersey into DC. We had a good time catching up and exploring some places in the city. We also spent some time with another couple of friends and their adorable baby Zora. Korey and Kishanna are expecting again this fall and it was great to see them.

DC festivities on a hot Saturday afternoon


The lovely Ms. Giavanni


Tunde & I with my knitting in public on World Wide Knit In Public Day


Kishanna, Korey, and little Zora

From the knitting bag, 2 main projects kept me company during the trip, the Forever Jacquard self-striping socks



and sock #2 in the Sangria Sock pair. Because the blue socks have both my KnitPicks size 1 (2.5mm) circulars in use, I ordered another 32# size 1 and will attempt to complete this sock using the Magic Loop method. My status over at the Stashalong depends on it. Wish me luck!



How are things in your neck of the woods?

Scraptastic

What stash is complete without a load of yarn scraps? You know - the little odds and ends. The loose bits from the end of the ball. That "not quite enough" yardage that ends up tossed to the bottom of the bag, or into a scrap box like at my house. We've all got them. And in this case I must learn to love mine. See, I didn't add them to my yardage count, but that doesn't make them any less here. Though I wish it did just kind of dissolve them into nothingness since they're not on The Sheet. No such luck.

They do serve a good purpose though They are a great reminder that you have actually MADE things. That things have been knit and crocheted and in some cases even made and then gifted. It can restore your confidence that you are not in fact the world's worst pack rat.

So what to do with them?

Well, I'm going to start with making some of these to start. Goodie bags, gift bags, yarn totes. Call them what you will, I choose to call them Stash Busting Beauties! Care to join me?

The pattern is right here.

How are you using your scraps and bits? I love small, manageable projects like this for my "in between" projects knitting. What do you prefer?

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;).

Stash Buster's Log: Month 3

Warning: This post was shamelessly stolen from my StashAlong post and out of sheer laziness was not edited in any way to fit the context of this blog...but I thought I'd keep you guys up on what's happening in the House of Fiber.

So I'm in for another 2 months as I mentioned in my last post, and this time I'm allowing myself one free day - that has now been used. In the last 2 weeks, I found 3 new yarn stores within driving distance of my company's HQ. But I've got it out of my system, and I found that 2 of those store have Knit Nights, so I can go and meet some new knitters and start working on some finishing, instead of stash enhancement. Another new fixation I've found though? Patterns!! *Sigh* I'm a stockpiler, what can I say....

Posting some quick pics here of a finished project that was a completely random choice (the multicolored Homespun shawl) and another project that has been the favorite lately, my Sangria socks. The shawl was knit with 2 yarns held together, and that allowed me to use up nearly all of 2 skeins. Homespun is not much of a fiber favorite, but All.Stash.Must. Go. One way or the other. Since the photo, the sock is now 4" from being finished, and it will need a mate, which I will start immediately after finishing the first (the only way to make sure there is actually a mate).

Next time, 3 yarn shops and some fabulous tea - and in Jersey no less!

Voila!*

*a tribute to a friend of mine who allowed me to practice a wee bit of French this weekend, and reminded me how cool it is to know another language.

Show and tell today features another completed project that was planned executed and gifted in under 14 days. Gotta love that! It is also represents nearly 600 yards of stash reduction. Who's giddy with the knitty spirit? That's Me! That's me!

Oh! Pictures...

Prefelted


Modeled by my DD for scale :)


Fini!

Pattern: Fiber Trends Adult Clogs
Yarn: Cascade 220 Quatro and Heathers (Colors unknown because my stash has eaten the ball bands)
Almost 400 yds of the brown heather, and nearly 200 yds of the burnt orange (knit for a size 8 1/2)
Started: March 11th
Finished: March 17th

I give this pattern 5 stars! Well-written, no errors (at least in the size 8) and when you see the shaping coming together...it's truly knit magic.

My sister tried them on while still wet, and though they're a little big, she says she loves them! She received them just in time for her birthday today (happy 25th sisterberry!). It was the least I could do, after all, 9 months ago she gave me this...

Serenity

Orlando park lighthouse, December 2006

I wish I could climb right into that photo. I settled for a quick yoga session this morning instead. Just some deep breathing and stretching, but yoga has a nourishing ability to "transport" my mind when I need to start a day off just right. Day 5 of eating raw for wellness has begun well...I'm pretty surprised that I haven't had as many cravings or moments of weekness to pop somehting in the microwave or fire up the stove. Or heck, even to tear open a bag of something sweet or salty. I had a couple of "what am I supposed to eat now???" moments, and also some "oh great, salad again" laments, but otherwise, doing fine. I'm committed to the 7 days, and since I'm already a sashimi fan, I think I can extend this even longer...we'll see.

Knit bits....not much to show right now, but I am proud to say that in keeping with my stashalong efforts I've become quite neurotic about using up EVERY yard of the skeins I'm using for my projects. For example, from my younger nephew's sweater leftovers I made this

freestyle beanie for my older nephew

and this

freestyle crocheted coaster (snuggles the tea mug just so)

Since I booked my ticket to Stitches Midwest I have kicked the yarn buying embargo into high gear. This No New Yarn policy does have it's recourse you must understand. I want to be able to completely lose myself in that wall-to-wall fiber filled convention center in August. Hence, no leftovers are safe in the stash, and no new comers are welcome!! (unless they are gifts, which I will accept with great glee) Ha! Next thing you know I'll be making chunky wool ponchos and carrying 3 strands of worsted for a pair of socks. Say I won't!

Mwah! Have a wonderful weekend all!

Out of the Closet

Best place for an elephant is right out in the middle of the living room so we can talk about it, right? Right...let's have it. I present, my unfinished object queue (those presentable enough for photographing)


Central Park Hoodie from Fall '06 KnitScene (for me)


Back now done (with short row shoulders no less!); Sleeves done; Right and Left front started


Sangria Socks (for me)


Still being neglected right now (I blame the slowness of dpns)


Plymouth Encore Afghan - a very late gift(I might just frog this and do one big one, instead of individual blocks)



Crochet Beach Bag (from Family Circle Knit & Crochet)


Felted Striped Tote (from One Skein book)


Interweave Crochet Hipster Belt - needs loops and fringe



On the brighter side...here are 2 items that were unfinished at the original writing of this post, but which have since been COMPLETED!! (Woo hoo!)

Chunky Gift Scarf:

Combined Red Heart "Soft", Berroco "Softy", and some gold novelty yarn from Kelli
Started:Early January 2007
Finished: Feb 15, 2007

Baby Sweater (for my nephew):

Yarn: Jo-Ann's Sensations Yarn in "Licorice"
Started: June 2006
Finished: February 14, 2007
Sadly, as he is now about to be 8 months old, it will not likely fit him much longer. Thank goodness I have another nephew to pass this along to (3 months old)

So there they be! Look for these to be featured in future posts as finished projects. And if they don't - you have these pictures to smack me over the head with, as it were.

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...