It happened. I knew it would. I went 41 days without a new skein coming into my hands. 41 days of knitting what I have either in current projects or ones about to be On The Needles (ONTs). Seems like a long time but when you are rescueing llamas and fighting the flu you lose a couple of weeks of knitting time....went two weeks without picking up the sticks and string.
I needed to buy yarn for my son's sweater. It was just a couple of skeins of Magallanes #307 colorway - honest. Oh that and one more skein of Noro's Silk Garden for a cardigan. And a doll kit. I've been waiting for the kits to go on sale and 40% off is a good deal! Yes, the kit is a yarn doll kit so the skeins count. These were all planned purchases before I started my Stash Diet. I'm not counting the individual skeins in the kit though. Too afraid of the number!
I'm not the type to buy yarn just because I fell in love with a skein, or the color, or the feel of it. I don't work that way. I do buy for a project. Then it sits there waiting to become something. It helps to have your knitting journal with you when you go to your LYS. The future projects have everything all written down. Yarn, yardage needed, needle size, embellishments, - it's all there so when a sale comes up..you are all set! Never leave home without your journal!
Oh just a note: fleece that hasn't been spun into yarn does not count as stash! It's not yarn yet! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Stash Bustin' the Journey
Yarn sitting around not being used. Yarn that is acrylic and definitely not my favorites. Still hanging around like a hungry cat waiting to be turned into something other than an unused skein.
Became a member of the http://www.ravlery.com/ community. I've logged most my yarn 'cept for the unwanted acrylics. Became a member of the Burnin' Up The Stash 2008. Seemed like a great way to get my needles in gear and use up the stash. But what to make?
Enter Knit 4 Lent ~ 4,000 hats in 40 days. I had decided to make up some hats and now I have the place to send them! Plus it's a neat way to spend Lent! Still making nothing but hats could make me sane so found Snuggles Project group. Making mats and such for critters in shelters! Yes! I have been a foster for the Boxer Breed and helped to move some llamas that needed to be moved ASAP. Making snuggles for critters makes sense! Check out http://www.snuggles.org/ for patterns and such.
Now I have a plan of action. I have a mission! I will use up all the yarn that will drive me nuts by moving it over and over again and never get it made into anything.....hats and mats they will become! I will put a counter for both so check back to see how many I get done! Goal? Until the yarn that has been sitting around waiting to be made into something is gone! To the needles!
End Date - Easter 2008!
Became a member of the http://www.ravlery.com/ community. I've logged most my yarn 'cept for the unwanted acrylics. Became a member of the Burnin' Up The Stash 2008. Seemed like a great way to get my needles in gear and use up the stash. But what to make?
Enter Knit 4 Lent ~ 4,000 hats in 40 days. I had decided to make up some hats and now I have the place to send them! Plus it's a neat way to spend Lent! Still making nothing but hats could make me sane so found Snuggles Project group. Making mats and such for critters in shelters! Yes! I have been a foster for the Boxer Breed and helped to move some llamas that needed to be moved ASAP. Making snuggles for critters makes sense! Check out http://www.snuggles.org/ for patterns and such.
Now I have a plan of action. I have a mission! I will use up all the yarn that will drive me nuts by moving it over and over again and never get it made into anything.....hats and mats they will become! I will put a counter for both so check back to see how many I get done! Goal? Until the yarn that has been sitting around waiting to be made into something is gone! To the needles!
End Date - Easter 2008!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
In Search of the Perfect Knitting Bag
My ideal knitting bag...has yet to find it. Used the one from Simply Knitting magazine - their freebie. Loved the shape - a tall rectangle but it wasn't tall enough for my straight needles. No shoulder strap.
Made a felted bag. Love it! Turn
ed out better than I thought it would! Light, easy to carry and not a single needle breaks through! This bag is great but it too doesn't fit the straights. They keep leaping out at the Dojo my son is at and I just don't want a student to step on a wayward needle in bare feet. Ouch! Maybe a button closer? It needs pockets too! Could add some...have to think about that one! Hmm...pockets...It is also a great conversation starter too! Then I can start talking knitting! Could always knit and felt another bag couldn't I?
ed out better than I thought it would! Light, easy to carry and not a single needle breaks through! This bag is great but it too doesn't fit the straights. They keep leaping out at the Dojo my son is at and I just don't want a student to step on a wayward needle in bare feet. Ouch! Maybe a button closer? It needs pockets too! Could add some...have to think about that one! Hmm...pockets...It is also a great conversation starter too! Then I can start talking knitting! Could always knit and felt another bag couldn't I? 
Moved to a large zippered bag. A few pockets and a zippered pocket on the inside. Haven't lost a needle who wanted to go exploring the world. It does have two handles and a shoulder strap. It's does the job but it's big - bigger than I'd like.
What do I want in the perfect knitting bag?
- Size- It has to be able to handle up to 14" needles. I usually have at least one sweater OTNs. Yet not to big I look like I'm carrying a suitcase. I'm short what else can I say?
- Pockets - Yes pockets, to hold pencils, small scissors with a lanyard, measuring tape,
needles I need for the current project. A large pocket to hold a copy of the pattern and
a few extra pockets. I will find something to put in them. A few outside pockets would
be handy too. - Handles and a shoulder strap. Shoulder strap is a must. It's amazing how much you can
carry when you use shoulder straps! - A zipper to close it. Can you see velcro in a knitting bag? Didn't think so!
- Made of something soft and durable....did I mention shoulder straps? It can bounce on
the leg and not leave a bruise. A big plus! The durable is for the amount of use this bag
will see! My knitting bag goes with me everywhere! - A color that doesn't make me cringe everytime I see it! Which counts out tapestry, paisley, and ugly fabric choices. Nothing light either. With a six yr. old of my own, my
granddaughters and the dogs....light pink is out!
Monday, January 7, 2008
They Want More Hats
The sons-in-law loved their hats I knitted them for Christmas. The fact was solidified when both of them came out into the living room wearing their hats! They loved them so much they requested a couple more! "Can I have one in black?" or "Could you make another one in the tan camo?". Of course I had to ask if they wanted a pink one...no way! I had hoped they would like them enough to at least wear them in the dark. But to have them request more? They just blew my mind away!
They were just basic 2x2 ribbed hats. Made in Bernat's Camouflage -Outback -tan/black and Renegade - green/black. Stitch 'n Bitch pg 162, Hot Head by Alex Zorn. No brim to roll up. No ear flaps. Just a nice head hugging cap. Short and sweet and to the point to make. Sometimes the best things are simple in design! Since both the guys are hunters, camo seemed like a good idea.
Have one of the requested hats on-the-needles but I modified the hat to work with a circular needle instead of straights. Using a smaller gauge needle too, a size 8, so cast-on is a larger number. That's 96 stitches The rows will need to be increased too. That works out to be 43. Using a decrease every 8 stitches....knit two together, knit 6 stitches. Next row decrease and knit 5...Not doing a knit everyother row w/o a decrease. I will keep working the hat in rib pattern during the decreases. I don't have to sew a seam!!!! That way there won't be "wrong side" to the hat! Now to the hats!
P.S. I am still smiling at the fact that the hats were a hit!
They were just basic 2x2 ribbed hats. Made in Bernat's Camouflage -Outback -tan/black and Renegade - green/black. Stitch 'n Bitch pg 162, Hot Head by Alex Zorn. No brim to roll up. No ear flaps. Just a nice head hugging cap. Short and sweet and to the point to make. Sometimes the best things are simple in design! Since both the guys are hunters, camo seemed like a good idea.
Have one of the requested hats on-the-needles but I modified the hat to work with a circular needle instead of straights. Using a smaller gauge needle too, a size 8, so cast-on is a larger number. That's 96 stitches The rows will need to be increased too. That works out to be 43. Using a decrease every 8 stitches....knit two together, knit 6 stitches. Next row decrease and knit 5...Not doing a knit everyother row w/o a decrease. I will keep working the hat in rib pattern during the decreases. I don't have to sew a seam!!!! That way there won't be "wrong side" to the hat! Now to the hats!
P.S. I am still smiling at the fact that the hats were a hit!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
I Wish You Enough
For the New Year I wish you enough!
I am on www.ravelry.com and a member of a few groups. One is an Episcopal group and in the forum was this wonderful link! http://www.bobperks.com/wish.htm
After reading Bob Perks' wonderful post, I wanted to begin doing the same.
So to you,
I wish you enough yarn to finish the project
I wish you enough mistakes so you learn to improve your craft
I wish you enough happiness on a finished project that turned out the way you dreamed it would
I wish you enough fiber friends to share your truimphs and disasters without their eyes glazing over
I wish you enough UnFinished Projects that need your attention
I wish yo enough Finished Projects so you can cast-on without guilt
To you I wish you enough!
I am on www.ravelry.com and a member of a few groups. One is an Episcopal group and in the forum was this wonderful link! http://www.bobperks.com/wish.htm
After reading Bob Perks' wonderful post, I wanted to begin doing the same.
So to you,
I wish you enough yarn to finish the project
I wish you enough mistakes so you learn to improve your craft
I wish you enough happiness on a finished project that turned out the way you dreamed it would
I wish you enough fiber friends to share your truimphs and disasters without their eyes glazing over
I wish you enough UnFinished Projects that need your attention
I wish yo enough Finished Projects so you can cast-on without guilt
To you I wish you enough!
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