Off the Wagon

Why do knitters stash yarn away? Is there a yarn shortage coming?

Do knitters feel as though the yarn will run out? I know that even if I were to knit every day of the rest of my life, I'd be hard pressed to use my entire stash. And yet, more yarn beckons.

I have to admit to being really impressed with knitters who don't stash. They buy yarn for a specific project, start the project upon receiving the yarn, then finish the project before buying yarn for the next. These knitters are few and far between, (or they are just quiet in the face of rabid stashers) and have my deepest respect!

On the other hand, knitters that put yarn away for a rainy day show forethought into the knitter's process. If they find themselves, say at midnight, with the undeniable urge to start a new project, say something to wear to Maryland Sheep and Wool, they are prepared. These stash knitters know how to think ahead. Sale yarn is put by for when money is tight. One of a kind yarn is collected like fine art. Some stashing knitters know where they have bought each skein, who they were with, and what the weather was like. (Happy Birthday Barb!) These knitters think of their stash as a collection. It isn't how many skeins you own, but the type of yarn that is important.

In January, I decided that my stash was plenty big, and my guestroom might benefit from a few months without any additions. I knitted from my stash for two months without even a glimmer of an urge to buy yarn. On the whole, I didn't knit enough during that time to make a noticeable dent in the stash. On my first visit to a LYS after that time, when I was free to buy yarn, I bought no yarn, just tools and patterns. (I'm guessing that I was still in StashAlong mode at the time.) So why is it that in the three weeks following that visit I have bought all this?


(Dale of Norway Baby Ull on the right, lots of sock yarn on the left)

That's just the backlash from two months' restraint! I've decided to sign up for the StashAlong for another 5 or 6 months. Today's investment advice: buy yarn futures.

Disciplinary Action

Finishing things has never been my strong suit. I like to start things. Starting things is way more fun! You get a sense of accomplishment with a finished project, but there is a rush to starting a new project that is pretty great. I've been holding off starting a new project until I finish one. I am trying to be disciplined, which is new for me. This is very clear by the large amount of WIPs I have. I am also trying to alternate big projects with small ones, so I don't go crazy and cast on for more projects than I'm finishing. It's all part of my master plan: finish as much as possible and make room in the stash for some new yummy yarn!

To stave off boredom, I've also started swatching stitch patterns. I'm using some kitchen cotton so I'll have a mess of washcloth/dishcloths instead of swatches laying about. Hmmm, does this count as starting a new project? Dang!

I finished one of the rayon shawls I was working on. Yep, just one. I started a blue shawl after the rust one (don't ask) then worked on them both at the same time, so I still have a ways to go on the blue. The blue got more than one pattern repeat last night at Knit Chicks, so it's cruising right along!

This rust one is for someone very special! Sorry, can't tell you who yet!

Didn't the picture come out nice? I draped it over a tree branch and just as I was about to take the picture, a breeze pooched the shawl out nicely. I love it when stuff works out like that! Especially when I didn't want to stay out in the cold to take another shot... brr!

I also started a helmet liner for Margaret, who is sending a bunch to Korea for US service persons stationed there. I'm trying to put a rush on this one. Some projects are a little more important than my having new washcloths, don't you think?

Let's see: Project tally... Finished: 1 Started: 2. I am soooo grounded...

Stalled

The tiny amount of knitting I accomplish each day is frustrating to me. I know, just the other day I was excited about progress on the wallaby. Today, I'm frustrated. Can you say Mood Swing?

There are so many projects that I want to start. I want to start them all now. Right now. Like a petulant child, I wanna start them now, now, Now! (imagine spoiled brat foot stomp on each "now") Except I should finish what I'm working on first. That's what an adult would do, right?

Since I'm stashing along, I mustn't add to the stash. The trouble is that adding to the stash is fun, and usually relieves the boredom/frustration of moving along so slowly with the knitting. I've been fantasizing about Koigu. Piles of Koigu. Must. not. Buy. Koigu. Sigh!

Margene writes "Stash is full of potential, full of promise and good things to come." So very true, it's ridiculous. Go check out her sock yarn p0rn. You know you want to. On a similar vein, Kate Antonova wrote this article about looking at your stash in a new way on Knitty: http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/FEATcollection.html Go, read!

Sorry for the picture-less post, there isn't any real progress to report. I'm going to go rearrange my collection. I'm hoping it will inspire me to be a good girl and finish my WIPs.

Knots, Stash, and a Birthday Bash

The rayon shawls are progressing nicely, thanks to the wonderful Lia, who put aside her knitting for an entire evening to untangle a very ugly mess of Rick-Rack yarn. The yarn is gorgeous, but sooo very tangly! It was not the first time the yarn had snarled, which is not surprising considering it is a big project stuffed repeatedly into a little bag. Thank you Lia, it was very kind of you!

The shawls are now taller than me, which was my goal, but I just can't stop. Since I started to Stash Along, I want to use up as much yarn as possible. I don't want to leave a small ball of yarn without mates, or a project. I'm trying to use as much of it as possible. RickRack comes in one big ball, which is great, because I haven't had to weave in any ends yet, but it means that whatever is left, is, well, leftover. I figure that an extra few inches on the shawl is more preferable to a sad little ball of leftover yarn. I'm gonna see how close I can cut it...

The Stash Along is having side-effects. I started reading my stash of knitting books! They aren't just picture books! There's writing in them! Pretty interesting writing, as it turns out. Currently reading Wendy Knits, which is Wendy's knitting adventures interspiced with knitting patterns in increasing difficulty. Lia, Margie and I met Wendy, who was very friendly and lovely and signed my book before her talk so I could sneak out with the baby if I needed to, at her book signing at Loop in Philadelphia sometime last year. (I don't remember exactly when, because last year is still mostly a baby-induced blur.) I do remember eating some darn good Dim Sum beforehand in Chinatown, then a nice walk to the store.

We celebrated the Monkey's first birthday yesterday, with a mess of family and lots of noise. He was a little overwhelmed, and fell asleep instead of digging in to his birthday cake. A few hours later, we tried again. Success! His Grandmother made, not one, not two, but FOUR birthday cakes. One vanilla in the shape of a tractor, one chocolate Mickey Mouse, and two very beautifully decorated applesauce cakes with no eggs, as the Monkey has issues with eggs right now. He's working on the little applesauce cake (with blue icing) in the photo.

He was very tired from all the excitement, and slept, well, like a baby last night. That wouldn't be a big deal except this kid is not a sleeper. I think it was at least two months after he was born that he slept more than a couple hours at a time, and he had to be cuddled on his Daddy's chest to accomplish that. Currently, It is still the majority of nights that he sleeps awhile then is up to eat or play. Right now, he's on his second nap of the day, which most likely means we'll be eating more cake at midnight...

Well, I can't top a cute pic like that with talk of after-party cleaning (ugh!) so I just won't.

Stash or Trash?

The knitting is going so slowly that I think I'll have to approach the de-Stashing from more than one direction. There is some legacy yarn (hand-me-downs) hiding in my stash that could be considered trash by some knitters . In fact, it arrived in a trash bag, and it might just leave that way, too. The monkey is asleep, so I'm off to sort.

Got Stash?

If you have a ball of yarn, you have a stash. If you have a room full of yarn, perhaps the guest room, and you can't find a large piece of furniture, such as the bed, because the yarn has enveloped it, you have a problem. I have a problem. A big one. "Hi, my name is Jenn..." The amazing, always helpful Lia suggested that I join this StashAlong in order to try to get my habit under control. I signed right up. The first step is abstinence. I chose to quit for a two month period. After that, we'll see how anxious I get for a hit. I'm trying not to think about it as losing a stash so much as regaining about 80 square feet of guest room.

Here's what I'll be working on.

UFO's

1. Philosopher's cardigan kit "Trillium" in autumn colors
2. Feather and Fan shawls from Interlacements in "Rick Rack" by Interlacements
3. Cardigan (my design) in purple "Muskoka" by Berella
4. Pullover (my design) in green heather "Amawalk" by Filofin (Italian)
5. "Wonderful Wallaby" by Cottage Creations in purple acrylic Red Heart

From the Stash

1. Philosopher's cardigan kit "Colour your own" in pastel colors
2. Socks for The Baby out of leftover/orphaned sock yarn
3. "Nantucket Jacket" from IK Winter 2006 in blue "Muskoka" by Berella
4. "Children's Cotton Hats" from Last Minute Knitted Gifts in 1824 cotton by Mission Falls
5. "Lizard Ridge" from Knitty.com in "Kureyon" by Noro

Don't expect that I'll finish them all in two months, but we'll see...