I’m not doing any new year’s resolutions this year. Not for any real reason; mostly because I never can think of a really good resolution. But, I have been thinking of working on getting my stash down.
I mean, I often (almost always) knit from my stash, but I’ve still managed to end up with a surprising amount of yarn, just sitting there in my studio. Sure, a lot of it is single skeins, but I’ve got surprisingly large amounts of several yarns, and even some pretty special single skeins.
It seems a shame to leave them just sitting there.
But here’s the issue- I’m completely out of ideas for patterns that I might use for these yarns. Here’s hoping that one of you have a magical idea to help me use up some of this yarn.
First, I’ve got 360 yards of a super special, sport weight wool-angora blend from Local Color Fiber Studio. It’s glorious and soft, but looks really crunchy and natural. I’ve had it for a year or so, and get it out every time I’m looking for a new project. I still haven’t found just the right pattern for it. I’m this close to just making a garter triangle scarf, and calling it a day.
On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve got 5 and a half skeins of super soft, super chunky Knit Picks Swish Bulky. It’s leftover from a sweater I designed earlier this year (keep an eye out!), and I don’t think it’s enough to make a second full-sized sweater. It’s such a pretty green, though, I really want to use it for something.
I’ve also got a full sweater quantity of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted, a nice wooly workhorse yarn, in sapphire blue. I’m currently working on a design in the same yarn, so I could just re-knit the same pattern again in blue, but I think I’d like to do something a little more interesting instead.
Continuing on the Knit Picks jag, I’ve got a giant bag of Hawthorne, my favorite sock yarn from KP. This is a tricky one, though. I’ve got about 10 different colors (that don’t necessarily go together), a handful of full skeins, and a bunch of partial skeins. I’m currently thinking I might use it to crochet an afghan, but that’s really just because I can’t figure out what else to do with it (apart from knitting one thousand socks).
I also found these three beautiful, peacock blue skeins of Knitting Notions Classic Merino Bamboo, a sport weight wool-rayon blend that is beautiful and shiny, but almost impossible to photograph. Between the three skeins, I’ve got almost 1500 yards, which has got to be enough to make something wonderful, but I haven’t been able to figure out what to do with it since I was gifted it several years ago. Will 2020 be the year of the Peacock yarn? Time will tell.
Have you done a deep dive into your stash lately? Find anything good?
And, seriously, if you have any ideas for my yarn, I’d love to hear them!
Ooh, what fun! Here’s a few ideas for what they’re worth.
Local Color Fiber Studio Sport: Treccia by Michele Wang or Belmina by Melanie Rice
KP Swish Bulky: Pretzel Scarf by Margie Mitchell
KP Wool of the Andes Worsted: Ginny or The Weekender by Andrea Mowry
KP Hawthorne: Turn Over A New Leaf by Cally Monster, Honeylocust Loop by Erica Heusser, Sedona Sunrise Wrap by Wanderlust Fiber Arts
Knitting Notions Classic Merino Bamboo: Beloved Friend by Sanne Kalmbacher, Two Sisters by Carol Sunday
Can’t wait to see what you make!
Hello! Your yarn is so pretty! Here’s what I do with my excess yarn: I knit kitty mats. Think a rectangle about the size of a dining placemat; just enough room for a kitty to curl into a donut on it. These can be basic or fancy, depending on what you feel like knitting. It isn’t for warmth, but for comfort, so a kitty doesn’t mind if it’s garter stitch or fancy lacework. The idea is to give a kitty something soft and washable that they can snuggle. I keep the fancy ones for my own kitties or give them as gifts. The ones I’m not so attached to, I donate to local kitty shelters. They’re quick, simple, and good at using up extra yarn in worsted or larger weights. Just an idea!