2014 ~ Year of the StashDown

People this time of year, decide on what they want to accomplish in the year, it is called New Year Resolutions. However, usually when people make these said resolutions, they do not end up following through with it. So, let's not call this, a resolution but "this is time for change, now do it!!!!". What are you talking about, you might ask? Okay, here is the whole story...

I have been knitting for a few years now, and over the few years I have been knitting, I have acquired  stash. When I mean stash, I mean lots and lots of yarn! Like more yarn than I can knit from for a long time. My mom is always nagging me on facebook and such by putting in some funny comics about my stash, which I don't mind, she is just making me smile. But I have then got to thinking, I do have a lot of yarn.

Then one day, I was listening to the Knitting In Circles Podcast with Aimee and Darren. They had planned on doing a Stash Down for the year of 2014. I got to thinking, could I really join and follow through?

I knew myself better than that, so I have committed myself to knit 3 skeins of yarn and then I can purchase 1 (or maybe 2, if I need to match dyelots or something). I had then started making a spreadsheet on Google Drive, since spreadsheets will rule the world (I will talk about that in another post).

I may have added a few projects from when I actually started knitting from stash, so there are 2 projects from December. The right column is the column I will put what yarn I buy in. I will also be adding a place for my spinning projects as well!

So what did you finish, you may ask? Well, let me show you!

Project #1:
I knitted a test knit for CashmereJunkie on ravelry, it is called Phryne. I knitted the 3-6 month size. I used everything but 24 grams of Cascade 220 Paints in the colorway 9850 Spring Bay. That used 189 yards total.

 

Project #2: 

For my second project, I knitted the Milo Vest. by Georgie Hallam. I have been eying the pattern for quite a while now, and now I can say I have knitted it! I think mine turned out very well, however, I did the 3 month size, and it turned out to be a 18 month size... I did do a gauge swatch, and my gauge was spot on, but when I went to knit the vest, it turned out to be very wrong! I used 123 grams total, which equals to about 270 yards. I used Cascade 220 Heathers in colorway 9462. 

and look at the cables!!!

Project #3:
For my third project, I decided to knit another baby sweater. I knit the Harvest by Tin Can Knits, it is a free pattern download on Ravelry. I used Sanguine Gryphon Bugga! in the Yellow Dung Fly colorway. It was my first time knitting with Bugga! and I really like how it worked up, it was very soft, and no imperfections (splits or anything of that nature). The dye was very absorbed, no dye came out when I washed it, and there were no white spots. It is a Sport Weight, and the pattern actually called for a Worsted Weight, but I did get gauge, so it turned out to be the right size. I used 92 grams, 302 yards.

 

I will get a better photo of it in daylight for y'all, as well!

Project #4:

For my very last project, I knitted a blanket square for a charity that a friend is hosting on Ravelry. She is collecting squares to be sewn into blankets and given to Indian Orphan Homes. I used 100% acrylic yarn for this one, since it needs to be washable. I used Loops and Threads Impeccable in 3242 Forest. I used 135 yards. The squares need to be 8" by 8" so I did a mitered square with a cast on of 65 stitches and decreased until I had 1 stitch left. I used Worsted Weight and size 6 needles. 

Well, it is now midnight here, and I have a bed calling my name! I will however, keep you updated on how my stashdown is going.

And a little comic that my mom sent to me via facebook: