Showing posts with label destash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label destash. Show all posts

Friday, 11 January 2013

New Year, New Knitting

Happy Friday morning to all!

I have pledged to not necessarily de-stash my incredibly large yarn stash this year. When I wrote "not necessarily", I mean I pledge to use and enjoy my stash - knitting up fabulous little and not-so-little projects with some of the fabulous yarn I have tucked away safely.

Last week, my boyfriend practically forced me to document my stash. I took a picture and popped everything into Ravelry. I now have everything catagorized not only by weight and colour, but dye lot, quantity, and queued it all for intended projects. I then catagorized all my yarn in numbered bins, according to quality and intention. For example:

Bin #1 is my high end swanky yarn - cashmere, silk, alpaca, llama, wool etc. Lace weight, DK, high hopes.

Bin #2 is all my Michaels purchases - kitchen cotton, various Lion Brand yarns, Bernat etc. This is the slightly embarrassing part of my stash, as I have begun to make a reputation for myself as a bonafide yarn snob. I blame this bin on my fear of screwing up on good yarn, so it's my practice yarn.

Bin #3 is all my large quantities of one yarn. I have five each of Abuelita Thick & Thin in grey, pink, taupe and tweed. I have 10+ of Lang Tosca brown/blue, orange/brown, purple/green. This can be to make larger projects, or potentially for more cowls.

Bin #4 is blanket yarn. I bought a TON of Lion Brand (my favourite affordable not-really-luxury yarn) Homespun and Thick and Quick, and have associated afghan and blanket patterns. I'll get to it eventually.

Bin #5 - also known as the cowl bin - is yarn I have been using for the "City Cowl". It is Filtes King Van Dyck yarn, and although I didn't think I had much left, I still have 44 skeins. I have unabashedly hoarded certain colours to potentially make myself a sweater.

Bin #6 - also known as the headband bin - is all my Lion Brand Vanna's Choice. I use this for making bow headbands. It has the perfect colours, is quite soft for an acrylic, and doesn't irritate the ears like a wool might.

So there you have it. If you decide to join Ravelry, add me as a friend and check out my ridiculous stash. I vow to use it and love it and replenish it and keep it organized.

Until next time,

Little Miss Cowl Co

Wednesday, 2 January 2013

Fibre Follies

Hi, and Happy New Year!

As promised, I am back to blogging promptly after the holidays. I got some awesome knitting swag, worked on some projects - and made some knitting plans for 2013.

If you read my previous post, you would know that I was in a mad knitting frenzy before Christmas. I managed to finish the most adorable cowl/hood and the baby llama blue cowl.

The Burton Bear Cowl was knit on US 13 circular needles with Filtes Van Dyck alpaca/wool/acrylic blend in Black. I knit the ears on straight needles instead of DPN's, which was fast and easy for me. I found two medium size buttons that somewhat matched the suggested button in the pattern, and voila. Cutest. Cowl. Ever. I made it in the child/toddler size, but am seriously contemplating making it in the adult size for myself.

Now, as much as I despise "bathroom shots" - I find them vain - I had no choice. I had to document the adorable cowl before I gifted it. So, you will see me wearing a child's size cowl, and will also catch a glimpse of my sweet sweet Missoni hand towels in the background.



On a more sour note though, I did not manage to complete my boyfriend's scarf. The yarn - which is classified as worsted but is more like a DK - is beautiful, but on a US 5 needle, it's taking me forever to complete. I actually had to switch needles (long story), and it's going a bit faster now.

Speaking of said boyfriend, he gifted me with a gorgeous interchangeable needle set from Knit Picks. I *may* have dropped not-so-subtle hints, but hey, it worked. The set is Harmony wood, and just a dream to work with. So, I put the scarf on those needles and it's been a lot more fun to knit up.

My 2013 knitting plans include a few headbands for January baby birthday gifts, and hopefully to finish this scarf, knit up some cute sweaters and cardigans for myself, and try to use up the awesome stash I have. I have a sneaking feeling that 2013 may be a bit of an expensive year.

Have a wonderful wonderful wonderful New Year - and check me out on Ravelry for knitting news, my queue, stash and fibre follies (user name is, you guessed it, thelittlecowlco).

Much love,

Little Miss Cowl Co.