Stash-Down Results

Here's another example of the results of my ongoing Stash-Down.

It was raining so much it Toronto the day I finished this, that I struggled to get any photos at all. The sun came out for a few minutes so I started snapping. You can see the light changing fast in these. By the time I turned the mannequin around to do the back it was so dark I'm not bothering to include those shots. 

There won't be a pattern for this one but if you would like to create something like it first read this post for the tips and tricks. 

The sweater was worked top down so I could add in yarn if I needed to. I didn't. I did the sleeves bottom up because by then I realized I had more than enough yarn. In this case all the yarn is red, however the reds vary and I have multiple weights and fibres. Everything from lace to worsted weight as well as cashmere, silk, wool, and rayon to name just a few. The worsted was some Cascade 220 purchased for a hat and scarf but unused and some Knit Picks which came to me by way of another friend's stash down. Some are leftovers from other projects and were of very small amounts. 

Do a swatch to define a gauge when mixing weights together. I used the needle size which I would normally use for a worsted yarn. I did the knit one row in each of three yarns trick and repeat. (Make sure the weights of the three yarns are all different.) Then I changed out yarns a few times. Make a bigger than 4 inch swatch. Block it. Pick a simple top down sweater which matches the gauge. Start knitting. 

Recently one of my friends found out I mix yarn bases and told me I was scaring her. Don't be scared! This works because each yarn is used in one row at a time. You can mix as long as you don't do any large areas in a single weight. If you do, it will revert to it's normal gauge. The fabric will drape. The hand is more like a silk or cashmere blend even though about 70% of what I used is 100% wool. 

I knit the length to about 3/4's of what I wanted before the band and then I put it on my mannequin for about 48 hours.  I had to take it off and do the neckline part way because it was stretching out too much to be sure about the overall length. Once I knit the neckband I got a much more accurate length. The armholes also looked a little sloppy but after I did the neckline I realized the sleeve seams were going to take care of them as well. I did a saddle shoulder which may have added to the stretch there. 

I did all the edges in one of the worsted weight yarns for consistency. 

Stash-Down and Stash-Less

https://www.etsy.com/listing/515513591/my-stash-explained

I'm still picking away at my stash-down project. It's moving along slowly between my pattern development projects. I haven't got a firm timeline in mind but I have realized that the focus has resulted in a stash-less policy which I didn't specifically put in place. I've not made a single purchase from the yarn vendors who are often at my monthly guild meetings. I've also stopped buying the raffle tickets since the prize is so often yarn. I've been in yarn shops without buying as well. It's funny how one word can have such a big impact on one's strategy. 

At the last guild meeting I sat beside a friend who has been doing both stash-down and stash-less for at least a year. We discussed the problem of all those single skeins we buy from hand dyers which are often not enough for a project. It means buying more to make use of what you have, if there isn't a good companion yarn already in stash.

As you know from a previous post I have two patterns to address the blending of different yarn scenario.

I've just come across a blog series on stash which I would like to share with you. There are 17 extremely insightful posts on the topic here. 

They are written by Felicia, creator of The Craft Sessions. Her stash includes both yarn and fabric but her journey of discovery applies to all stash or hoarding. I hate to use that word but saying it to myself has had a positive impact on my behaviour. It seems the word stash sounds more innocent to my ears. The series runs from Oct 2014 to Sept 2015 and reflects her changing thinking throughout. I especially liked the post on restrictions and the one on desire. I've read widely in the area of positive psychology. When I first came across the idea that desire is actually a stress it was a light bulb moment for me. Even bigger is accepting that fulfillment of the desire doesn't lead to happiness! Take a look and let me know what you think.


1. Stash Less - A challenge
The original post where I talk about what and why.
2. Stash Less - The details of the challenge
Where I lay down the rules! For me - not for you ;).
3. Stash Less - Why we stash?
The reasons why I (and you??) start stashing.
4. Stash Less - Taking Stock
I took stock of the stash, what was there and how it came about.
5. Stash Less Challenge - Let it go, Let it goooo!
The one where we talk about recycling things that haven't worked.
6. Stash Less - An Update
A post where I talk about the interesting lessons I've learned so far about hoarding and using the things you love.
7. Stash Less - A Realisation
Where I talk about a bit of a shock I had as part of the process and what it means to change a habit.
8. Stash Less - Why Restrictions Rock!
A post about the upsides of Stashing Less - a big shakeup in the creativity department.
9. Stash Less - Selling Discontent
Where we talk about how desire and discontent affect our making and about the journey to move towards slow fashion.
10. Stash Less - A Habitual Practice
Where I looked at how my habits and making have changed since the start of the project and an update on the cash!
11. Stash Less - I May Have Found The Key
I've found out something really interesting about how to reduce my triggers for stashing - the key to freedom from desire?
12. Stash Less - Falling Off The Wagon
How and why I fell.
13. Stash Less - I Got A Gold Star
Where I finally get to the "special" stash.
14. Stash Less - Breaking The Habit
The keys to changing your habits.
15. Stash Less - Creating An Intentional Wardrobe
Details of the journey to "enough".
16. Stash Less - Not Just for the Holidays
About making the choice to continue.
17. Stash Less - Let's Talk about Desire
Talking about how desire influences behaviour.

Lessons from the Stashdown

 

Photo from Learn2Knit

What am I learning from my stash-down, well sometimes liking and wanting aren't really the same thing. Not every yarn needs to come home with me. It might be better if I leave some yarns which don't work with my overall knitting plan wherever they already happen to be. 

You can never go wrong with good basic yarns.

I should donate more of what I don't want rather than try to force it. I did realize startitis is often a message from your unconscious it's time to let something go.

The thought that someday someone else has to deal with all that yarn if I don't is becoming much more disturbing. 

On the positive side I really do have some lovely yarns to keep me busy for the next while between design projects.

I truly love the design challenge of making something great from what's turning up while I'm sorting through the stash. See my post here on what I've been doing. 

One pattern four ways:http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ruth-kettering-wrap

New Year's Stash Busting Resolutions

It's February, how many of you have already forgotten about your resolutions? When I google the topic of stash busting I get 190,000 results. Of course they aren't all just this year which just means it's an ongoing battle. 

I'm going to use this month to revisit some posts to highlight stash busting strategies. 

First up, some previous thoughts on stash management.

Tossing the Stash

Sometimes we just can't escape our past. I'm working on a stash down. I'm looking at good yarns but often in small amounts and different weights. I tried to bundle some of them up for donation and then fell into the trap of feeling wasteful. This is where my past comes in. My paternal grandparents came to Canada from Scotland in the late 1920s. My grandmother came from a family who while they weren't wealthy, they were hard working merchants and enjoyed the fruit of their efforts. She was the oldest daughter in a large family and all of the kids worked in the family business at very young ages. She never got over the depression. She was frugal to a fault. She lived with us from the time I was 10 so she had many opportunities to share her concerns about money. It also didn't help when my husband saw some partial balls (too small to donate) in the garbage and started teasing me that maybe I should keep it because someday I might not be able to afford yarn.

Later that day I attended the Fluevog Knit Night.

I had my social knitting project to work on since my current design project isn't very portable. My friend was working on some complex lace and cursing herself for not having something more appropriate for social knitting. My project is relatively small so it won't last much longer. 

I'm on the garter stitch short row section of this pattern: 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-martine-dubois-crescent-scarf

I'm knitting it in this gorgeous yarn from a trip to Rhinebeck a few years ago. 

I realized this morning while sorting my stash that the yarns I'm not happy about not using could be used for some very simple social knitting projects, either in garter or something equally simple. I started grouping for colour and I wanted to share a super simple trick for combining colours. 

See this, it's Malabrigo Rios in the colour 856 Azules. They already developed a great colour palette that I can use as inspiration. 

 

Here's a few other yarns in my stash that fall in the same colour range.

The trick...all you do is hold every yarn up against the original multicolored yarn, if it looks good together to your eye put it in the use pile. If it doesn't, it goes elsewhere. I'll probably double up that lace weight. I'm thinking a maybe a cowl or a cape-let mixing the yarns together. I have more yarns than I show in the photo. I'll poke around on Pinterest and Ravelry for some inspiration and see how this goes.