Saturday, January 5, 2008

Knitting from stash

It is a brand new year, and I am faced with a stash larger than a couple of LYSs I know. (what can I say, I can't resist a bargain...) I have joined the new Ravelry group, Mission: Possible 2008, where I have to come up with 12 projects, knitted from stash, and finish them before year's end. These can be projects that have already been started, and only need minor finishing, to projects that are still in the planning stages. The idea here is to use up that stash! My problem is, I have come up with WAY more than 12 projects, and I need a little help paring the list down so it won't become Mission: Impossible! Here they are in no particular order:

  1. My first pair of socks. Started over two years ago, and one kitchenered toe away from being a complete pair. I'm pretty sure this one is in.
  2. Branching Out from Knitty. This pattern has nearly put me off ever trying lace again. I know it is not that difficult, it's just this thing I have with lace. (we hate each other) Still..... it is nearly finished, so I'm pretty sure this one is in.
  3. Sweater for Andrew. He picked out the pattern, and I bought the yarn over a year ago. (Knit Picks Swish in black) I've decided to modify the pattern, so I need to rip what little I have already started. He's tall and thin and will look awesome in this sweater, so it shouldn't take me too long to knit.
  4. Hand warmers. I loved the ones Johnny Depp wore in Sweeny Todd, so I am attempting to recreate them. I bought a ball of Rowan Cocoon last night, so I guess that has become "officially" a part of the stash. (I know, that's not the idea....)
  5. Lace shawl for Beth. (what... did he say lace!?) Yeah, I know, but this pattern looks do-able, even for me. The pattern was from a past issue of Knit Simple, and I picked up some Acero from Brooks Farm at SAFF last fall specifically for this project.
  6. Market Squares Bag. Started last year before The Mountain, and has finally been felted and blocked. Just need to sew on the handles.
  7. WVU Baby Blanket. Has already been started, and my niece's baby is due in February, so this one is in. Knitted in gold and navy Fantasy by Dark Horse Yarns.
  8. LSU Scarf. For a good friend of mine who is a loyal LSU fan. I hope to have complete before they play Ohio State on Monday. (look at me, I'm blogging, and I should be knitting!)
  9. Felted Sheep. Fiber Trends Pattern. Cute as can be! Knitted in Lamb's Pride Bulky. Need to finish the knitting, felt it, stuff it, and sew it up.
  10. Elizabeth Zimmerman's Pi Shawl. Habu undyed merino, fingering weight.
  11. Chloe Dress. A pattern by Beth Brown-Reinsel for my niece's first child, Gracie. I bought some soft lavender, Jaeger, sport weight, washable wool yarn from WEBS last year for this project.
  12. Round-yoked Icelandic Sweater. I'll be using one of the Lopi patterns from Reynolds, but I'm going to use either Rowan Polar, or Rowan Soft Tweed instead of Lopi.
  13. Entrelac sweater. My own, (very simple), design. I'll probably use Noro Silk Garden, or maybe Kureyon. Would like to have completed before SAFF this year.
  14. Shawl Collar Cardigan. Knitting Pure and Simple pattern, using Rowan Yorkshire Tweed Aran.
  15. Cabled V-neck Pullover Vest. I have no pattern, so I may improvise one. I want to use my Icelandic handspun from my adopted sheep for this one.
  16. Christmas Stockings. I bought 3 Christmas stocking books on sale last year right after Christmas, but still no stockings! Not sure what yarn I will use, but I'm sure I can find something. Would like to knit one for me, Beth, and Andrew.
  17. Simple Top-down Raglan. I bought enough sport weight, tweed, alpaca to do a sweater big enough to fit me. Of course I got it at SAFF the year before last, and I think it's about time I used it!
  18. Top-down, Saddle-shoulder Aran Gansey. I've been wanting to do this ever since I took Beth Brown-Reinsel's class last year. I plan on using the Knit Picks undyed worsted wool. Of course this one is going to take a lot of planning and design work on my part, so I may not get to it this year.
  19. Felted Backpack. My own design. I plan on using some New Zealand wool I bought on eBay two years. It was cheap, and I bought several colors by the pound. (I'm not saying how many pounds.) It's not very soft, but felts like a dream.
  20. Felted Slippers. Fiber Trends pattern. I'll probably use some of the Cascade 220 I have stashed, or the above mentioned New Zealand wool.

OK, that's all I can think of right off the top of my head. I'm sure I would be reminded of more if I started looking through my books and patterns. Oh, did I mention this part of Mission: Possible 2008? If you don't finish a project, you have to GIVE THE YARN AWAY!!!!!! (kinda makes me wish I had some Red Heart in the stash) So I have to seriously sit down and come up with a list that I can do. I don't want to have to say good-bye to any of my yarn. I've had some of it so long it has become like family.

Oh, and I noticed in the rules that nowhere does it state that I can not continue to ADD to my stash. (yeah, yeah, I know.....)

7 comments:

Jane said...

I joined, too, but missed the part about having to give the yarn away. Hmm, that may not be an altogether bad thing, considering the size of my stash! Nice list you have there. Now to make mine.

Phyl said...

I've been trying to get the guts to do my list today, and when I look at the mounds of stash I have I get a headache. The trick is (if there is a trick) to put the most important projects in mind 1st on the list and gradually work your way down to things that may not be completed. This way I won't be running after the vehicle who takes them away on 12/31/08 if I haven't reached my goal. I do have good intentions, just being realistic. You do have a heftly list there. Good Luck, and now I have to go into the depths of stashdom and get to work.

Hockey Mom said...

Dude, I can hook you up with some red heart if need be. It's my secret shame.

Val Campbell said...

LOL, I love how your list of 12 just kept going... ;-)

Good luck on completing everything on your list in 2008!

Val (http://nimbleneedles.blogspot.com)

Claudia said...

Awesome list. Mine is posted on Ravelry, but I also need to put them on my blog as well. I also found another good way to destash... I will bring some of my sweater stash to my mom for making me more sweaters. :-)))

Anonymous said...

This comment has no bearing on the post whatsoever (except to say, what a list, whoa!) but I looked at your profile and seeing Same Time Next Year listed as a favorite movie brought a smile to my face. If I'd known you were coming, I'd have baked a cake! I haven't seen it in forever, but this reminds me I need to find it and watch.

Amy said...

Hey, I found you on Ravelry. I think you should do the top down raglan (with tweed alpaca) .... and if you don't finish it I will be glad to have you give your yarn away to me! :) Anyway, love your work. (from a fellow Georgian)