The knitting adventures of a French Canadian girl in exile

Friday, October 7, 2011

A story about a conquering stash

So, to start my brand new blog I will tell you a story. A very personal and sad story: the story of my stash. It grows and grows, taking now almost all the space in my office's closet. And the worst thing is that is seems to be growing against my better judgement, as I always come up with another brilliant idea and never seem to have the right yarn on hand for it. Well, ladies (and gentlemen!), now is the time for me to fight back!

So I came up with a project for this upcoming year - 2012- starting right now (to be honest, I still wait for a yarn package that's currently on the way, but I promise it won't happen again!). Why start right now? Because I fully intent to use my monstrous stash to fill up my loved one's Christmas socks with handmade goodies.

So, what are the rules of this challenge I gave myself? To design one pattern (yes, I totally intent on including free patterns, but not all will be free!) from all my stash yarn and commit not to -NOT TO- buy any more yarns until ALL my stash has been used. Soooo, let's have a look at my first box.... and try to set the designing machine on a set mode!


  • 2 skeins of Aslan Trend Santa Fe (fingering weight) - Something I bought to make for my grandmother, so I'll stick with the idea
  • 3 balls of Berroco Comfort Chunky - Maybe a hooded vest for my boy?
  • 6 balls of Knitpicks Swish worsted- Definitely a pullover for my son
  • 6 balls of Lana Grossa Lord (worsted) - Maybe a vest for me?
  • 9 skeins of Auracania Ulmo (DK) -Updated on 11/15/2011, I have only 4 skeins left and a women's size cardigan ready to present for Knitty consideration!
  • 5 balls of Valley Yarns Northampton (worsted) in Lake Heather - I finally made Adagio out of it, check it out!
  • 3 1.5 balls of Valley Yarns Northampton (worsted) in Natural - 1.5 ball has been used to make Winter Berries, yay!
  •  2 balls of Knitpicks Chroma worsted color Mesa - Updated on 11/15/2011, made in Asymmetry, a triangular scarf.
  • 9 balls of Knitpicks Simply Cotton Sport in color Haze Heather - A swing lace cardigan
  • 7 balls of Thaki yarns new tweed with no labels... - Updated on 11/15/2011, I used it for Dichotomy
  • 4 skeins of Malabrigo Rios in color ''Sunset''
  • 3 1.5skeins of Cascade Yarns Alpaca Lana D'Oro color green (1046) - I used about 1.5 skeins for the solid colored sample of Dichotomy
  • 2 balls of Berroco comfort worsted color grey (9713)
  • 6 balls of Knitpicks City Tweed HW, color ''Orca'' - I made my next design, Allegro, out of it. Come check it later!
  • 6 balls of Berroco Pure Merino in a grey color

Ok, I'll return to my knitting (a Knitscene submission) and I will keep you posted on my next design using this stashed yarn! What will I bring down next?

edited 10/16/2011 to add yarn to the list... but from my stash, I promess
edited 11/15/2011 to add yarn to the list... but from my stash, I promess, again