Monday, November 12, 2007

Stash breaker

Oh boy! It has been ages since I have blogged about knitting. I knitted myself into some serious shoulder problems last year making afghans. Too much of a good thing!

Recently I came across a knitting group who decided to knit from their stash for the first nine months of 2007. Coming on the heels of a trip to the attic to search for yarn I knew was there, this seemed to me to be a great idea. I cannot believe how much yarn I have. The group came up with some sensible rules and I think I will give it a try.

Here's the url if anyone is interested http://wendyknits.net/stash2007.htm

People like me should never get all their stash into one place at one time. It is much better viewed in a multitude of locations so that we don't have to see just how much is really there! When I combine it with fabric for quilting and books for all needle arts, it becomes overwhelming.

So....

I am going to follow this group's good example and pledge to knit from my stash in 2008. I'm still not brave enough to list all the yarn I have, but I can take down one bin at a time and knit from that until it is finished.

I've been knitting socks like the world is sockless and just found a charity knitting group that knits socks from a great little pattern called "Magic 28."

the http://nownormaknits2.typepad.com/magic_28/

It shouldn't be hard to use just about any weight of yarn to knit up some socks that would keep someone warm this winter, especially since energy prices are going through the roof.

First, I have to finish knitting socks for the hunters and hikers in the family. I'm using wool-ease with size 3 needles to make the socks as dense as possible. I'm making a few pairs for the non-hunters also. They aren't as fun as the self-striping yarns, but my feet will thank me when I go up to Virginia.

I've also just finished a camouflage sweater for my grandson who is on his first hunting trip. The male members of my family have built a hunting cabin on some property on the Eastern Shore of VA and it is affectionately know as the "Swamp Hilton," (named after the piece of property called the "swamp field.") They do this male bonding thing at least twice a year. In the summer they gather to work on the cabin and in winter, they hunt. This is my grandson's first trip and he was so excited.

Back to the yarn... Our electric company has a contract for power that is about to run out and our bills are going to go up 30-50%. The thermostat is going to stay chillingly low this winter in an attempt to keep the bills to a manageable level. That means sweater, shawls, afghans and socks for all of us and that is music to this knitter's ears. We've been living in North Florida for about 20 years, so I haven't had the opportunity to try out a number of great looking sweaters I have patterns for. There is always a silver lining to every cloud. Now if I can just be disciplined enough to not get back into carpal tunnel territory. I figure that I can alternate with my quilting so as to not stress the same muscles. We'll see. I am going to dig out my camera and take photos of the things I make.