Apr 13 2008
Stashbusting
I have a lot to stashbust… many beautiful skeins of yarn that were never really earmarked for a project, so they languish in the stash. Luckily, I have a Ravelry queue a mile long, so it was simply a matter of matching yarns up with projects. And I also have some time to stashbust with all of the playoff hockey I am watching!
I finished this little cowl on Friday night while watching the Penguins/Senators game. I was casting off just as Malone put in the 4th goal that led to the Penguins win! Two balls of yarn that sat in my stash for far too long are now a pretty wearable knit - in appropriately themed colors too, I might add. I used Karabella Aurora 8 and held it together with an unidentified mohair thread (it was in the clearance bin at Springwater last year, and was ballband-less). My intuition tells me, however, that it is Rowan Kidsilk Spray. Size US 8, 16″ circular needles, about 2.5 hours, and now I have a cowl for spring!
…and I followed with a quick second on Saturday night while watching the Montreal/Boston game…
I am loving the new Classic Elite email newsletters with the lovely free patterns! I saw these mitts [Inca Alpaca Fair Isle Mitts] in last month’s newsletter and knew that they would be a great match for some of the skeins in my stash. My mind immediately thought of the earthy quartet of Wool Linen that I picked up at Habu Textiles last spring in NYC. Perfect for Project Spectrum, and a fun colorwork project too! I finished mitt #1, now on to #2!
The yarn has the sturdiness of linen (20%) with the softness of wool (80%). It is a smaller gauge than the pattern calls for, but the mitt fits nice and snug, even though I went down a few needle sizes from the pattern. I had planned to cast on for mitt #2 today during the Washington/Philly game, but I got a little surprise this morning - Kris got tickets for us to actually GO to the game!!! So, I am thinking that colorwork, thousands of people, and the possibility of beer spilling on my knitting, means that it should wait for another game viewing… tomorrow perhaps?
If you wanna join the stashbusting and hockey fun, feel free! Check out the Puck This! group on Ravelry to follow along, and you can even grab the little button I made!
PS - Happy birthday to two special ladies in my life: my momma and my JennaPinkMonkey~
Yay stashbusting! I love the mitts — and after seeing so many cowls around teh intarweb (spring is cowl season, I guess), I’m getting inspired myself. Yours is a lovely color, too!
beautiful mitt!!!
Those are awesome projects!
Great stashbusting! Very pretty mittens.
WOW - those are lovely projects. you DO have a queue a mile long - 98 items or so? I was looking at it this morning and adding to my favorites and queue as well - you have lovely taste.
Thanks for the link to the Classic Elite newsletter, I had completely forgotten about it and now my queue is replete with its’ contents!!
My mistake - that’s 98 projects and OVER 200 queued! So much inspiration!
Isn’t it lovely when yarn emerges from the stash into something so pretty - and twice!! Have fun at the hockey - I’m sure seeing it live compensates for needing to leave the knitting at home!
those mitts are great - way to use the stash; and the cowl too. a good way to enjoy the hockey playoffs too!
Thanks for the ravelry link — I’ll be working on some stashbusting whilst cheering for the Avalanche! Where did you get your glasses? They’re beautiful — very unique and distinguished.
Wow, both of those projects are so lovely! But then, I always find your projects to be beautifully inspiring. Hope you had a great time at the game!
Love those mitts! The cowl is really nice, too, but the mitts are elegant and inspired! Who knew that hockey could be so conducive to great knitting?
Can I just tell you that you are adorable? I love all the textile and WIP and FO photos you post, but you are just radiant when you smile.
(I hope this is not creepy - I just think you’re lovely!)
Ohhh… love those mitts. Thanks for sharing the pattern link.
[...] was thinking of making May my stash busting month, then Lolly beat me to the punch. Hockey and getting rid of odd balls of yarn? I think so. This woman is [...]
Fantastic idea! I was going to stashbust for the month of May, but your idea is much better. Isn’t everything better with hockey? Maybe if my Devils would win…
Lovely cowl and great mitts! I am currently stashbusting as well…at least through the end of September, but if I make it that far I’ll see how much longer I can hold out!
It took all the strength I had not to scream with glee when Malone got that power play goal (husband was sleeping). What a great game!
now you’re making room for all the stuff you buy at the festival!!
love the mitts….
I love those armwarmers!
Those mitts are great - always love colorwork!
Great stashbusting Lolly!
What an awesome game to get to go to…my hubby and I were watching at home.
I love the cowl and the mitts…so perfectly PS colors!
You stashbust like a champ. Nice cowl, and the mitts are great!
Great projects, both. And I must add: Go, Habs!
Love the cowl! I’ve been thinking about doing a bit of stashbusting myself. I have tons of oddballs that would make great cowls or hats.
The fair isle mitt is gorgeous! Truly beautiful! great work, Lolly!
Lovely knits!
Go Rangers!!!!
Lovely FOs! I love the color combination of your mitts! Despite my love affair with brown, my stash is surprisingly void of the color…. must go correct that problem, haha!
Oh my gosh, you wished me a happy birthday and I didn’t even see it until right now!! I’m sorry I’m such a lame friend, but thanks so much! Your kind wishes and gift are so, so thoughtful and I couldn’t ask for a better friend on my birthday
Sounds like this hockey season will help keep your needles clicking! It may only be with simple projects, but sometimes those are the best kinds.
That is wonderful on you! You are so photogenic.
great photo! and stashbusting is totaly my thing. Love the mitts.
Pretty, pretty mitts. That cowl is also neat…