Noro doesn’t sit around in my stash that long… I buy it, and then it calls to me, like a siren song. I buy it with a sweater pattern in mind, and then I begin to realize and remember that I have been burned by Noro’s horizontal self-striping across my mid-section before*. Fool me once, Noro… but this time I wisened up… can’t fool this knitter twice (oops! wait… maybe you can!) .
This Noro Cash Island is going to be a blanket where it can’t add pounds and bulk (or the illustion there of) to anyone’s mid-section! Just lots ot warmth and comfy-ness as I sit and read, watch movies and knit/crochet new projects!
This is the Star Afghan pattern, a free pattern from Bernat (you have to register for the website, but there are dozens of free patterns – many very good ones!) You can also see it on the Ravelry project page. Obviously my version is going to look very different in the Noro. I was searching for one of these circular radial knits – they are fun to construct and definitely compliment the self-striping yarns like Noro. This Cash Island was a stash yarn that I bought at Maryland Sheep and Wool awhile back. It’s my (early)”kick-off” project for my Stanley Cup Stashbusting KAL (which will also include some crochet, so a CAL as well!) Blankets seem like a great stashbuster 
…
Yeah, the need for stashbusting really hit me when I actually *added* to the stash over the weekend at the fabulous Homespun Yarn Party… which was literally in my own backyard. I do realize how lucky I am to have MDSW and this so close to me – in my same county. The Yarn Party was a mere 2 miles from my house… and it was great fun. I met up with my fellow hockey-loving knitter pal, Amy, and we headed over to get some yarn… I just didn’t plan to get as much as I did…
9 mini-skeins of fingering hand-dyed from Ashton Studio Arts
2 bodaciously bulky beauties from CosySpins
Handspun alpaca tweed 3-ply / wool single ply from Mid Valley Fibers
A lovely room in a historic textile mill filled with friendly people and fiber – what a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon, eh? There were so many great local vendors. I went to the party in 2008, but I missed last year’s because I was having my own fun party with my girl Jenna in Seattle, so I was quite excited to go this year.
It was all the more pleasure to see old and new(ish) friends – and to finally meet some “old” contacts for the first time. Cosy and I have followed each other’s Flickr streams and blogs over the years, so it was great to meet her in person there — and to procure some of her lovely handspun.
New items to the stash… and now I am gonna focus on stashbusting (BIG TIME!) until MDSW… we’ll see what I can knock out before then!
Wasn’t the Yarn Party fun? I bought one of those graduated trios of mini-skeins too – I wish I’d gotten there earlier because I love that pink/mauve set you have, and all that was left when I was there was blue/green.
That Homespun Yarn Party sounds like it was a great event, and what a lovely setting for it! Meeting friends old and new makes it even better!
You scored big, Lolly. I love what you bought and lucky you to meet Cosy!
Those yarns, especially the mini-skeins, are just gorgeous! I’m in the middle of trying to stashbust myself. I moved a few weeks ago and my new apartment is too small for my stash. I’ve resorted to storing yarn in my kitchen cabinets.
I had no idea you lived two miles from Savage Mill… you’re my aunt’s neighbor.
She lives about a mile and a half away – I’ve been there with her many times to visit the quilt shop and eat at Ram’s Head Tavern! Next time I’m in town visiting family we definitely have to meet up! I’m laughing because I remember IMing with you once when I was staying at my aunt’s house for MDSW and you could have been right down the road. ha! Looks like you had a great time! 
your noro star afghan is looking so pretty. Love those colours!
Thanks for giving me some beautiful yarn porn on a sleepy wednesday morning
What gorgeous yarns! And I must confess, I too suffered from a Klaralund disaster back in the day. I had just started knitting and didn’t understand the concept of gauge…it was akin to a giant mexican style poncho. Not awesome
i read about you and cosy meeting over at her blog. that is so great that you got to meet in person. and the yarn is lovely. it would be very hard to let that sit for very long.
Beautiful yarns! I can’t wait to see how the blanket progresses.
The yarn party was such a swell time! You made out quite well, hehe. I left with four skeins of yarn and a few bags of fiber to assist my new-found spinning habit. Now I reaaaally need to get on using up this ridiculous stash I’ve accumulated… looking forward to seeing how you use these lovely yarns!
Woo-hoo, a blog shout out!
. It was such a fun afternoon. Next time I will remember to bring a project to work on. I think I dreamt about yarn that night…
Wow–I love that colorway! Looks like a good stashbusting start : )
Those mini-skeins are tooooooo cute!!!
I’m not just saying this because I’m your friend: those noro sweaters were not unflattering, especially the coleslaw (teehee) one. Blankets made in noro, however, always just slay me, which is why I was so drawn into the Lizard Ridge. I’m sure that the star motif in your blanket will only be made more beautiful with the Noro colors. It will probably look like a comet!
All of your procurements are lovely and nothing to feel guilty about, especially since you were supporting local artisans. It does make for good inspiration to use what you have, though, doesn’t it? I hear you on stashbusting, I hope to use at least one thing from MDSW last year before I go again this year.
Was it a year ago already that you were visiting me? Wow, time flies. xoxo.
LOVE that alpaca tweed. Gor-geous.
Sorry I missed you at the yarn party! I was there around 1-2pm and only bought one braid of roving from Woolarina – i behaved myself! It was such a beautiful day – I enjoyed sitting outside and knitting in the courtyard!
I’ve been watching the star afghan on Rav over the past few days. I’m really excited to see how it comes out in the Noro! I think it’s gonna be pretty amazing!
Wouw, that blanket looks great in Noro! Much better than with other yarns. I am very curious how it will be when you’ll finished it.
Drool when I see what you bought! You’ll lucky with all that nice yarn you can buy in the US and al those yarn shops. Here in Europe good shops are difficult to find. We have good on-line shops, but it is so nice to touch…
That Noro is just gorgeous!
Wow, that blanket is going to be beautiful! I can’t wait to see how it turns out
Such pretty colors! It’s like I’m looking at a beautiful Easter basket of yarn. YUM.