Latest Obsession(s)

After reading the fourth annual knit blog awards at knottygirls.com, I learned of Stash and Burn.  I’ve known of several knit podcasts for a while but I never really saw a need or had the time to listen to them.  For whatever reason, I suddenly decided this is something I need to add to my repertoire.  The need to listen to podcasts coincided with my latest project, cabled cardigan #15  ((My apologies to those of you not yet on Ravelry, but I couldn’t find the link at the Vogue site)) from the 2006/2007 Vogue Knitting winter edition.  This project was also inspired by the Stash and Burn podcast since after listening to the first episode I became more interested in my stash.

More about Stash and Burn later, but first my stash.  I haven’t been actively buying yarn for a while and I almost always (except Autumn Rose recently, but that is very specific yarn) knit from my stash.  I think I had almost intentionally stayed out of the stash section of Ravelry until I listened to their first podcast in which they talk about their respective stashes.  I know I have a lot of yarn (if you consider the stock for my store the amount increases exponentially) but I never really cared to know how much.  Until now.  The idea of having all of my yarn pictured, cataloged and counted like Nicole and Jenny seemed irresistible.  So I began.  One of the fabulous features of Ravelry is to add your stash yarns which you can then export to an excel spreadsheet.  In one session I added 189 skeins totaling 25,428 (~14.5 miles).  And that isn’t all of it.  And that doesn’t include yarn in the sell/trade section.  That is a lot of yarn…I’m sure I’ll think more than twice next time I’m tempted by a great sale.  I also added a couple of things to my destash page, so be sure to check it out.  I you’re on Ravelry I’ll be adding more to my sell/trade section there over time.

Although most of my stash is in quantities to make substantial projects, I don’t necessarily have something specific planned for them.  I usually buy something I like or that is on sale in “sweater quantity” and then just wait until creativity strikes.  I could easily match yarn with people on my gift list though.  Which brings me to Project Sanity.  In addition to being a great way to prevent one from going crazy around the holidays it could really make a dent in stash yarn.  There are some recipients I consider “sweater worthy” and some that I would rather make small projects for but I’m sure I could find the materials for all of them in my stash.  Gift knitting is a little more flexible too since fitting the yarn to the project or person could be easier when doing it for someone else.  So here is the idea and I hope you’ll join in with me.  First, I’ve created an excel spreadsheet to get you started.  The categories so far are very simple:  recipient, due date, yarn, idea and pattern.  Or, you could add the same things to Ravelry as “hibernating” but I think it’s a good idea to be able to sort them by due date.  Over the next month or so, I’m going to decide who gets knitted gifts then look at my stash and patterns to get ideas about what to match to who.  Then it should be pretty smooth sailing. :rofl:  I’ll try to choose a variety of projects to keep me interested and figure out the timing so that other stuff I want to do goes easily in between.  Voila!  Stress free gift knitting for the entire year.  I’ll see how this goes, but for now please spread the word and just comment here to let me know you’re participating. I’d also love to hear any suggestions for gift knitting you may have. 

Hmm…seems like a good time for another little contest.  Here is a pitiful button for Project Sanity (right click to save).  I know you can do a much better job!  Create a button and email the file to sanitybuttons@divaknitting.com.  I’m not imposing any strict guidelines…just make it roughly “button sized”.  The deadline is January 25th midnight EST.  ETA:  The deadline has been extended to February 8th.  Please help me spread the word!  I’ll choose some of the best then we’ll do a poll to choose the winner.  What do you get?  Yarn, of course! 1

Now about those lovely girls Nicole and Jenny of Stash and Burn.  They live in the San Francisco area…maybe the best climate every for knits!  I’m only through episode 23 but the technology of the podcast is very well done.  Great audio, music and both of them have a nice voice and presence.  So far I’ve heard great interviews, learned about new yarns and great places to visit.  As The Knotty Girls mentioned they have great content continuity and keep on topic.  I especially love Jenny’s use of “yay” and her laugh which totally remind me of myself.  I also love the way they’ve loosened up a bit over time and Nicole’s use of foul language. 2  I’m probably telling y’all something you already know since I am admittedly late to the podcast party, but never hurts to spread the word.  Enjoy their podcast and let me know your plans for Project Sanity!

1. yet another fantastic stash management tool [↩]
2. Not excessive by any means and I think she was almost embarrassed a little which was totally cute. [↩]