Stash
Knitters often have a funny relationship with their stashes. For some the size and variety is a great sense of pride and for others, a source or anxiety or shame.
For a long, long time, I didn't stash. I bought yarn for one project at a time and more when I finished a project. This buying yarn because it was 'on-sale' might had happened but not to the extent that it has happened in the past few years. Of course, it's hard to not buy when you're at somewhere like the Liberty yarn sales, or Ally Pally or Marlyand. The temptation is just too great. Like Rowanette Jill says, 'You'll only regret your economies'.
That said, I'm not ashamed of the size of my stash.. well not really, although the April/May stash summary is going to be a bit of a squirmy for me because I majorly fell of the stash wagon, after making good inroads for the first quarter this year...and there is the sales to start soon and {la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la} another trip to purchase yarn which I have not yet commited to going, but I actually haven't said that I wasn't going either.
To the knitting ..
But.. I do knit it up, honest. I bought 3 balls of the Puno Alpaca with intentions to make a pair of cozy socks.
Playing around with lacy ribs, I got this.
Here's a better shot of the ribbing. The alpaca yarn is very fuzzy, obcuring the stitchwork.
Now, I know that these socks are not going to last, the fibre is loosely spun and there's nothing synthetic at all in them. They are lovely, soft and warm. The kind of socks that you would wear while watching television on the settee on Sunday afternoon.
..or in a cold, poorly heated country house. With socks like these, husbands need not fear cold feet.. and even if you lost the 'battle of the blankets', your feet would not be left in the cold.
This is the best photo that I had, capturing the complexity of the colours. It's a heathery grey-blue that just more lovely in life.
I worked these socks on 2.5 mm needles and thought that it would be fast, but the fluffy yarn and small needles meant that I split the stitches quite often and had to rip and fix it. I still love the fabric though, very cushiony and so I guess I should say that I regret not buying more of this yarn. ;-)
The socks look yummy. I'd wear them on my hands just so I could "pet" the yarn. You need to finish another project just so you can photo it in the hydrangea bush while it's in bloom!
Posted by: Karen at June 1, 2006 06:02 PMHa! I'm posting some VERY SIMILAR looking socks in the next day or so, but in plain ribbing. No fancy pattern.
Posted by: Siri at May 31, 2006 08:33 AMLove Dawn's description - 'sofa socks'. Like Louise I used to be one-thing-at-a-time, because I couldn't afford it - now I can, perhaps that is why I have gone the tiniest bit overboard!
Posted by: Jill at May 31, 2006 08:10 AMThose alpaca socks look so soft! I bought some fingering-weight alpaca in a dark grey for just the same kind of project. It's currently marinating in my stash.
I love my stash. Love love love love it. I'm embarassed by it too but I still love it.
Posted by: BigAlice at May 30, 2006 07:53 PMI am the same kind of knitter--I try to buy for current projects only, and then make inroads on them before I purchase again. I feel stifled when I have too much stash, like I am weighed down by past choices and cannot knit for today. Sock yarn does not count though, I always have a sock going and my sock yarn stash is always a pleasure.
Still, I have stash. I try to keep it to nearly-current projects and not buy yarn just because I like it. I love picking a project, planning the yarn, buying the yarn, and then completing and wearign the project in a reasonable amount of time. HAH! but at least I try.
Posted by: suzanne at May 30, 2006 01:32 PMRowanette Jill sounds very wise indeed. I must get that saying tattooed on my body somewhere...
Posted by: meg at May 30, 2006 12:24 AMVery luxurious socks, just the thing to wear when you want to relax and put your feet up.
I had to admit that my stash would definitely suffocate me were it to fall upon me. Though I was a one project at a time girl once, I couldn't afford to be anything else, I just love my stash now.
Posted by: Louise at May 30, 2006 12:06 AMGreat minds think alike Polly! these look almost exactly like the free pattern I just posted....Lizzie's Lacy Ribs!!! Love the yarn!
Posted by: Debi at May 29, 2006 09:49 PMI like 'em. Soft and warm and lacy--it gets no better!
Posted by: Beth S. at May 29, 2006 09:38 PMgorgeous socks, I love the heel
Posted by: ambermoggie at May 29, 2006 04:59 PMWell I couldn't make up my mind between two of those questions! I think my stash would certainly suffocate me! I walked past the new yarn shop yesterday and peeped inside, lots of gorgeous stuff in there too! Love the socks, I call this type (not durable, handwash) my sofa socks and don't knit them for anyone but me.
Posted by: dawn at May 29, 2006 04:20 PM