stash organizing

Well, I have been lamenting to my DH that i needed a shelf in the closet to organize my stash. I wanted the Expedit from Ikea. Along with some Lekman boxes to keep it looking neat. Cost would have been $294.92 (1 book shelf and 8 boxes). DH probably would have had an heart attack if i had bought it. So instead, we ventured to Home Depot on saturday in search of some organization. I wanted something simple, but effective. I was looking for the bracket attachment and shelves that rest on them .. but it was adding up to be too expensive. then, we found the closet organizing sets...I really wanted the lovely wood shelves, with pretty doors and sturdy shelves. Instead, we bought the ClosetMaid organizer. $26.42. WAY cheaper, and it fit perfectly! I might go back and get a hanging basket to add, it would be great for all the random, left over balls I am accumulating!

So, for 1/10th of the cost, my closet looks better and I can SEE what I have. Much better! (Even though i still want to go to Ikea ;)

Here is my semi-organized stash (there are still random projects scattered around as well as some cones of wool hiding in the garage ;) I know, it's a mess even after organizing. *sigh*

bad for bloggin'

i'm just sayin'.

I love ravelry, and KH.

why are they baaaad? cause i spend my time updating my stash, my projects, and keeping up with swaps (for fun and for destashing), and then there are the forums and pattern browsing. *sigh*

it makes it awfully hard to update the blog as far as knitting goes. but here are a couple of recent Fo's:

the curly purly soaker. Plan on making lot's of these :) already started #2

dd in her halloween costume. she was a piglet (not the Piglet) I knit a 2x2 short cuff, then plain hat. I added craft felt ears, stitched into place. very cute. very warm, and she wore it all night! and she was cute sayin' "thank ewe", and "welcome" when she got candy. :)

I am on the look out for a nice simple coat pattern. I have about 2600 yds of a nice light mint DK weight yarn. I want a sort of feminine 'pea' coat. minus the long length, and not too fitted, as i'd like to wear more than a t-shirt under it. also, i don't want to felt or full a jacket. just a nice tight gauge.

and i have 4 skeins of louet riverstone chunky. i think i'd like a top, but i don't know if i have enough yarn to make one to fit ME. it may end up as another soaker, and some handdyed to sell in my etsy shop. I already dyed one skein for a soaker. It will be #3, the colorway name is 'Perfect Peri". I will take pictures tomorrow, as it's still drying ;)
I am hoping to actually sell stuff, but apparently i am crappy at self promotion, or sumpin'. I want to start a stole, with beads. problem? i need to sell at least one more yarn and then i can buy beads. *sigh*

is my stash bigger than yours?

if you have been reading my blog, you know i love knittinghelp.com. if you are a knitter, chances are you have a stash. (for all you non-knitters, a stash is a knitters acumulation of yarn for current, future and random projects, and just because it was on sale/pretty/soft/practicly free balls/skein/hanks of yarn. most knitters are very proud of thier stashes) on KH, inis suggested we have a stash contest, of course i am joining. i dont think i have a huge stash, but a chance to not only fondle my yarn, but take pictures and share them with people who understand?? you bet i am going to do it! so, with out further wait, i present you,

my stash

close ups and some random skeins hanging around the house

that last one you have seen before -- its my hand dyed lionbrand lion wool. there are a few more balls/skeins of yarn that didnt get their picture taken. they were misbehaving. they are 2 balls of lily cotton, 2 skeins of caron simply soft autumn red, and a skein of the red heart soft baby that the dogs tried to eat....you can go to my flickr album for more details on specific yarn

stash and yarn swaping

i realized today that knitting is a dangerous hobby.

thats right. i said DANGEROUS. be warned!
if you are a hoarder or a pack rat, or just like pretty things, back away slowly from the yarn. put down the needles. put away Elizabeth Zimmermann's opinionated books, dont open the vogue stitchionary. and for goodness sake, do not go to knittinghelp.com! they are all enablers! (i love you guys!)

i love knitting, even if i am achingly slow. i love the feel of the yarn, i love watching the fabric come into being. i love that there are literally endless possibilities when it comes to knitting patterns, stitches, colors, textures. i am in love.

i am a pack rat. i save anything that *might* be useful one day.

which has now manifested itself in the guise of yarn. i need this yarn because i am going to make little faux suede booties . so i ordered it this morning....

and isnt this tank top pretty? i have 6 skeins of lionbrand microspun in mind....

and my dh needs a summer vest for golfing. now i need a pattern, cause i already ordered 10 balls of bamboo sahara yarn.

and i want to knit cool socks. now i need a sock book, cause i already bought 20 balls from jojoland on ebay and 3 more skeins from hancocks on sale.

is there any hope for me??? i think i need more circular needles ...

as for yarn swapping. so fun so far! i am awaiting the beautiful malabrigo to arrive for my yarnee. i bought my yarnee two organic chocolate bars and i am going to make her some pretty stitch markers. i bought some colorful large jump rings and pink beads. i think she will love them (i hope!)

my yarn stash

okay, so that isn't really my stash. i wish! its hand dyed yarn from knit-n-purl zen. her name is roxanne, and her yarns are beautiful. check her out!
here is a quick list, and sometime this week i am going to pull it all out and take a photo. i promise.
6 skiens of lionbrand microspun, black, 168 yrds each
3 skiens of lionbrand magic strips, jelly bean, 330 yrds each
2 skiens of sensations (joanns) rainbow bloucle, blue verigated, and pink verigated, 853 yrds each
4 hanks of malabrigo worsted merino, 4 colorways, 215 yrd each (3 are going to a yarn swapee)
4 balls of suri-merino, 2 fern heather, 2 donagal green, 109 yrds each
10 balls of jojoland wool fingering, all teal/green, 220 yrds each
10 balls of jojoland cashmere merino fingering, a verigated color, 220 yrds each
3+ skiens of red heart soft baby, fizzy print, 430 yrds each
1 skien of red heart super saver, white, 364 yrds
1 skien of red heart, burgandy, not sure on yards
2 skiens of caron simply soft, autumn red, 165 yrds each
2 skiens of bernat sweet stripes, melon. 404 yrds each
and one random ball of acrylic, looks kinda like lionbrand homespun, a white stranded with a varigated corals. probably 150+ yrds