Tuesday, May 26, 2015

The Stash Situation and Progress

Small portion of the out of control stash.  And yes, those are each 2 gallon sized Ziploc bags or in other words a sweater each!

Dan's sweater vest.

So, it's happened again.  While my back was turned my yarn stash added to it ranks.  I was down to 1 1/2 Rubbermaid large tubs of yarn and now suddenly it's doubled in size and I have three.  How does this happen you may ask?  Well, definitely with some stealth, forgetfulness, impetuousness and excitement of new possibilities (because that's what yarn is after all - new possibilities.)   That and well...maybe a yarn sale or two and a couple of fiber events might of pushed me over the edge.  But, this of course is not the real reason why I purchased so much yarn.  The real underlying reason, I figured out recently, is that I'm lonely and when I'm lonely I shop.  

Now, don't get me wrong I have friends and a loving family, but what I don't have is knitting friends.  Only one of my friends knit and she has 3 kids with one on the way so you can just imagine how much knitting time she has on her hands (let alone time to visit.)  Knitting has become my passion and fills much of my waking hours.  And not having anyone to talk to about it (besides you lovely people, but let's face it it's a bit one sided on a blog) is really getting me down.  

To remedy this situation I turned to Ravelry and started looking for a local knitting group to join.  It seems the obvious answer and I just haven't done it yet out of shyness and my hermit like tendencies.  Well, there is one other reason I have yet to find a group.  I knit kinda weird.  My mom taught me and she taught herself from a book which wasn't very clear with it's directions.  It works fine.  I make knitted things as you've seen, but sometimes I look rather fumbly and awkward (at least I feel that way.)  It's very silly of me I know to be concerned with how I look knitting, but I do so that's that.  But, I think I really need people to talk to in person about knitting so I'm making the leap to join a group.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming of knitting.  I've made decent progress on Dan's Wall Street Cables vest and will definitely finish it in time for Father's Day.  The yarn is a nice soft merino, but I'm thinking I might not have quite enough or it will be tight to say the least.  I started this project 3 years ago when I was still rather new to knitting and didn't know to estimate more yarn then suggested by the pattern.  I think I will have enough to finish the front panel thanks to the deep v-neck so the worst outcome would be a contrasting neck and arm edgings.  Which, let's face it wouldn't be too terrible.  The frustrating thing is I think this sweater is going to be big on my Hubbie and I probably could've knitted one size down eliminating my yarn shortage issues.  Agh!  I am determined to finish though and well, Dan likes loose clothing so all this wringing of hands might be for naught.  At least that's what I hoping.

Joining in with Nicole for Keep Calm Craft On and Ginny for Yarn Along.

19 comments:

  1. I love cables and I love vests and I love grey - so perfect all round! This will look wonderful when it is finished.
    Hope your search for a group works out. I know what you mean about having noone to talk to in real life. Luckily, our pub has started having once a month Crafternoons, which is just so much fun. I am off there this Sunday afternoon. I am a homebody and have to really make the effort to go to something like this. But I think you will find once you are there, it will all be great. Good luck!

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    1. Thanks Jayne. Having craft time in a pub some delightful! I found a picnic happening this weekend for The Twin Cities Ravelers Ravelry group (1000 members big). For some reason it seems a bit less intimidating than a small group, we'll see... Thanks for the encouragement!

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  2. Too bad we don't live closer together - I'm always looking for knitting friends. I recently found one, and then she announced she's moving to Hawaii! Your vest is beautiful.

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  3. Hopefully you will find a knitting group soon. Everybody has their own style of crafting be it knitting or crochet so do not worry how you will look, its the end result that matters and your look wonderful.

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  4. Knitting groups are wonderful. Mine is at our LYS and we never mind how anyone knits, in fact we are intrigued:)

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  5. To echo the others...I hope you find a group of like-minded knitters. You might be surprised that you're not the only person who knits "differently".

    I love the design of the stitch pattern on that vest!

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  6. I totally understand your situation! I too wish I had knitting friends closer to me and I agree with Becki, you might not be alone in the way you knit - I'm self taught as well and knit a little odd at times :) Love the cable projects, yummy!

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  7. Ummm... I live in the Twin Cities! :) I am MrsPivec on Ravelry. Why don't you send me a message there? :) I don't know how close we actually are, but hey, it's spring...and we knit. How hard could it be?

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  8. P.S. I adore your header and background here! So, SO cute!!!

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  9. I love the cables on your sweater vest. When I read that you intend it as a Fathers Day gift I just wanted to kick myself for not thinking of something like that too - definitely will do for next year!

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  10. I so get that loneliness thing, especially about likeminded friends. I really wish I had a nearby close knknitting friend. I hadn'tthought to look at ravelry! good idea! (Also, I think it's doubtful anyone would notice or judge your knittjng technique, especially when you are producing such beautiful knits! Although I am so intrigued as to what it might be you mean! Hah!)

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  11. Yep - I know exactly how it happens! My stash has gotten a little out of control in the last week. I need to stop buying!

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  12. Your vest looks great! You should certainly join a knitting group, most knitters are super nice in person.

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  13. I waited for years for someone to knit with! Finally my friends, one by one, got interested. I learned from books and totally hold my needles "wrong." But I say if your fabric turns out OK, you are doing it right! One suggestion - if you don't find a local group you like I heard some people on knitting podcasts talk about having knitting groups via Skype. It is an option - knitting in the 21st century, I guess!

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  14. My stash often reproduces while my back is turned!! The way you knit isn't awkward, it is your style, there are lots of styles! Your sweater looks great.

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  15. I have found that everyone has a quirky way to knit/crochet/quilt etc. I have also found that nobody really cares. If they do, I don't need to socialize with that person. Your knitting is beautiful. I love that vest. It is the outcome that counts. Oh, by the way, I have been told in the past that my cross-stitching wouldn't win any medals. Guess what, I don't care and it has. Enjoy knitting your wonderful stash. I really like reading your blog.

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  16. I don't have a lot of knitting friends, either, so I really treasure the time I have with my few.
    I don't think you need to worry about how you knit. Knitters are wonderful and supportive people!

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  17. I have a semi-local knitting group and a couple knitting friends and it does help a lot. Also do not feel bad about your stash. It is your palette, your tools that you keep ready. So long as you can afford it, it is no stranger collection than any other, and provides insulation, color, and delight. Some people collect spoons that they never use, you know. Yarn at least has the potential to become something else.

    Also, we have a family of 10 and only live in a 1700 sq ft house, and I have far, far, far, far more yarn than you. So, I'll send pictures of my yarn wall, yarn tower and FOUR LARGE baskets/bins on top of that which contain all of my yarn. My latest thing is bagging it up with the pattern I want to use to make kits. We figure all this yarn is insulating our old, poorly insulated home.

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  18. You should never feel self conscious about your knitting.
    I hope you find a knitting group local to you, it is a great way to meet like minded people.
    I have just started a weekend WIP along link party on my blog if you wanted to join in with that too. I love link ups as it's a great way to meet virtual knitters, this is how I found your lovely blog :)
    Good luck
    s

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