MY STASH AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT

July 2, 2023: 

My years of acquiring yarn, knitting every day, and even working in a yarn shop are memories now.  At the age of 76, a widow for nearly 5 years, with both of my children thriving in Colorado and Virginia, I live alone.  Not really alone...  After all, I have 10 year old Sammy, my Tonkinese cat who keeps life interesting/somewhat chaotic.  I also have my co-housing community.  I live in a small, energy-efficient home at Prairie Hill, Iowa City's Ecovillage, along with about 4 dozen other Prairie Hill folks, ranging in age from 8 to 80.  We live on 8 acres of land on which we are restoring Iowa prairie grasses, and are cultivating gardens and orchards.   

Knitting has taken a backseat to many other interests and to my own adaptations to life in 2023.  I will sort through my stash of yarns, knitting patterns, and books about knitting.  As I have begun decluttering my home of appliances, furniture, clothes, books, and gadgets, I have not regretted "letting go of stuff".  Instead, I feel better, more optimistic and energetic.  For me, it is a way to see more clearly, feel lighter and more content, and to have less anxiety and worries.  

Now, to the stash:

The yarns that I like to knit are in a particular range of sizes.  I am most comfortable with yarns in Sport/DK, Worsted, and Heavy Worsted weights.  Laceweight is definitely not my thing, nor is Bulky or Extra Bulky.   I prefer to knit with needles in the range of 4 to 10.  These parameters will guide my decisions to Keep, Give*, Sell, or Toss.  Then, I will have a reasonably manageable stash!    (Opportunities to give yarn:  local charities, local senior center)

Easy Peasy Pussy Hat

Knitted in the round, with a 3-needle bind-off at the top.

Materials:

ca. 200 yds. Worsted weight yarn, such as Cascade 220 or Brown

Sheep Lamb’s Pride

1 #7 (or #8) circular needle, 16” (or 24”) long.

2 smaller size needles (e.g. #3), straight or circular, for 3-needle

bind-off.

Pattern:

CO 100 st. with #7 (or #8) circular needle.

K2 P2 for 2 ½”

K until hat measures 9 ½” from the bottom.

Transfer 50 st. to 1 smaller size needle, and the other 50 st. to the

other smaller size needle.

Using the original circular needle, make a 3-needle bind-off.

This hat is sized for an adult. To accommodate a range of adult head sizes,

fold the bottom up, or keep it down.

Pattern by Nora Leonard Roy 2016

Jiffy Mittens vintage patterns

Nora's Cap in Fourteen Colors

Materials:DK weight yarns, up to 14 colors -- you might want to do this as a stashbuster.US # 5 or #6 needlesGauge: 22 stitches and 30 rows per 4”



Instructions:CO 140 stitchesK1 P1 rib ,changing to a new color every 2 rows for a total of 28 rows.(I used the following colors: orange, dark red, dark green, medium gray, golden brown, light red, light gray, maroon, light green, yellow, grayish brown, taupe, blue, purple)On the next row, begin stockinette stitch, and work as follows:5 rows deep maroon3 rows medium gray7 rows dark red5 rows yellow2 rows orange3 rows purple5 rows grayish brown3 rows blueBegin Decrease on the first row of the next color. To decrease, place markers every 20 stitches, and K2tog after every marker on every row until there are 7 stitches remaining.6 rows light green4 rows light gray2 rows light red8 rows dark greenTie off the remaining stitches, and sew up the side seam.

Knitters' Periodic Table of Fibers