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16 August 2007

An embarrassment of riches


Today the mailman delivered another box of heaven.

Yarn.

Actually, a kit. From Sweden. It's the knitting project of my dreams.

I'm going to knit the Wild Apple sweater, which is a replica of the original 1958 Bohus design. I love it!

But the inevitable guilt that comes with yarn acquisition has got me thinking. I really need to evaluate (and prioritize) my yarn stash.

Let's be frank. I'm not proud of my stash. On the contrary. I am quite ashamed. My stash is my secret shame. It's such an indulgence to acquire so much stash. It's an embarrassment of riches.

Still, though, I justify my stash in thinking that there are far worse habits to form. And, I know that while I have more stash than some, I definitely have less than others. (You know who you are!)

So, like many of my knitting friends, I've created a stash inventory. And I've discovered, to my horror, that I have so many projects in the queue. And I have yarn that I had once loved but had forgotten about. How can that be?

From today, I am officially on a Yarn Diet. No more acquisition. None. Really. No longer will I recruit Dad as my yarn mule.

I am going to be content knitting through my existing stash. Project by project, I will get through it. A journey of a million miles begins with one step.

I am going to track my progress with the following table, in hopes this exercise will shame me into action.


Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Solveig Gustafsson
50% angora, 50% merino
One whole kit
Wild Apple sweater
1958 Bohus design
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Blue Sky brand
100% alpaca
500 grams
Tam + clap
Shocking pumpkin color
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Anonymous laceweight
100% alpaca
800 grams+
Something lacey
Purchased in England
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
J&S 2-ply jumper weight
100% Shetland wool
200 grams?
Fair Isle mittens
Hand-dyed by me
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Dale of Norway, Baby Ull
100% merino
150 grams
Socks with slip-stitch
Machine washable
Finished here and here!
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Jaeger Baby Merino 4-ply
100% merino
150 grams
Socks
Machine washable
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Mission Falls 1824
100% merino
100 grams
Socks
Hand-dyed by me
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Louet Gems on cone
100% merino
125 grams
Socks
Hand-dyed by me
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Rowanspun 4 ply
100% wool
250 grams
A lace winter scarf
Nice purple color
Swapped this out of my stash!
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Mohair from Australia
100% mohair?
300 grams
Green + lace = heaven
This was a gift! Thanks!
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
J&S 2-ply jumper weight
100% Shetland wool
A million grams
Cardigan, mittens, tams
Many projects planned
Finished here, here, here, here!
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Matchmaker brand
100% merino
140 grams
Purple sox w/ pink toes
Hand-dyed by me
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Rowan spun aran
100% wool
600 grams
Sweater
Great green color
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Tahki brand
Merino, cashmere, silk
1000 grams
Sweater
Rich red color
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Knitpicks Andean Treasure
100% baby alpaca
600 grams
Sweater
I love this yarn!
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Knitpicks Elegance
70% alpaca, 30% silk
600 grams
Sweater
I will dye this.
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Knitpicks Palette
100% wool
800 grams
Cabled baby's outfit?
Fingering weight
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Knitpicks Swish DK
100% superwash wool
800 grams
Sweater
Great green color
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Tahki brand tweed
100% wool
1000 grams
Sweater
Deep brown shades
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Anonymous brand alpaca
100% alpaca
500 grams
Sweater
I love this yarn!
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Catalina brand
100% baby alpaca
400 grams
Shrug
Great heathered purple
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Lopi lite wool
100% wool
1000 grams
Sweater
Purchased in Iceland
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Anonymous Shetland wool
100% wool
500 grams
Sweater
Good for cables
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Wellground DK
100% alpaca
600 grams
Sweater
Cardigan!
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Plymouth alpaca DK
100% baby alpaca
500 grams
Sweater
Tan color #208
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Trendsetter brand
100% cashmere
300 grams
A shrug
Just like spun gold
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Anonymous brand
70% angora, 30% lamb
250 grams
A shrug or cardigan
This yarn is precious.
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Anonymous laceweight
100% cashmere
More than a kilo
Lace
Dad scored this in Mongolia
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Anonymous laceweight
100% camel hair
More than a kilo
Lace
Dad scored this in Mongolia
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
de Sauveterre brand
100% cashmere
800 meters
Lace
Hand-dyed by me
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Jaeger
100% alpaca
550 grams
Huge lace shawl
Purchased in 2004
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Anonymous laceweight
75% merino, 25% silk
300 grams
Lots of lace
Purchased in 2001
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Colourmart
100% cashmere
150 grams
Cobweb lace!
Purchased in 2008
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Rowan KidSilk Haze
70% mohair, 30% silk
200 grams
Lace
My all-time fave yarn
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Kid Seta
70% mohair, 30% silk
75 grams
Lace
Purchased in Colorado
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Misti alpaca
100% alpaca
450 grams
Lace
Very fine laceweight
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Anonymous laceweight
100% alpaca
800 grams
Lace
Purchased at alpaca fest
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Drops brand
100% alpaca
200 grams
Lace
Purchased in Michigan
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Rubi + Lana
100% merino
120 grams
Lace? Or stockings?
This was a gift! Thanks!
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Jaeger baby merino
100% merino
100 grams
Socks
Hand-dyed by me
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Louet Gems on cone
100% merino
125 grams
Socks
Hand-dyed by me
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Opal
wool/poly for strength
100 grams
Red socks!
Purchased ten years ago!
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Trekking
wool/poly for strength
100 grams
Socks
Self-striping greens!
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Knitpicks brand
70% wool, 30% silk
300 grams
Kilt hose
Fingering weight
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Mission Falls 1824
100% merino
150 grams
Perhaps a hat
Machine washable
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Filatura di Crosa 501
100% new wool
150 grams
Maybe a kid's hat?
Machine washable
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Rowan pure wool DK
100% wool
150 grams
Kid's hat?
Machine washable
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Blue Sky brand
100% alpaca
300 grams
Perhaps a hat?
Great blue color
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Louisa Harding brand
Wool + synthetic
100 grams
Netlike scarf?
It's green with sequins!
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Patons brand
100% wool
200 grams
Maybe mittens?
Thick and red
Still in the stash
Yarn:
Fiber:
Quantity:
Project:
Notes:
Status:
Finnish brand yarn
100% wool
400 grams
Fair Isle something
Nice Finnish wool
Still in the stash

November 2009 update:
In looking back over this embarrassment of riches, I am painfully aware that it's not my true stash. In the two years since I wrote the above post, I've unfortunately acquired more yarn.

Didn't I say that I was going on a Yarn Diet? Didn't I tell myself that I would knit through my existing stash instead of buying more wool?

Yes, I had the best of intentions, but I just couldn't help myself. Surely, my fellow knitters, you understand?

My current stash strategy is to continue knitting through the above stash while, of course, trying not to obtain any new yarnage. Wish me luck!