2016 | Digitaldiina's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘2016’

Stash Curation 2016 Q1

Posted in knitting, stash, yarn, tagged 2016, accountability, acquisitions, cascadeheritage, hazelknits, klompelompe, malabrigo, rowan, stash, yarn on April 27, 2016| Leave a Comment »

I ended year 3 of the stash-down quest with a positive allowance for both sock yarn and other yarn. Let´s see how I did in Q1 with the ratio relaxed to 1:1.

For the background story, goals, and rules, take a look at my plan for 2016.

OUT:

I knit 4 pairs of socks
I knit myself a sweater out of Malabrigo Rios (1241 yards, used less than the pattern called for)
I knit toddler garments out of 234 yards of Dale Babyull (deep stash), 827 yards of Nostebarn 2ply (deep stash), and 551 yards of Garnstudio DROPS Lace
I finished a pair of gloves from 2014 at 245 yards and knit Amalie a pair of fingerless mitts out of left-over sock yarn (66 yards) – both pairs from deep stash
I knit a stranded, steeked colorwork blanket using 1412 yards of the 5 skeins of sockyarn I bought for this (used less than the pattern called for). I´ll be counting this as yardage since it is neither socks nor shawl as per the rules

IN:

7 skeins of Malabrigo Yarn Rios for a sweater that is already off the needles (1470 yards)
11 balls of Rowan Pure Wool 4ply with 40% discount for garments for the girls (1913 yards, two projects already started)
6 balls of Sandnes Garn Tynn merinoull to make baby garments, including a baby shower gift (1148 yards)
11 skeins of Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids & Quatro (sock yarn), of which 5 was for a blanket that has been finished
3 skeins of Hazel Knits sock yarn that the Husband brought back from Seattle

STATUS:

At the beginning of January, my unspent allowance was 18.5 balls of sock yarn and 100 yards of any yarn.

I used 4 skeins of sock yarn and 4576 yards of other yarn and added 14 skeins of sock yarn and 4531 yards of other yarn. This puts my Q1 numbers at -10 balls of sock yarn and 45 yards of any yarn.

My accumulated unspent allowance by the end of March is 8.5 balls of sock yarn and 145 yards of any yarn. YAY, the numbers are still green!!!

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The Knitting Journal – January through March 2016

Posted in knitting, tagged 2016, baby, beaded, blanket, blocking, cardigans, colorwork, gloves, knitting, mitts, operationsockdrawer, projectsweaterchest, sm10, sockmadness, socks, steeked, stranded, sweaters, useorloose on April 27, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Almost done catching up on end-of-month housekeeping. I´ve completed 4 sweaters, 4 pairs of socks, a pair of gloves, a pair of fingerless mitts, and a blanket:

Tanvi by Anjali M, knit in Dale Garn Baby Ull. Started September 9, 2015; completed January 7, 2016.

#1924 Raglangenser i dobbelt 2-tråds garn by Kathrine Gregersen, knit in Askeladen Merino-lammeuld (held double). Started January 4, 2016; completed January 8, 2016.

lila[c]loud by Nadia Crétin-Léchenne knit in Garnstudio DROPS Lace (held double). Started January 8, 2016; completed January 31, 2016.

Campside Cardi by Alicia Plummer, knit in Malabrigo Yarn Rios. Started January 24, 2016; completed March 14, 2016.

Spacious OMG Heel Socks by Megan Williams, knit in Sunset Stitches Sunset Super Sock. Started January 21, 2016; completed January 29, 2016.

Jane Bennet Socks by Rachel Coopey, knit in Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids & Quatro. Started February 2, 2016; completed February 17, 2016.

SlipStripeSpiral (SockMadness 10-1) by Mylene Pipers, knit in Zwerger Garn Opal Schafpate and Sandnes Garn Sisu Solids. Started March 1, 2016; completed March 14, 2016.

Rose & Thorn Socks (SockMadness 10-2) by Ronni Smith, knit in Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids & Quatro. Started March 21, 2016; completed March 25, 2016.

Kingdom by Becky Herrick, knit in Shibui Knits Sock. Started January 18, 2014; completed February 6, 2016.

Adorable kids fingerless gloves by Wei S. Leong incorporating recipe of the month :: align mitts by by Courtney Spainhower, knit in GnomeAcres Sparkle Gnome. Started March 2, 2016; completed March 6, 2016.

Baby Blanket Snowflakes / Vognteppet Snøfnugg by Pinneguri, knit in Cascade Yarns Heritage Solids & Quatro. Started January 18. 2016; completed March 31, 2016.

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Stash Curation 2016 – the Grand Plan

Posted in stash, yarn, tagged 2016, accountability, acquisitions, curation, stash, stashdown, yarn, yarnsnob on April 27, 2016| Leave a Comment »

We are almost one third into 2016, and it is time for the annual grand plan to be revealed.

If you are interested in the back story or the original rules and goals, you may take a detour to the 2013, 2014, and 2015 posts.

My long term objective is that the majority of my stash is sock yarn, simply because that is what resonates with my crafting. The past focus reflected by the ratios has also been an overall stash reduction.

After the incident of the 2014 LYS sales, I´ve been extremely picky about what yarn to buy and when. Some might say that I´m becoming a yarn snob, but why should you not knit with the best yarn you can afford that is appropriate for the project? When maternity leave ends and I return to work life with three little ones demanding my attention evenings and weekends, knitting time will be at a premium. When you treat yourself, you don´t dive into the sales bin at the dollar store…

In 2015, I turned the negative 4472 yard balance to a 100-yard allowance enforcing the 1:3 ration. That is almost 13500 yards more out than in! At the same time, the unspent sock yarn account went up from 16.5 to 18.5 skeins.

Without further ado, I rename the Stash-down Quest to the Stash Curation! The trove shall be curated and groomed allowing precious and appropriate skeins in and the lesser yarns will be subjected to use-or-loose.

My revised rules and goals for 2016 are:

In general, knit up as much as possible from Deep Stash (older than two years). The majority of the commercial yarns that have been on my vanishing list fall into this category.
1:1 skein ratio for fingering sock yarn – Knit one pair of adult socks or a shawl, may buy 100g of new sock yarn
1:1 yardage ratio for all other yarns
Yardage in is when the yarn enters the house. Yardage out is when a WIP becomes an FO or yarn is gifted/donated/traded
Vacation yarns do not count (but may only buy yarns not available at local-to-me yarn stores (LYSes)
Gifts and prizes do not count