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Posts Tagged ‘accountability’

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

Malabrigo Rios
Rowan pure wool 4ply
Rowan pure wool 4ply
Klompelompe garn
Cascade heritage
Cascade Heritage
Hazelknits

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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We are almost one third into 2016, and it is time for the annual grand plan to be revealed.
Hazelknits
If you are interested in the back story or the original rules and goals, you may take a detour to the 20132014, 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

As always, I will not reveal the overall size of the stash in terms of skeins/balls or yardage, but I will report on yarn going in and out 🙂

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The last quarter of 2015 reveals a shocking truth!

For the background  story, take a look at my plan for 2015.

My current rules and goals are:

  • In general, knit up as much as possible from Deep Stash (older than two years)
  • Vanish all pre 2015 Dale Baby Ull and Nostebarn / Askeladen Merino-lammeuld (2 ply)
  • Vanish all pre 2015 yarn of sport weight or thicker
  • 1:1 ratio for fingering sock yarn – Knit one pair of adult socks or a shawl, may buy 100g of new sock yarn
  • 1:3 ratio for all other yarns, based on yardage
  • 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

So, how did I do wrapping up 2015?

OUT:

  • I knit a doll blanket out of 315 yards from deep stash
  • I knit a huge shawl out of 1059 yards of fingering weight, partially deep stash
  • I crochet a doily out of 411 yards from the 2014 LYS sale
  • I knit an adult sweater vest and 2 hats out of 1150 yards Dale Falk from the 2014 LYS sale
  • I knit a beaded lace weight shawl out of 1005 yards bought in Q3
  • I knit a sweater, a snow suit and 2 hats out of Nostebarn deep stash (3402 yards)
  • I knit preemie hats, ornaments, and blanket squares out of 660 yards of scraps

IN:

  • I bought 3 skeins of Cascade Heritage sock yarn for a test knit I was approved for
  • I received the final shipments of the 2015 yarn club DH gifted me for Christmas – a  skein of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight.

Cascade Heritage

Gifts/prizes:
Socks that Rock light weight

STATUS:

At the beginning of October, my unspent allowance was 21.5 balls of sock yarn and -2567 yards of any yarn.

I used 0 skeins of sock  yarn and 8002 yards of other yarn and added 3 skein of sock yarn. This puts my Q4 numbers at -3 balls of sock yarn and 2667 yards of any yarn.

My accumulated unspent allowance by the end of December is 18.5 balls of sock yarn and 100 yards of any yarn. THE NUMBERS ARE NO LONGER RED!!!

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The third quarter of 2015 took a big bite of the stash!

For the background  story, take a look at my plan for 2015.

My current rules and goals are:

  • In general, knit up as much as possible from Deep Stash (older than two years)
  • Vanish all pre 2015 Dale Baby Ull and Nostebarn / Askeladen Merino-lammeuld (2 ply)
  • Vanish all pre 2015 yarn of sport weight or thicker
  • 1:1 ratio for fingering sock yarn – Knit one pair of adult socks or a shawl, may buy 100g of new sock yarn
  • 1:3 ratio for all other yarns, based on yardage
  • 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

So, how did I do for the third quarter of 2015?

OUT:

  • I knit a baby blanket out of 842 yards of fingering weight deep stash
  • I knit 2 dresses out of yarn bought for these in Q2 (1332 yards)
  • I knit 2 hats and 5 sweater out of 2068 yards fingering weight from deep stash
  • I used up the last of the Nostebarn lanolin yarn (153 yards, deep stash)
  • I finished a crochet dress and bolero started in 2003  (2270 yards)
  • I finished a cardigan for me started in 2010 and knit a toddler sweater out of the left-overs (1580 yards)
  • I knit 2 child sweaters and a hat out of the reminder of Dale Lerke from the 2014 LYS sales (825 yards)
  • I finished another UFO cardigan for me and knit myself a second sweater out of the left-overs (1312 yards)
  • I knit 4 adult hats for charity out of 6 balls of Dale Falk from the 2014 LYS sale (696 yards)
  • I knit 1 pair of adult socks out of fingering weight yarn (skein of Cascade Heritage bought in Q2)

IN:

  • I bought two skeins of Garnstudio DROPS Lace (1750 yards) for a shawl that got cast on as soon as the yarn arrived.
  • I bought one skein of Leading Men Fiber Arts Soliloquy (sock yarn) on their annual sale.
  • I bought two skeins of Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport Multi (400 yards)
  • I won a podcast contest and have been gifted a skein of sock yarn as prize.
  • I received July and September shipments of the 2015 yarn club DH gifted me for Christmas – two  skeins of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight.

Drops Lace
LMFA Soliloquy
Lorna´s Laces Shepherd Sport

Gifts/prizes:
Daizie Knits Vine
Socks that Rock light weight
Socks that Rock light weight

STATUS:

At the beginning of July, my unspent allowance was 21.5 balls of sock yarn and -4110 yards of any yarn.

I used 1 skeins of sock  yarn and 11078 (!!!) yards of other yarn and added 1 skein of sock yarn plus 2150 yards of other yarn. This puts my Q3 numbers at 0 balls of sock yarn and 1543 yards of any yarn.

My accumulated unspent allowance by the end of September is 21.5 balls of sock yarn and -2567 yards of any yarn.

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We have reached the half-way mark of 2015, and the stash is still shrinking.

For the background  story, take a look at my plan for 2015.

My current rules and goals are:

  • In general, knit up as much as possible from Deep Stash (older than two years)
  • Vanish all pre 2015 Dale Baby Ull and Nostebarn / Askeladen Merino-lammeuld (2 ply)
  • Vanish all pre 2015 yarn of sport weight or thicker
  • 1:1 ratio for fingering sock yarn – Knit one pair of adult socks or a shawl, may buy 100g of new sock yarn
  • 1:3 ratio for all other yarns, based on yardage
  • 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

So, how did I do for the second quarter of 2015?

OUT:

  • I knit 7 pairs of adult socks out of fingering weight yarn (3 FOs deep stash + used the last skein of Cascade Heritage bought in Q1)
  • I knit a baby sweater out of 367 yards sport weight (deep stash)
  • I knit two child sweaters (806 yards) and a pair of knee highs (568 yards) out mostly sport/DK  yarn from the 2014 LYS sales
  • I knit four baby items out of two skeins of Malabrigo Sock (880 yards, deep stash)
  • I knit 10 preemie hats and 6 pairs of child socks out of 1347 yards misc left-over sock yarn (mostly deep stash)

IN:

  • I bought one ball of Stray Cat Socks Self Striping Yarn from Etsy.
  • I bought three skeins of Cascade Heritage sock yarn for Tour de Sock.
  • I bought nine 50g balls (1647 yards)f Garnstudio DROPS Baby Alpaca Silk to knit dresses for the girls. Both dresses are bond off and awaiting buttons.
  • I won second place in Sock Madness 9 and have been gifted four skeins of sock yarn as prizes.
  • I received the April and June shipments of the 2015 yarn club DH gifted me for Christmas – two  skeins of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight.

Stray Cat Socks Self Striping Yarn
Cascade Heritage sock
Cascade Heritage sock
Cascade Heritage sock
Drops BabyAlpaca Silk

Gifts/prizes:
Little Wolf Yarns Squirrel Sock
Lisa Souza Sock!
Yarn Pirate Superwash Merino Sock
Socks that Rock 2015 club
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight
STATUS:

At the beginning of April, my unspent allowance was 18.5 balls of sock yarn and -3786 yards of any yarn.

I used 7 skeins of sock  yarn and 3968 yards of other yarn and added 4 skeins of sock yarn plus 1647 yards of other yarn. This puts my Q2 numbers at 3 balls of sock yarn and -324 yards of any yarn.

My accumulated unspent allowance by the end of June is 21.5 balls of sock yarn and -4110 yards of any yarn.

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The stash-down quest dives into its third year focusing on stash curation.

For the background  story, take a look at my plan for 2015.

My current rules and goals are:

  • In general, knit up as much as possible from Deep Stash (older than two years)
  • Vanish all pre 2015 Dale Baby Ull and Nostebarn / Askeladen Merino-lammeuld (2 ply)
  • Vanish all pre 2015 yarn of sport weight or thicker
  • 1:1 ratio for fingering sock yarn – Knit one pair of adult socks or a shawl, may buy 100g of new sock yarn
  • 1:3 ratio for all other yarns, based on yardage
  • 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

So, how did I do for the first quarter of 2015?

OUT:

  • I knit three hats out of 774 yards Nostebarn held double (deep stash)
  • I knit a shawl out of 1230 yards of fingering weight left overs (deep stash)
  • I knit 7 pairs of socks and 1 shawl out of fingering weight yarn (2 FOs deep stash, 5 skeins bought for these specific socks)
  • I knit 2 pairs of mini socks and an egg cozy out of 55 yards of fingering weight left overs (deep stash)

IN:

  • I bought six skeins of Cascade Heritage sock yarn for specific patterns. Already used five of them.
  • I won a skein of sock yarn as grand prize in the HPKCHC Ravenclaw mini sock sprint Winter term 2015. Donated by bacs.
  • I received the first shipment of the 2015 yarn club DH gifted me for Christmas – a skein of Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Mediumweight.

Cascade Heritage Sock
Studio Out Back, LLC Footfall
Socks that Rock 2015 club
STATUS:

At the beginning of the year, my unspent allowance was 16.5 balls of sock yarn and -4472 yards of any yarn.

I used 8 skeins of sock  yarn and 2059 yards of other yarn and added 6 skeins of sock yarn. This puts my Q1 numbers at 2 balls of sock yarn and 686 yards of any yarn.

My accumulated unspent allowance by the end of March is 18.5 balls of sock yarn and -3786 yards of any yarn.

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We are almost half-way through 2015, and it is time for the grand plan to get digitalized from its pen&paper draft. 

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

My long term objective (beyond the obvious overall stash reduction) is that the majority of my stash is sock yarn, simply because that is what resonates with my crafting.  

My revised rules and goals for 2015 are:

  • In general, knit up as much as possible from Deep Stash (older than two years)
  • Vanish all pre 2015 Dale Baby Ull and Nostebarn / Askeladen Merino-lammeuld (2 ply)
  • Vanish all pre 2015 yarn of sport weight or thicker
  • 1:1 ratio for fingering sock yarn – Knit one pair of adult socks or a shawl, may buy 100g of new sock yarn
  • 1:3 ratio for all other yarns, based on yardage
  • 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

As before, I will not reveal the overall size of the stash in terms of skeins/balls or yardage, but I will report on yarn going in and out 🙂

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Welcome, 2014!

You may say that today is the one-year anniversary of my stash-down quest. But please, keep the cake out of the Stash Cabinet – there is still a skein or ten in there 😉 

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

My long term objective (beyond the obvious overall stash reduction) is that the majority of my stash is sock yarn, simply because that is what resonates with my crafting.  

My revised rules and goals for 2014 are:

  • Craft exclusively from pre-2014 stash in Q1 (Harry Potter knitting and crochet house cup Winter2014 #stashterm)
  • In general, knit up as much as possible from Deep Stash (older than two years)
  • Vanish all 2009 yarn of light fingering weight or thicker
  • Vanish all 2010-2013 yarn of sport weight or thicker
  • 1:1 ratio for fingering sock yarn – Knit one pair of adult socks or a shawl, may buy 100g of new sock yarn
  • 1:5 ratio for all other yarns, based on yardage
  • 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

As before, I will not reveal the overall size of the stash in terms of skeins/balls or yardage, but I will report on yarn going in and out 🙂

Read Full Post »

The stash-down quest continues – it is early December and another term of the Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup has come to an end. If you missed the first post in this quest series, you can read about how it all started in the January post. 

My current rules and goals are:

  • Knit up as much as possible from Deep Stash (2010 or earlier)
  • Knit up the 3 sweaters worth of yarn bought in the fall, 2012 (all 3 finished!)
  • Buy no wool yarn from Sandnes Garn or Per Tyrving (I hate working with it!)
  • 1:1 ratio for fingering sock yarn – Knit one pair of adult socks or a shawl, may buy 100g of new sock yarn
  • 1:5 ratio for all other yarns, based on yardage
  • It is OK to buy yarn for specific projects for the kids, especially daycare sweaters, but the project must be started within 2 months of purchase
  • Yardage from my pre-2012 sweater UFOs do not count (mostly knit, need finishing), but the two scarves do count
  • 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

So, how did I do for November?

OUT:

  • I knit 16 colorwork mini mittens out of 240 yards of sport weight Dalegarn Falk (bought for this project in September)
  • I knit 2 pairs of socks out of 512 yards of fingering weight yarn
  • I completed the third and final garment out of the  sweater yarn bought in the fall, 2012 1525 yards of sport weight

IN:

  • 6 100g skeins of fingering sock yarn, of which 2 are club shipments (photographed together with the September shipment) and the other were bought at #juleexpo.

Herbology yarn club

Cascade Heritage Sock Yarn
STATUS:

At the beginning of the month, my unspent allowance was 12.5 balls of sock yarn and -232  yards of any yarn. 6 balls of sock yarn in.

I used 2 balls of sock yarn and 1765 yards of yarn for other projects. No were made out of deep stash yarns. This brings my November numbers up to 2 balls of sock yarn and 353 yards of any yarn.

My accumulated unspent allowance is now 8.5 balls of sock yarn and 121 yards of any yarn.

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The stash-down quest continues – it is deep fall and not a lot of knitting time. If you missed the first post in this quest series, you can read about how it all started in the January post. 

My current rules and goals are:

  • Knit up as much as possible from Deep Stash (2010 or earlier)
  • Knit up the 3 sweaters worth of yarn bought in the fall, 2012 (2 of 3 finished, last one on the needles)
  • Buy no wool yarn from Sandnes Garn or Per Tyrving (I hate working with it!)
  • 1:1 ratio for fingering sock yarn – Knit one pair of adult socks or a shawl, may buy 100g of new sock yarn
  • 1:5 ratio for all other yarns, based on yardage
  • It is OK to buy yarn for specific projects for the kids, especially daycare sweaters, but the project must be started within 2 months of purchase
  • Yardage from my pre-2012 sweater UFOs do not count (mostly knit, need finishing), but the two scarves do count
  • 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

So, how did I do for October?

OUT:

  • I knit 8 colorwork mini mittens out of 140 yards of sport weight Dalegarn Falk (bought for this project in September)
  • I knit 2 preemie hats out of 74 yards of fingering weight left-overs (deep stash)
  • I completed a blanket out of 924 yards of sport weight left-over from my Kauni Marius

IN:

  • 7 50g / 116y ball of Dale of Norway/Dalegarn Falk to knit a sweater for Amalie. Project is cast on

Dale Falk
STATUS:

At the beginning of the month, my unspent allowance was 12.5 balls of sock yarn and 352  yards of any yarn. 812 yards in.

I used 1138 yards of yarn for projects. Two projects were made out of deep stash yarns, and the large FO used sweater left-overs. This brings my October numbers up to 228 yards of any yarn.

My accumulated unspent allowance is now down to 12.5 balls of sock yarn and -232  yards of any yarn.

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