Friday, January 13, 2012

Stash Mania!

Hello Dear Friends!  I've been doing a "stash-free summer" the last few years.  And it's actually been pretty successful.  And those stash-free summers usually carry over into the remaining part of the year with very little additional stash accumulation.  So from the end of May through the end of December, I usually make a pretty good dent using my current stash (you would think it would show more, but there you go.)  But when my birthday rolls around in December, I'm usually jones-ing for something new (and it usually has to do with socks.)

Wrap birthday, sock yarn and sale all together and this is what you end up (courtesy of Webs)...


I've been researching sock-yarn-clubs (where you get a skein of specially hand-dyed sock yarn and an exclusive pattern and sometimes a few extra little trinkets show up in your mailbox every other month.)  But you know, forking over $240+ for 6 skeins of yarn is not in my budget.  And what if I don't like the colorway that shows up?  I figure I can spend a lot less and get a little more bang for my buck by doing my own little sock-club.  Heck, I already own almost every sock pattern book published not to mention the 100's of free patterns out there.

So here is the first installment of "staci's frugal sock yarn club".  Whoops...how'd that red yarn for a skirt get in there???  I have yarn for 4 pairs of socks and a skirt at a fraction of 4 shipments from a club.  In fact, it cost less than 2 shipments.  (And no, I'm not going to be doing this every other month, LOL!!!)


The last of my stash I have to share today is this gorgeous hand-dyed thread I won from Nancy of Victorian Motto.  I first purchased thread from Nancy back in 2008 and her thread is wonderful to work with.  You many remember that my rooster is stitched with one of Nancy's reds.  She's currently having another floss giveaway on her blog so you better head over for a chance!  Thank you so much Nancy!!!


 
My friend Wendy Jo's birthday was yesterday and I knit her a pair of plain picot socks and included a collectors edition Whitman's tin I found at the holidays.  We never get the Whitman's tins around here so you have to believe I snatched some of those babies up, lol!!!  Happy Birthday dear friend!!!



Well goodness, that was quite a lot of stuff!  Thanks for stopping by my neck of the woods and for your sweet comments.  Happy Friday the 13th...Make it a Great One!!!


25 comments:

Susan said...

Ohhhh, can't wait to see the products of all that beautiful yard and thread.

Nicola said...

The wool and threads are soooo beautiful. Looking forward to seeing what you knit up.

Carol said...

Love those yarns, Staci, and how lucky to win those glorious threads from Nancy!!

We were just talking about knitted socks at work at the library the other day as the sock knitting books circulate more than any other type of knitting book. Ever consider writing your own :)

Sally said...

Beautiful wools and threads Staci. Can't wait to see what you do with them.

Reginas Cottage said...

beautiful wool!!!!!
love regina

Lesleyanne said...

Lovely new stash, both wool and threads. Can't wait to see what you produce with them.

Anonymous said...

Oooooooooooooo...gorgeous new stash. I love looking at the threads. Such pretty colors.

The socks for your friend are beautiful. I love their simplicity. She could wear them with ANYTHING.

Have fun with the stash!

Julie said...

Going to be exciting coming and seeing what you have created with those lovelies.
Happy stitching and knitting!

Nicky said...

Beautiful yarn stash you've got going on there Staci. A stash-free summer, perhaps I should get into that too......

valerie said...

Lovely yarn! I seriously contemplated doing the Cookie Sock Yarn of the Month club before I saw the price and remembered I still haven't even knit one pair of socks in my life! Maybe that can be a goal for this year too.

Have fun knitting!

Anonymous said...

That's a much better idea to create your own sock club, plus you can get sock yarn from lots of different vendors instead of just one! I'm tempted by a couple of purchases but have decided I have to knit just a bit more from the stash first...

Nancy said...

Beautiful yarns Staci! I can't wait to see your finished projects with these beautiful colors. Wonderful sock and tin gift - I'm sure your friend was very pleased!

Melanie said...

Super duper stashing!! I'm a big fan of Regia for socks, can't go wrong with it. Makes me itchy to go buy some. *twitch*

Dani - tkdchick said...

Look at all those new fantastic colours and yarns!

Congrats on wininning those fantastic flosses!

What a great pair of socks for your friend Jo

Sally said...

Can't wait to see your yarn grow up to be socks! :-) I had the same thought about sock clubs the other day when I was looking at a sock club information page. I know they do put some useful tools/accessories in with the yarn, but I myself would not be able to justify joining at that price for 6 pairs of socks. I have enough yarn that I've thought about just kitting up my own sock club sock kits, but I haven't actually done it. Right now I'm focusing on sweaters with socks as my on-the-go projects.

Kellie said...

I find those sock yarn clubs very tempting too... until I look at the price. :) I think I like your frugal sock yarn club much more. Great stash! And congrats on your win. Her threads are so pretty and vibrant. Love your picot socks. Have a great rest of the weekend!

Penny said...

Having seen the beautiful things you've knit, I can't wait to see what you do with all that gorgeous yarn. :) Congratulations on the thread win from Victorian Motto - beautiful colors!

Siobhán said...

I can't wait to see what you get up to with all that yarn! Love the colors!

Brigitte said...

Oh my, look at that yarn! So we can expect to see lots of wonderfully knitted socks and maybe other projects as well. And those threads are really great. I haven't ordered any so far because I always have issues with customs but I have seen them at a friend's and they are really a dream. Enjoy all your new stash!

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

Your sock club idea sounds wonderful! On the pretty dyed floss.....what kind of floss does she use? Is it cotton? Love the pretty socks! Your friend will love them! blessings,Kathleen

Mary said...

Gorgeous new stash and the colors are so yummy! Can't wait to see them again in a finished project!

Happy stitching!

Elisa said...

Some lovely stash there Staci, looking forward to seeing what you make with it!

cpeezers said...

Love seeing your stash! I am a big fan of knit picks yarn. I've really liked everything I've gotten from them. Recently I have been knitting with the Gloss HW and love it too. I really like the sock yarn you picked out and of course that red for the skirt - beautiful! I want to knit something really red, and I don't know why I have not! Thanks for sharing (oh and like you - I'd love to join the one of the sock club things but yeah pretty pricey for my budget as well.)

Clea Stagnitti said...

Wow, all that yarn is making me want to do a little shopping myself. Sock yarn is such a weakness! And I love the idea of socks and candy. Okay - gotta go knit now.

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

2-23-12
Hi, just dropped back by to say hello and to see what is your newest creation. Hope all is well and wonderful with you!