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!!!

Grey Streak

I've been whittling down the wip's.  All this cardi needed was sleeves (and short ones at that!)  This was a really easy knit, even though the stockinette got a bit monotonous.  In my wardrobe, it's always the simplest and least-fussy knits that get the most wear...not necessarily the most intriguing to knit ones.

Lilas Cardigan by Hilary Smith Callis

size:  Medium

yarn:  Patons Classic Wool, Dark Grey Mix

4.25 skeins:  100g/223yds each

needles:  size 8

modifications:  I added 3 inches to the length.

And all my socks get a lot of wear, no matter how simple or fussy!  One of them has a mistake on the top of the instep that I didn't catch until I'd already kitchenered the toe.  Guess no one'll notice it in my shoe :)

Cloud Nine Socks by Debbie Orr

freebie found here

size:  women's med

yarn:  Patons Kroy Socks, Gentry Grey

2 skeins:  50g/188yds each

needles:  size 2.75mm

modifications:  I knit the foot with the 2.75 needles instead of switching to larger ones like the pattern calls for...I'm glad because the sock would've been too big then.  It's a touch roomy, but not annoyingly so.

I did 10 repeats for the leg because I wanted it to be just a bit longer.  My usual stockinette heel and wedge toe.

Our summer has officially begun here now that school's out!  And I'll be doing a stash-free summer again like the past few years :)  Thanks for stopping by my neck of the woods and for your sweet comments.  I hope you're having a fabulous weekend and start to your summer (or winter!) too!!!