Ravelry is a many splendoured thing. I love it. Sometimes, however, it provides you with information that is...well, horrifying.
This evening, in my ongoing quest to deal with my knitting funk, I was browsing my stash. My sock weight yarns, specifically, and on the filtering drop down menu that I have 90 items in the "fingering" category and five items in the "light fingering" category. See? Horrifying.
31 of these are partially used, meaning I have 64 unused sock weight yarns in my stash. Ok. That is alarming, but I can just about live with it. Although, having realised this, you will not catch me buying sock yarn any time soon.
Talking the horror through with my Partner In Crime, we concluded that I do not want to sell or otherwise dispose of my yarn. There may be a ball or two I could part with, but on the whole I bought it because I love it, and I want to keep it. However, it is the part balls which are causing me the most stress.
I have, in the past, knitted stripy socks out of leftover sock yarn, but this situation is really far beyond that which can be dealt with by stripy socks. Maybe by some stripy or other types of multi-yarn socks, but that will not get rid of 31 part balls of yarn. At least, not quickly. I wondered about what I could weave with left over sock yarn, but have so far not come up with anything. I contemplated some form of sock yarn blanket, but I have started these before and always lose interest. I do not know. Answers on a postcard (or in the comments...)!
However, I do have a short term plan.
First, I am going to have a handknitted sock cull. Some are very old and becoming rather disreputable. Others I never really liked, or fit poorly. These can be dispatched in some way or another.
Second, I am going to keep the luxury socks separately to the every day socks. A pair of socks in a cashmere blend will never go in shoes, but that means I need to keep them where I will find them on a cold winter's day when I want to curl up on the sofa, watch movies and drink hot chocolate. So they will go into the same drawer as my pyjamas.
Between these two actions I will create a situation where I will a) have fewer handknitted socks b) only have handknitted socks that fit nicely and I like, c) be clear on what sort of socks are available for different situations and as a result d) be able to clearly see what I have and where any socky gaps are and e) be able to fit any new socks into my drawer.
On the whole, I am unsure that this is a brilliant plan, it will not solve the problem of the part balls, but it will at least help provide a route for the other 64 items to move from yarn to garment. I also hope it will provide some inspiration to help with this whole knitting funk side of things.
As for the part balls... watch this space. I need to come up with something!
Thursday, 17 July 2014
Wednesday, 16 July 2014
Stash Dash
Stash Dash is a thing being run by the Knit Girllls podcast people. From what I gather the aim has been to use up 5000m of stash over the summer. I am coming rather late to the party, but in light of my recent alarming discoveries around the sheer quantity of my stash, I have decided to have my own personal stash dash.
My plan is to use up - either knitting, weaving or spinning, 5000m of yarn between now and the 16th of October that is my goal. I am not going to make any yarn-purchasing restrictions, except to say that I will embark on a period of mindful yarn purchases. That is to say, I will not buy something just because it is shiny. I have a tendency to buy yarns in bright gorgeous colours without any consideration of how I might wear items knitted from it.
So this is my plan, and I will update here as I go along! I am hoping this will also help me make decisions about some long-term works in progress and either finish them or accept that I am going to abandon them.
My plan is to use up - either knitting, weaving or spinning, 5000m of yarn between now and the 16th of October that is my goal. I am not going to make any yarn-purchasing restrictions, except to say that I will embark on a period of mindful yarn purchases. That is to say, I will not buy something just because it is shiny. I have a tendency to buy yarns in bright gorgeous colours without any consideration of how I might wear items knitted from it.
So this is my plan, and I will update here as I go along! I am hoping this will also help me make decisions about some long-term works in progress and either finish them or accept that I am going to abandon them.
Knitting Funk and a Failed Cure
I have mentioned a few times now the absence of my knitting mojo and the existence of a knitting funk. I have tried to solve this with multiple attempts at casting on. Something exciting; something easy; something small. Nothing has worked.
This is the story of my attempt to cure my knitting funk by casting on something easy. I chose this multidirectional scarf pattern. It was cute, I could use a ball of Zauberball. I like Zauberball. It is nice yarn and, most importantly for the mood I was in at the time, it was already in a ball. No winding involved! Easy pattern, effective and cute, let's go!
Of course, however, it did not work. It did not work because I messed up the pattern. I got this very nice ridge all along the decrease line. Which was problematic because going back in the other direction the very nice ridge was appearing on the other side of the knitting, and so was not very nice anymore. I was slipping the stitch, I think, when I should not have been.
I made an attempt at using different decreases to get the same ridge effect on the same side, but was not remotely happy with how it looked, and so I have decided to rip it out. I may or may not knit this again (correctly, hopefully!) but it will not be with this yarn. I think something with shorter colour repeats would be more effective, and in the meantime my knitting funk remains uncured.
If anyone reading this has thoughts on a cure, I would be very grateful to hear it!
This is the story of my attempt to cure my knitting funk by casting on something easy. I chose this multidirectional scarf pattern. It was cute, I could use a ball of Zauberball. I like Zauberball. It is nice yarn and, most importantly for the mood I was in at the time, it was already in a ball. No winding involved! Easy pattern, effective and cute, let's go!
Of course, however, it did not work. It did not work because I messed up the pattern. I got this very nice ridge all along the decrease line. Which was problematic because going back in the other direction the very nice ridge was appearing on the other side of the knitting, and so was not very nice anymore. I was slipping the stitch, I think, when I should not have been.
I made an attempt at using different decreases to get the same ridge effect on the same side, but was not remotely happy with how it looked, and so I have decided to rip it out. I may or may not knit this again (correctly, hopefully!) but it will not be with this yarn. I think something with shorter colour repeats would be more effective, and in the meantime my knitting funk remains uncured.
If anyone reading this has thoughts on a cure, I would be very grateful to hear it!
Tuesday, 15 July 2014
Spinning
With my knitting mojo en vacances, my spinning has been getting a bit more of a look-in. I am a slow spinner. For one thing my "automatic" yarn is worsted spun and very fine. So it takes forever to spin. I am also apt to get distracted from spinning by other things: knitting, running and cooking in recent weeks. And watching Castle.
However, I am currently trying to spin more regularly because I really do enjoy it, and I really love working with handspun yarns.
At the moment I am spinning some dark blue merino silk from Wingham Woolwork. I bought this at Woolfest in 2013, and it is spinning up beautifully. Slowly (I started spinning it in April!), but beautifully. I am about a third of the way through spinning this fibre, and am still enjoying it but can see impatience to start something new starting to rear its little head. So I am trying to take advantage of some quiet time to get more spinning done.
However, I am currently trying to spin more regularly because I really do enjoy it, and I really love working with handspun yarns.
At the moment I am spinning some dark blue merino silk from Wingham Woolwork. I bought this at Woolfest in 2013, and it is spinning up beautifully. Slowly (I started spinning it in April!), but beautifully. I am about a third of the way through spinning this fibre, and am still enjoying it but can see impatience to start something new starting to rear its little head. So I am trying to take advantage of some quiet time to get more spinning done.
Monday, 14 July 2014
A New Yarn Shop!
Recently I heard of a new yarn shop opening in my local-ish area. It is The Wool Shop in Spondon, Derby. They do not yet have a website, but they have a Facebook page which can be found here. Naturally I decided to visit it. My knitting mojo may be on holiday, but that does not mean I cannot explore yarn shops!
I went on Saturday, which, I think, was the third day the shop was open. As I am a non-driver, getting there alone looked far too faffy so I engaged the services of my trusty Partner In Crime and he drove me. Which had its downsides, it turned out, because finding somewhere to park was challenging. We don't know the area at all, and the shop is right on the road, so we had to go on a bit of an adventure. We found a car park a few minutes walk away, though, and I abandoned said Partner In Crime reading a book, and I set off to explore.
The shop is oh so small, but is cute, light and airy, has a friendly owner and walls covered with yarn - what more can you want? Yarn shops are an area where size really does not matter. The stock was mostly acrylic and wool blends, which is not for everyone, but there was a pretty good variety of affordable yarn options: Wendy, James C. Brett, etc. There was also some sock yarn, which made me happy: Wendy Roam Fusion and some Regia.
Now, I have yarn snob tendencies. I am upfront about this. I like my wool content and I like my independent dyers (and will be a very happy bunny when a local-ish shop arises that stocks products from smaller producers). But, acrylic and wool blends have their place: knitting for little people; presents for people not mad enough to handwash; charity knitting etc. On the basis of which, this is a yarn shop I would definitely be interested in going back to and trying to support.
I went on Saturday, which, I think, was the third day the shop was open. As I am a non-driver, getting there alone looked far too faffy so I engaged the services of my trusty Partner In Crime and he drove me. Which had its downsides, it turned out, because finding somewhere to park was challenging. We don't know the area at all, and the shop is right on the road, so we had to go on a bit of an adventure. We found a car park a few minutes walk away, though, and I abandoned said Partner In Crime reading a book, and I set off to explore.
The shop is oh so small, but is cute, light and airy, has a friendly owner and walls covered with yarn - what more can you want? Yarn shops are an area where size really does not matter. The stock was mostly acrylic and wool blends, which is not for everyone, but there was a pretty good variety of affordable yarn options: Wendy, James C. Brett, etc. There was also some sock yarn, which made me happy: Wendy Roam Fusion and some Regia.
Now, I have yarn snob tendencies. I am upfront about this. I like my wool content and I like my independent dyers (and will be a very happy bunny when a local-ish shop arises that stocks products from smaller producers). But, acrylic and wool blends have their place: knitting for little people; presents for people not mad enough to handwash; charity knitting etc. On the basis of which, this is a yarn shop I would definitely be interested in going back to and trying to support.
Thursday, 10 July 2014
In Which My Knitting and I Part Ways
Not forever, I hope. However, lately my knitting has mostly been making me cranky. Patterns lack clarity (usually discovered after paying for them); yarn misbehaves; I don't have the right needles (or they are on another project); it just goes wrong. Again. And Again. And Again.
So, I am giving myself permission to not knit for a while. Until I am ready to knit again. It is a hobby, it is meant to be fun, and there is absolutely no gain for either me or the knitting if I am forcing myself to do it. Doing things I do not enjoy but feel I must is something I get quite enough of elsewhere in my life.
So, the upside is what terribly good news this is for the Fimo; mosaic supplies; spinning fibre, books and loom. They all get a bit more of a chance to shine. Lucky them! I can continue working on the housewarming present (very late now) for a friend; I can spin while watching television; I can finally sew the t-shirt I bought fabric for. I can start my summer reading.
Perhaps, after all, a knitting break is very well timed!
So, I am giving myself permission to not knit for a while. Until I am ready to knit again. It is a hobby, it is meant to be fun, and there is absolutely no gain for either me or the knitting if I am forcing myself to do it. Doing things I do not enjoy but feel I must is something I get quite enough of elsewhere in my life.
So, the upside is what terribly good news this is for the Fimo; mosaic supplies; spinning fibre, books and loom. They all get a bit more of a chance to shine. Lucky them! I can continue working on the housewarming present (very late now) for a friend; I can spin while watching television; I can finally sew the t-shirt I bought fabric for. I can start my summer reading.
Perhaps, after all, a knitting break is very well timed!
Saturday, 28 June 2014
Books on the Nightstand Bingo
One of my favourite podcasts is Books on the Nightstand. I really enjoy the style of the podcast, and find the two presenters both intelligent and entertaining. Then there's the part where I have had any number of excellent book recommendations from them. I think the biggest success has been The Martian by Andy Weir (episode 267, back in February) recommendations for which have cascaded from me to friends and family, and their friends and family. Seriously, go and read it. Even if you normally would not read science fiction.
A couple of episodes ago (I am horribly behind, and only heard it last week), they announced Beach Blanket Book Bingo as a way of doing some interesting summer reading. Well, I have no beach holidays planned (sadly no holiday of any kind, actually!), but I do have some time off work coming my way, and some reading would be an excellent thing.
As a child I read. Always. Except when I was writing. Somewhere in the midst of educating myself and working to pay the bills, the time and inclination I have for reading has diminished. I still love it though, and am always keen to read when a good opportunity arises. So I was rather enthusiastic about this book bingo idea, and I have decided to follow it on my blog. Apparently the plan is that this bingo game should end on Labor Day. When is that, you may ask? I had no idea, but the all-knowing Google tells me it is the first of September this year. Which is a reasonable time, but not adequate for being too ambitious.
So, I acquired myself a bingo card from here. They change each time you hit refresh, so I hit refresh, and then print. In line with not being too ambitious, I have decided to go for one of two rows. Either a vertical row featuring
1. By an author of a different gender
2. Translation
3. A novella
4. Published before 1970
5. A play
or a diagonal linewith a free square featuring:
1. Currently on the bestseller list
2. Translation
3. Historical Fiction
4. With only words on the cover
As you can see, the common theme is translation. I have two books on the shelf I have been meaning to read for ages which are both translations: Penguin Lost by Andrey Kurkov and The Dinner by Herman Koch. The latter was something I heard about on a podcast somewhere and Penguin Lost is a sequel to Death and the Penguin, which is a book I absolutely loved.
Given that, I think Penguin Lost will be my translation book, and then I will take the rest of the bingo card from there.
A couple of episodes ago (I am horribly behind, and only heard it last week), they announced Beach Blanket Book Bingo as a way of doing some interesting summer reading. Well, I have no beach holidays planned (sadly no holiday of any kind, actually!), but I do have some time off work coming my way, and some reading would be an excellent thing.
As a child I read. Always. Except when I was writing. Somewhere in the midst of educating myself and working to pay the bills, the time and inclination I have for reading has diminished. I still love it though, and am always keen to read when a good opportunity arises. So I was rather enthusiastic about this book bingo idea, and I have decided to follow it on my blog. Apparently the plan is that this bingo game should end on Labor Day. When is that, you may ask? I had no idea, but the all-knowing Google tells me it is the first of September this year. Which is a reasonable time, but not adequate for being too ambitious.
So, I acquired myself a bingo card from here. They change each time you hit refresh, so I hit refresh, and then print. In line with not being too ambitious, I have decided to go for one of two rows. Either a vertical row featuring
1. By an author of a different gender
2. Translation
3. A novella
4. Published before 1970
5. A play
or a diagonal linewith a free square featuring:
1. Currently on the bestseller list
2. Translation
3. Historical Fiction
4. With only words on the cover
As you can see, the common theme is translation. I have two books on the shelf I have been meaning to read for ages which are both translations: Penguin Lost by Andrey Kurkov and The Dinner by Herman Koch. The latter was something I heard about on a podcast somewhere and Penguin Lost is a sequel to Death and the Penguin, which is a book I absolutely loved.
Given that, I think Penguin Lost will be my translation book, and then I will take the rest of the bingo card from there.
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