Blog Archive for the 'Stash Enhancement' Category
March 9th 2011
Filed under General, Stash Enhancement
The one thing I have been really keen on with our new bedroom is to have a luxury bed, somewhere to really unwind after a long day. As a result, I have become obsessed with thread counts and togs, I want the feel of a 5 star hotel in my bedroom! Whilst the High Street shops seem to be pretty good at realizing the luxury bedding market, there is one area they fail in, Throws!
In my research (walking around the stores in Westfield), I saw several throws that would be suitable for our bed, I have obviously picked a colour that is en vogue in home-ware because every store had something to offer. I saw a lovely chenille type one, an elegant woven one and in one department store one that was sold as being hand-knitted. But when I looked on the tags, what did all these throws have in common, they all said 100% Polyester!
I don’t consider myself to be that greater a yarn snob, and I do understand the need for polyester or acrylic in the modern world, I don’t like the feel of knitting with acrylic, and I definately wouldn’t knit a garment in it, I might consider buying an garment, but only if it was really stunning! I am certianly not going to have a polyester blanket in my luxury bedroom! And to add insult to injury, there was the price tag, the average price was £90! For that amount of money I could buy the yarn and knit a blanket! Yes, it would take a long time, but at least it would be personal.
Having a quick look through my stash, I found several yarns within the colour range (and some of the yarn left over from the cushion), each yarn has a story to go with it. The mohair was a present in the One Skein Swap, that Interweave organised back in 2006, one sock yarn was from the Socktopus Launch and the other from a competition on Ravelry. In a way this blanket will tell a little story about my knitting adventures. I’ve knitted over 10 squares so far – without buying any extra yarn!
I popped down to Peter Jones today, with some of the squares scoured the shelves for any yarn that match, buying up 3 more yarns in the aqua family. I do realize this yarn doesn’t have a cute story attached to it, but don’t care as my blanket a little personal!
January 22nd 2010
Filed under Socks, socktopus club 2009, Stash Enhancement
Whilst I sit here still hoping the postman is going to deliver my Knit Love Sock club parcel, I thought it was the perfect time to post the details about the final package from last years Sock club.
The parcel actually arrived before Christmas (hence the pattern name), but I didn’t get a chance to cast them on until this year. The yarn is my favourite to date – a special cashmere blend from Nimu in the most amazing purple/blue colour! The pattern – Mince Pie Mayhem was designed by Alice, and the “extras” were some Soak and amazing labels to attch to your handmade goodies.
I was hoping to have these socks finished by today, but have only made it to the toe on the first sock. 
It seems a little silly knitting Mince Pie socks well after Christmas, so I have renamed they the blueberry pie socks as the yarn reminds me more of this!
September 17th 2009
Filed under Socks, socktopus club 2009, Stash Enhancement
Before going away on holiday I popped into Socktopus to see a few of my favourite knitters. It was also the day Alice was getting the sock club parcels ready so it gave me a chance to pick up my yarn and goodies (there were two lots of bells and whistles to make up for last months parcel).
Your eye’s do not deceive you that is some lovely skein of Wollmeise, on an exclusive colourway. Now I have to be honest I hadn’t yet cottoned on to the whole wollmeise craze, I seem to always miss the shop updates, I have not yet had a chance to fondle this yarn or seen it knitted up… so this was a real treat for me. After a bit of knitting I have to say I get it, smell and all!
Also included was an amazing Zigzag Stitches knitting bag, this is a tiny version perfect for carrying around sock knitting. I adore her stuff, I have added a few bags and a sock and go needle case to my birthday wish list. Finally, there are the lovely mini Russian doll stitch markers by Atomic Knitting.
Whilst I was there Kat was knitting an amazing cardigan in lace-weight so when I was fondeling the yarn I saw this cashmere yarn, I knew it was screaming to be turned into a lovely cardigan.
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December 11th 2008
Filed under General, Stash Enhancement, Swaps
Whilst I should be rushing around at the moment buying gifts for other people I seem to have recently got a few gifts for me. First off as part of the Sosesaswa, I received this wonderful parcel of goodies (and the yarn above), included in the parcel was a knitting mystery novel, a cute sock purse, soap, stitch markers and everything I need to make my own stitch markers. (Jen also included instructions). The yarn is Scarlet Fleece in the most amazing teal colour (I mentioned in my questionnaire this is my favourite colour at the moment), she also included a pattern for Garden Trellis Socks.
I have also been treating myself to some Cashmerino Aran (Why am I only discovering this yarn now) which I should be turning into hats over Christmas.
June 4th 2008
Filed under General, Stash Enhancement, Travels
1. Stitch Markers, 2. Blue Heron Rayon,
3. Malabrigo Lace, 4. Wildfoote Sock Yarn
Well I am back, and look at the goodies I brought home with me… Stitch Markers, a cute sheep and lobster (to remind me of our time in Cape Cod), Rayon and Malabrigo to make shawls and some sock yarn to make Jason another pair of socks.
1. Superwash Merino Sock – Semi-Solid, 2. Socks that Rock – Mediumweight, 3. Snarky Design Sock,
4. Margo, 5. MadelineTosh Sock, 6. Wexford Merino Silk,
7. 900 MHz Merino, 8. S.A.S.S.Y, 9. Velocity by sKnitches
When I returned home as well as getting some sad news, I was greeted by a parcel containing a Dream Stash and I have to say it really is a Dream Stash – my favourite yarn changes everytime I look at them… I now I have to find some patterns to do this yarn justice.
May 13th 2008
Filed under General, Project Spectrum, Project Spectrum - Elements, Stash Enhancement
So after three months of stash-busting, I have finally brought some yarn! I read on Ravelry about Crafty Cottage stocking Peaches and Creme Cotton in the U.K. and I had to give it a try! Jo offers nearly all the shades of Peaches N Creme and a fantastic service, the yarn arrived the next day, there was a slight error with my order, but she quickly sorted out the problem and sent me an extra ball for compensation, now I can’t wait to get knitting.
Original my stash-busting plan was not to buy any yarn in February and March and to try and use up all my pink and orange yarns, as it turns out I ended up knitting a lot slower that I thought and as it ended up, I didn’t buy any yarn in April! I am currently working through my green and brown yarn as part of PS3-Earth.
Part of my plan was to also donate all the money I saved from buying yarn to charity, but I have decided to give the extra savings to Ravelry – even though Ravelraising is over, the amount of time I spent online it makes sense. Speaking of Ravelraising did you check out the list of prize-winners 
, I was completely shocked!
Finally yesterday morning, the first of my flower appeared on my Chilli Plant!
January 28th 2008
Filed under General, Stash Enhancement
1. NDS – Mirage, 2. NDS – Dazzle, 3. Cascade 220 – Paints,
4. Cascade 220 – Heathers, 5. Cascade 220 – Quarto, 6. Cascade 220.
I did have big plans to start the year as a two-project-gal, to stash bust and not to develop startitis. Of course this wasn’t going to last long, I went a little mad online, was planning on finally getting around to ordering my Knit Picks Options Needles and Nickel DPN sets. (I got even some cash for Christmas I wanted to spend), then I wanted to buy some Cascade Yarn to make felted hot bottle covers (I went really mad here and brought four types), and then I remember the lovely mirage sock yarn Emms was using at Alice‘s Knitmas Party, so of course I have to buy some.
I have been really good in regard to not starting projects, for most this month I have only had two pairs of socks on the needles. I was planning on casting on the Ene shawl (as it was the poll winner last month), however, I am not sure if Shimmer is the right yarn for this project – I think I will get some Knitwitches Silk for this project.
Instead I cast on a Short Row Scarf, using Wendy Fusion yarn, I felt the colour runs where too long to really show off the entrelac pattern, this pattern is much better suited, as each section seems to be a “different” colour.
*Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy
October 19th 2007
Filed under General, Socks, Stash Enhancement
The last few times I have seen Laura she has been wearing one of her fabulous shawl creations (really they are more like shawlettes or mini-shawls), I don’t think I would ever wear a big shawl, I guess to a wedding or maybe as a sarong on the beach, but the mini shawls are really wearable. So of course, I had to knit one. I had always liked the Flower Basket Shawl, and I even had the yarn some Knit Picks Shimmer, I brought in the spring. So whilst watching daytime TV today, I have been knitting.
Lolly asked on her blog today about what shoes you wear with your hand-knitted socks with? I have a growing collection of converse boots (I even wore converse at our wedding reception) and I am trying to make matching socks for all my boots, this is newest yarn I have brought to go with my (RED) converse.
This is the second post this week, with my shoes mentioned – I am getting a complex.
October 14th 2007
Filed under General, Stash Enhancement, Sweaters
Like most of the knitters in London, yesterday I headed up to Alexandra Palace for the Knitting & Stitching Show. Originally, I was meant to go on Thursday, but due to a heavy workload, I decided to go on Saturday, luckily Alice brought a ticket which she no longer needed, as she was now exhibiting, so I used her ticket. This helped me as well as I got to meet up with the girls – who had a list of stalls they wanted to visit.
1. Rooster Almerino Aran, 2. KnitWitches Pure Silk, 3. KnitWitches Pure Silk,
4. The Natural Dyed Studio – Alba, 5. KnitWitches Sock Yarn/4ply, 6. KnitWitches Sock Yarn/4ply
I managed to get some yarn for the swaps I am currently doing (not shown), and of course a lot of sock yarn – I also discovered a new store – KnitWitches, as well as selling some amazing, sock yarn they had some fabulous silk dyed in the most amazing colours. All I wanted to do after the show was go home a knit – but I decided to go to the pub and watch the rugby.
September 18th 2007
Filed under General, Stash Enhancement
I had one of those amazing weekends where I got to spend time with friend (and meet some new friends) and see some family (most of whom I haven’t seen since my wedding).
A few weeks ago, Alice announced that she was planning a launch party for her online store, knowing that we were going to a wedding over the same weekend, I had to decline the invitation, but over the last few weeks the buzz on the Ravelry London Board has all been about the party.
So I managed to convince the hubby that as the wedding wasn’t until the afternoon we could travel down in the morning.
As well as getting to see the iKnit regulars Alice, Emms and Laura (and Ross), I also got to finally meet Sharon and Arianne. Then there was the lovely ladies from Ravelry – Anna, Gabrielle, Izzie, Mel, Mulene, and Sarah. (I am sure I have forgetten someone – sorry if I have).
Aside from the wonderful company and food, the real reason were all there was to sample Alice’s wonderful finds – over the last few days she has been tempting us on the Socktopus Blog with images of Shelridge Farm, Dream in Color Smooshy and Chameleon Colorworks, and of course we all had to buy, buy, buy.
Of course, what you really want to see is what I brought…
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