Holiday Stashdown Challenge – Week 7

(Join along with me any time if you need a head start or moral support for your holiday crafting. You can read more details here.)

Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions for this week’s Holiday Stashdown Challenge topic!

The most stressful part of crocheting or knitting from stash, for most of us, is finding projects for scraps and small skeins.  I know I’m a bit timid about mixing lots of colors and textures into one project, especially when I plan to use the projects for gifts!  My favorite one skein projects, by far, are hats.  I love to crochet and to knit hats.  I’ve mentioned before that my favorite crochet hat book is Get Your Crochet On! Hip Hats & Cool Caps by Afya Ibomu - it has quite a few great one skein hat projects inside.  I don’t have a favorite resource for knitted hats… yet!  I recently started paying attention to Ravelry’s features after being a member since 2007 (yes, it’s true.  I ignored it for years), and I plan to use the advanced pattern search to find some patterns for one skein projects if I run out of inspiration.  (I’m assuming that I will be mojo-less once I get closer to my holiday crafting deadlines).

If you haven’t already guessed, motifs are my favorite scrap projects.  When I first moved in with MC, I made a massive scrap throw for us to cuddle under while watching movies on his projector.  It has endured spills, cat sneezes, and a life of laying over the back of the couch, and it is super cozy!  I only used yarns that were machine washable and dryable, and I actually collected up scraps from friends to add to the variety.  For organizing it, I used a tip I learned when I began quilting – as long as the colors immediately next to each other “go together,” you can experiment quite a bit as long as you have more than 7-10 colors in the project.  At that point, matching each yarn becomes less important.  I planned some squares and for others, I just pulled the yarn at random from my stash bag.  (Note to self: Must take picture of scrap blanket!)

I’m currently working on some scrap yarn hexagons that will eventually transform in to a Christmas stocking.  I’m not yet sure what other motif projects I have up my sleeve for the holidays, but I’m sure that all of the pet projects I hope to make for the holidays will be made from scrap yarn.  Although I have some fantasies about making this, I know that at the last minute (when pet gifts are most likely to be made), I will probably not have the brain power left to try and piece it together.

Instead, I will probably make pet blankets for my cat, my mom’s dog, and my dad’s cat.  For the cats, I plan to make freeform blankets.

Since my mom is more sensitive about her decor, I will have to be more conservative about whatever gift I plan for her dog.  I’m thinking of either a motif blanket using the same motif in different color combinations, or different motif patterns in the same size, shape, and color combination.

If you need some inspiration for a Holiday Stashdown Challenge post for next week, here’s the prompt for Tuesday, July 3: What are your favorite last minute handmade gifts to give?  Share your tips for quick gifts with us!

Tags: 2012 holiday stashdown challenge, crochet, freeform, granny square, hat, holiday crafting, motifs, scrap yarn