My stash is my WIP

I’m about to start a new project.  I’m designing a crocheted bag pattern using Galler Yarns Parisian Cotton in Colvert.  The exact details are still formulating in my brain, which is why I have my collection of hooks out in the photo.

I chose Colvert because I would like this bag to serve double duty as a pattern sample and a Mother’s Day gift.  The color is a bit more green than it appears in the photo, and I thought it would go well with my mom’s fashion palette.

Since last week, I’ve finished two small design projects – the Broomstick Lace Mug Hug I shared on Friday (free pattern here) and a Pinwheel Yarmulke (free pattern here).

That all seems great, but before I break my arm patting myself on the back, I should mention a small problem. You see, yesterday I realized that the real work in progress I should be focusing on is my stash, which is completely out of control.

I’ve been trying to reduce my yarn stash by following along with Revelations of  Delusional Knitter‘s Surmount the Stash group on Ravelry.  In January and February, things seemed to be going well.  It wasn’t a landslide, but if my stash and I were in a head-to-head battle, I would have been declared victorious.  But somewhere in March, I got off track.

I was hoping to finish three projects during March to reduce my stash.

  • Complete my sister’s blanket.  I did actually finish the crocheting part in March (yay!), but I still have about 10 hours worth of ends to be woven in.  As soon as this is done, I will have the equivalent of one tub’s worth of yarn gone from my apartment.
  • Make several bullion stitch charity blocks for the Crochetlist March Charity Challenge.  Although I was off to a great start on these  blocks in February, I didn’t finish any in March.  I was hoping to use up the equivalent of two large skeins of yarn in acrylic yarn scraps with these blocks.
  • Take pictures of unused, unwanted skeins in my stash.  My plan was to list these for sale or trade online.

I did very little work on my own crochet in March, mostly because the combination of crazy hours at work (10-12 hour days a few times a week) and my other commitments with teaching and design left me a bit disinterested in my own projects.  And then…  I got more yarn.  A lot.  You see,  Galler Yarns decided to send me samples of each yarn in the line, as well as a bunch of different colors in a few of the yarns.  This added about 15 skeins to my collection – almost enough to fill another plastic tub.

On the bright side, I have a few days off in April, and there should be a bit of a lull.  So hopefully I can finish the blanket and mail it to my sister and get started again on some more charity projects to use up my acrylic yarn scraps.   If not, I’ll probably have to rent another apartment just for the yarn to live in, since pretty soon me, MC, and the cat won’t be able to fit in our place with the fiber.

As far as my reading goes, I finished The Girl Who Played with Fire last week.  I thought it was even better than the first book.  I just started The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.  I confess that I’m developing that slightly sad feeling you get when coming to the end of a series because you know that your time with the characters is almost over.  Since Mr. Larsson died in 2004, I’ll definitely have to find another author to keep me engaged once I complete the trilogy.

For more WIP Wednesday posts, visit Tami’s Amis.  For more Yarn Along posts, visit Small Things.

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