How Much Do I Really Need?

I had been "on the wagon" for a good bit of time when it came to not buying yarn. I love yarn but I think I became more a collector than a user. All the pretty colors and the hand-dyed ones were drop dead gorgeous. One thing I was realizing though, was that I would purchase a beautiful hand-dyed yarn online, but by the time it arrived, I was lacking the same enthusiasm that I had when I put it in my basket and hit the purchase button. What happened between the day I purchased it and the day it arrived? I really have no explanation, but that's when I decided to stop buying for awhile. I had not bought a single skein in over 2 years, but decided I would hop off the wagon and get a few solid skeins from Hobbii. With these, I could use them for anything I wanted to make. I find that the hand-dyed (although gorgeous) limited me on how they could be used.

Don't get me wrong. I think hand-dyed yarn is gorgeous, but many of the patterns I have cannot be used with them. It took me forever to realize that. The same with self-patterning commercial yarns. I see many older patterns on Ravelry that are nice but you cannot really see the patterns until they are knit in a plain color or something that is quite subtle. If you have noticed, many of those patterns have only a few projects made, and I assume it's from not being able to see the beauty of the how the pattern was designed - only the yarn patterning. If you look through the few projects, on will find that when made in solid colors or tonals, there's a difference, and the beauty of the pattern stands out.

It's funny how that all came to light while I was not buying any yarn. But the wildest thing is, it has spilled into other areas of my life as well. I look at things differently now. I'm no longer buying things, putting things away for someday or buying just because it's on sale. I don't stock up on many things now. Clothes last forever as long as I chose carefully. Gone are the days of buying cheap clothes that I bought on a whim. Same with practically everything else in my life. 

We do hit grocery sales and stock up when the price is good - but we don't overdo it. Same with other household needs. Only buy when the price is good and when we NEED it, not WANT it. 

It amazes me that by just stopping getting on item for a bit a time, that my whole perspective has changed. I has come at a good time, too, because of the economy. Prices keep continuing to go up, but not our paychecks. But what I think amazes me the most is all the stuff I don't buy any more! I look at things that I like and think, "Do I need it or do I just want it?" and almost all of the time, it doesn't come home with me. 

Yes - the Wagon was a GOOD thing!

Last Year's Orders Trickle In

 

Gorgeous bulky yarn from Southern Skeins

I had done a test knit for Jenna from Southern Skeins last month. It was a lovely and easy hat pattern that used her Southern Bulky line. I ordered the yarn from her to use in the test but unfortunately, the household came down with an illness and the yarn didn't get sent in time. That was ok, as I dug into my stash and found something that would work. I know it wasn't the gorgeous Joyous colorway that is pictured above, but I was still pleased with the outcome. The yarn arrived today and oh is it beautiful! Such a bright and cherry colorway and the yarn is soooo SOFT! It is a 100 gram skein of 110 yards of a heavenly soft blend of 80% super wash Merino wool and 20% nylon and now begs to be used - and soon! She also sent me a bag, a sachet of Stash tea in Cinnamon Vanilla and a lovely stitch marker plus a note thanking me for testing! How lovely is that?!!!

Rip-It Rip-It Hat

The Rip-It Rip It Hat that is in the above photo, it the test knit I did for Jenna. You can go to Ravelry and download the pattern for free. There, you will see the hat in the Joyous colorway in all it's bright, squishy and cheerful glory. Isn't that yarn gorgeous knitted up in that hat on the pattern?!! My hat above is an unnamed mill-end and just doesn't have the same effect. I added pom pom to give it a little more color and I think it turned out quite nicely.

Test Knit and Happy Mail

From Catherine at Creative Ewe
Aren't they gorgeous??!!

Yesterday morning, I found a surprise in the mailbox - a nice squishy package addressed to me from Catherine at Creative Ewe Yarn Shop. Catherine has a wonderful YouTube channel that I love and look forward to. Her projects and her conversational style keeps me coming back again and again. Her videos are done in a style that feels like you are sitting at the table with her and having a cuppa while enjoying a nice conversation about all kinds of things from home, to family, to knitting and crocheting. Well, one day, I commented on her video and the next thing I know is that I found an email from her asking for my addy because she had something to send me. Boy did she send me something, too!!! In the package was 2 skeins of Mariquita! They are sooo soft and the colors are to die for. Each skein has 400 yards of the most luxurious 50/50 blend of baby alpaca and tencel. I have been oooh-ing and aaaaah-ing over it ever since it arrived. Now, to find the perfect pattern for them. 

On the needles:

I am currently working on a test knit for Nadia Bugakova. It's a lovely cabled pixie style hat that I'm really enjoying working on. Right now, it's slow going, not because of the design, but because my arthritis has decided to make knitting difficult. I will make the deadline, but really should have been done by now. Make sure to hop on over to Nadia's Etsy shop to if you'd love a digital download of this hat. It is just as awesome.

Peak Cable Hat in progress

I'm working on the worsted weight version of the Peak Cable Hat using Lion Brand Lion Wool in the Rose colorway. I'm using 16" circular needles in 4.5mm and 5mm as well as a cable needle. The rabbit stitch marker is from Kristie at Teadoddles. I bought one of her Mini-Mini Maker Club that was offered inher Etsy shop and that was included in it. I LOVE her Maker Bags. I'll have to show the ones I have from her in a future post. You will definitely be hearing more about Kristie and her new quarterly club that I joined this year. I can't wait to receive my first shipment!!! (and no - it's not yarn!)

HELLO 2021!

 

For me, it's not vows, but plans and goals that I'd LIKE TO DO this year. Nothing is written in stone, but I do have a list written in my notebook. I wrote down some places I'd like to go, books I'd like to read and things I'd like to make. Then I started a list of things I have on hand, especially kits that I've purchased in the past that haven't been touched. Well, that made me realize how much I really do have here and I need to start using it. I'm older and need to start working on things because I don't have as many years ahead of me to craft as I used to! 

This year is going to be all about handmade. I'm going to try to make everything I want and need (well... as much as possible) and not purchase it. If I need new pants, sweater, etc. - I'll be making it. I have a decent enough amount of supplies here to do them. I am also going to be making my own bath and body products. I've found that they are so much nicer than the store bought versions and actually work better! Plus I can customize to exactly what I need by changing the carrier oils, essential oils or other ingredients. 

My biggest challenge is going to be not buying any yarn. I'm hoping to make it through the whole year, but right now my goal is one month at a time. I'll tell you - it was difficult to not take advantage of the sales at the beginning of the month! OHHHH! And there were some good ones, too!!! I really need to get this stash of yarn under control. I was down in the basement and was going through the boxes we hadn't unpacked after moving. (I hang my head in shame). Well - I swear I'd come across another box of yarn and then another. It got to the point of me saying, "ANOTHER ONE?!" 

This year is also going to be getting the basement done so I can have a craft room. I really need a dedicated crafting area. That will prevent surprises like I had going through the boxes in the basement. Hopefully by summer I will have one - or more realistically by the end of the year. 

So these are my goals for the year. Nothing too difficult and nothing written in stone. The kits list is long and the yarn stash is huge, so I should do ok with no shopping. 

Last Finishes of the Year

Bluprint had a nice sale last week where they had all knit and crochet scarf and cowl kits at 50% off, plus I had a 25% off coupon that I could use on top of the discount as well. I purchased 4 kits - 1 crochet and 3 knit - each costing less than what the cost of the yarn would have been for them!

My first finish was the Start Up Library Crochet Cowl Kit by Salena Baca and it really was a surprise to me. When I purchased the kit, I had originally gotten it to try out the yarn included in the kit: Sprightly Yarns Spectrum in Worsted Weight #4. I found a lovely color, Cresting Waves that would go with a few things in my wardrobe. Well, when it arrived, I thought I'd just work a few rounds of the cowl and see how it behaved and find another pattern. That cowl had such a lovely drape, that I decided to finish it. It's such a simple pattern - chains and double crochets, however, when put on, it looks so nice. Who would have imagined that I'd have fallen in love with it!?! Even more strange, is that I'm considering making another one from some yarn I have stashed. I think I'll make it a bit longer next time.

My next almost finish was the Fisherman's Wife cowl by Kalurah Hudson of whiletheyplaydesigns.com. I can not find the link to the kit, so I'm assuming it has been sold out since it was on clearance. The pattern is very well written and even has a link to a tutorial for making the picot edging. I'm really quite impressed and if her patterns are anything like this one, they are definitely worth the money! Now, back to the kit... This pattern uses Sprightly Acrylic Wool Super Bulky #6. I chose the color "suede" for my scarf. I so enjoy doing cables, however have never done any cabled projects in super bulky weight before. I'm still on the fence when it comes to bulky yarn, but it does look quite neat when finished, plus, it was a quick knit. I still have to block it and put on the buttons. Unfortunately, when laying my scarf out to take the photo, I found, not one, but two mistakes! (can you find them?) I haven't decided if I'm going to fix them or just say, hey - it's for me and just leave them as is. That's what I end up with when I'm counting and talking to hubby at the same time! I really should have checked my work before binding off. I have 2 more skeins of the super bulky in a Blue Heather colorway, so I could just make another one (or 2). I still haven't decided what I'm going to use it for.

This appears to be my last finishes of the year. I've had hats and other finishes I never recorded and will just have to do better next year. I made many gifts this year as well as some hats, scarves and mittens to donate. Hopefully, next year will be even more productive than this one was!