Dye your own what??

Some how, I got a wild hair the other night that I could kool-aid dye my own yarn. When I will have the time and energy to do this, I really don't know, but I went ahead and ordered 3 hanks of "Dye your own sock yarn" from Knit Picks. It was such a steal, and I got a new set of DPNs, all for under $30. Where else can you get sock yarn for $5.99 a hank?

So, maybe next week, while my husband is traveling, I will go ahead and try the kool-aid dye on one of the hanks. It doesn't look that hard, and compared to some of the sock yarn I have been working with, it will at least be ALL of the colors I like, ideally! Most likely, however, the yarn will sit until some winter day when we are in the midst of a snowstorm and I am bored out of my mind. We'll see - I am a crafter who is a lot of talk and a lot less action.

Meanwhile, I am looking for patterns for a BBQ swap I am involved with. We are supposed to send something homemade that can be used to BBQ. I think I'll make a set of placemats and maybe some napkin rings and dishcloths. We also get to send BBQ paraphernalia, and I found a great new product at Compleat Gourmet - my favorite store. There are these amazing cedar wraps for food. They looked pretty cool to try out. I have a feeling spending an hour at Compleat, I won't have a problem finding a lot of great stuff for my swappee!

Also pending are the Monthly Dishcloth Swappers and a Bookmark Swap (I don't know what I was thinking when I signed up for that - I am hoping I have the patience to do a pair of bookmarks for someone!). A pair of Noro socks are calling - for my Mom, and of course my Supersocke.....

Socks, socks and more socks

Well, I just finished the "noro nightmare" socks for my mom. They were not that bad, but at times I really thought I was knitting with thread, rather than sock yarn. She does love the colors. and when I tried them on, they were pretty comfy, and very warm. This should work well for a woman who wears turtlenecks with sweatshirts in the summer!





Now I am doing a tiny bit of stash busting. I have a new skein of Supersocke hiking that I really want to work up, but I decided to take care of my old, somewhat ugly Lion Brand Magic Stripes and make a pair of socks. They work on size 3 needles, so the first sock is coming right along.

I signed up for a few swaps this month. My usual Monthly Dishcloth Swappers, as well as the Knit and Crochet Dishcloth swap. Those are super easy swaps. I have ventured into a bookmark swap - I figure I can use up some of the crocet cotton and thread I have, as well as some tail ends of sock yarn. I have also signed up for a BBQ swap, which sounds fun. I am looking forward to making placemats for my swapee, who should be assigned by Sunday. I figure these projects should keep me busy throught my travels back and forth to the Indiainapolis State Chapter.

I still look at the stash and know I have to do something. I think a vertical stripe afghan will be the solution. It works up quickly and it's probably going to have a lot of orange and brown in it - maybe I'll send it to my friend Mary, who specifically requested those colors for her adorable daughter Gracie! :-)

Stash Realization

It's pretty easy to say that I like to buy yarn. I nearly always have a project in mind for the yarn that a buy, but my stash clearly gets ahead of my project list.

Last night I was sitting in my "knitting room," which is our guest bedroom. I like to go in there and read, and the dogs often come and sleep as well. Even my husband came up last night - and for the first time ever, the entire family relaxed in the least-used room in the house.

While Bob dozed off, I looked at my stash. When I first put it "on display," it was to help me use more of it. It looked like a mini-LYS with colors, and different yarn weights. Now it looks like I have a bit of an addiction. Yes, that big bag on the right is a whole lot of yarn I bought off Craig's List for $5 that I haven't even really looked at yet.

Wow. What a realization. I have got to do something about all of this. So, with a cute little pair of Noro socks for my mother on my needles, as well as a awesome lime green sweater for myself, I simply have to start some big needle/hook projects!

Over the summer, I plan on making simple projects, intermixed with my fun socks, sweaters and dishcloths. Some for charity, and some for housewarming/holiday gifts. I also plan to actually account for my stash on Ravelry (ugh), so I have a little better idea of what I am facing, much like one does when in debt. Acceptance is the first step to recovery, right?

So, after I pick up a bunch more yarn I got on CL ($30 for 6 CONES of Instant Fair Isle -what a steal!!!), I have to do something!