Sew And Knit my Stash 2015

Lately I've been trying to be more active on Instagram. Mostly out of the boredom that comes with not having classes or work for a month...
While on there one day, I happened upon the account of a lovely lady named Leasa. She has a blog: Project Leasa. She's informally heading up a group New Years goal.

The first challenge was to post a picture of your stash. There were some incredibly huge stashes posted, and all of them amazingly organized. Which made my stash feel a  little, well... 

It seems so small compared to others I saw. BUT I am a grad student, so budget is tight. And we are in a tiny apartment, so space is at a premium. I vowed to not buy any more fabric or yarn for at least one full month. A small step, but at least I can get started on some of the stash. 

 And because I'm a planner, I went through my new pattern books and made plans. I'm all about the planning.

 Since I've been blessed with many talents, I decided to extend the challenge to Knit My Stash, too. In fact, I'd been planning on knitting my stash for a couple of months now. This challenge has just been the final push to get me to actually do it. So, here's my yarn stash (and this is after some major destashing via swaps and giving away) 

Again, it seems so small compared to others I've seen.... 

Step one to this plan is to finish all my PHDs aka WIPs (projects half done and works in progress to you non-fiber friends). Which I'm doing pretty well on if you follow me on Instagram . I will continue to post on Instagram and hope to be able to make bi-weekly posts here on the blog to keep myself accountable!

Good luck fellow #sewmystash-ers! And feel free to join in! Leasa is posting helpful hints and motivations to stay on track all year long. 

Fiber Friday!

Sounds good right? Fiber Friday. I figure I can alternate it with Finance Friday. 'Cause I still like the sound of that one too.  Fiber Friday will be a regular post about some of the things I've been doing with my knitting and such. This first post is a pretty exciting one. (At least I think it is...)

Okay, This week is the GRAND REVEAL of the results of the Yarn Dyeing Workshop I participated in... a while ago, sponsored by the wonderful Yarn Haven. We learned how to dye with Kool Aid. (And not have to boil a pot of water.)

We used squeeze bottles and the microwave. It was great fun to be with all the ladies and see how differently every one dyed their fiber.

I went with a striped pattern, using Blue Raspberry, Lemon-Lime, and a red that I don't remember the flavor of.... cherry? Strawberry? All I remember is that the flavors all produced a different shade of red.

Here is the yarn drying on the drying rack. I put it in front of the heater in hopes it would dry faster.

The yarn is getting ready to be wound into a ball!

After winding. I was still very curious to see how it would knit up...

AND Finally, the Kool Aid Socks.

So, there you have to progress post-dyeing. I also made a pair of yoga socks that turned out looking even cooler than the regular socks because of the way the colors lined up. I'll get you pictures soon. (FYI: I've been posting pictures of projects as I finish them on the "Yarny Things" page, and sewing stuff on the "All Things Fabric" page.)

I have worn these socks, and they weren't the most comfortable. I blame them not being washed yet. Washing seems to help the yarn soften up and be nice. I will wash them this weekend, and, as requested by some do a follow up on how well the colors stay.

Happy Friday all!

Fall Turns Me into a Creep

Photo by  Kimberly Davis (she has some great photography!)

Fall has officially arrived here. I can say it's officially arrived now since I've spent the past week freezing cold, and finally caved and pulled out a jacket and the long sleeve tees.

I've noticed, however, that fall has turned me into a mega-creep. Why? The sweaters. I realized yesterday that I had spent the majority of a meeting staring at the sweater of a co-worker. I could make that sweater, I had started counting stitches in the cables and such, then realized I had been staring and should probably stop.

It's been happening in classes too. I have to snap myself out of it. I am in the process of knitting two sweaters for myself, but still. All these sweaters! I need more!

I find myself resisting the urge to skip classes so I can cozy up on my couch with a cup of Milo or hot chocolate (managers special at Kroger, only 59 cents!) and my sweater in progress. I could have it done by Saturday if I didn't have these dang classes and that thing called work.

And all those lovely fabrics in the closet waiting to become quilts. There are just not enough hours in the day. Sigh.

In other knitting, I've discovered that The Yarn Haven is an official drop off spot for Project Linus. So this beauty, Red, White, and Blue, that has been languishing in the closet at my place, will be taken with tonight to Knit Night to be off to a new home!

HAPPY FALL MY FRIENDS!

The Yarn Haven

Y'know, the best part of my week? It's not walking into the Kindergarten classroom to be greeted by 2 Captain Americas, Snow White, a ballerina, Sleeping Beauty, a pirate, and a Civil War soldier. It's not preschoolers showing my 'magic tricks'. Although those are some great things that happen.

Nope, it's going to Knit Night at the Yarn Haven, and just enjoying the ladies while we all knit away.