When is a stash too big??

Is it when you can't remember what's in it?

All this on top of a bookcase. Mum gave it to me last year when she moved into the granny flat next door. I knew it was there, but had forgotten exactly what was in it. 1kg of beautiful dark brown wool about 8ply, still geasy and a bit smelly, Mum was given it about 20 years ago by a friend who had started up a wool mill in Mudgee. To think I had begun making enquiries about buying some natural yarn for my husband's aniversary present. The cream yarn , my Mum spun around the same time, about 180 gms, along with the brown & white combination. The other lighter brown colour in the basket is unspun, there is nearly a kg of that too. The other basket is of rovings wool & mohair we think. A huge reel of more light brown yarn to be plied.

With this , and probably at least four more baskets full of commercial yarn, can I really justify adding to my stash?

I really have to take the time for Mum to teach me to spin. I feeling rather inspired now.

I'll let the photo's tell you what I've been up to...

Housework -

none

Marty now known as "Bear"

Marty has passed his trial and now has a new home and new name , hopefully all keeps going well.

Still working on the pink beanie and flirt scarf. I tried a tension square for the mohair singlet I planned for my daughter, doing a yarn substitution , need to add quite a few more stitches and not sure I like the look of the yarn knitted up. So I'll put that on the back burner.

It's my wedding anniversary soon , so thought I might make or at least start on a jumper or the knitted vest from Yarn Issue 3 for my husband. I'm getting an eternity ring after 15 years. He already has two wedding rings, so was wondering what to do (deerrr). It's a forever kind of present anniversary. What's better than a knitted item made with love. The Tabby Paws would be very useful for him as well, no air conditioning or heaters in an old smash shop. I have knitted him a jumper before but my daughter has now taken ownership of it. I think she can get away with the Bart Simpson motif better.

Hopefully Good News for Marty

Marty's breeder messaged me the morning to say Marty is on on two week trial with a young couple who recently lost their young dog of the same breed. Finger's and toe's crossed he settles in well and has a happy new home.

Hat Finished

I have completed the free Yarn Bee hat pattern in the light pink amazon yarn. I am very happy with it , think it's looks better than the pamphlet, thicker & fluffier. Although being for a child I may put some hat elastic in the ribbing as it stretches quite easily. I have started another cable beanie in pink acrylic from my stash, toddler size this time. I'm making up a package along with the yarn bee hat and blue baby shoes from previous posts. I decided I didn't like the dolphin buttons on the shoes, and I am going to replace them with buttons I won off Ebay. I'll make a bonnet to go with the shoes, and hopefully get it all in the mail sometime next week. The person who's children I'm knitting for has previously been so greatful for my knitted gifts, as her Mum passed away a number of years ago and was a knitter. So she didn't have anyone to knit for her babies. I also like to knit for her as she has no problems with bright colours. A bright purple mini baby poncho was greatly appreciated. Back to the needles.

Bit of a Non Event

Went to The Spotlight Knitting Party at Penrith, but it was a non event as the staff member running it was ill, so it consisted of a raffle of a tolley full of knitting goods , mostly acrylic yarn . You got a ticket for each $5 you spent. I was expecting some kind of specials on yarn, but everything was normal price. When on to show my friend what a real LYS looks like at the Wool Inn and picked up two more Paton pattern books, surprised at the better price.

On the doggy side of things , The Schipperke Association of NSW is running a fun day on the 18th August starting at 11am at the Canine Complex on Luddenham Rd, Erskine Park, Sydney all breeds pure or mixed welcome. There be some fun games and a sausage sizzle. Anybody interested can leave a comment.

Mysteries Solved & Unsolved

The drop stitch shawl is finished, the mystery of the extra yarn , it turned out smaller than it was supposed to. Not a bad thing mind, being that I'm only 4' 11" . A trip to Lincraft gained two balls of light pink amazon yarn and a pattern book and some thick round needles. I'm thinking the Yarn Bee free beanie pattern from spotlight in child size for the yarn. Also in the mail this week from some of my birthday money YARN mag back issues & first of my subscription.

The purple beanie has not appeared, so will probably do a replacement black & red stripes, this time. From Knitting Daily http://www.interweave.com/knit/books/favorite_socks/default.asp, looks great, but appears to be in short supply , will probably have to wait till Christmas anyway.

Spotlight Knitting Party tomorrow, taking my friend who I taught to knit and who has taken to it like a fish to water. She picks a lot up from just watching me on the train. Just gets ideas and goes for it, possibly a designer in the making.

Purple Beanie Where are You??

It's gone......my young friend informs me he had the beanie yesterday morning at work but it disappeared sometime during the day. Don't know why somebody would take it especially with thread still hanging off it, but you never know do you. So no pic of the beanie :-(

The shawl is nearly finished, pays to look at the instructions occasionally, I only had to increase to 113 stitches not 133 as I has stuck in my mind. Should just manage to get the last lot of wraps on the needles. Not sure why I am only up the 3rd ball of yarn when the pattern says 5. Another mystery....

A Busy Few Days

My baby turned 13 on Sunday, so it was a busy weekend , Saturday I took her and friend to Parramatta to shop , she likes Borders and a hot chocolate at Gloria Jeans up stairs. I wasn't allowed to go to Lincraft :-/ Hopefully the yarn sale might be still on and I'll get there this week sometime. Sunday was housework before all the party guests came. All in all a good weekend.

I did manage to finish the cable beanie (just about), my first cables, don't know what I've been worried about all these years. It's kind of magical I think how they shape themselves, I thought it would be much more complex. I will hopefully have a pic of the beanie, the recipient still has it, I need to bind it off , didn't finish it completely as I thought it was a bit short, and wanted him to try it on first. Hopefully I will catch up with him tomorrow to finish the job.

The drop stitch shawl is going well , but with nearly 40 more stitches to increase, I'm already having trouble fitting the wraps on the needles. I have started a very basic garter stitch scarf for my husband in Moda Vera Flirt (black/silver) , it is soooo soft. Think I will do gauntlets to match it , and the cable beanie.

Spotlight Knitting party on Saturday, just have to decide which store to go to, yes I am spoilt, I have two within a fairly short distance from home.