Do other people have skeins of yarn lying around that cause them angst or at least a little discomfort. I've had several skeins of red ragg wool in my stash for over twenty years, and everytime I would run across them I'd feel a little prick of guilt. The labels were lost long ago, but I have a memory of there being "Germantown" on the labels. I looked "Germantown" up, and it no longer even exists. I bought this red yarn over twenty years ago in the little Sierra Nevada foothill town of Sutter Creek, California. Knitting was not the "thing" back then, so I was quite excited to find a yarn store. Yikes! If I remember right, the yarn wa displayed in plastic bags. Russ and I went on a little Christmas trip the first year that we were teaching and actually had some money. Ragg wool sweaters were popular then, and I suppose I thought I'd knit Russ one. I never did though, and as the years went gone by, I became more and more annoyed with myself for not doing something with that yarn. I just couldn't figure out what to do with it.
I finally have found a good use for it! I knit my brother-in-law a hat, which I made Russ and Kai model for me; and I am also knitting Kai some socks with the rest. It's worsted weight, which is way thicker than the yarn called for in any of my "old stand-by" patterns, so I just "guestimated," casting on 44 stitches and knitting a 2x2 rib. Kai is going on a school ski trip on Friday, and he has no wool socks. Last year, his feet were freezing, but there is no way the cold will get in this time. Yay! Good-bye red wool.
I may as well admit that the red hat for my brother-in-law is a Christmas present. I have had all of my sister's family's Christmas gifts done for weeks, but they too have just been sitting there, not taking themselves to the post office. I am quite proud of them, so I will present a few more pic of them before I actually send them this afternoon.
I've knit tons of these hats lately, using the hat pattern in Weekend Knitting. The ear flaps are just added to a basic hat knit in the round. I like it, but I'm ready to try the Thorpe Hat that A Friend to Knit With posted on her blog last month. She has some really cute pictures of her kids and their hats.
6 comments:
Well done for using up stash yarn! I think really thick wool socks would be quite a treat! Hmmm....must look in my own stash for some....
You did a great job on all the gifts for your sister's family. That's a lot of knitting! No wonder you weren't able to get it all done by Christmas.
Doesn't that feel great to get rid of the yarn and make such fabulous things!
All your knitting looks wonderful. You have lucky family and friends to be getting all those things!
Good story. I have some fabric given to me by a friend that I have used for several Halloween costumes. And there still is tons left. I will have to donate. The hats all look great.
WOW--great de-stashing!! And a LOT of knitting too! I just love what you've done here, especially those bright pink socks at the end. I have some yarn in my own stash that I pass over and push to the back for lack of inspiration what to do with it. You give me hope! Happy weekend to you all ((HUGS))
I do have some "old" yarn, but not as old as yours though ;) And the hat and socks is great. It always feel good when using up some stash yarn!
Love the pink socks!
Have a great weekend :)
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