FO Friday: Mystery Lace Scarf

I started this on Tuesday and finished it last night, so there really wasn't time for this project to make an appearance on the blog.

I decided to revive my plan of using up some of my oldest yarn (from 2006). This particular yarn was a birthday gift from a good friend. I lost the ball band years ago, so I'm not sure the yardage or the fibers in this yarn. I used the scarf pattern Mohair lace scarf from Purl Bee, but I'm sure this yarn isn't mohair, so mine is just a mystery lace scarf. It's nice to have this very old stash yarn all used up. The scarf is incredibly fuzzy and soft. 

WIP Wednesday

Springtime Bandit - The next oldest stash I have is Cascade 220 in purple. I have 8 skeins of this yarn. So it will take a few projects before I use it up. I have knitted this pattern before in a different color way of Cascade 220. I really like this yarn and pattern combo, so decided to knit it again. I'm really enjoying this knit.

Garter Rib Blanket - I knit this pattern at the end of last year in the Neeley's Knits Elsa color way. This time I'm knitting it in Neeley's Knits Anna color way. It's fitting because the last blanket was for DD # 1 and this one is for DD # 2.

Irving Park Socks

Pattern: None

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Irving Park

Needles: US Size 3

Started On: May 19th

Finished On: May 25th

Comments: I really enjoy knitting these worsted weight socks. They work up so quickly because of the thicker yarn. And it's mindless because it's my own made up pattern. This pair will be gifted to my Mom. Another one of my oldest yarns (from 2006) all knitted up and out of stash!

Black Purl socks

 Pattern: None

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Black Purl

Needles: US Size 3

Started On: May 16th

Finished On: May 18th

Comments: I didn't follow a pattern for this. I cast on 40 stitches and just knit plain socks. This is one of my favorite color ways from Lorna's Laces. This is in the collection of my oldest yarns from 2006, and it was time for me to use it up. I've been saving it for the perfect pattern, but in the end I decided on socks, because I know I'll wear them. I have one more ball of this yarn in this colorway in my stash (also from 2006). I think that will be the next project I work on.

Breast Cancer Awareness Scarf

Pattern: Breast Cancer Awareness Scarf

Yarn: Rowan Wool Cotton in Burgundy

Needles: US Size 5

Started on: May 3rd

Finished on: May 11th

Comments: I used up one of my oldest yarns from 2006. So happy it's gone and out of stash. This knit up very quickly. Once I finished the lace hem it was a two row repeat that was easily memorized. I think the yarn and pattern go well together. The yarn was lovely to work with. It's a bit splitty, but was also lovely because it was soft yet sturdy.

WIP Wednesday

I realize I've gotten off track. It's time to re-commit to knitting down my oldest yarns. My oldest yarns are from 2006, that was 9 years ago!

I started the Breast Cancer Awareness scarf with Rowan Wool Cotton. I didn't really know what to do with this yarn, so I looked it up on Rav. And this seemed to be a good pattern to match to this yarn. I really like it so far. It has the added bonus of being mindless (once you get past the lace hem section). This yarn is DK weight, so it's knitting up quite quickly. I think this one will be done in no time. 

Romney Kerchief Shawl

Pattern: Romney Kerchief Shawl from Brooklyn Tweed

Yarn: Cascade 220 Color way 9325 Westpoint Blue Heather

Needles: US Size 8

Started on: May 22nd

Finished on: Aug 21st

Comments and Modifications: I knit this as written. I did add extra repeats to try to use as much of the yarn as possible. This was a very straightforward knit. The pattern was easy to memorize and made great mindless knitting. It only took a long time to finish because I kept putting it down in favor of working on other projects. It feels great to use up some of my oldest stash from 2006.

I didn't block it due to the drought. I'll wait until I have more items to block and then block them all together.

WIP Wednesday

I picked up this shawl again. I needed a break from baby blanket knitting and the color purple. I think I'll try to finish this shawl before I go back to blanket knitting. I already memorized the pattern and it goes quickly so long as I actually work on it. I love this shade of blue and this is also one of my 2006 oldest stash yarns.

Baby Bird Nests

Pattern: Baby Bird Nest from Wildcare

Yarn: Cascade 220 in 7803 Magenta - this is the leftover yarn from the One Row Handspun 

Cascade 220 in 2422 Lavender Heather

Needles: US Size 6 

Started on: I don't remember, but sometime in July

Finished on: I don't remember when the knitting was finished. I got around to felting it a few days ago. I've just been waiting for it to dry completely.

Comments: I didn't have a model for the nests, so I just put some eggs in it to humor myself. These nests were made out of yarn from my oldest stash from 2006. The magenta yarn is completely gone now. Hooray! The nests will be donated to the Wildcare Baby Bird Nest campaign.

One Row Handspun

 Pattern: One Row Handspun from Yarn Harlot

Yarn: Cascade 220 in 7803 Magenta

Started on: June 2nd

Finished on: July 9th

Comments/Modifications: This is my first finished project out of my oldest yarn (from 2006). This is also my second project finished out of my basket dash!

This is my go to scarf. It knits up very quickly. I'm glad that this yarn is finally out of my stash. I have no idea why I even purchased this yarn, since this is not my color at all. It's way too bright for me. This scarf will go into the gift bin.

Stashdown: 2006 yarns (Part 2 of 2)

Here are the other 5 yarns in my stash from 2006.

7) Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Irving Park - I think I will knit a pair of worsted weight plain socks with this yarn.

8) Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Black Purl - I have two skeins of this yarn. The reason that this hasn't been knit up is because this is one of my favorite Lorna's Laces colorways. I keep thinking that the pattern I pick is not going to be good enough or worthy of this yarn. I think this is destined to become a scarf.




9) Rowan Wool Cotton - I used part of this yarn to knit a scarf. I don't have a lot of yardage left in this yarn. I think maybe it will be knitted into some sort of cowl.





10) Rowan Silk Wool DK - I have 6 skeins of this yarn. This yarn is so old, it's actually discontinued. I think maybe I'll make some sort of lacy scarf with it. This is another yarn where I was worried that whatever pattern I picked wouldn't be good enough. Now that the yarn is discontinued, there is even more pressure on picking the perfect pattern.



11) Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Heavenly - I have 6 skeins of this yarn. I also have more of this yarn in different colorways in my stash bought in 2007. Ha! This sticky crazy fuzzy mohair was the first lace yarn I was introduced to. I had no idea that there was way more awesome lace yarns at the time. This stuff is crazy to work with even though it does produce a beautiful halo. It's not fun to frog it and I don't particularly enjoy knitting with it. I think I'm going to have to break it up and knit a few different projects with it maybe a few scarves and a shawl.

Stashdown: 2006 yarns (Part 1 of 2)

I think I've been going about my stashing down incorrectly. When I purchase yarns, it's often without an exact pattern in mind. I am aware of the types of projects I enjoy knitting which is mostly shawls, stoles, scarves and socks. I  also understand that lace shawls and stoles require about 800-1,300 yards and socks and scarves: 400-430 yards. I often find beautiful patterns and then look for yarn to match them to. If I don't find the perfect yarn in my stash, then I end up buying it. I think I really need to start thinking the other way around. This means taking a ball of yarn and then finding a pattern to match with it. I think it's best to ease into this, so that I don't feel too restricted.

I've decided to start with my oldest yarns. My oldest yarns in my stash date back to 2006. I have 11 different yarns. I think the goal is to always have one of my WIPs be yarn from 2006, until I use up all my 2006 yarns.

Here's a look at my 2006 yarns:


1) Cascade 220 9325 Westpoint Blue Heather - I have two skeins of this. I started the Romney Kerchief Shawl with this. This is one of my current WIPs.








2) Cascade 220 7803 Magenta - I have two skeins of this as well. I think this will become a scarf of some sort.

3) Cascade 220 2422 Lavender Heather -  I have nine skeins of this yarn. I have no idea what I'm going to make with this. Potentially, I could break it up and make two or three projects with this yarn. I really do love this color.



4) Habu Textiles Cashmere Nep - I have no idea why I bought this. I have about 214 yards of this, which is really not enough to do anything with. I will have to find another yarn to pair this with and knit it double? I'm really not sure at all.


5) Mystery Pink Yarn - Even early on in my stash collecting, I've always been good about keeping my yarn labels. For some reason I don't have this one. All I know is that it's novelty yarn that was given to me for my birthday by V. I used some of it in a scarf, I have no clue what the yardage or yarn weight is of this. I think this will also have to be paired with another yarn to make a scarf or something.



6) Yarn Pirate - String Theory - This is sock yarn. I will have to search for an appropriate sock pattern to knit these into socks.

The other 5 yarns from 2006 will be in my next post.