Episode 08: The Math of Stash

In this episode, we do the math! Using non-Euclidean geometry we calculate our stashes, our friend John Polito provides the obvious explanations, we employ some good ol' algebra to make and adapt patterns, and point you to the resources to do the same.

Episode 8: The math of stash (35:15)

The numbers
We look at math employed by other knitbloggers to understand the stash. Then we give you the secrets to our calculations.

• Jackie's stashquations
• Cat sweater!!
• Unified Theory of Stash from Bella Knitting
• Layered colored sand in jars

Yarn displays at Bella Knitting

• John Polito
• Jenny's Excel spreadsheet
• Nicole's database

Math is your friend

We talk about how to adjust, make, and fudge patterns and some resources to help you do so.

• Artfibers Liana
• Caramel cap sleeve sweater (scroll down)
• The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns
• The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns
• Wool Works Incredible, Custom-fit Top Raglan
• The Knitting Fiend
• The Knitting Fool
• Artful Yarns Serenade
• Knitty Sigma Tank
• Knitty T3
• Knitty Universal Toe Up
• Pricilla Gibson Roberts' Simple Sock Plain and Fancy

Odds and ends

• Enter our contest
• Check out Wicked! It can be made in lace weight!
• Join the Stash and Burn Flickr group

Thanks for listening!

A very special thank you to Julia, whose awesome calculator image graces this week's podcast.

Comments

[Emily]

Thank you for the new episode -- the stash equations are hilarious! I made an minor attempt at de-stashing by knitting a hat for my husband out of an impulse-buy ball of Noro Kureyon. He ended up liking it so much that he decided it is the only hat he will wear, and so he GAVE BACK a hat that I knit for him last year. I guess I will be frogging it and returning it to the stash, which means zero sum destashing gain. But I already have an idea for this yarn -- I think it will become a felted clutch (inspired by Leigh Radford's One Skein), and I have a bit more of it in my stash, so I can use that up too!

[Steph]

So not only is my sock yarn problem bad, but the stash in general is getting out of control.
You were saying you feel better knowing that there are stashes bigger than yours?
111580 metres.
20000 of this was purchased this year, and although I did not say I wouldn't buy anything this year, I was REALLY hoping that it wouldn't be quite so much. . .

The only project I find is fast enough to concider stash busting is the Faux Fair Isle hat from Mag Knits. It knits up in about 3 hours, and takes that stupid odd ball of Noro that you couldn't live without and some leftover worsted that everyone has lying around. . .

[Harold]

Great podcast! And, yes, I have become desensitized to yarn, it's true. As long as it's in plastic boxes, it's invisible to me. Hooray for plastic boxes -- one of my favorite things!

[Colleen]

What book did you find the cat sweater in? I love it!
I'll probably never be brave enough to make it but I'd still love to have the book.
:-)

Great podcast

[Glenna]

I just stopped by to leave a comment and tell you that I am LOVING your podcasts - and then I saw you have a new one up that I haven't listened to yet, hurray! I'm enjoying listening to the two of you talk back and forth, I find that is a conversational element/interview style element that is missing from most popular podcasts. And you like yarn, and you like Buffy, and understand about stashes and new patterns, so rock on. ;)

[jeanmarie]

Great podcast...the math reminded me of a stats class I had in grad school...not a fond memory

[Melissa]

Great episode!! I think I lost a few brain cells trying to understand the explaination of the calculations. But, it wasn't anything a little knitting couldn't cure.
Keep up the good work!

[jenfromri]

GREAT episode. Shut up Barbie - I heart math!

[AmyDe]

Thanks for the fun podcast! I got serious about my stash at the beginning of the year and I thought I had done so well. I gave away and donated and gave away and donated - the GOOD stuff too, but still I have soooooo much left. I blogged about it today.

Thanks for keeping us excited about appreciating what we have.

[Jina]

I just started listening a couple of weeks ago and really enjoy your show! I love that you have a stash spreadsheet -- I started mine last year. I even attached samples of the yarn next to each entry on my printout to help me plan future projects.

Last week, your show inspired me to reconfigure my spreadsheet to show how many skeins I bought each year versus how many I used. No surprise, I've never managed to use more than half the # of skeins I buy in a given year. So that's become my 2007 resolution -- use more than I buy. Thanks for being my stash inspiration!

[trudi]

Love the podcast!

I started Knit From Your Stash too, and adapted Wendy's rules for myself. So far I've only bought one skein of yarn that qualified under my own '2.e. Yarn from which proceeds go to a good cause is exempt' rule, and a few balls that I needed to finish a project.

But I've recently discovered a loophole in the rules. Specifically Wendy's rule: '2.c. If I am knitting something and run out of yarn, I may purchase enough to complete the project'. I've realised this means if I have just one ball of a certain yarn in my stash, and I start something big, I can buy lots more yarn. So that single ball of Noro Silk Garden keeps whispering to me "if you make an afghan out of me, think of the enormous yarn buying fix you'll get!".

Of course, that would still only reduce my stash by one ball and have me knitting for so long it would put my stash-busting on hold.

But I do wish that voice would stop making such tempting suggestions.

[DJ]

Ok, I have been listening to and grooving on all your podcasts, but I have a really dumb question: How do you count partial balls of yarn for purposes of calculating your stash? I want to do the count, but the partial skeins make me want to weep. Is there some sort of magical device I can use for this? Should I just take the whole lot down to the LYS (local yarn store) and ask Maxcine? Help!

[Kyle]

I am now on episode four and I'm ADDICTED TO SnB! I am not a knitter... so maybe I'll hit you with a bunch of terms I'd love to have defined, like "top down" and "raglan." I am a particular fan of all the great interstitial music you guys use. And I can't wait to hear John Polito's guest appearance. Stash and Burn rules!

[jpt]

Mmm, knitting math. I love arthimetic and algebra, so it's a good thing raglan sleeves suit my shoulders. However, I'm starting to wonder if I distaste for geometry and complete lack of calculus are holding me back from becoming the set-in sleeve knitter I long to be--those curved armscyes and sleeve caps are tough to calculate on my own. (Ditto for scooped necklines, which is why I have been doing mostly v-necks.)

This month, I channelled my will to destash and churned out two pairs of fingerless mitts. I've been needing some for months but couldn't muster the self-discipline to face those fiddly little partial fingers. When I finally realized the project would be a good use for some stash yarn, my inertia completely disappeared! Maybe that can be a new equation--as stash guilt becomes greater than fear of fiddliness, chances of project also increase?

[Stacey]

I enjoy listening to your podcast! You two are very entertaining and great company as I listen while I knit. My stash collection is not that big, but I do have a lot of old crap acrylic yarn that I don't know what to do with! I don't want to knit any garments with this stuff. Suggestions? Blankets? Pillow covers?

[Jacqueline]

I just found your podcast and this episode cracked me up. I am a big fan of hiding yarn in plain sight. In fact the other day DH suddenly noticed that there was a bowl of yarn on the entertainment center. He had never even seen it.
And as for the cyclical time relationship in yarn acquisition, it is true. 15 minuets- not enought time to find anything. 45 minutes-maximal yarn found - 1hr 15min I have come to my senses.
I can't wait for the next episodes and look forward to catching up!

[Stef]

I got behind in my listening, and was considering skipping to the current episode (10)... I'm so glad that I didn't! John Polito's discussion in this podcast ALONE made it worthwhile, and the rest of the podcast has been top-notch too. Good job on Episode 8!

Okay, I just found you guys and this episode is so darn funny! The hard-core math analysis had me laughing so hard: "in a yarn store for 30 minutes - don't do it!" And then his cell phone goes off.

This is good stuff. Thanks.

[Emily]

New listener here and trying to catch up on past episodes. I think that what Carrie Bradshaw of "Sex in the City" is to shoes...you both are to yarn.

My husband and I are currently living under one salary thus my stash stays pretty small. I enjoy living vicariously through you two.

Great podcast! Thanks for entertaining me while I sit on the couch and knit. :)