Episode 11: Patterns to destash by

We have returned from our spring breaks tanless, but with lots to say about knitting, patterns, and why we blog. Nicole talks really fast.

Download episode_11__destashing_patterns.mp3

We're back!
Jenny went to Mexico; Nicole finished a sweater!

• Sunrise Circle for Nicole's mom
• SRC Pattern
• SRC knitalong
• Philz!
• Carolyn sweater
• Elann peruvian highland wool
• Manda of Knitting Psychos
• Thanks Jen M. for the seaming tip from Stitches from Chris Blysma's class!
• Everybody Loves Saturday Night
• Dulaan knits
• Warm Woolies Vest
• Hippie Crunchy socks

Destash tips: Patterns

We have a winner! Congratulations, Melissa! Melissa says, "Keep your yarn in plain sight." These wire containers house yarn, kitties and bunnies (see our episode 11 photo)! This week we talk about project/pattern ideas people submitted as good destash projects.

• Chevron scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
• Braided scarf
• Sarah's Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl
• Cosmicpluto's version
• Spa sets (from One Skein Wonders),
• Household items pillows (filled with yarn or swatches), bowls
• Felting (clogs, bags, McIntosh squares)
• Knit toys (Kate, Pasha, check out their Whimsies archive for more)
• Crocheted Turkey (bonus post with the Turkey totebag) sent to us by listener Jan
• Swatches (Walker Treasury Project) or to sew together to make a scarf or afghan
• Simple garter stitch blankets for animal shelters
• Penguin sweaters
• Jessica's scrap sweater
• Yarnplay
• Faux Fair Isle Hat from Magknits
• Pompom rug (scroll down) from Craftivity

Blogs!
New ones and Nicole celebrates her third blogiversary.

• Madison and Tracing
• Big Sister is having party, play along for prizes!

New Contest!

How many UFO's do you have and what are they? Tell us between April 24 and May 1 and win a fabulous Knitpicks sampler!

Nicole's UFO list as of April 22, 2007
Jenny's UFO list as of April 24, 2007

Music:

Dig Me Out: Sleater-Kinney
Please don't climb on the captain: Continental
U-dot: Continental
What makes Montana: Continental

Comments

[harold]

Yea! A new episode!

[Glenna C]

Hoo-ray for Eleanor Lavish and her mackintosh squares! That is absolutely fantastic, it makes me want to go watch that movie again with a new and improved knitting eye.

For the Yarnplay book I think it is the 'kitchen sink' sweater you were thinking of with the random stripes and multiple stash yarns - it's such a great sweater! I made one and am sad that it's too warm now to wear it until next season.

Thanks for the podcast! I'm glad you're back.

[Tracey in MI]

Working on a pretty chevron in silk... it's really helping me destash.. as I have made 3 attempts to find a color combo I love-- but I finally did! Great podcast- enjoy it;)

[Steph]

Great episode - thanks!
While you were gone - oh my goodness - best sweater ever.

The Central Park Hoodie from the fall KnitScene (I think?)
SO GOOD

I have an uber amount of UFOs and I started this and finished it without picking anything else up. It makes a really wearable yet fun to make sweater and it only took 2 WEEKS!!
Like I said - best sweater ever. It would have been a great stash buster had I not bought new yarn to make it with. . .

But whatever!

Thanks again,

Steph

[Ebony]

I've got 6 UFOs going on right now. I've got a Ribby Cardi that I've been working on forever, a Swallowtail Shawl and 4 pairs of socks.

2 pairs of socks and the shawl are getting worked on at any one time. Thank God. I want to get it down to 3 things and keep things there.

[Lauren]

Thank goodness y'all are back - I had a massive amount of grafting to do and listening to the episode while grafting made it much more pleasant.

[Nadia Lewis]

Glad you guys are back!

[wildtomato]

What a great podcast! I'm a new knitter/spinner who recently started listening since I was in search of Bay Area podcasts.

So far, I've bought the Executive bag and some Koigu sock yarn as a result from listening to your shows. Sigh, leave it to me to end up with a bigger stash as a result from listening to a show about destashing!

Keep up the great work!

[Laura]

Currently 8 ufo's and counting.

I am a adhd knitter and take turns on each one. Eventually they will be finished :)

I hope...

Thanks for a great podcast :)

[Deborah]

Fun episode, as always!

Okay, don't hate me, but I don't have any UFO's. I currently have one project on the needles, the Indigo Ripples skirt from Spring IK. Usually I have two or sometimes three projects going, I swear! I am your weird listener with a smallish stash (under 10K yards - I counted!). I do have one project that I started years ago, but I don't count it as a UFO because I don't really like the yarn and want to give away the yarn but intend to frog it first. But if I need to count that as a UFO to hang with the Stash and Burn crowd, I will!

[Jessica]

Thanks for mentioning my projects. My Poppy sweater was made from oddballs of Kid Classic that I'd been collecting for years.

[jocelyng]

There's a fine line between WIP and UFO, but including WIPs, I've got: Nantucket Jacket, Spanish Dancer Shawl, Hooded Cable Pullover from DB Wish You Were Here, an afghan from Nicky Epstein's home book and a felted bag from FCEK. Love your podcast!

[casey]

I am so happy you are back but I cant get the episode from Itunes. I dont know why not but I cant.

I am off to try to figure out what I am missing. BUt keep up the great work I love your podcast

casey in MN

[Melissa]

I have a doggie blanket that was one of my first ever projects that I started with Caron Simply Soft. I need to just throw it away.
I have a Cozy shawl about 1/3 of the way finished.
That's it!

[Oiyi]

So excited to see you guys back with a new episode!

Hmm...I have 7 UFO's.
Rambling Rows Afghan, Ripple Blanket, Mitered Square Blanket, Duet Socks, Peekaboo Mittens, Malabrigo Scarf, Orphan Sweater from Knitting for Peace.

[JavaNut]

Welcome back!!

I'm down to 3 UFOs (usually have 4-6)
Lily-of-the-Valley shawl from IK (2005?), Widdershins socks, & another 'cobblestone' pattern pr of socks.

[chocolatetrudi]

Woo hoo! I did the happy dance this morning when i-Tunes began to download the podcast. Love all the stash-busting ideas. I wanna make a pom pom rug!

UFOs? Well... I don't have many. Just two. First there are some pillows that are all sewn up except for the zips. I loathe sewing in zips. Then there are some socks my Dad wore out, that I promised to reknit the feet for some insane reason. Perhaps because he's such an appreciative recipient.

I did have another UFO on my needles until just a few weeks ago. A laceweight mohair entrelac blanket. Yes. That's right. Laceweight. Mohair. Entrelac. I can't believe it took me so long to realise just how insane this project was. And when I did, it went straight off the needles and into the bin.

Amazing how gratifying that was.

[lori]

Okay I'm one of those crazy people with not much stash and just 2 UFOs. I'm about half way through a Syrian Shawl from Victorian Lace Today. My other UFO is a hat for my little guy that I just started. That's it! Love the podcast -- maybe someday I'll have too much stash like you:)

[Emily]

Thanks for the new episode -- I missed you guys.

I only have three real UFOs right now:
1. A pair of socks that I cast on about a month ago.
2 and 3. Two soap cozy washcloths that I'm crocheting without a pattern.

I also have two finished projects that I'm considering tweaking a bit more:
1. A sweater that I may add some crochet edging to.
2. A felted clutch that I plan to embellish with hand embroidery

[Cindy]

Hi there from London, England. I love your podcast and am working through the back issues.

UFO list: Only 2 - a pair of broadripple socks from Knitty and a 'Dolly Bag' which was the Rowan International free gift. Lots of cables and bobbles and demands total concentration.
As to stash - we're not so big on it in England. I think it's due to smaller houses and a hangover from post-war austerity. Also, we don't have such a choice of yarn. I only have a couple of balls of stripy sock yarn and lots of DK leftovers from a mitred square blanket. Don't hate me!
Cindy

[Christine]

Great show as usual! The first scarf I ever made is a UFO… probably always will be. I was using a multicolored yarn and when I switched to a new skein, the pattern would not repeat the same way. That’s right; that sucked. So I have a love/hate relationship with my first project. Other than that I have two works in progress but no UFOs.
Thanks! Ya’ll are really fun to listen to… helps me get through the work day:)

[Jen]

My current UFO's

1. Shrug for neice needs to be finished by May 6 for my cousins wedding.

2. scarf for Mom maybe next winter.

3. socks for best friend living in Russia

4. socks for neice

5. corcheted blanket started before I learned to knit

6. Knit blanket

7. sweather for me not quite started I am attempting to hand spin the yarn first.

8. Bag to be felted if I ever get it done.

Maybe one day these will all be finished.

[Charity]

Another great episode, ladies!

Not too many UFOs in my world, but there are a few:

1) Orangina

2) Clapotis

3) Booga bag (this is one I'm trying to work on...)

4) Ariann

I did have Sizzle in the UFO pile, but finally got too frustrated and frogged it. Sigh.

[jpt]

Thank god you're back, I was going through serious withdrawal! Intrigued by the mackintosh squares (yep, I'm old enough to remember Helen Bonham Carter's hair) ... There are wooden picnic benches outside my office, and if I had a mackintosh square, I could eat lunch outside without fear of snaging my schmancy work clothes.

Since stashed sock yarn has come up a couple of times, I wanted to confirm that it's possible to do a very nice lightweight openwork scarf (5" x 60" after blocking) from 420 yards of sock yarn. Depending on the stitch pattern, I use anything from #6 to #8. I used the Diagonal Madiera Lace stitch from the first Barbara Walker on a potluck skein of Cherry Tree Hill this fall, and it turned out beautifully.

My UFOs: a Sherwood for my nephew, a stalled toddler sweater, and a lace stole that has been waiting to be blocked.

[Daisy]

I actually have very few UFOs. I've finished several things lately which helps. Here's my list.

1. Clementine Shawlette (Probably destined for the frog pond)
2. Fir Cone Wrap (Blocking!)
3. Garter Rib Regia Bamboo Socks (Nearly to the toe of sock #1)
4. Radiance Lace Headband
5. Bikini Bottom Experiment (started today)
6. Cotton Entrelac Potholder (Was supposed to be a Christmas Present and is my oldest UFO)

I think that's it! I'm going to be starting a bunch of new things soon, though, so this list is definately subject to change. I'm happy since my 1st kniterversary will be in a little more than a month and my FO list is much longer than my UFO list.