De-Stash / FO Challenge - FO Friday

I did it!  I got another project done...just in time for FO Friday!

I finished crocheting it during my trip and finally got it sewn together yesterday.

I got this yarn several years ago when I was in Sedona, Arizona.  It's Ella Rae Lace Merino and I love the color and texture of it.  I've been on a search all this time for the perfect pattern for it.  I finally decided to just go for it with a version of the Claudia Scarf.  I crocheted until my yarn was almost gone.  Then, I folded it in half, made a twist, and sewed it together to create a mobius.

I had planned to block it to open up the pattern/stitches a bit.  However, after I'd created a mobius, I realized that it would be difficult to impossible to get it blocked evenly.  Oh well.  It looks great anyway.

I'm SO in love with the colors in this yarn.  It's gorgeous!  Oranges and pinks...So pretty!  It reminds me of the orange rocks of Sedona and the beautiful sunsets there.  It even has a pretty twist to it.  And, it's super soft and squishy.  So nice!

I used a size "H" crochet hook.

And, I was able to use so much of the yarn that I only have about two yards left.

I wanted to use as much of this beautiful yarn as I could.

The length turned out perfect for wearing as a single loop.

And, it works perfectly to double around the neck for more warmth.

I can't wait to wear this beauty!

This is another de-stashing success!  It's the eighth skein I've de-stashed into an FO in the past few weeks.  It's the fifth FO.  I started two more projects from stash yarn this week.  This is fun!

How's it going with your de-stashing and FO's?  I'd love to hear about it and see your projects.
If you're joining in on this challenge, let me know.
I'd love to share photos of your successes and link them to your blogs.

Happy de-stashing and have a wonderful weekend!

UPDATE 8/10/2014 - I'm joining in on Linda's Crafty Corner, Stash-Buster Link Party.
If you'd like to join in on the fun, hop on over to her blog.

Startitis

I think I have a case of Startitis.  You know...the uncontrollable urge to keep starting new projects?

Yup!  That's what I've been doing!  I've got an extra strong love of all things yarny.

Then, add to that our upcoming road trip that I need to plan projects for and I've ended up

starting project after project and I have several more picked out that I can't wait to start.

Here's one that I started last night.  It's the GAP-tastic Cowl pattern.  It's a freebie on Ravelry that I've made before and love.  I had a bag full of yarn I'd spun up several years ago that I thought would be perfect for this.  I wound the skeins into pull balls last week.  I'm using size 11 needles.  Here's a photo of what the roving looked like, the pull balls (there are five of them), and my started project...

I've been trying so hard to find the perfect pattern to go with this stash yarn.  I bought it in Sedona a few years ago.  I love the oranges and pinks in it.  I finally decided to go with the Claudia Scarf.

I've made one of these before too and I love it.  And, this time, I'm thinking of turning it into a cowl.

It's a 460 yard skein of Ella Rae Lace Merino.  I'm using a size "H" crochet hook.

I think this stitch pattern is showing off the colors and lovely texture of the yarn quite well.

I've made some progress on the toe-up sock I started last week...

I've even made a couple of tiny, knitted gift projects over the past week too.

I'm having so much fun!  And, I'm doing lots of stash busting!

There's something about going on a trip that fires up my yarny passion.  I always get so excited about the possibilities of all the time I'll have and projects I can work on.  It's like I think there will be more hours in each day and more days in each week.  It never works out that way.  But, it's fun to dream!

As you may be thinking....I will probably be taking a very large bag full of yarn and projects!

P.S.  We'll be leaving soon on our trip.  I'm wondering if anyone has any can't-miss suggestions of things to see or do in some of the places we'll be.....Taos, New Mexico; Memphis, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; Dodge City, Kansas; Tucson, Arizona; Austin, Texas; Conroe, Texas; and Fredericksburg, Texas.  Awesome yarn shops and antique stores are some of my favorite things
to find but I'm open to lots of other great things to see and do too.  Thanks!  :-)

Finished Scarf and New Yarn

I finished my Claudia Scarf.  And, I finished it just in time.

The evenings have gotten chilly and it came in very handy last night

at our weekly stitch gathering as we sat outside.

I know it will probably look a lot prettier blocked but I love it so much already!

I snapped these pictures with my phone and posted them on Instagram.

I love playing with the different effects.  The actual color of the scarf is more like the one above.

This pattern was super easy.  It's the same row over and over.

It's great for social stitching because it's hard to make a mistake.

I used three skeins/786 yards of JoAnn Sensations Bamboo & Ewe 

yarn in the Beige colorway and a size H crochet hook.

I haven't measured but it's at least six feet long.

I've had this pattern in my Ravelry queue for a few years.

It feels great to have finally made it.  I love it!

I'm on a yarn diet but it doesn't seem to be going very well.

I seem to keep acquiring yarn.  At least it's not a lot and I did just finish a project.

My latest acquisition is this gorgeous brown and turquoise yarn I brought home from 

stitch night.  It was dyed by a very talented member of the group.

She has an Etsy shop...Inner Yarn Zen.  I love that name!

She's constantly taking my breath away with her color combinations.

They're always rich and gorgeous!  This skein will probably become a lacy shawl or scarf.

I LOVE the colors!

I spotted this one in a yarn shop months ago and couldn't get it out of my mind.

I finally went for it.  It's going to become a hat.  It'll go great with some of my 

new hiking clothes.  It's Berroco Vintage Colors. The colorway is 5222. 

Why don't they give them names?  That's so much more fun than a number!