De-Stash and FO Challenge

I've decided that a challenge is in order.  A challenge to de-stash my yarn (and other materials) and finish as many projects as I can over the next month.  The challenge is for me...and anyone else who'd like to join in on the fun.  I'm going to start off by trying to complete and blog at least one item a day for the next few days.  I have several things that are almost finished....they only need to be blocked, have ends tucked in, or some other small thing to complete them.  This challenge should help me finally get to it!  Here's item number one....

I started this cowl before my road trip and finished it while I was gone.  This week, I finally got around to tucking in the ends.  It's made with yarn I spun myself.  It's the "Gaptastic" shawl...a free pattern on Ravelry.  I used size 11 circular needles and cast on 131 stitches.  The pattern says to knit for 15" but I only made mine 10" wide.  I felt like it was plenty wide with how thick it is.  My finished length is 27" (the loop laid flat).

I love this pattern and I've knitted it before.  It's comfy, warm, and versatile.

I like how it can be looped twice around my neck when it's really cold.

It can just be worn this way when it's not so cold...

The seed stitch texture is so pretty.

I think this pattern was a great match for this yarn.  It seems to really bring out the colors

It also works well with the unevenness of this yarn and the inconsistent twist.

It's a yarn spun up a few years ago and, even though I'm proud of it and love it, it's not as good as I could do now.  I'm so happy to have made something out of it that I love so much.

Here's a picture I posted when I started the project.

I love it because it shows the roving, the yarn, and the project.

If anyone else wants to join me in this challenge just let me know.  We can cheer each other on.  And, I'd love to provide links on my blog to the posts you create with your FO's.  Who knows....if enough of us get together to do this...we could even create something like FO Fridays or something!  :-D

UPDATE 8/10/2014 - I just found out about a stash-busting party at "Linda's Crafty Corner".  I've never done a link party but it sounds like fun.  So, I'm going to try to join in, starting with this stash-busting FO.  It's open to anyone.  So, 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!  :-)

Gap-tastic

My Gap-tastic Cowl is all done!  I finished it last week but have hesitated to post it because I haven't been able to get good pictures of it.  I'd like to show it being worn but can't seem to get a picture of myself with it on because the camera is always in the way.  I took photos of it laying on a table...

It looks pretty good but doesn't show how it looks when it's worn.  So, I tried taking some with it on my dress form. The dress form is purple and I couldn't find anything to put on it that would cover the purple (including the neck part at the top) and look good with the cowl.  This is the best I could find.  I don't think the color looks very good with the cowl.  But, here it is...my finished Gap-tastic...

I love it doubled up.  It's so squishy, cozy and warm...

The color in the bottom two photos is more accurate.

I knitted this with size 13, circular needles.  And, I used two skeins (248 total yards) of Loops and Threads Select Wool yarn in the color, Taupe.  I really like this yarn but it's almost impossible to find.  When my daughter initially bought some, she could only find it at one Michael's store.  At that time, we could view it on their website in lots of beautiful colors.  When she bought it for me, it was still only available at the one Michael's store.  But, we could no longer find it on line.  I can't even find it listed on Ravelry.  I hope it hasn't been discontinued all together because I'd like to use it again.  

This was such a fun project!  I loved knitting with big needles and chunky yarn for a change.  When I finished this and went back to working on my blanket project and size 8 needles, they seemed so small!

Fantastic Gaptastic

With baby gifts completed and another project finished up this weekend (just waiting to be blocked),

I was able to guiltlessly start a new project.  And, that's just what I did!...

My daughter knitted the GAP-tastic Cowl recently and I loved it.  She's such a sweetheart...

she gave me some of the same yarn but in a different color for Christmas to make one of my own.

I've been so excited to get started.  I cast on Saturday evening.

It's working up so fast that by Sunday evening I had knitted the first skein and it was half done.

I have a feeling I'll be wearing it this week!