Yarn, Like Nature, Abhors A Vacuum

My Mom used to come and stay with us every weekend.  When she couldn't go down the stairs in our house any more, we drove her around to the back and had her come through our sliding glass door.  When Dick had his heart surgery last August, Mom couldn't stay with us for a while because I couldn't help her out of her chair by myself.  By the time Dick's weight restriction had been lifted, Mom wasn't quite as sure footed and was afraid she was going to fall.  To make a long story short, Mom hasn't slept in her room since August 2016.  Do you know what that means?

Mom's bedroom has become the Stash Studio Annex.  When I went to the Spring Fiber Expo, I put my purchases in here.  When I worked on a project then switched to something else, I put the remains in here.  When I brought things down to take pictures for Knitting: A Love Story, I put them in here.  Sometimes I just don't feel like climbing the stairs to the Stash Studio so I just dump stuff in here, for the "time being."  The "time being" does go back to Christmas when Kathy, my sister, came to stay.  Well, I decided to dig in and see what I would find.  It was amazing!  Here are some of the treasures I uncovered.

I found a lost tub of Madelinetosh I have been searching and searching for.  I must tell you I was stumped and fearful I would need to start replacing it all, particularly that amazing Electric Rainbow.  Well, I also must admit this is not my only Madelinetosh stash.  I have a box in the Stash Studio of discontinued colors I bought because, well you know.  I bought them because I would never, ever be able to buy them again and what if I wanted that exact color? Oh, my!  That even sounds wonky to me!  Suffice it to say that I am very relieved to find my Madelinetosh.  Oh, by the way, I also found two smaller tubs of Mini Mochi.   

I have no idea what this is, when I bought it, who I bought it from or why I thought it was a good idea.  What I know is, probably Little Knits or Noble Knits or Websters had a one day, price slashing sale I couldn't resist.  This is a perfect example of one of "the ways my yarn stash grown."  It is fingering weight, Crabapple Yarns, merino and bamboo and I'm sure I will make something lovely one day (or not).   

I found my partly finished Wrap Me Up Shawl.  I really do want to finish this (someday.)  Oh, by the way, this is yarn from a one day sale from Little Knits.  I think I bought 10 balls of 4 or 5 different colors.  It's really very lovely.  On sale, the balls were $5.85 FOR FIVE BALLS.  Can you believe that!?!?!?!  Even at that price, I really don't think I needed 50 balls.

I was very happy to find this.  It may be my next project.  I love this and hope I get to it very soon.  

Once again, this is discontinued yarn.  I think Casablanca is the most beautiful yarn Cascade has ever produced.  The colors are crisp and beautiful.  It looks great on its own or with a plain color.  The day it was discontinued I started buying it.  Now I have quite a collection.  Some day it will become something very beautiful.  I am very disappointed in Cascade.  They haven't replaced Casablanca.  I am still waiting for a Cascade gradient yarn.

I have no idea what this is.  It has no label, no fiber content.  I am sure I had some idea when I bought it but I don't have a clue.

Something I also found was my Knit The Day scarf.  Sometime in March, I decided it wasn't bringing me joy so I put it away for a while.  I am taking "My Year Of Selfish Knitting" very seriously.  My plan is to bring it out again once the temperature turns cool so I can finish in the darker colors.  

Well, I have  plan.  All of this, and more because this is the tip of the iceberg, is going to the Stash Studio and I am going to do the biggest job of organizing I have ever undertaken.  I know this is not a one day job, maybe not one week or one month.  Kathy and I will knit in a clean and organized Stash Studio when she comes at Christmas.  I will also have a knitting party party for my knitting friends.

I want you to be careful, VERY CAREFUL.  If you have a room you are not using, with a door that hides what is within be very careful.  Before you know it yarn will begin traveling to your room and hiding there.  One day you will open your door like I did and shriek in amazement.  Yarn will have not only appeared but multiplied.  Some how this feels like the yarn equivalent of a Stephen King story.  Remember, "Yarn, like nature, abhors a vacuum."