Mostly I'm cold sheep-ing to see how far I can go. My stash isn't massive but at 17 miles, it's a little more than I'd like to have hanging around.
I'm actually really enjoying it. I've got some beautiful yarns in my stash and cold sheeping is, for me, about giving myself permission to actually use them. I'm so excited at the thought of knitting some of these.
This collection of yarns is just my sock yarn. It might not all be turned into socks, that stunning emerald green from Posh Yarn on the right for example needs to become some sort of shawl, hat, gloves...
It wasn't that I was spending obscene amounts of money on yarn (well perhaps best not to work out exactly how much I was spending :-S) but it's much faster to buy yarn than it is to knit/crochet it. I'm enjoying trying to rebalance a little
Have any of you Cold Sheep-ed? How long have you gone since buying yarn? Are you a stasher or are you one of those very disciplined crafters who just buys for the project they're making right now?
Hop over to Nicole's Keep Calm Craft On to see what other people are creating this week :-)
I don't think I bought any yarn in 2013 :-o I got a Stylecraft Special pack from my mum for Xmas 2012 and I bought another not long before Xmas when it was on offer so that kept me going all last year. I think it helped that I made a sampler quilt so focused on that more than crochet.
ReplyDeleteImpressive :) Yeah I think quilting probably helped. The thing that makes me reluctant to have a go is fear of having a fabric stash to rival my yarn stash lol
DeleteYeah, I did add quite a bit to my fabric stash and I also found an addiction to thread!
DeleteTrying to cold sheep but it's hard to knit from the stash for gifts with my stash having color in it.
ReplyDeleteAh I'm a selfish knitter, I knit for me and my family lol
DeleteI try not to buy yarn without a project in mind. But I can't say no to kind people who donate wool to me and I have to admit to having more than enough for the next 2 or 3 years.
ReplyDeleteI think I've got about 2 years worth and whilst it's not a lot in the grand scheme of things I'm clearly buying faster than using so I need to fix that
DeleteOhhhhhh all that color is just scrumptious! Congratulations on going 100 days - wow!
ReplyDeleteI have a bit of a stash to use up. I collected yarn I liked as I found it, before I learned to knit. So now I am working my way through some of it, but also needing to purchase certain yarn for classes I am taking. As I gain more skills, I think I'll be able to use up the stash yarn a bit more. Some things will be offered for trade on Ravelry as well, as I liked the color at the time I bought it - and it was the only thing our base store overseas had - but now I don't like it so much or have worked with the yarn and it's just not what I care to use again. I figure if I can stash-bust a bit now, I can figure out just what I truly need the rest of the year.
I've tried making a good list of upcoming holidays and such that I'll be wanting to knit for the year as well, so between inspiration like your post and having exact patterns I'll be doing, my purchases will be a bit less "oooo, shiny!" and much more "Oooo, that's the perfect color for this specific thing I have plans for!" I hope.... :D
I like the idea of planning your projects so far in advance. I'm a bit scatterbrained in that respect, I'll plan something, buy the yarn and then change my mind :-S
DeleteI did it too! I went over a year and a half without buying yarn. I just kept using my stash until ALL of my yarn now fits in one basket. This past weekend, I finally had to break down and buy a ball for a gift I need to knit. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteWow that's very impressive! I don't know if I could manage that long before running out but I'm going to see how I go
DeleteThat's a very sweet and colorful baby-stash! I have a bit of a stash problem but I definitely know what you mean about giving yourself permission to use the pretties you have.
ReplyDeleteHehe that's just my sock yarn ;-) I don't have the biggest stash in the world, only 17 miles (only! lol) but it's a little bigger than I'd like
DeleteI think Cold Sheeping is an awesome term! Though I normal don't buy yarn spontaneously unless its so pretty and irresistible. I only ever mainly buy yarn because I need it, and its often Stylecraft Special DK that I buy.
ReplyDeleteI tend to keep buying as I see things I like or good deals. Bought a sweater's worth of aran yarn for only $30.00, so I couldn't pass it up. LOL! I am trying to knit from stash, and so far have failed. Already bought 1100 yards in the last 2 weeks. Oh my! Knitting once a week in a yarn store does not help.
ReplyDeleteOh those are beautiful colors! Now, I am inspired to reduce my stash, too! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat expression! I have to admit I'm a stasher but trying to work on my collection as much as possible (a new year resolution…)!
ReplyDeletePretty! I love the term Cold- sheeping. I also feel the same way about having permission to use my gorgeous stashed yarns!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous yarns! I haven't bought yarn or fabric since August last year and I'm aiming for August this year. I think I will manage another year at least...after a little break ;-) i have found it becomes a bit addictive and also quite liberating. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteI am not really a stasher, my stash consists of leftovers from projects and yarn waiting to be knitted into something :) but there is quite a lot of that!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of that...but it is a good idea. You have a gorgeous collection.
ReplyDeleteI haven't ever heard that expression. Perhaps it's because I'm across the pond from you. I just call it a spending freeze, not as fun but the same thing occurs. I'm only 29 days into mine. I did make the hard decision not to go to the big knitting and wool festival events this spring, because it would be too difficult to go and come home with nothing. I would like to get through all of my stash and then just do one project one purchase at a time. I'll just have to wait and see. Congratulations on making it so many days cold sheeping!
ReplyDeleteI didn't come up with it, it's from the Stash Knit Down group on ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/stash-knit-down/2797032/1-25
DeleteThank you :) Good luck with your Cold Sheeping too lol
Now that is an achievement !
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine doing that. You are very brave :)
Thank you :) I ended up Cold Sheeping for a whole year but I've regressed a bit since then so think I might have to go back on the wagon lol
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