Stash Buster Projects and their Patterns

Stash buster projects. Sounds boring. Terribly boring and limiting! For me, knitting - and any other form of sewing or needlework for that matter - has always been about unleashing my creativity. What inspires me; what can I imagine into reality with only my mind, my hands, and the perfect materials; these are the questions I ask. In fact, I am pretty well known for spending literally hours upon hours in the shops in frustration because I can't find the perfect "this" or "that" for the project that my unbridled mind gleefully gave birth to as expectation.

Like everyone else, the economic crunch is hitting us too. I really want to be responsible and thrifty. This basket of yarns has been staring at me literally for years. It has so much potential! But for the most part, something rendered this yarn "unworthy" earlier in its life. The gorgeous blue and green colorway in the hank ended up looking dreadfully like camouflage in fabric. Or I only needed a very few links of this plush brown suede specialty yarn that isn't made anymore. Or most perplexing of all, a deliciously warm hand spun organic wool in subtle pinks and greens that should have been worked up years ago was kept for that special something, only I realized there wasn't enough to do much of anything with.

But knitting up a stash is a total departure for me. Instead of being inspired and dreaming up projects, I now have parameters under which I have to operate. The patterns I choose have to fit the materials I have on hand. And this is a challenge! But it has to go: all of it. It has to fill my knitting life with knitting purpose, because it's free. Then, it has to go. I don't care if it goes away to the thrift store as a donation: it's going! Then, I can dream up new projects and go back to buying!


So here they are, in order of completion. And no, my stash isn't yet empty (sigh).

Stash Project 1: Simple Scarf. This is the green/pink hand spun organic delicious wool. I whipped up a plain, flat stockinette scarf with a garter edge. No pattern necessary. Original yarn cost: $26, over five years ago. Current cost: nothing.

Stash Project 2: Hunter's Camo Scarf. This is a pattern I downloaded for free from the Christmas at Sea website. The seamen's church provides knitting patterns for knitters who want to create things to send for donations to rivermen & seamen as care packages. I really like their patten collection because they are no-muss, no fuss patterns that are very men-friendly. My DH is also no-muss, no fuss. I also like the sock patterns on there. This one is the seafarer's scarf pattern.Original yarn cost: $6, over four years ago. Original pattern cost: free. Current cost: nothing.

Stash Project 3: Buttoned up Neck Warmer. For this project, I actually purchased a downloadable pattern but I think it was worth it. Organic 100% cotton in a cool neutral had long been calling for a soft treatment. I used buttons from my sewing stash (a long-ago forgotten coat project). Original yarn cost: $8, over two years ago. Pattern cost: $6.

Next time, I'll write about the most recent stash busting project, the pleated ballet slippers that I crafted from "suede" yarn. Soft and fuzzy, I think I may keep them for myself!