Since I neglected this blog for so long, I never updated on my stashbusting goals for this year.

For me, stashbusting ‘08 was largely a failure. I blame it on Ravelry, and my introduction to new and wonderful patterns and yarns. But this year, I’m making a fresh commitment. With the help of the economic downturn and the very real risk of losing what little money I have, I’ve been pretty good at not buying anything this year. I’m also happy with how much I’ve been able to use up. The knitmeter on my sidebar has been great for keeping track of it all.

I’m still in Ravelry’s Stashbusting group, which is pretty helpful. And there this year, they have a whole bunch of personal challenges. Mostly “Knit one {insert item of choice here] a month” clubs. I miss the monthly challenges we used to have, but now there’s a million of these clubs. I decided to join the sock one though, because I do have many sock yarns, and have for the most part been pretty slow at actually making socks. So in addition to the goals of simply using up as much yarn as I can, I’ve decided to do one pair of socks a month as well.

So here are my accomplishments so far:
January

• Katlyn Cardigan: 592 yds
• Llama duck (llama yarn that is) crocheted sweater: 1080 yds
• Crocheted squares for blanket: ~140 yds
• Noro Socks: 362 yds

January Total: 2174 yds (1.24 miles)

February

• Blanket as a Valentine’s Day present for Scott: 1265 yds
• Green bulky hat: 60 yds
• Purple Purse: 414 yds
• Jaywalker Socks: 347 yds
• Gave away: 480 yds

February Total: 2566 yds (1.46 miles)

March

• Orange cardigan that isn’t quite finished yet: 869yds
• Bellatrix Socks: 390 yds

March Total: 1199 yds (.59 miles)

So my total so far this year is: 6038 yds (3.43 miles)

Not bad! Averaging over a mile a month. I’m not sure how much I’ll get done this month since the end of the month coincides with the end of the semester and there is much to be done before then. But at least I know I had a good start. And as far as I can tell, I’ll be unemployed over the summer. The upside of that is more yarn time!

God I look pale in that picture from yesterday… Anyway…

I got my package from my Ravelry Stash Knit Down 2008 swap partner today! I got ~800yds of merino green sock yarn, with a pattern for Jaywalkers. I might make something else with the yarn, cause I have another set of skeins that are great for Jaywalkers. But I love this yarn, and I love the color! (Obviously. If you know me…or if you’re even looking at this blog, you know I like bright green!) And I love that it’s sock yarn, but it’s not teeny and thus requiring me to use itsy bitsy needles that hurt my fingers.

The other two skeins are both wool as well. One Lopi and the other a mystery…though they both look like Lopi to me. Don’t know what I’ll do with it yet, but I like it all!

Oh, and those jars are a orange/grapefruit syrup that she made. I don’t have anything to try it with in the house right now, but it looks good

ETA: Oh, and I forgot to add what I sent her, now that she’s gotten it.  I send about 500 yds of dark green Mohair.  One of the oldest items in my stash, back when I bought yarn on Ebay with no bloody idea what I was going to do with it.  Now that I know I’m not trying lace anytime soon, I knew it was time to let it go.  And I actually had 2 balls and only sent her 1, so I still have some to work with.  (Tried and failed to make a tank top out of it once.) Anyway, I also sent her some stitch markers, and two balls of Superwash Wool.  I bought a toy for one of her sons and made a toy truck for the other one.  This is the aforementioned disappointment project. You can decide for yourself:

Yes, it’s a toy truck. I guess it’s not bad.  I liked the idea, and thought it would work well in crochet.  It’s probably not that bad, but it didn’t come out as nicely as I’d hoped. She says that her 2 year old will like it though, so I guess that’s all that matters.