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!

Now that it’s July, I can post my June stashbusting totals, and my July goals.

My original goals for June were to finish my 3 gift projects, and make something for me from my queue.  Didn’t quite get all of that done, but it was still a good month.

As far as project work goes, I finished and gifted the crochet truck to my Ravelry Stash Knit Down partner.  I finished another gift projects, and did some more work on another, though it is still not finished.  And I started a Honeymoon Cami out of lime Cotton-Ease from my queue, and I’ll probably have it done in a week or so.

My stashbusting was improved by swaps and RAKs (The Random Acts of Kindness group on Ravelry).  I swapped 2 skeins of Moda Dea washable Wool, and one ball of green mohair. (Yes it was a swap, and I got more yarn in return, but shh! I still got rid of stuff!)  And I also RAK’ed a ball of Patons Classic Wool Merino in leaf green to a Rav user in California who needed it to finish a pattern (actually a pattern that I have in my queue).  So:

Green Mohair: 500 yds
2 skeins Moda Dea Superwash Wool: 332 yds
1 skein Patons classic wool merino: 223 yds
1.5 skeins Cotton Ease : 516 yds
2 skein Red Heart Sport Solid: 380 yds
Total: 1951 yds

Goals for July:

• Finish the gift crochet project that I’m working on
• Finish my Honeymoon Cami (I’m about halfway done)
• Make at least one more thing from my queue, preferably Cache Couer Bergamo (Rav link) out of some brown Rowan Cotton Wool or Stargazer (Rav link) out of some black Berocco Comfort DK.    I think I’ll probably be able to finish the former and begin the latter
• Maybe get over second sock syndrome and make that other Broadripple sock, but since it won’t be sock weather for a while, that one probably won’t happen right away.

After having my progress impeded for a week due to a kitchen knife to the index finger, I’m pretty sure I’m back.  I was luckily able to get some crocheting done, but knitting was definitely out.  I’m still a bit hesitant to knit, but I’m relatively sure I could seam stuff together now.

Unfortunately, everything I’m working on is a gift, and I’m pretty sure those involved will read this, so I will refrain from details regarding my current projects, so

But since it’s the beginning of the month and I’m supposedly attempting to stashbust, I shall post my May totals:

3 skeins of cotton-ease for my hoodie
And 3 skeins of Red Heart Sport for *surprise project #1*
TOTAL: 1070 yards

My stashbusting group on Ravelry has posted their next few challenges for the rest of the summer..and pretty much none of them apply to me, (though the Christmas in July sounds good) so I guess I’ll be doing my own thing, which is fine, because I have plenty of things to do.  But I’m going to take it one month at a time to try to give myself deadlines.  So, June goals:

• Stitch up my Mariah hoodie (hopefully today and/or tomorrow)
• Super-secret projects #1, #2, #3.  So numbered for when I started them, and not when I need to have them done by.  (That order is actually #2, #3, #1)
• Finish the second Broadripple Sock
• Do one project from my Ravelry queue.  Anything really, cause there’s a buttload of stuff up there. I’d be happy with finishing one thing.

I also have a pair of pants that I need to hem, but that doesn’t really count.  I’d like to get that done this week as well.

…and now I should get back to work.