I have been plodding away on my Stash Dash goals and instead of staying focused on one task, I’ve decided to start working on the design for the sweater I have in my head.  This sweater design would also be part of Stash Dash so it’s not really like I’m easily distracted . . . 

In any case, I’m planning on using this fantastic alpaca yarn my cousin, Ana, sent me from Peru.  I believe she gets this yarn at the local artisan market.  It is called the Mercado de Indios and is located on the Avenida Petit Thouars in Miraflores, Lima.  It’s a great spot.  If you’re ever in Lima, Peru, you should check it out.  While I’m plugging Lima, I should add that my fantastic prima (cousin) has a wonderful B&B in Lima called the Residencial Miraflores.  It was recently, very positively reviewed in The Guardian and is listed as one of the ten best B&B’s in Lima.  Go, Ana!  She's the best!  I could go on about Ana, she certainly deserves lavish praise, but I did intend to write about gauge swatching so I'll get back to that.  (You see, I'm not easily distracted.)

I’ve been knitting for about 15 years now, but this is the first time I noticed the difference in gauge from knitting flat and knitting in the round.  It was eye-opening.  I’d read this before and had done my gauge swatches in the round when called for, but I hadn’t actually taken the time to really observe and feel the difference. 

I didn't like this denser, heavier fabric, so I purled a row and switched to size 7/4.5 mm needles.  I knit another 8 rounds, but also felt like the fabric was still a little dense and heavy.  The gauge was now 5 stitches per inch.  I purled another round and went up another needle size to size 8/5 mm.  The fabric still didn't look or feel the same so I measured again and the gauge was 4.75 stitches per inch.  Again, I purled a round and went up a needle size to size 9/5.5 mm.  Finally, the fabric felt the way I wanted it to feel.  It took going up three needle sizes to get back to the original gauge of 4.5 stitches per inch.  What a difference!  I didn't realize how lucky I'd been to have mindlessly knit my gauge swatches in the way they would be knit!  I'd never understood why someone's sweater couldn't fit properly if they'd swatched and matched the gauge called for in the pattern, but in this case, if I'd assumed that the size 6 needles while knitting flat was the correct needle size, I could have ended up with a denser and heavier sweater without the drape I wanted even though I'd done a swatch with a gauge of 4.5 stitches per inch.  So, knitters, make sure you always knit your gauge swatch in the same manner you intend to make the item!  If you plan to knit something in the round, knit your swatch in the round.  If you plan to knit the item back and forth, knit your swatch back and forth.  The evidence is right here.

My first project for Stash Dash is done!  Finally, after three months, I finished the Bex socks by Cookie A.  I made them for my daughter, but as she continues to grow exponentially, if she outgrows them (a distinct possibility), they fit me too!  (happy smile)


Cookie A designs beautiful socks.  She has several books and appears to be starting a sock club soon.  You should check out her books and designs.  Her patterns are thorough and highly accurate.

I have Cookie A's first book, Sock Innovation.  In this book, all the socks are knit top-down.  I recently knit my first pair of toe-up socks (An American in China by Gryphon Perkins a fantastic free pattern from Knitty) and may be a convert to that method, but I nevertheless plan to knit all 15 patterns in Cookie A's book.  They are varied in design and complexity, but all beautiful.  The Bex socks were my third pattern from this book.  Now, I’ve made a few pairs of socks in my time -- at least 8 pairs -- but these socks really put me through the process!  I’m a fast knitter, but these socks took me a long time to complete.  The reason I had so much trouble is because the cable pattern was not intuitively predictable.  As you can see from the photos below, the cables are elaborate.  Because of this, I had to constantly refer to the chart in order to work the next stitches.  The pattern is excellent and resulted in a beautiful pair of socks that my daughter really likes so I recommend knitting these socks but know this will not be mindless knitting.  You’ll need to dedicate your attention to knitting these socks and be present for almost every stitch which, aside from providing beautiful socks is also its own reward.

So I went back to the stash and I found a carnivorous fish hat that I hadn’t finished!  This is a very well-written and excellent pattern by Thelma Egberts that was published in Knitty in Winter 2008.  I made one for my daughter and one for a friend of hers in Winter 2014.  I adjusted the hat to add teeth after watching Ice Age 2 when Scrat fought the toothy fish for his beloved acorn (minute 2:20 is when you see the fish).  I'd started a third hat for another friend, but somehow forgot about it!  Finishing that hat would add about 280 meters, so I am adding that to my projects. 

Kerrie Giles sells these perfect bags along with many other great gifts for yarnies in her Etsy Shop BlackTypographic.  Go check them out!  I love them -- even though they kind of prove that I am no lady.  

I have a LOT of yarn.  I do.  I can admit this now.  I may not have as much yarn as a lot of other yarnies, but I live in NYC and I just don’t have the storage capacity.  I’ve decided to do Stash Dash 2016 in order to make a dent in my stash.

Stash Dash is the brain-child of The KnitGirllls.  The KnitGirllls, Laura and Leslie, co-host a weekly video podcast about all things yarn (knitting, weaving, crafting, spinning, cross-stitch, dying, crochet, and more).  They discuss what they are working on, review knitting books, answer listener questions, and announce and discuss upcoming fiber events.  Laura and Leslie also discuss books they are reading.  I have learned a great deal from these ladies so I highly recommend giving them a look/listen.  In fact, if you're a yarn stasher, just go subscribe now.  Laura and Leslie have great rapport and a delightfully twisted sense of humor so they are well worth your time!  (Leslie cross-stitches quotes such as “When work feels overwhelming, remember that you are going to die.”  Episode 291:  Wool is Cool)

Stash Dash 2016 is the fifth annual “insane and amazing” virtual race created to motivate you to use up your yarn stash and finish works-in-progress (WIPs).  To participate in Stash Dash 2016, you must use yarn in your stash to create a finished project.  You can use your yarn for handknitting, crochet, spinning, tatting, and weaving.  Every meter of yarn you use up counts towards your Stash Dash goal.   There are five levels at which you can compete:  3K, 5K, 7K, 10K, and 15K.  Stash Dash is “super cheater-friendly” per Laura.  This means you can have your work almost completely done and as long as you add at least one stitch during Stash Dash, the meterage of your entire project counts towards your goal.  Stash Dash 2016 starts on May 27, 2016 at 12:01 am EST and ends on August 21, 2016 at 11:59 pm EST.  This gives you 89 days to get through your stash!  You can find all the details on Ravelry in The KnitGirllls board under Stash Dash 2016 or listen to their recent podcast called, “The KnitGirllls Stash Dash 2016 Overview.”

So now I go back to Jo Milmine’s advice on Knitting Goals (Shinybees podcast, episode 77) and get to planning.  I currently have three WIPs that if I complete, could add up to 18,000 meters.  Actually, I have four WIPs, but I’m not sure about the fourth one.

I'm not sure I'll be able to complete this WIP for Stash Dash 2016.  I started making crochet granny squares with leftover sock yarn in 2008.  I'd love to have a blanket for my daughter, but I’m just not sure I have enough yarn to complete it.  So, this one is still in the maybe pile.   

Last week, I mentioned how my yarn situation has become WHACO as defined by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee  and I'm officially off buying yarn until my yarn can be contained.  (insert stoic tears here)  I needed a plan of action so I turned to my trusted knitting sages -- podcasters Helen Stewart, Jo Milmine, Jasmin and Gigi, and Laura and Leslie.  I listen to a lot of podcasts and there are many wonderful podcasters who have provided me with great advice (I'm thinking of you Dr. Gemma and Marie Segares, and Kara Gott Warner), but these ladies had the information I needed to help me out of my WHACO situation.

First, I listened to Helen Stewart of the podcast Curious Handmade.  In episode 105, she made some new year yarn resolutions (I meant to do that too, but . . . ) and declared January Stash Appreciation Month.  Her excellent suggestions included making an inventory of the yarn.  I promptly unpacked all my yarn again (to Tiki's great delight -- see photo above) and made an itemized list on a spreadsheet.  It took a lot, lot, longer than I had anticipated, but using a spreadsheet allowed me to tally up the yarn amounts I have.  

​Turns out, I really do have a lot of yarn.  Not counting mystery yarns (yarns for which the labels fell off), cone yarns gifted to me by Peruvian cousin, Ana, and yarns that are in works in progress, I have at least 11 miles/18 kilometers  and over 27 pounds/13 kilograms of yarn.  If I were to add in estimates for my other yarns, I know I've got at least a half-marathon's worth and comfortably over 32 pounds/14.5 kilograms of yarn.


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So what to do?  I turned to Jo Milmine of the Shinybees podcast.  Helen Stewart put me on to the Shinybees podcast and I'm so glad!  Jo Milmine is seriously committed to making her podcast funny, irreverent, insightful, and relevant!  I'm in the process of listening to every single one of her podcasts so I listen to her first recordings from South Africa in between listening to her current London musings.  And in this world of tea-drinking knitters, Jo Milmine urges us to get a beer or a gin drink and settle in to listen and knit! (no shade to tea, but I'd much rather relax with a glass of wine)  In episode 77, appropriately titled "Knitting Goals" Jo Milmine outlines how to set realistic knitting goals, including how to stay motivated, focusing on progress instead of actually reaching your goal, and making sure you are accountable for your goals.  I can do this!  I can reduce my stash!  But how to stay motivated?  And how will I deal with the accountability aspect?

Enter the Knitmore Girls.  In episode 377, Gigi and Jasmin discussed Stash Dash.  (cue angelic voices) Gigi is gearing up to win Stash Dash and explained that Stash Dash is a virtual race created by The Knit Girllls where the goal is to bring down your stash!!!!!!  The Knit Girllls also have a fabulous podcast, actually a video podcast, where you can see what they are working on.  Stash Dash will begin on May 27 and has multiple goal levels.  There are even prizes!  The rules are all in Ravelry in The Knit Girllls forum.  I'm in!

So, I have a goal and a method of accountability.  Now I will set myself to step 4 of Jo Milmine's setting knitting goals advice and get to planning.  

I think it happened.  I don't want to admit it, but I believe the situation might be undeniable. 
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​In her wonderful book Knitting Rules!, the hilarious Stephanie Pearl McPhee (aka the Yarn Harlot) defines a stash as "The yarn you've squirreled away for a rainy day."  She adds, "Possessing a stash is not only noble and decent, but a source of inspiration as well."  She wisely advises, "Don't allow others to make you feel guilty about your stash, even if it has reached WHACO [sic] proportions."  WHACO, for those of you who haven't read Knitting Rules! (and I strongly recommend that you read this and all of Stephanie Pearl McPhee's books) is, "an acronym for Wool Housing and Containment Overload."  Basically, WHACO happens when the knitter's stash overflows from its containers.

My stash definitely inspires me and brings me joy, but I can't close the lids of most of the containers in which I keep my yarn.  Mind you, I've done an outstanding job of hiding the stash and just because it's overflowing, doesn't mean it isn't neatly kept.  My beloved really has no clue how much yarn I have and that, really, must be the definition of successful stashing.  (Actually, it is the definition because I read it on the internet here.  Thank you, George Lindsay-Watson!)  

However, when I took all the yarn out to get a sense of how much yarn I actually had, I felt a tinge of . . . guilt.  I don't feel guilty that I've spent the money on yarn because it is money well spent.  Plus, much of my stash has been gifted or is leftover from projects.  But it really is a lot of yarn that is not being used.  I feel that it might seem just a tiny bit like I'm hoarding yarn.  

Given that I live in NYC, there's just no room to increase the stash.  And, it sucks not to buy yarn.  So, I'm beginning a new quest to de-stash.  I will use this amazing yarn and I won't buy any new yarn at until my yarn fits in the bins again with the lids closed (or at least mostly closed).  

This is my very first design inspired by my aunt Betsa.  Tia Betsa learned from her mother, Atanilda, whom we called "La Mamama," and La Mamama learned from her mother, and so on and so on.  La Mamama had 12 children, 7 of them girls.  All the girl children who survived the early years of life learned to knit, Tia Betsa, however, was the most accomplished knitter of her sisters.  She had six children of her own and knit outfits and accessories for all of them throughout their childhoods and later for her numerous grandchildren.  Although she had four daughters, none of them learned to knit.
On one of my last trips to Peru, Tia Betsa and I sat down to knit together.  Tia Betsa taught me one of her favorite stitch patterns -- pavo real or peacock.  This combination of k2togs and yarn-overs create a beautiful peacock fan-tail.  It was fun to watch her use her hands in ways very differently than I had learned from my books and videos and she found my hand-movements very amusing!  Watching her made me wish I'd learned to knit from family and continued a strong Peruvian tradition, but I was born and raised in the United States and my Peruvian father had no idea how to knit and my Puerto Rican mother specialized in crochet and sewing.  
When my family and I returned from this trip, I used this stitch pattern to make a poncho for my daughter, Lucia, when she was five years old.  My daughter wore hers often and still does now.  Here she is in it when she was five.
When I first started knitting for the kid, I realized that if I knit something her size, she'd outgrow it almost as quickly as it took me to make it.  This was why I started designing items that would last and last and last.  This poncho also had to survive a very active child, so even though it has some lace holes, the holes are small and have never snagged on anything.  And Lucia really gets into things like shrubs and trees and climbs over fences and jumps into leaves and . . . and . . . and.  
Given that I also didn't get much rest following this kid around, care for the items I made for her had to be very easy.  After a few hand washes, I would put it in my front-loading washing machine in a delicates bag and wash it in cold water.  I didn't put it in the dryer.  With the Betsa poncho, for sale on this site, I would only put it in the washing machine if it is front-loading and never put it in the dryer.