There are two main subgroups of fiberholics: those who confront their stash and those who don't. I've spent the better part of the last week sorting, spreadsheeting, and storing the fiberstash and the yarn stash. The fact that this is being done just before New Hampshire Sheep and Wool is unfortunate coincidence.
The fiberstash trumps the yarn collection. Sheer quantity doesn't hurt as much as the purposeless orphans I found. I see that I fall in love with a color. Or I lose it over a combination of fibers. (The spreadsheet shows that 2006 was the year of cormo/silk.) I'm realistic about how many sweaters I can stockpile (five) so I buy onesies and twosies. And threesies.
How many scarves/mittlets/hats can a knitter use? That is the question that is looming before me as I finish the cataloging and sorting. How many fleeces can be stockpiled before it (what is 'it'?) becomes ridiculous? I don't have ready answers to these musings. I'm finding it helpful to know what I have so I can sharpen my focus. I'm not promising restraint on Saturday, just maybe a wee bit more mindfulness.
The sock has been making some steady progress. I cannot explain to you why the Fleece Artist pattern on the ball band told me to pick up 13 stitches on a 31 row heelflap. It looked wrong, so I picked up enough stitches to make it look better. I'm sure that means I've now answered the next question: Will I run out of yarn? That leads to the third perpetual question: When will I learn toe-up? I've decided on Louet black toes if necessary. I think it will be necessary. Sock yarns were packaged for smaller feet than mine.
I've started binding off for the armscyes of the Dzined wool/hemp/mohair vest. I have about nine more inches to knit for the back. I'll probably start the front (ribbing and set-up for the cables), then put it aside til cooler temperatures return. While knitterly monogamy gets things finished, I really do need to work on something cooler: GreenGables in Tess microfiber ribbon yarn. Both pattern and yarn have marinated long enough.
I'm taking garden pictures from the driveway. Ticks have overrun Massachusetts. I'm waiting for the lawn guys to spray death dealing rays so that I can continue garden cleanup and mulch. These are shots of the crabapple tree, a new plant happily blooming in the driveway garden, and a quaintly confused wisteria. She lives in the garage in the winter until I find a spot for her in the garden. She thinks she lives in Maryland or Virginia, where it doesn't get cold, and life warms up in March. Her blooms are pushed out at least two weeks early.
NHS&W will be fun. I'm going to test whether enabling is as much fun as buying. You've been warned.
you're a pretty good enabler if i recall.
i'm the queen of onesies and twosies though. i hear you there. and i haven't a clue what to do with it all. i'm thinking cozies. ;)
i'll see you saturday! i'm not planning on buying anything -- we'll see what catches my fancy.
Posted by: maryse | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 05:24 PM
Organizing the stash is a brilliant thing to do before going to a fiber festival. I always tend to do these things afterwards. . .
Posted by: Theresa | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 05:32 PM
The crab apple across the street is about a day from peak....I think it sold that house, it's so beautiful! Ticks, eh? We hates ticks. Do try to have fun in New Hampshire and think of us miserable unfortunates who can't go!
Posted by: Marcia Cooke | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 06:07 PM
You can always spin the onsies and give them away. Then it's someone else's problem to find something to knit;-)
Wish I could be there to have you enable me!
Posted by: margene | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 06:18 PM
Heh, me too. Damn Ravelry. So, probably no yarn purchases for me this weekend, and realistically I shouldn't get any fiber either. So, I should stay home. Something to think about. Of course, I could buy one fleece to have processed and then dye it (because I am taking a dye class) and spin it (because I am taking a plying class) and then make something out of it (because, well, I can). But I haven't the slightest idea of fleeces, so probably not. Can I justify the spindle purchases? Hmmm.....
Time for a stash sale I think.
Posted by: Teresa C | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 06:19 PM
So...do you not know what the "new plant in the driveway garden" *is*, or are you just trying to see how many people ask? ;)
I'm finding my freeform-blanket project to be great for the bits and pieces of fiber (and yarn, actually) I can't resist.
Posted by: naomi | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 06:34 PM
Enabling? Oh crap.
Posted by: Carole | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 06:43 PM
You'll do great in your enabling role, I am sure. Have a blast, I will miss both the fiber and the friends this year, and although my soul will miss it, I don't think the stash will.
Posted by: PumpkinMama | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 07:17 PM
Warned, eh? We'll see about that... ;-)
Posted by: Lorrie | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 07:21 PM
Think of it as art. Or a collection. Has anyone ever said "I think I have enough stamps now." I don't think so.
Posted by: LaurieM | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 07:37 PM
In an effort to stop buying the onesies, I gave myself free rein to buy patterns instead. I spent today sifting and sorting through them. There's an awful lot of "What was I thinking?" going on! I hear you loud and clear, Laurie.
Posted by: Sharon Plavnick | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 08:22 PM
Must be going around. My database is in sad need of updating and reorganizing. I also need to get rid of some dead wood; I must have loved it at one time, but someone else probably will love it more now. Have you seen this?
http://destash.blogspot.com/
I'm signing up.
Posted by: Lorette | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 08:29 PM
Very, very afraid...
Posted by: Lucia | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 09:14 PM
I generally only buy for myself what I'm actually going to use within a 2-year span, nearly always goal-based. I use up my small amount of compulsive, "Oh, I *must* buy That!" buying presents for textile friends.
Haven't kept a spreadsheet since I was in business, and then only to satisfy the IRS. I prefer simply to have a comprehensive stash, enough of each likely permutation, akin to having all the standard colors of oil paints, a stock set of stretched sizes of canvas, and an array of brushes on hand.
See if you can "enable" Carole into buying a fiber other than wool to spin. Get her to stretch her wings a bit?
Posted by: Sylvia | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 10:05 PM
I updated the fiber list this week after Connecticut. I can't bear to update the yarn list, but will do so before Cummington (Webs, oh Webs!) It does lead to more purposeful shopping. And enabling -- those attending on Saturday should be afraid :-)
Posted by: Kathy | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 10:34 PM
Who're you threating to enable? ;-)
I am, most decidedly, one who does not confront the stash. Your methodical tendencies, while thorough, do disturb me a little. Isn't it supposed to be about friendship and fun, not spreadsheets and realistic expectations? Isn't there enough of all of that in the rest of life? Wondering aloud ...
Posted by: Cassie | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 11:15 PM
gah. That would be "threatening", now wouldn't it?
Posted by: Cassie | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 11:16 PM
Spin it first and worry about the yarn later. It will always find itself a project at some time. I have a pattern in the post that does something lovely with a few hundred yards of fingering, or at least I hope it does.
Posted by: Caroline M | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 02:34 AM
Hehehe. And you said something about "absolutely no fleece" acquisition? Well I'll enable you as well as you have enabled me right into the path of a gorgeous fleece! Boy, this IS going to be fun! What a wonderful way to celebrate the one year anniversary of my first S&W!
Posted by: Manise | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 06:23 AM
mmmm. I am about to tackle my stash prior to entering it in Ravelry. I just hope the camera batteries hold out :-)
Posted by: janine | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 06:30 AM
See you there! Doug and I have bought a lovely horse trough to wash fleeces and homebrewing bottles in, so I am pretty much OBLIGED.... but I really shouldn't get anything. I got my Precious Metal Clay starter kit yesterday.
Posted by: LauraJ | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 07:10 AM
The problem with enabling is that getting people to put their hands in a Must. Have. That. fiber works so well that the enabler often enables self. But, yeah, it's fun.
Posted by: Chris | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 07:33 AM
I'll be at NH S&W too!!! So glad you're going to be there...
Posted by: Bookish Wendy | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 09:07 AM
Have a great time at NH! I try not to examine my stash ;)
Posted by: Risa | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 10:05 AM
I don't think enabling is nearly as much fun as acquiring. Maybe that's why I have so much stuff.
Posted by: Cheryl | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 10:12 AM
I was just thinking this morning that if I could get some space in my husband's closet, I could convert my closet to a YARN CLOSET! Well, yarn and fiber. My fiber stash is rapidly growing and I've committed to buy a fleece soon....
Have fun at NHS&W and enable LOTS of folks!
Posted by: elizabeth | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 10:15 AM
Mindfulness is always a good thing. I like to know what I have and what I may be looking for. As for the hummingbirds... I'm sure they've found you now.
Posted by: Diane E | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 02:12 PM
Mwhahahaha! The caped enabler strikes again! (Of course, now you have to wear a cape to NH, maybe a mask and some red boots. Do you have your string - or should I say - singles yarn of truth?)
Posted by: Anne | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 02:14 PM
We're going to have to have an enable-off. I've been told I'm a pretty dab hand at the skill, myself.
Posted by: Ruth | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 03:22 PM
Anne's right on ;-)
I know you will have lots of fun! Besides, (and this is what M pointed out to me the other day) you can NOT buy it all. Therefore, you must enable.
Posted by: Cathy | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 04:13 PM
How many fleeces can be stockpiled before it (what is 'it'?) becomes ridiculous?
Depends how much of an R value you are trying to obtain in the additional insulation of your house! :)
Posted by: Kim | Friday, May 11, 2007 at 04:53 PM
It was great to see you today!
I prefer to hide from my stash. It's at a point now where it could take over the house in rebellion if I try to make it conform ;o)
Posted by: JessaLu | Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 08:18 PM
It was wonderful to see you today!
We'll have to go over stash storage at the blegger. ;-)
Posted by: Helen | Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 08:49 PM
I routinely make top-down socks from Fleece Artist yarn with 8" before the heel flap. I wear size 9-1/2 shoe, and have PLENTY left over. (I don't use their pattern, either.) I hope you find the same results.
Posted by: Rhonda from Baddeck | Sunday, May 13, 2007 at 06:33 PM
everyone else talked about the yarn but I will talk about the ticks - kill those suckers....from a person who has had both Lymes and babesosis - not fun - and I still think I am paying for them...
Posted by: rho | Monday, May 14, 2007 at 06:38 PM
I dunno. Form the way you were weighted down when I saw you at 11 on Saturday, I thin it was buying, not enabling.....
Not a modest acquisition sort of weekend for sure, but oh, I sigh in happiness, a satisfying one.
Posted by: Juno | Monday, May 14, 2007 at 09:40 PM
if i pick up extra gusset sts, i just skip the plain rounds between the decrease rounds for a few rounds.
does that make any sense?
Posted by: vanessa | Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 07:43 AM
Hmmmm.....how did that mindfulness work for you? Teehee!
It was GREAT to see you!!!
Posted by: Kim | Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 08:29 AM
Stash represents potential, which is always in flux... you can always shift it around, repurpose, look for ways to combine and blend your own custom yarns... hope the festival was great fun.
Posted by: Birdsong | Monday, May 21, 2007 at 09:59 PM
Ticks. Yech! There is nothing creepier than those things. I would rather have a snake and a spider on me than a tick. Horrible critters.
I hope you find a nice spot for your wisteria and your crabapple tree.
Posted by: Dorothy B | Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 11:50 AM