Happy New Year, everyone! A new year means that it’s time for me to look back and count my projects and yarn used. Yes, I’m weird, but that is what it means to me. Here’s this year’s mosaic of finished object photos.
There are only 27 projects in this year’s mosaic. I had 39 in 2009 and 51 in 2008! I am going to attribute my finished object count drop to there being fewer crocheted items, dishcloths and bunnies in each passing year. Also, this year’s count includes three sweaters knit for myself. Three! Then there are two kid sweaters that add up to almost as much yarn as I’d use for a sweater for me.
I went through my projects on Ravelry and added up yarn usage. This year, I used 9,712.5 yards, or about 5.5 miles of yarn. That is only 100 yards less than I used up last year. Somehow, though, my current stash total (from my Ravelry Excel export) is only 23,655.4 yards, or 13.4 miles of yarn. That is 20,000 yards, or just over 11 miles less than last time I posted a number. That was two years ago but when I calculated last year I said that the amount was approximately equal to the amount that came in. I know I bought yarn this year, in sweater quantities, so I don’t now that I’m really down so much. Maybe the Ravelry spreadsheet has changed?
Anyway, enough stash-navel-gazing! Here is my current project instead.
It’s Aidez, a new Berroco free pattern. It’s knit in super bulky yarn that I can’t use because of wool content so I’m knitting in Remix instead, because I was given that for my birthday and I’m excited to use it. I think the sweater will look great in it. Since I’m changing the gauge, I’m also changing the construction and am doing a bottom-up, seamless raglan. That’s why I’m knitting the sleeves first: so I can then knit the body and connect them all for the shoulder shaping.
Here’s another shot of the sleeve, with my arm in it, so you can get a better view of the stitch detailing.
The funny thing is, Juls brought me souvenir yarn from Tahoe because she saw it and thought of me. Guess what it was?
Yes! The same yarn I’m using for my sweater. It really is a nice yarn and the yardage per ball is great. This ball is a chocolatey brown color which didn’t come across in the picture at all. Oops. I’m thinking that it’s destined for a cowl for me.
She also gave me some leftover Summer Tweed.
I’ve been wanting to try this yarn but haven’t ever gotten around to it. I’m thinking this will be a gift scarf because the colors aren’t very me but I’m really looking forward to knitting it! Thanks again, Juls!
the sheep free knitter 
love the stash navel gazing…that is perhaps because I am voyeuristic and can’t bear to count my own yardage!!! Can’t wait to see your finished mods to the sweater…think it will be much nicer than the original.
It’s not that painful, you should do it! 🙂
Thanks! I’m already almost done with the second sleeve. I need to figure out what to do with the body next.
I liked your idea for some shaping on the back. If the measurements on the front aren’t drapey enough, I might widen the fronts a little bit too. Faux seams? Bust darts?
I might do bust darts too, yeah. I’m not sure if they need to be wider. I have to measure and think about it.