For a while now, I've been struggling to come up with a reasonable stash building strategy. For my knitting at least -- the cross stitching and needlepoint stuff has already spread far beyond the cute little dresser that was its first home, and I'm perfectly okay with that. But this brand new yarn addiction could very easily overwhelm me, my budget, and the space I've got to store it in!

I'm not a one project at a time kinda gal and never plan to be one. Having future projects lined up makes me happy. Having floss and fabric and yarn and whatever to sort through and plan with is even better. A week or so ago, I went through all last summer's garage sale finds and even the yarn I later regretted buying is telling me exactly what it wants to become. I can make an afghan (or a big sweater), and a bog jacket for the critter, and a mobius vest, and a Sigma Tank and a shapely tank, and baby socks....

I like knowing that whatever the future holds, I'll probably have yarn and floss and stuff to keep my hands busy. Unless the house burns down, and that's just NOT allowed to happen! :-P

I don't think I have anywhere near too much yarn, but if I keep buying it at the rate I'm wanting it, I'll hit that point quickly. The idea of Lint hugely appeals to me. I've promised myself that I won't even look at yarn sites until I've finished at least five projects -- to balance the six projects worth of yarn I'd just bought from Elann. I get to use the new yarn, or some of the yarn I already have, and they all have to be reasonably sized projects. Dishcloths don't count.

So far I've finished project #1 -- the child's vest from Knitting 20 simple & stylish wearables for beginners for Alex. I knit hers in the fakiest purple I've ever seen by Chunky USA. For once, my gauge was right exactly what it shoulda been and I didn't make any stupid mistakes following the pattern. It fits! The bottom, which I did in a band of garter stitch instead of the black and white checkerboard, rolls a lot, but Alex says she likes it the way it is and it actually fits her body. Unlike her brother's two awful purple sweaters.

Project #2 is a Super Quick Reversible One Skein Wool-Ease Scarf. I'm using a skein of TLC Essentials that I got the day after Thanksgiving because the color -- Falling Leaves -- called to me.

#3 is a shoulder shawl from Knit N Style, in Pines Woolease. I love the way this stuff is knitting up, but I'm scared to death that I'll lose my place and make a mess of it.

and #4 is a cute little red tank top in red Schoeller Stahl Cecil. The back is done and since the front is almost exactly the same, I know I can do the rest. It's just a question of whether or not the yarn will cooperate.

I think project #5 will be the Coronet Hat from Knitty But I keep changing my mind, so until I cast on the stitches, nothing is set in stone. And even then, false starts are easy to rip out. I think that's one of the things I like most about knitting! :-)

The needlework tote is done. Doesn't match the pattern, but it's as finished as it's going to get for now. I didn't have anywhere near the right number of stitches on the long sides (wonder if that's part of the reason I put it aside in the first place?) so I couldn't do the neat handle openings. And I wasn't about to rip the whole thing back down to the bottom to reuse $3 with of yarn I didn't like knitting with. It looks nice, but just about flayed my fingers. So I made a twisted cord strap out of some of the leftover yarn and I'm calling it done. Mostly because I promised myself I'd finish it before I ordered some yarn I want from Elann.com and I didn't want to spend the time it'd take to knit a long strap.

I've got to get a camera so I can share pictures of some of my projects. The felted soap bar probably wouldn't be very photogenic, but I sure like using it. And now that I know it works, I'm going to use some of my pretty roving to make a nicer ones. Wonder how dh would react if I felted every soap bar in the house? :-)

Michelle

I changed my mind! :-) I did start the needlework tote, but quickly lost interest. It's sitting in a rubbermaid bin next to the couch, and if one of the balls of yarn hadn't fallen out and left a trail of yarn across the floor, I would've completely forgotten about it.

It's not quite my fault -- another project ambushed me without warning. I was leafing through A Passion for Knitting before it went back from the library, and the next thing I knew, I had yarn and needles together and was trying a cabled scarf. I made a cable turn! No clue how it works, but if I blindly follow the directions and keep writing down which row number I'm on, it works. And I'm using up a skein of yarn I bought then lost my original plan for, so it's a win-win situation. Which is also sitting in a plastic tote. A bit too complicated to take to my daughter's karate class, and not quite exciting enough to work on when I've got time to my self. I could finish it quickly, but another idea has possessed me.

Look at this! How to Felt Over Soap I've got some roving a friend traded me that's in pretty pastel colors I didn't know what to do with. I know -- I'm supposed to spin it on my new Christmas present, but dh bought me wool for that and this looks FUN!

Michelle

My cross stitch projects are usually big ones -- although I've discovered that "big" is in the eye of the beholder! I love designs by Marty Bell, Thomas Kinkade, Linda Meyers, Graphs by Barbara and Cheryl... it's a huge and ever-expanding list.

Right now, I'm working on The Garden Wall by Graphs by Barbara and Cheryl, Stonehearth Hutch by Thomas Kinkade, and Sanctuary by Marty Bell. I've also been stitching the ornaments in Prairie Schooler's Starry Night leaflet, but I expect to have the last one finished this afternoon.

I'm a very new knitter and just finished my first pair of socks this week. They've got toes and heels (sort of) and a hole to put your foot in, but that's about all of their redeeming qualities -- except for the fact that they are socks and I actually made them! :-) I do still like the color, and they are warm, so it wasn't a total waste of effort, but I wish they'd come out looking a little more like "real" socks. Next project to go on the needles will be the needlework bag from Frugal Knitting Haus If I don't change my mind and start something else first!

Michelle