The knitabulous economic stash theory 2kcbwday1

I'm not, in the main, a fan of stashing yarn. I think this is because my knitting is so pattern driven. I like to choose a pattern, then select yarn that goes with it. I think in order for a yarn stash to be successful, you have to like knitting the other way around - yarn first, pattern second.

But I have yet to learn that when a good yarn deal comes along, it's not always best to take advantage of it, even if it is a bargain price.

Take, for example, the great sunk costs of 2010 - the Brooklyn Tweed Shelter and the La Drouguerie Recup.

Never in my knitting days have so few yarns caused me such cognitive dissonance and buyer's remorse. No matter how much ravelry trawling and twitter begging I do, I just can not come to a good decision as to what to do with these yarns.

I would dearly love to cast both of them on today! yesterday! even, but for the life of me I cannot decide what to make.

Exhibit 1: Shelter

I can imagine if you're American, it must have a lot of feelgood factor, buying an all American Yarn. To me, it feels a little traitorous, and more than a little depressing that the prospect of having the same kind of thing happen in Australia (the birthplace of the Merino) is an unviable economic option, for many reasons. So when this arrived, although I loved the colour, it didn't make my heart sing as much as I imagine it does to other hearts.

I think this yarn would be great for a tunic style short winter dress - like a longer version of the grapevine or this impossible to get pattern or this, with nowhere near as much volume , or the lovely irish coffee - but it's a bit Goldilocks and the three bears ... neckline possibly too big, not enough shaping, only suitable for the very slim person. I have twelve skeins in thistle, one hayloft and one natural coloured skein. And seriously, they're giving me a headache just thinking about them.

Exhibit 2: Recup from La Drouguerie

And the recup - I was in Paris when I bought it, and it evokes lots of wonderfully romantic and happy memories when I see it. I had to wait a whole hour in the tiny la drouguerie shop while the sales assistant went out the back to wind the yarn, and it was plenty of time to savour the Parisian Yarn Store Purchase Moment.

I have enough of it for a jacket or a cabled pullover - but it wouldn't even be an exaggeration to say that in the hundreds of cabled pullovers and jackets I've looked at, none of them seem exactly right for this green (and green) yarn.

I love both of these yarns but I wish they were on the needles, and not in the stash!!

Exhibit 3: The Paradox of Stash

But there is also the theory of The Stash Paradox - not all stash is equal, some stash is more equal than others. For example, there is this other yarn, I have 32 unwound skeins, and about 4 caked skeins, and it's not bothering me at all. I can not explain this, but it is a fact notwithstanding - I could happily have another 32 skeins of this yarn in that stash cupboard and I wouldn't be in the slightest bit perturbed. It's like a palette of artist oil pastels that one day, when I learn to draw, I'll be more than happy to use.

But in the meantime - what will I do with that Shelter and that Recup? And is there anything in your stash you want to knit so bad but can't decode what to make?



I'm participating in the Knitting and Crochet Blog Week - this is day 1 and here are all the participants posts.

2KCBWDAY1