the great stash-bust of 2011

i've made a resolution for perhaps the first time in history. i have an obscene (and surprisingly high-quality, considering my budget) stash of yarn, 95% of which was bought just because i liked it in the moment. now it is taking up space and doing nothing to curb my desire for more yarn... so i must be rid of it! and since i have been SPINNING--yes! it's amazing! addictive!--i have to find some excuse to do it more... "i am out of yarn" sounds like a good one to me. :) :) :)

so. the plan is to knit right on through my stash, give away the random leftovers, and spin my own when i need yarn for projects. from here on i will spin and dye yarns specifically for a given project, with as few exceptions as possible. as fiber is cheaper than yarn, i feel justified. plus i get to be twice as productive by doing it all myself. *rawr*

i'm quite proud of my planning skills at this point too, since i have managed to choose a project ahead of time for almost all my stashed yarn. i wonder if they are happier knowing their destinies are predetermined...

morale builder stockings PDF

Morale Builder Stockings pattern

ravelry store!

i finally designed a pattern worth selling, i think... so now i have a ravelry store :). "twilight knitting"

first pattern for sale - modesty

grandpa slippers

*this pattern is a slight variation on Anna Peck's "Lightning Quick Slippers" published on Knitting up a Storm. Thank you to her for allowing me to post a man-sized version of these great slippers!*

grandpa slippers

these guys should fit a typical man's foot - yarn is stretchy. but if your guy has smaller feet, size down the needle (or use wool and felt them!) and see what happens.

materials:
at least three DPNs of the same size - 10.5 or 11 US
aran or heavy worsted weight yarn, held double (i used red heart super saver), less than one skein (~250y)
tapestry needle

foot/toe section
CO 17 stitches
rows 1- 25 garter stitch
row 26: RS: SSK, knit to the last 2 stitches, K2tog. (15 sts)
... now work 6 more rows in garter stitch. put a marker on this row.
row 31: k 13, turn, sl 1, k10, turn, sl 1, knit to the end.
...work in garter stitch for 44 rows.
row 76: RS: SSK, knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog. (13sts)
work 5 rows in Stockinette Stitch.
row 82: k5, skpo, k6 (12sts)
work 7 rows in garter stitch.
BO.

sewing the foot/toe section
with WS facing, fold on the row where your marker was placed. sew both sides of the foot together and turn right-side out.

heel section
pick up 10 stitches along the right side of the heel with one needle, then 9 stitches along the back of the heel with a second, and 10 more stitches along the left side of the heel with a third needle. DO NOT JOIN... they are worked back-and-forth.
rows 1-6: knit/garter stitch
row 7: knit 21, turn, sl 1, knit 12, turn, sl 1, knit to end
row 8: BO

finishing
sew the sides of the heel to the sides of the foot, weave in all ends, and voila. slippers to keep grandpa's (or dad's, or hubby's, or uncle's...) feet nice and toasty.