Show and Tell: “Use It or Lose It” Knitting
I write another blog called One Bag Nation where I chronicle my journey to order, serenity and peace of mind . . . no snickering please!
One of my goals in this journey is to live with less stuff, and another is to be more frugal. These two goals are intersecting beautifully as I work through my yarn stash to make gifts for the holidays. I’m trying several new patterns and ideas, and the only rule is that I can’t buy any yarn, I have to use what I have already.
This keyhole scarf was my first “use it or lose it” project. I decided to combine a couple of different but complementary yarns, and though their gauges didn’t match up exactly, I think the scarf looks pretty good.
I followed a pattern from a book called Stitch ‘n Bitch; in deference to the copyright, I won’t reprint the pattern here, but you cand find a free pattern for a keyhole scarf at the blue blog patterns (there are several easy pattern on this page, great for using up yarn on hand).
I’m now working my way through a scarf for Vintage Girl’s teacher, and then – who knows?
November 8th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
That is neato! Love the economy friendly option.
November 9th, 2008 at 5:56 am
What a cool scarf! A friend of mine gave me a keyhole scarf a few years ago as a birthday (could have been Christmas!) present and I thought what a good idea! And I love the way you’ve taken two different ones to make the one scarf – love the colours!
Sams last blog post..Quirkiness
November 9th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Great Idea…. I should really make a stab at getting through my fabric “stash”. It has been a long time since I have done much knitting….. something else I should get back into.
Thanks for sharing the scarf and hat are beautiful!
Kathy
Kathys last blog post..Show and Tell
November 9th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Amazing translation of an ideal. Really Beautiful, I must say!
WiseGuys last blog post..Show and Tell: Hilarious Letter
November 9th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Hey! Three of my favorite goals! This year I’m giving my husband a selection of hew t-shirts, sweatshirts and hats with his business logo on them. I’m also going to give them to parents, in-laws, and close friends.
Hey, a tax-deducabile gift that keeps on giving as advertising…doesn’t get any better!!!
caras last blog post..Show And Tell – Memories
November 9th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Those are beautiful. I wish I could do something like that.
Michelles last blog post..Favorite Things Friday
November 9th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
This scarf is great! I love the idea of doing projects using only your yarn stash. I have a similar plan for Christmas this year using up some of my fabric stash. Not sure it’s going to happen, though – moving to a new house sort of puts a serious cramp in my crafting style. Everything is packed up and every spare moment is going towards making the house look desirable and serene, instead of the grubby madhouse it is at the moment!
annacyclopedias last blog post..the tao of when things get fucked up
November 9th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Oops, sorry my last post title contains some of my trademark: foul language. Not sure how to remove it from the last comment though, so if you need to delete my comment for the sake of common decency, I won’t mind!
November 9th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I love that scarf…great job!
Kristins last blog post..SHOW AND TELL: a sunset goodbye…
November 9th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Very pretty scarf. I think I need to do this make things with what I have and not buy more.
November 9th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
[...] blogs or blogs that occasionally speak about knitting: Stitchywich Carrieoke Show and Tell: “Use it or Lose it” knitting Okay [...]
November 10th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Very nice. I haven’t done any knitting in literally years but yesterday I bought a set of starter needles and a big ball of pink variegated yarn to give Dear Child as one of her Hanukkah presents! I knew how to knit by the time I was five, so I think it’s time to teach her.
Funny enough, I was just mentioning knitting as a child in a comment I left on The Simple Dollar! You know how when you start to focus on something you see it everywhere? I guess that would be me and knitting right now!
November 10th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Thanks for the comment over at my blog. I love the idea of the two different yarns for that scarf. it looks great.
I am a crocheter, learning to knit is on my to-do list though.
Momofonefornows last blog post..Here comes the anxiety
November 10th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Hi Everyone,
So glad you all liked my scarf. I’d really be happy if I inspired some of you to take up your needles and yarn.
Anna: no worries about the language; I didn’t even notice!
Cara: very clever idea for the gifts!
Shevy: I’ll have to head over to Simple Dollar and read that post
Momofone: I know how to crochet, sort of. I’d like to get better.
Vintage Mommys last blog post..Show and Tell: “Use It or Lose It” Knitting
November 24th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
[...] posted a couple of weeks ago about my commitment to knitting through some of the yarn in my stash to make holiday gifts. To date, I’ve made three scarves (see the first one here) and now [...]
December 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Oh, OK, I had to look at it for a little while to figure it out because I’d never seen a keyhole scarf before. I like the idea. And I’m so jealous that you can knit
Marelisas last blog post..Creative Thinking Techniques: The “Playful” Edition
December 21st, 2008 at 10:44 am
Great idea!! So cute, too. My MIL and I are taking our first knitting class in 2009 and my first goal is a single-colored, simple scarf. I have doubts that I’ll be able to do that, but we’re gonna give it a try!!!
Lots of interesting stuff on here…I’ll look forward to checking back.
ICLW
christinas last blog post..my darling chicago
March 27th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Great info. Really the information is inspirational.Nothing is waste in this world if we can know how to use it correctly to get benefit from it.
The scarf is looking nice too.The variety of colors is giving it a different look.