2020 is the Year of Using Your Stash

Happy new year! As we work on our resolutions and goals for the year (and decade!) to come, I see a lot of people talking about using their stash and not buying new yarn/supplies while they have things they can use at home.

(I actually have a whole website devoted to this idea, so as you can imagine, I’m totally in.)

There are some knitters out there who are trying to help the rest of us get through our stashes, such as Amanda Scott (browngyrlknits on Instagram) who posted her stash down 2020 guidelines in November. She suggested doing a yarn inventory and making a list of patterns before the end of the year, but better late(ish) than never, right?

I also saw Julie Ann from Twin Stitches Designs is teaming up with the Crazy Sock Lady to host a stash busters knitalong, with different project themes for each quarter (Q1 is socks).

And speaking of socks, extermiknit is doing a year of scrappy socks knitalong, with the first quarter beign represented by the theme of color.

Do you have plans to use your yarn stash this year? I’d love to hear about it!

[Photo: BrownGyrlKnits via Instagram.]

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The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical.

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique.

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead.

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit.

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern.

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like.

[Photo: Maymade Knits]

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