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Shopping From The Stash…

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Ok, problem here – (hands waving wildly in the air from the back of the class).

I have approximately 257 skeins of sock yarn. These need to be knit, obviously, into the socks that I bought them for (patterns included). So where’s the problem? All of these yarn companies keep coming out with new sock yarn. That I feel like I have to have. It sure isn’t needed, as there is enough yarn in the stash to knit nothing but socks for the next 14 years, but it’s so pretty….

What to do? What do you do when your stash is trying to get your attention but someone dangles something shiny in front of your face?

Comments

  2. How is your yarn stored? Maybe you can turn it into a rainbow wall of sock yarn, sort of like this project on Prudent Baby: http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/02/wine-rack-as-yarn-storage.html
    But obviously on a larger scale! Whenever I see these shelves: http://www.cb2.com/family.aspx?c=118&f=5570
    I wish I had space so I could fill those with balls of yarn.

    As for not adding more, I just think of the corner in my apartment that is overflowing with yarn, and fabric, and embroidery cloth, and scrapbook paper, and card making supplies… And if I feel like I really need something, I look at my shopping budget on mint.com to see if it’s worth spending more money.

  4. I was good in March- I managed 2 pairs of socks, plus baby leg warmers. This about evens out the new knitpicks tonal yarns that came in.

    I’m trying to make other things with sock yarn too- scarves, wraps, gloves.
    I don’t have quite as much as you- but sock yarn is hard to resist. I don’t stash any other weight yarn.

  5. Yup, been using the sock yarns for more items, mostly shawlettes. Love these! I also try to not pick more than one project new for every two i knit form my stash

  6. Hmmm, I usually sell off anything that I’m not 100% in love with and use that money to buy new stuff. That way at least I’m attempting to keep the balance. (and if a few other things fall into my basket, well, I’m only human)

  7. How to avoid new yarn:

    1. Change the settings on your computer and monitor until everything looks like creamed spinach with chunky beets and oily asphalt. Unless that’s your favorite color. Ewwww.

    2. Go to the race track and bet all your yarn money on the worst looking horses. You’ll have to borrow a pair of blinders to get you past the yarn concession. Trust me, if they know you’re coming, they’ll build a yarn concession in the racetrack.

    3. Lock yourself in a tower and wait for your hair to grow long enough to let you escape. If you bring your spinning wheel, this may never happen. But you’ll be so busy spinning new yarn, you’ll still fall behind on knitting.

    4. Why bother? Enjoy life!

  8. Make hats, scarfs or granny square lap throw. I did one with Noro Sock Yarn and it came out beautiful. You need to knit out of the box or this case socks.

  10. My New Year’s resolutions were to knit from my stash and do more charity knitting. On New Year’s Day I worked all day winding yarn and copying patterns to make up “kits” of knitting for charity and for myself (and family).
    I vowed to make one charity project per month and so far have completed 4! They aren’t all that big, but accumulating 12 hats, scarves and other things by the end of the year for holiday giving will be great!
    After knitting up my charitable donations, which are mostly acrylic, I really look forward to my kits – they almost look bright and “shiny”. I’ve completed 3 prs of socks, a hat, a shawl, a scarf, and a vest!
    I really feel like I’m burning through the stash, but we’ll see about that at the end of the year.
    This weekend, I’m going stash-diving and kit-making again to come up with some warm weather projects!

  11. I bought last months copy of Crochet World and it inspired me to make the “Scrapghan” out of yarn I had. Wonderful, right? Well I used up some of my yarn but midway through I decided I had to have more of a few colors and ended up purchasing some to finish it. So what’s the use? Just buy more platic bins to store yarn in and accept the fact that when you die the one with the most yarn DOES win!

Have you read?

Vintage Bed Socks Knitting Pattern – A Cozy Little Gift Project With Old-Fashioned Charm

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about a pair of handmade bed socks, isn’t there? They are practical, pretty, and just the sort of project that feels like it belongs beside a cup of tea, a good film, and a basket of wool that is pretending not to be overflowing.

This vintage Bed Socks knitting pattern is one of those sweet little patterns that still feels useful today. Originally from the Jaeger Hand-Knit Series No. 44, the design features a simple garter-stitch foot, a ribbed cuff, eyelet holes, a crochet chain tie, and little tassel-style pom-poms at the front. The original pattern even describes them as “a very acceptable present,” and honestly, I don’t think much has changed there.

These would make a lovely handmade gift for someone who is always cold, someone recovering or resting, or anyone who appreciates a bit of old-fashioned comfort. They would also be beautiful as a Mother’s Day gift, a winter birthday present, a Christmas stocking filler, or a “just because you deserve cozy feet” project.

The pattern itself is delightfully simple in construction. The socks are knitted flat, beginning at the lower edge, with the foot worked in garter stitch before moving into the ribbed upper section. The decorative eyelet row allows for a crochet chain cord to be threaded through, and the finishing tassels give the socks that charming vintage look. The top edge is finished with a row of double crochet, which adds a neat handmade touch.

The original measurements list the socks as approximately 10½ inches from the top to the lower edge of the heel, with a 9¾ inch foot length, and the pattern notes that the size can be adapted. As with many vintage knitting patterns, modern knitters will want to check gauge carefully and choose a soft yarn that feels comfortable against the skin. A cozy wool blend, soft acrylic, or washable yarn would all work depending on whether you are making these for everyday use or as a special gift.

I especially love that this pattern has that “giftable” quality without being a massive project. It is small enough to feel achievable, but still special enough that the finished pair looks thoughtful. And let’s be honest, handmade socks with pom-poms are always going to beat a last-minute candle from the supermarket.

The PDF version has been cleaned up and formatted for easier reading while keeping the original vintage design intact. It also includes a modern pink mockup image and the original vintage scan, so you get both the historical charm and a fresh idea of how the finished socks could look today.

If you enjoy vintage knitting patterns, cozy handmade gifts, or quick projects that feel useful rather than just decorative, this sweet little bed socks pattern is a lovely one to add to your collection.

You can find the Vintage Bed Socks Knitting Pattern PDF in the CraftGossip Etsy store.

For supplies, this is also a nice stash-friendly project. A soft yarn from Mary Maxim or Amazon would work well, and if you make pom-poms regularly, a small pom-pom maker is one of those inexpensive tools that saves a surprising amount of fiddling.