Remember Julie's spinning wheel fund that I posted about earlier? She's gotten enough money for her wheel and has ordered it, but it hasn't arrived yet. But look at all the yarn she's spun using her spindle! And this one is all mine, baby! (Photo stolen from Julie.)
WOW. I'm seriously impressed with how much yarn she's spun already and how beautiful that sock yarn is looking! I honestly didn't expect to get this for months and months, and there it is half spun already. And so pretty. I'm giddy just looking at the picture!
In Socktober news, I finished an STR sock and am down to the heel on the second one. Here's a picture with beer. In case you couldn't tell, my favorite beers are hefeweizen and Belgian ales. YUMMY.
And Lolly asks:
Do you have certain patterns planned for some of the yarns? Do you buy yarn and then choose a pattern?
I rarely have patterns pre-chosen for any yarn I buy, especially sock yarn. There are so many sock ideas in my head, I'm not worried that I won't find the right one for any given yarn.
Does a certain sock yarn you have in your stash take you back to a certain event? (where you were when you bought/received it? what was going on in your life at the time!)
Let there be no mistake. I have a lot of sock yarn in my stash. Mostly just looking at the sock yarn makes me happy that I feel no need to relate it back to any other story of how I came to get the yarn or anything like that. The yarn pure and simple is enough for me. For example, taking these pictures delighted me more than I care to admit. Sock! Yarn!
The above picture has all the non-BMFA sock yarn that I have that hasn't been balled already. That represents enough yarn for 31 different pairs of socks. Though you'll see that there are a couple single skeiners there. One of the matching pairs for those was actually knit. The others were balled and tried and didn't quite stick yet. Click on picture to see listing of what yarns are pictured.
My most recent sock yarn acquisition is the Meilenweit Mega Boots Stretch at the right end of the middle row there. It was 60% off during Bo Peep's sale and arrived on Friday. I don't even like Meilenweit, that's how far my sock yarn sale addiction goes. And of course, I am expecting more sock yarn in the mail in the next week. I, um, bought some LL Shepherd Sock from a destasher (Bev Galeskas, of all people!) and will hopefully get that in the next week or so. To be honest, I usually feel so guilty about my absurd yarn addiction that I only post about half of my enhancements. But then I look at the yarn, and a warm fuzzy feeling overcomes me. Sock! Yarn!
I've already posted this picture of BMFA yarn in my stash, but it makes me so happy that I have to post it again.
Ok, maybe I got carried away there and didn't really answer the question. To be honest, the yarns that are most special to me get knit first, so they don't linger in the stash for very long. I think the best thing to do for a special sock yarn is to make it into socks, no? For instance, I loved the yarn I got for the original Pomatomus sock. I bought that from Buffy at the Shelridge Farm booth at Stitches before I was getting married in Toronto. I talked with her for a good while to see if I could set up a tour of the farm sometime before or after the wedding, but I ended up being too busy with the wedding to go (who would have predicted that?). I'm still hoping to make a trip out to the farm sometime, possibly as soon as next month!
You are a woman after my own heart. I love your sock stash - I have a great sock stash too and I also get the warm and fuzzies looking at or thinking about it! Got to love Bev G.
The spindle spinning blows my mind - if she is that good doing it on a spindle she will be unbelievable with a wheel. Holy!
Just have to say one more time, I love your sock yarn! Beautiful!
Posted by: Cynthia at October 10, 2006 8:25 PMOh man that sock yarn is looking gorgeous, I'm totally impressed.
Posted by: Schrodinger at October 10, 2006 8:54 PMWow, that is one heck of a stash of sock yarn! Does you stash of other yarn compare?
Posted by: Jo at October 10, 2006 9:04 PMOooooooooh! All the color, it gets the sock yarn phernomes (or however that word is spelled!) going in me! There is something very human and down to earth when knitters relate their stash reasons to all - it validates each individual's reasons for our craft. Love ALL this color in this post, lucky you too, w. the handspun :)Beautiful!!
Posted by: Terry at October 10, 2006 9:09 PM*drools*
Oh god. My friend infected me with the sock bug only recently, so my sock stash isn't up to yours yet...but I've got to say, I'm getting there. Seeing pictures of your yarn...well, let's just say it inspires covetous feelings...
Posted by: G. Knerd at October 10, 2006 9:26 PMWow, it's amazing! Beautiful! What a collection. I envy you, and I have never even knit a sock yet.
The handspun is just gorgeous!
Posted by: Crystal at October 10, 2006 9:36 PMYou are killing me with that sock yarn. It's simply too much for me this early in the morning!
And the Hefeweizen, you are a girl after my own heart! I love the stuff. I like mine poured into a tall glass with a lemon. Mmmmmm. Ah well, back to my morning coffee. . .
That is a very impressive collection of sock yarn. It really is a thing of beauty as is. That makes me wonder. Do you really think that you'll ever knit it all up or are there skeins that are likely to remain as is?
Posted by: hillary at October 11, 2006 6:38 AMCookie's Yarn Shoppe - A place to find it all! ;)
Nice collection! Can't wait to see the homespun all knit up, it's really pretty.
Truly awe inspiring - all the different colors and brands....
Posted by: stacey at October 11, 2006 7:15 AM{sigh} What wonderful pictures to see first thing in the morning!
Posted by: CJ at October 11, 2006 8:28 AMi LOOOOVE widmer hefe!! Ahhh, I haven't had it in so long. I miss living in the Pacific NW and having access to so many wonderful beers, including all the Widmers. NY's beer selections leaves much to be desired, sadly.
Beer and knitting... I like your style ;)
Posted by: j a r e d at October 11, 2006 9:22 AMlove all those sock yarn photos... makes me feel very normal. I tend to knit the ones I like least first, saving the best for last.
Posted by: Polly at October 11, 2006 10:08 AMUm, GAH, that's a freaking lot of sock yarn! It's a thing of beauty!
Glad you're pleased with your YIP...it's actually the only one I didn't dye the roving for myself. I got it from my SP and thought right away, omg, it's Cookie's sock yarn! :)
Posted by: Julie at October 11, 2006 12:07 PMThat is some great looking sock yarn, I'm very, very impressed.
Mmmm, beer. I think I need one of those right about now.
Posted by: Rebekah at October 11, 2006 12:56 PMYou may, in fact, own my dream stash.
Yours in extreme jealousy,
Erin
I was feeling overwhelmed with my stash, but looking at yours, I'm starting to feel better.:) Those sock stash photos even make me happy! Lucky you.
Posted by: Leslie at October 12, 2006 8:26 AM*sigh* Gorgeous. Ahhhhh. Thanks for another sock yarn pic fix.
Posted by: freecia at October 12, 2006 3:10 PMgood lawd! 31 pairs of socks! or 62 pairs of anklets! the brain reels
Posted by: domesticat at October 13, 2006 4:08 PMI only wish I had this much yarn! I would lay it all out like you did and then roll around in it like a rich madwoman! All of them are so beautiful.
Posted by: Amanda at October 14, 2006 9:03 PMI only wish I had this much yarn! I would lay it all out like you did and then roll around in it like a rich madwoman! All of them are so beautiful.
Posted by: Amanda at October 14, 2006 9:04 PMomg, I'm so jealous of your awesome stash. I love finding new people with a sock yarn fetish...just to fondle it - oh joy!
Posted by: stacey at October 14, 2006 10:05 PMSocial networking site MySpace is to block users from uploading copyrighted music to its pages...
Posted by: Cayden Ash at November 24, 2006 8:34 PM