In the Balance

-
My latest yarn purchases have tipped the balance for the year towards more bought in than knitted up. It's not where I wanted to be but just setting the goal of knitting up more than I buy has made me think much more about my purchases and slow things down a bit. I've got time to redress the balance if I can find a little more knitting gusto than I've managed of late. I'm sure I buy more yarn the less I knit as compensation!

April and May are tough months at work with lots of client meetings and they've been taking their toll on this sickly child. It really is a question of balance here too (small voice mutters - as in kniting, as in life) but there is some reward on its way which will help to even things out. Two of the meetings are in Oslo next week. Two tough days but then I'm adding a three day break with the Mr. Bliss.

Hmm more yarn stores to explore means I'd better get on and knit some of this latest haul I think. The Rowan Calmer I got from Jannette's Rare Yarns and was totally delighted with the price and wonderful service. It's set to become a nice little summer shrug. The Regia Nation was from Web of Wool and again they were very efficient. I had tried to order it from Angel Yarns originally but they were out of stock and then they couldn't get any more from their suppliers - one of the colours I ordered still seems to be on their site which seems odd. I'd definitely stick with Web of Wool if you go after any of this super stripey stuff as with the free UK postage they worked out cheaper too. The stuff at the front knits up as rainbow stripes - featured recently on the Yarn Harlot blog. There's also a little bit of Jaeger mohair peeping out of the top - 3 balls for a £1 in the charity shop :o)

Comments

Charity said…
I think balance is the key with yarn shopping - as long as you're comfortable and happy, that's all that matters! The Calmer looks lovely - I've never knit with it, but have heard so many excellent things! And you can hardly count the mohair! :0)
21 May 2008 at 20:29:00 BST
Marianne said…
That's a great scale and an even greater whack of yarn!
Nope, you can't beat that score on the Jaeger! Great find!
I also agree with Charity, no surprise there :^)
21 May 2008 at 21:15:00 BST
Veronique said…
I've made 2 pairs of sock with the Regia Fun Nation, and I love it!! The blue Calmer looks lovely :) I'm sure that you'll eventually knit everything up.
21 May 2008 at 21:27:00 BST
Sarah Ditum said…
Oh oh oh, charity shop yarn bargains are my nemesis. Everytime I vow to end the stash madness, something amazing puts its little yarny tendrils out of a secondhand bin. Those all look like eminently knitable purchases anyway - it's when you start stashing things with no conceivable purpose that you have to worry.
21 May 2008 at 21:54:00 BST
Rose Red said…
I love that Regia stripey yarn! I was not fond of stripes at first, but now that I've knitted stripey socks, I'm loving them more and more.

I'm trying to keep balance on the yarn purchases too, as you know, and agree - it does make me think more about what I buy (but I'm still out of balance...just not by as much!!)
22 May 2008 at 06:14:00 BST
Linda said…
I am totally out of balance with my stuff at the moment and it makes me feel bad. So I have a couple of purchases on the way then I will try and knit it all!! I love your scales.
22 May 2008 at 07:55:00 BST
Bells said…
Great looking Regia!!

That balance is so hard although I'm told I have nothing to worry about....?!
22 May 2008 at 10:38:00 BST
Donna said…
I think seriously addicted knitters all have the same problem, I know i do!!

I have some of the Regia in one of the Kaffe Fassett colourways but haven't knitted it up yet.
22 May 2008 at 11:52:00 BST
raining sheep said…
I think I tipped that scale a while back...I don't think I can possibly wear all the socks I plan to knit in the future. I am at the point now where when I knit socks, I am thinking about a recipient in the back of my mind somewhere.
22 May 2008 at 14:01:00 BST
Terrie D. (StarSpry) said…
The Rowan Calmer is beautiful! I'm glad you're taking a break between meetings :)
22 May 2008 at 21:20:00 BST
Bells said…
you've been tagged!
23 May 2008 at 08:22:00 BST
Curly Cable said…
Lovely yarn purchases, don't worry about the balance, yarn retail therapy is always a good thing especially when you've got stresses at work looming, best medicine ever is yarn :) I love the colour of your Calmer, and of course the yarn is superb to knit with, so you won't be disappointed. The Kaffe Regia stripey yarn is fab too :)
23 May 2008 at 11:42:00 BST
dreamcatcher said…
Calmer is a wonderful yarn, I've been eyeing up that colourway at Jannette's for a while :-)

Must admit I do try to find something in stash before buying these days!
23 May 2008 at 18:40:00 BST
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Christmas TIME

-
Image
I've hit the December point known as - "if only there were more time" - I think it about a thousand times a day as I have yet another crazy idea of something to make/cook/do for Christmas. I like to think that if I could just abandon the job for December that I'd get it all done. I'd get more done for sure but it could never be 'all' as the inspiration out there ensures fresh supplies of schemes for wintery delights - like learning to crochet just to make snowflakes or building my own snow village or... well I'm sure you all get the idea and have a billion things bubbling over that you'll never quite get to. So it's prioritise like crazy, craft for sanity (and if it is as simple as wrapping some berries and mistletoe round a heart shaped wreath - jump for joy) and I try to remember that seeing the people I'm making the presents for is the most important thing of all! I don't think I'll be back here before I head down to the wilds...
Read more

The Keeping Cosy Winter Shawl

-
Image
  Pattern: Springtime Bandit   Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend, Colour: Atlantic Started: November 2010 Finished: January 16th 2011 Ravelry page I think photographing this shawl has been ten times the challenge that knitting it was! I've taken several shots over several days to try and capture the glory of this red yarn, I'm calling it a day now though I haven't quite got what I wanted as in these grey, dingy days I don't think I will. Happily I feel the absolute opposite about the actual garment, it's everything I dreamed it could be when I saw the inspiring version A Girl In Winter made in the Manos Silk Blend and this shade, evasive though it may be to the camera is so uplifting that it's been the perfect companion for dark, winter days. It's a warm, deep multi-toned red with a pinky blue base, a real treat for the eye. The shawl is big and grand, but cosy and homely all at once. A wonderful pairing of yarn and pattern. I didn't manage to get the...
Read more

Ooh la la...

-
Image
Elle est fini :o) My little beret has finally made it over the finishing line. The peloton have long since disbanded so I can't claim any colour jersey for this but I loved being part of the knitalong so I'm really just pleased I wasn't months behind. Pattern: Verity Yarn: South West Trading Company Karaoke - Mermaid; just under two balls Needles: 4.5mm dpns and 40cm circular Started: 1 July 2008 Finished: 6 August 2008 What's that - you want to see a modelled shot? Well only on one condition - you have to give me your honest opinion as to whether I can rock this hat or not. I am not convinced and the 1TB is being no help - when I say I think it suits me he agrees, when I say I think it doesn't - well yep he agrees! So let's have a vote on it - my head will be adorned by Verity or not depending on the results of the poll [ETA - this is now a blogger poll at the top of my sidebar - happy voting] , and don't worry if you think I look a fool - there are a c...
Read more