‘Snawheid’ by Kate Davies. Image Copyright Kate Davies Designs.

The Year of Enabling has commenced!

In Episode 29 of the podcast, I announced a new #Project365 that I started as part of The Golden Skein, dubbed #FreeYourSkeins2015. Bemoaning my own useless attempts at freeing skeins, there needed to be a strategy for thinking about how to use those lovely yarns and get them out of stash and onto the needles. The only plausible way to really give an undertaking like this a proper kick-start, was to dedicate daily time to searching out patterns.

This is all well and good in theory; however if all one does is add the patterns to the queue, it won’t really achieve the aim of the exercise. The yarn has to come out of the stash. That’s the whole point. It’s an accepted idea that writing down goals helps to give them more force. I’d argue that going through the procedures and processes of planning a project properly are key to increasing the likelihood of achieving the goal of making beautiful yarn useable and enjoyable every day. Alliteration aside, it is time to get up close and personal with The Stash.

To enable a thorough reacquaintance with my beautifully curated yarn collection, I’m adopting a strategy of choosing one of the patterns from #FreeYourSkeins2015 each week and matching it up with yarn I have. There is no commitment to actually start any of these projects; simply having the idea of how to use yarn at the front of the mind on a regular basis and reviewing options will help to motivate me on my quest.

‘Snawheid’ by Kate Davies. Image Copyright Kate Davies Designs.

‘Snawheid’ by Kate Davies

‘Snawheid’ is my pattern of choice from this week. I’m somewhat in the midst of a fangirl crush when it comes to Kate Davies at the moment, in no way encouraged by the release of ‘Yokes’ prior to Christmas. I find her designs remind me of discovering that one band makes lots of the songs you love. She has a fantastic design aesthetic, and reappraising myself of her offerings also gave me that same, “wow, she did all of those ones too!” feeling. As I’m of the opinion that one can never have too many pom pommed hats in Northern Scotland, she was an obvious choice. That, and the fact I already have ‘Kunye’ by Clare Devine on the needles saw off the competition!

Bring in the yarn!

“But what would you use?” I hear you cry. Fear not. I’ve been fantasy knitting this baby all week, and for the main colour, it’s Nurturing Fibres Supertwist Sock, 100% high twist and fabulous South African merino, in the colour way ‘Pony Grey’. This was a co-ordinating colour to the Basotho Blanket seasonal sock club. I don’t actually remember exactly when it was, but I think it is 2012 vintage.

‘Pony Grey’ Supertwist Sock Wool by Nurturing Fibres.

And for the motifs. Yes, I’m going off piste with this fabulous rainbow self-stripe. Because I am a rebel, and because I LOVE self striping yarns. It’s another one from Carlé at Nurturing Fibres, also in the Supertwist Sock base.

‘Rainbow’ Self Stripe Supertwist Sock by Nurturing Fibres.

So, if you were going to knit this project, what would you choose from your stash? Please share your ideas with me; I love to see how other people approach choosing yarn for projects – and of course seeing other people’s stash! If you blog, leave a link in the comments, so we can all go and have a look!