Saturday, January 24, 2009

Want to do a little stash busting?




Each January I take stock of my household and try to organize to bring some order to my chaos. I go from room to room and try and put everything in it's place. I had an urge to knit some gifts for my sister and sister in law. After going through my quilting room I couldn't justify buying any new yarn. I have some yarn in a plastic bin that I have not touched in a few years. Most of the yarn is stuff I bought when I first started knitting. Several pretty acrylics and other novelty yarns. As I sorted through the large pile I was reminded of an old saying that I love. Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. I love that saying. Because I am knitting gifts for non knitters I had to use washing machine friendly yarn. I searched through Ravelry and found a great pattern. Fourteen is the name designed by a guy knitter. I thought his design was very clever but I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to knit the brioche rib stitch.




I am the kind of person that has to see something before I can learn how to do it. I found a great video on you tube that really helped me master the stitch. Click here to watch the video. It's ever so easy. For this neck warmer I used Lion brand wool-ease thick and quick color claret.




You need to find some bulky or super bulky yarn. For the blue version I used 2 strands of Lion Brand Jiffy yarn held together to use it up! The colorway is midnight blue.





I really like this brioche stitch. Look at the definition. Notice the prop?
After knitting my first neck warmer I made a few changes in the original pattern. Here are the details:

Yarn- any bulky weight yarn or use two strands held together for extra stash busting

Needle size- 13US

Cast on 15 stitches. You must use multiples of 3.

Knit 4 rows.

knit brioche stitch each row until neck warmer measures 24".
*With yarn in front slip one as if to purl, with yarn in front k2tog, rep. from *

Knit 1 row.

K3, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, k3.

Knit 2 more rows.

Bind off in garter stitch.

Go find some large funky buttons to add some flair to your neck warmer. That's it! I made 2 of these neck warmers in 4 hours.





For this one it's Lion Brand wool-easethick and quick color raspberry.




I hope you decide to do a little stash busting. Let me know if you decide to make a few of these quick projects. I would love to see yours!
Now back to chores!

20 comments:

Renna said...

I guess GMTA (great minds think alike), Barbara, as I have been working on neckwarmers this week, too, using up yarn in my stash. I have a Fourteen on the needles now in a single skein of Rowan Polar I had in my stash, and I'm working on a Pidge Podge (as I type) with some GGH Savanna, also in my stash.

Yours are so beautiful, and you look gorgeous in that rasberry colored one!

Thanks for helping me think outside the box, something I so often fail to do. I have some skeins of Jiffy Thick'n'Quick that's been in my stash since my early days of knitting. I'd not even thought about doubling it. Duh! ;-Þ

By the way, when you said you did some in Wool-Ease, I'm assuming you meant the thick'n'quick kind?

Here's the Pidge Podge: http://knit-nutt.blogspot.com/2008/02/pidge-podge.html

Sally said...

Oh, Barb! You look so cold! But that lovely neckwarmer looks like it's keeping your neck nice and toasty. What great idea to use stash.

Jennifer said...

Wonderful stash busting! Have you seen the wham bam thank you lamb on ravelry? Another lovely, stash busting cowl. I've not tried to broiche stitch yet. Always something new to learn, which I love.

The rasberry looks beautiful on you. I know it's a gift but still, it's your color!

Liz said...

I. LOVE. THOSE. I can't knit, but luckily my mom can. When she gets back from Egypt, I'm going to work on her to make a few of those for me. Thanks for sharing.

WhiteStone said...

I have the perfect yarn for this pattern! I made a neckwarmer using another pattern and I love it. But this one looks pretty nifty as well!!! So another project! Thanks for the pattern!

Mim said...

What a great idea for a stash buster. I recently posted about my stash on my crafty blog. You said one container is all you have, girl I have so got you beat. LOL Thanks for the idea. May have to knit a few of those up.

susan said...

hey! those are great...just what i could use. my neck and chin get so cold outside but i must fill all the feeders. i do not knit or crochet...one of the many things i wish i learned to do. if i could find a "good" yarn shop around here that gave lessons i might give it a try. thought i completed all my wow blocks, iwas dilusional, i am short 18. what a dink! :-)

magnoliasntea said...

Your scarves are beautiful! The colors and stitch pattern work well together. Love the buttons, too. Acrylic and acrylic blends have their own place where they are truly appreciated...so true.

I've been thinking of making a neck gaiter for Goodman..great minds. :)

Debbie said...

Hey! Those are great! Love the raspberry one, that is a perfect colour for you.... :-) I was always a little confused by the instructions for brioche stitch...I'll have to check out the video :-)

elizabeth said...

Those are quite lovely and would be a much quicker knit than a scarf. And the buttons you used are beautiful!

I'm a wee bit envious of your snow.... :)

Tracy Batchelder said...

I love all of them! You are wise to use acrylic for non-knitters. I think they will be worn more because they are easy to care for.

Jenny Girl said...

These are such a great idea! The raspberry looks great on you also. I will definitely keep these in mind for my stash too. I agree with your saying..it's perfect!
I have also been doing some stash diving and found some "early yarns" I hate to just toss. I'm thinking some vests since they are kind of quick, and worn over something else. It's acrylic yarn so you know :)

Grace said...

fabulous, and thanks for the video

Debra said...

I just love these. I'm so glad I visited. I'm going to make some for presents-they are lovely.
~Debra

stitching under oaks said...

those look great! I love the raspberry colored one especially. Thanks for the link to the pattern and the tutorial.

Chrissy said...

I love those neck warmers. I have been making a different one from Ravelry, but I really like this one and might give it a try.

Debra said...

I'm back...I wrote down your directions, and the other ones, but I think I'll go with yours. The video really does help. I've never done this stitch before, but I love the look. I'll post my results when I get something done. Can I link back to you later on my blog?
Thanks so much!
Debra

Anonymous said...

I love those and really like the buttons you chose. Very nice. :-)

Juri said...

Just beautiful work! You make me want to knit!

Juri

Anonymous said...

Love the raspberry.