Several years ago, I purchased the cream Skacel Merino Lace yarn for the Fiber Trends Pacific Northwest Shawl. That was my first lace pattern. At the end of the knitting, I had almost half of the one skein left over! Then, my LYS put the other 2 colors on clearance. I bought the green and the light pink. I used about half of the green to knit Icarus from Interweave Knits. The black Misti Alpaca, I purchased to use as a contrast with a fingering weight yarn, so I was using 2 strands together. That sweater that I was knitting wasn't coming out the way that I wanted, so I frogged it, and am left with the yarn. I'll find a new project for it some day!

I bought this yarn on a great sale. I've used some to make socks for my MIL for her last birthday, but I still have more. This yarn knits up in thick stripes. Its nice and washes well, but really isn't suited to a complicated stitch pattern. Lately, I've been enjoying the more complicated patterns, so I guess this will just wait around until I need a mindless project. When I do knit with it, I'll probably use Wendy's Generic Toe Up Pattern.

Purple Brown, Green Noro Kureyon

I don't have much of this yarn left. I originally purchased 7 or 8 skeins. I have knit felted slippers for my self and used bits and pieces on other projects. I now have around 1-2 skeins and have no idea what I will do with it. Maybe I'll use it for an accent on a tote for the International Tote Exchange...Hmmm that sounds like a good idea!

Reddish Brown Mystic Alpaca

This yarn I purchased on EBay for knitting a sweater. I don't remember the intended pattern, since when I received it, I realized that the yarn was a fingering weight rather than dk. I did find a great project though and quickly knit through about 1/3 of what I had ordered. (There were many more yards than I expected per skein, which is why I still have around 18 skeins of it left. Now, I wonder if I was sent the wrong yarn! :) ) I used this yarn held triple to make some quick scarves for Christmas presents last year. There is still enough to make another sweater, but I don't know if I want to do that. The gauge for 1 strand is small. Maybe I'll hold it double and knit a sweater in stockinette. My current favorite cardigan is looking rather ratty and a new sweater might just be the perfect fate of this stash yarn.

Black Elann Connemara

I originally purchased this yarn for the Flower Petal Shawl. I finshed it, but did not like the dimensions very well as I did not make a gauge swatch and ended up with fewer stitches to the inch than the pattern called for. So, I ripped it out & later started on another shawl, the Flower Basket Lace Shawl which I love. I'm still planning on removing the edging to add more length to it, and then I'll wear it even more.The yarn was a little hard on my hands (it is 100% cotton, after all) but is so soft and lovely to wear.

Leftovers

I've knit many projects. Usually, I end up with just a little left over. I find it difficult to know what to do with these yarns. Shown above are the following: dark green Patons Classic wool, navy acrylic (don't remember brand) that is supposed to look/feel like mohair, undyed Swish Superwash from KnitPicks, 1/2 skein of dark purple Malabrigo, pink tweed wool single (don't remember brand), blue and green variegated wool acryllic mix, lavender mix Berroco's Ultra Alpaca, and purple mix Sockotta. Sometimes, I wonder why I keep this little odds and ends, but then, I find some small project to make, and I can sometimes use one or more of them.

Navy Kid-n-Ewe

This yarn was a gift. My mom & I drove up to Great Yarns for their Spring Sale, maybe 2 years ago? She noticed that I was thinking about buying these 6 skeins. When I didn't, she bought them as a gift. I love the yarn and it knits up beautifully. I started knitting a lace pattern, but was not using large enough needles. When I realized that there was no way I would have enough to finish what I started, I rewound the yarn into skeins. Since then, I've not found a good project for this one.

Red Wool-Ease

This is a very deep red (I know it doesn't look like it!) in Lion Brand's Wool-Ease. I bought this on a very good sale ($0.99 per skein, or something like that.) I have around 10 skeins worth. It has been knitted into several different projects, of which none have turned out as planned. This yarn is still in my stash, as I just feel that I can't let it get the better of me. Surprisingly, it still looks knittable, after all the frogging. I've tried Mariah, from Knitty.com when I either knit the decreases wrong, or there was a pattern error, as the hood extended straight up from the shoulder, instead of having a neck. Then, I tried Festive, from Knitty.com. I didn't get this finished, when I realized my gauge was off & it would not fit properly. These 2 weren't even the project that I originally had in mind when I purchased the yarn. That one is long gone, even from my memory. It sure is a good thing that I knit more for process than for the finished project, or I'm sure this yarn would have me terribly upset. Currently, I'm planning a basic, raglan long sleeve cardigan for this yarn. I have other sweaters that I love in this style, knit from The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns. I'll probably have way too much yarn, but at least I don't have to worry about running out, right?

Current Collection

I've not collected much, since I typically cast on right after buying a new yarn! But here it is! I mostly buy natural fibers. My top favorites are wool, cotton & alpaca.
Mostly, I enhance my stash when I start a project & decide that the yarn is not right for the pattern. I get a little frustrated with the yarn (even though I know its not the yarn's fault!) Then, it takes a while before I feel like starting another project with it.