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Arts & crafts

How using up some of your stash can lead to, er, ordering still more ....

(34 Posts)
Witzend Tue 16-Jun-20 10:49:21

Having most of a big ball of very garish orange, I had the bright idea of looking for pumpkin-coloured knits, something for little Gdcs come the H-word in October.

Found a simple pattern for a pumpkin-faced ‘treat bag’ which I thought would go down well, but having knitted half of it, I don’t think there’s going to be quite enough for two. And since I can’t possibly make for one without the other.....
Please tell me I’m not alone!

Newatthis Mon 22-Jun-20 13:58:42

I think many of us 'crafters' are doing this. I certainly have been ordering more sewing/craft stuff even though I have tons of things. maybe we are addicts!

Feelingmyage55 Mon 22-Jun-20 14:31:23

Guilty - parcel just arrived

NanaandGrampy Mon 22-Jun-20 15:20:16

Ha ! That made me chuckle !
I am a quarter of the way through a crochet blanket which I swore was only using leftovers and now I’m so pleased with colours I used I’m going to have to buy more Of the same which no doubt will add to the leftover mountain at the end lol

Callistemon Mon 22-Jun-20 15:33:47

????????

Callistemon Mon 22-Jun-20 15:35:48

I can't quite finish the crochet blanket I'm making, I need one more ball. But there's no point in buying just one, is there?

Alas, it's out of stock. sad

Witzend Tue 23-Jun-20 09:43:50

Glad it’s not just me!

Still, I’m resolved that whatever the colours (masses of them and mostly not at all ‘tasteful’ since nearly all used for C-word items/Nativity sets etc.) will go to make a 2 rows each, all garter stitch rainbow blanket for Gdcs, who are too young to give a stuff about ‘tasteful’. So no temptation (I hope) to order just one more ball of this or that.

That is, once all pipeline projects are finished, so it’ll be quite a while yet.
It was someone else’s idea, I can’t claim any credit.
I will def. not be sewing in all those ends, though! Shall probably knot them to make a fringe.

I think I’ll have to make it in 4 rectangles, a bit too much to handle otherwise.

Callistemon Tue 23-Jun-20 09:50:45

I think that's why I've taken to basic crochet, after teaching myself last year, there's no weight on the wrists.

My aim is to make some (fairly) tasteful blankets then finish up with the leftovers.
I could be some time.

MiniMoon Tue 23-Jun-20 11:31:01

I'm making a "use it up" blanket. I saw a photo of something similar online so Im doing the same. Just join the yarn with a knot and leave the ends to dangle. It looked good on the full size blanket.
This is as far as I've got.

Rosalyn69 Tue 23-Jun-20 12:19:21

Guilty as charged. I’m using some of my odds and ends now but fou f a lovely afternoon for a big blanket and ordered 20 balls of wool. ?

Rosalyn69 Tue 23-Jun-20 12:20:03

Found a lovely pattern.
Autocorrect had a field day with my post and I didn’t check it. Humbug!

Witzend Tue 23-Jun-20 13:28:29

Ooh, yours looks good, Minimoon!
Are you making it in one go, or sections?

I’m thinking of 4 sections each of about 125-150 sts on about a 4.5mm needle and about 75 cm long - so finished blanket about 1 x 1.5m - though might have to experiment a bit.

Callistemon Tue 23-Jun-20 14:12:19

Minimoon, I have most of those colours in my stash, apart from the blue ......
I'll need to order some blue grin

I did use all the blue up with leftover shades of purple, lilac, pink etc on another blanket.

Westcoaster Tue 23-Jun-20 14:19:23

Having knitting myself into a frenzy since lock down I now only have small amounts of wool left, possibly enough for some hats. I'm currently using up the Aran wool I bought by mistake (thought it was dk!) a while ago … it'll be a cardy for DGD.
Happily I now have not one but 2 orders for lovely new wool winging it's way to me. Sales, so obviously couldn't resist! grin

Callistemon Tue 23-Jun-20 14:21:33

Have you noticed the adverts that pop up every time you look at this thread?
I should reinstate the ad blocker, of course.

Witzend Tue 23-Jun-20 15:03:26

I’m not getting those ads, do they not like me?? Should I be offended?

I can see I shall have to sort out all my blanket colours into groups that vaguely go together. I’ve got some ordered-by-mistake-and-couldn’t-be-bothered-to-return, rather nasty pink, some not-sufficiently-purple, and a blue that wasn’t right either - all huge balls of cheap-as-chips, but should be fine for a rainbow blanket.
Also about 5 balls of different yellows/golds/mustard, not to mention several different greens.
I know I’m going to be dithering for ages about how to incorporate them all as pleasingly and non-clashingly as
possible.

Stansgran Tue 23-Jun-20 16:40:40

I'm determined to use up all my stash during lock down" without buying anything more. I think I'm spoiling things though as my two last scrap cushions have really lived up to the name scrap.

Callistemon Tue 23-Jun-20 17:39:05

Testing testing

Callistemon Tue 23-Jun-20 17:39:44

No, it didn't work this time! No yarn adverts

Callistemon Tue 23-Jun-20 17:40:33

Oh, typing the word yarn works.
Now I have an advert for Deramores

JackyB Tue 23-Jun-20 17:52:37

My version is advertising furniture. I haven't had cause to mention furniture anywhere on the Internet, ever. At least I think that's what the ad is for.

My DGD loves red and pink so I started crocheting some things for her dolls. Then I discovered I wouldn't have enough red wool so I ordered some online. Fortunately the smallest amount was only 3 balls because it hurt my eyes to work with it, it was such a bright neon pink - not really the red I saw on the screen.

So now her dolly has a hi viz jacket, useful if she ever should break down whilst out!

Callistemon Tue 23-Jun-20 18:37:52

grin

I have some very bright yellow, some of which got incorporated into a blanket.
What's left is going to be used for another one mixed with white, red and jade.
I like to live on the wild side.

threexnanny Tue 23-Jun-20 18:41:43

I made a cushion cover to use up scraps, but then needed the cushion filler. Now found some more fabric for cushions and need zips and piping!
Then started making cards to use up more bits so now need stamps and ink pad to print Happy Birthday etc.
It's called Catch 22 isn't it?

Witzend Wed 24-Jun-20 12:02:09

This morning I lined up all my assorted colours on a spare room bed. There are over 30!! And that’s not counting black, white, cream or 2 different greys.

Even after I’ve finished all pipeline items, there won’t be much difference in the size of the balls, since they were nearly all cheap and cheerful whoppers, for toys and C-word things.

Namsnanny Wed 24-Jun-20 12:20:14

Witzend ... I committed the crafters sin ...I gave some of my stash away to a charity shop just before lock down!shock
It was lovely wool, but I've developed an allergic reaction to some yarns, so it had to go.
I'm still in shock though grin