Guilty of doing too much

I’ll put this in order, one way or another. 

Chalk paint to the rescue for my new to me revolving bookcase.

Organized most of my fabric stash, 

Finished taping the fourth or four patterns I tackled on last weekends getaway. (Taylor shorts, Brassie johgers, vintage Rucksack & Clover dress.)

Organized my yarn stash, knitting patterns, needles. This closet in my craft room is 80% organized. I have yet to tackle the fabric (mostly scraps & the naughty project file) in the underbed storage box and a trunk that has a lot of inherited scraps. I hang the traced/cut patterns and WIP’s. I roll taped PDF’s and have them up top and to the sides, but I wish I could find a better way to store them.

Current state of sewing desk with new patterns and random notions tucked in back. (Includes Burda 8756, Renfrew, Sumplicity 2369, Alberta Street Pencil skirt, Morris Blazer & Japanese patterns for a dress and culottes/capris.) 

The mess on my coffee table.

Parts of a quilt project that I need to pull together so I can redecorate our master bedroom.

And today, I have plenty on my to-do list, but I’ve wanted to share all of this. Looking at my stash and putting my fingers on it reminds me thar I have plenty of stuff and not enough time to do all the things I want to do. I’m guilty of adding more, with no firm plans on how to get rid of it. I have half finished projects and big dreams, but I struggle to follow through.

I’m making a mid-year pledge to stop this nonsense. I’m not going to buy any more fabric or yarn or patterns. I’m sure I can make do with what I have.

2016 Stashbusting Pledge

I haven’t counted yardage in or out for 2015, but I know that I purchased a fair amount of fabric that remains unused. Most has a plan tied to it, but there are some one yard double-gauze cuts I bought at QuiltCon last February & Arizona knits from ClothPocket which may have been an impulse buys.

On to the business at hand, my two big goals are:

 1.working on one project at a time from start to finish. I’ve broken it down into categories to allow for some freedom: 

apparel, 

quilt (still behind from 2015), 

small/quick random makes, 

knitting, 

purse/bag. 

2. Secondly no buying for six months. I know I will need to make exceptions for necessities to complete projects like batting, thread and hardware. I feel like I can make a pattern allowance in this because I want to try sewing jeans and most years I scoop up any limited time offer pattern bundles to build my pattern stash. Limiting my buys will also allow me to get settled/organized into my new sewing digs and working with it for a few months before I commit to decor so that any purchases are truly functional. 

At this point we’re two weeks into the year and I’m sticking to my plan. I notice when I’m tempted by an email to start browsing at fabric and consciously make the effort to stop, redirecting my attention to WIP’s. Slowing down is good for me so that I can give one project my full attention, like my Nettie draped over my sewing machine, I need to fit the body to a smaller size in the arm and hip, lower the front neckline and then cut the sleeves and finish it up. Maybe I will wrap that up tonight, unless knitting wins again. 

  
Currently knitting Carrie Bostick Hoge’s Lila in Road to China light. 

Maybe, a sweater or is it a knit top?

Back in January I started knitting a random number of stitches just to use some stash yarn that I was not wild about. I didn’t have a specific outcome in mind so began in basic stockinet the first few rounds before moving into the pattern from Fifth Avenue Infinity Scarf from TenTenKnits. I love that pattern.

Lucky for me a friend loved the colors of the yarn and claimed the work in progress. Many moons later and with two and a half leftover skeins here it is. 

  
The pattern is complete improv. I tried it on just to make sure it worked before binding off the neck and the arm hole is tight. However my friend is at least a few sizes smaller than I am, so it should work for her. As I knitted the intended fit I saw was a slight shoulder hugging boat neck rather than the square look pictured, hopefully that will translate. 

Now to determine what to do with the remaining two and a half skeins…possibly these leg warmers?

Do you have any favorite patterns to use up this scant remainder and complement the gift?