In which I consider how to use the stash

In my last post I looked at the issue of inventory.  I spent significant time inventorying my fiber stash as 2017 arrived.

But I also have a yarn stash; many of us do.  Mine is--ahem--largish.  It's not quite as large as my fiber stash, but I justify that because fiber is bulkier and it is business-related.  My yarn is for personal use. Nevertheless, it needs a job.

I should clarify: it needs a lot of jobs, because there is a lot of it, and since I love to spin, I keep making more.  Some of it is commercial yarn, much of it is handspun.  I have "sweater-quantity" amounts separated, and still have at least 5 18 gallon storage containers full of yarn.

There--I said it out loud.  Confession is good for the soul, right? Five-18 gallon storage containers, plus another with sweater-quantities of yarn.

I've been looking at patterns to help me give this yarn some jobs.  Here are a few I have found:

1) I love to knit socks.  In fact, a few years ago I took on the 52 pairs in 52 weeks challenge, to make 52 pairs of socks in one year.  While I didn't quite reach that level of production, I did knit 30+ pairs of socks that year, resulting in a lot of leftover sock yarn.  Hence, the sock yarn blankie:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sock-yarn-blanket

A brilliant way to use up small amounts of sock yarn--modular squares in a big blanket.  Also easy to transport, if you do squares and connect them up later.  Not so easy to transport if you pick up stitches to add new squares as you go.  :-)  I'm considering making the squares separately, and then crocheting them together with a black yarn for a stained glass effect.

If you haven't done a mitered square, check this out:

The Magic of Miters: How to Knit a Modular Square: Get a step-by-step photo tutorial and instructions for knitting a mitered square, joining mitered squares and using mitered squares in your projects.

2) How about a cardigan with different skeins of yarn?  This one gives lots of good information about mixing different colorways of yarn together, when you don't have enough for a whole sweater:

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEw12/KSPATTlessismore.php

I love the fact that you can make this in so many different ways, and a cardigan is very practical here in Minnesota.

3) Here's another cardigan in the same vein:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stripes-on-thursday

4) If you like shawls, there are tons of options for using up bits of yarn.  This one is a classic type:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/log-cabin-shawl

5) You can always go for small items as well.  Headbands and hats are nice for Minnesota winters.  Here's one of my own:

This pattern will be available soon in my Etsy store, or you can email me if interested.


What patterns have you used to make a dent in your stash?  I'd love to get more ideas to dig out from under mine!