Stash Dash 2014 prep

The Knit Girllls are having their annual Stash Dash. It starts, this year, on May 23rd--a week from today! I'm always excited about this event because I love plotting and planning my own knitting--as you probably know by now.

This year they're doing the marathon style again, which means one joins with a goal of knitting 5000 meters (~5500 yards) from stash. Stash is stash as soon as it enters your home (so new purchases during the event also count). Spinning counts. Crocheting counts. Weaving counts. They usually count sewing as well but I always consider that a bit cheating since cloth yardage is not as directly related to effort put in. On the other hand, it's a cheating-friendly event so who cares? That is, it's open to as many people with as many passions as possible.

I am setting myself a couple of important rules.

First and foremost, I will only work on WIPs during the entire Stash Dash. There is no miracle on earth that will let me finish 12 WIPs in 3 months so I'm not precisely worried about it.

Secondly, I must finish Silver Sea. My sea silk WIP has been in progress for 2 years now. I am, it looks like, just about done with the beading (unless I add some to a further skein) so it's just k2tog YO on different needle sizes forever. I am almost done with my second skein. I have an entire third skein. I need to figure out if a) I want to add the third skein, [aii) if I do, do I want to use the Peridot or get another silver] b) if I do, how much of the third I want to add, c) if I do, whether or not I should add more beads, d) if I do, how I wish to add them. So it's got a bit of thinking going into it.

Thirdly, I must use current stash yarn. The only exception being my Trial Blanket and that's only because it's a test knit so I can't abandon it. I have so many possible projects--I do not need more stash. This includes halting my swapping on the Karma Yarn Swap board.

Fourthly, I will ply before spinning something new. I have been saving my single plys for almost a year, and I can't wait to see how they look when they're finished. I have my first 3 ply waiting! and another navajo ply, and several 2 plys... they're going to be lovely.

Now, I have a plan. Silver Sea will be 1300 yards when I'm done. If I finish my ~2/5 done Lightning on Quaker Ridge shawl, that'll be an additional 1700 yards (holding laceweight double was a really smart move). That's 3000 yards already! My goal is then to finish one of the other big projects--the trial blanket, the mock cornerstone blanket, the takoma sweater--and to ply my singles. That should be enough to hit the goal, and will also be personally quite satisfying.

Of course I have some cheater things lurking around. A hat that only needs ends woven in. Some slippers that just need to be sewn up. A colorwork cowl in bulky. If it begins to look like I will not make it, I may cast on something bulky just to power through it for the satisfaction.

Finally, I have to teach in July. sooooo that may take up a great deal of time :)