life with a chronic disease and a really big yarn stash
Ready for the Magic!
I really don’t like to do this, but the first step in recovery is to admit that you have a problem. That assumes, of course, that you are interested in actually recovering from your addiction…
I keep buying these gray-toned yarns with flecks of pink and purple in them… I think that I have actually bought five different 2-skein sets of this type of yarn with the idea of making another “Waiting for Rain” shawl. Maybe, I told myself, it can become ANOTHER Find Your Fade. I’m in my 60’s now, and my hair is starting to go gray… I’m wearing more black and this yarn will go with my entire wardrobe. Do I need any more excuses? No, not really. This yarn had me at “hello!”
Nope. Not recovering today. There is no problem here. I love yarn, I love to knit, it makes me happy, and there are few things that make you decide to do what makes you feel happy like getting diagnosed with a possibly-fatal autoimmune condition. Oh. For one thing, you notice that the condition of life itself is eventually fatal… whatever have I been waiting for? Buy yarn. Time to knit!
Still there is the issue of what to do with all of this awesome yarn?
This is the Marled Magic Sweater by Stephen West (photo credit: westknits). Hey, wouldn’t this be the perfect solution to consume that yarn and make something that will carry me through the cold of winter wrapped in absolute cushy yumminess? Yes, yes it will!! I downloaded the pattern that week and read the directions. Oops. This is going to be challenging and it is going to take a lot of yarn. Stephen suggests that you stock up/locate about 1500 grams of the stuff to make your yarn palette. Good think I have a stash that reflects my true yarn-addiction status.
I pulled out every yarn that I thought I could use and piled it all in a couple of large bins. After that I sorted the yarn into color grouping and sadly make some cuts. Then I made some more cuts. This is what I was left with…The marl in the fabric is created by knitting with two strands of yarn held together. I pulled out lace weight yarns in the colorways that I was looking for. This is mostly mohair, silk, and alpaca yarn. I have a lot of the steel gray mohair at the lower right hand corner, and will use the other colors to spice things up.Then I pulled out these fingering weight yarns to accent the gray mix yarns that I started out with: blues, purples and rose/pinks. I have some golds and teals that I put back into the stash, but they may sneak back into the working yarn palette later. I put in the gray Brooklyn Tweed Loft too as Stephen suggested that it be included if possible to help cut the weight and to prevent stretching.
Pretty intimidating, but I am getting ready to so some serious yarn winding and should get the project page on Ravelry started soon. Wow. This is a lot of yarn to enter, and then there will be the notes…
Good thing I am a true addict!!
PS: my rheumatologist told me that I should knit as much as I can to help keep functionality in my hands. Never did medical advice fall on such fertile soil… not that I needed another excuse. 🙂
I weave, knit and read in Aurora, Colorado where my garden lives. I have 2 sons, a knitting daughter-in-law, a grandson and two exceptionally spoiled kittens. In 2014 I was diagnosed with a serious rare autoimmune disease called systemic sclerosis along with Sjogren's Disease and fibromyalgia.
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23 thoughts on “Ready for the Magic!”
Lovely. Keep knitting. Yarn is not terribly expensive either(it isn’t cheap, but you get a lot of wear out of what you make of it). Also, as you age, and if you grow colder you will be glad for all those shawls and sweaters. Perhaps when you pass over, you’ll have put your inheritance into the fabric of these shawls or sweaters that your heirs can only get from wearing them…it’s what I plan to do with all my socks and fabric;-)…I’m creatively hiding cash or clues amongst the fabric and the pattern and they can only get it by completing the pattern…
That rocks! I love that you are embedding your estate into your craft. I’m gifting right and left, and I’m getting closer to charity knitting. I figure yarn is cheaper that traveling or some of the other things people do. So I’m entitled.
The stash will be left to the members of my knitting group. There’s no chance I’ll get through it all in my lifetime. 😁
Hello- I have the same addiction:) I ordered yarn to knit a pullover sweater in the exact yarn I knit my vest in-and I had no idea until the yarn arrived. I am a gray/pink lover too. They are colors that go with so much.
I look forward to watching your sweater progress:)
Isn’t it the best: an actual prescription to knit. I should be able to take the yarn off of my income taxes, right? Somehow I don’t think that will work… I predict there will be several updates before this baby is done..
What a fabulous post, sweater, idea, bunch of yarn!!!!!!! I’m absolutely buried in work and just came up for air to do a little catching up on blog reading. This is exactly what I needed! Can’t wait to see your progress. 🙂
That sweater will be so beautiful on you! The color palette you’ve been putting together without even knowing it will be so soft and warm and a bit like wearing flowers. I have made a pact with myself that I won’t buy anymore yarn until I knit up what I have. Now, though, I keep seeing patterns on Ravelry that I have to purchase to use up that yarn, hehe.
That is a fabulous collection of gorgeous yarns. I love those colors, especially with the soft grey. I’m also pleased to hear that knitting is good for your hands. That’s really encouraging (I know, I know, you don’t need any). I’m looking forward to following along.
Yarn, Books & Roses 
Lovely. Keep knitting. Yarn is not terribly expensive either(it isn’t cheap, but you get a lot of wear out of what you make of it). Also, as you age, and if you grow colder you will be glad for all those shawls and sweaters. Perhaps when you pass over, you’ll have put your inheritance into the fabric of these shawls or sweaters that your heirs can only get from wearing them…it’s what I plan to do with all my socks and fabric;-)…I’m creatively hiding cash or clues amongst the fabric and the pattern and they can only get it by completing the pattern…
That rocks! I love that you are embedding your estate into your craft. I’m gifting right and left, and I’m getting closer to charity knitting. I figure yarn is cheaper that traveling or some of the other things people do. So I’m entitled.
The stash will be left to the members of my knitting group. There’s no chance I’ll get through it all in my lifetime. 😁
such lovely yarn!!! that sweater would be amazing! 😊
Hello- I have the same addiction:) I ordered yarn to knit a pullover sweater in the exact yarn I knit my vest in-and I had no idea until the yarn arrived. I am a gray/pink lover too. They are colors that go with so much.
I look forward to watching your sweater progress:)
They totally are the best colors! Stay tuned, the knitting begins next week.
Sounds like a great project!
It will be an adventure for sure.
I love it! I hope you post pics once it’s done. And hey, if your doctor told you to keep knitting, then….have fun!
Isn’t it the best: an actual prescription to knit. I should be able to take the yarn off of my income taxes, right? Somehow I don’t think that will work… I predict there will be several updates before this baby is done..
What a fabulous post, sweater, idea, bunch of yarn!!!!!!! I’m absolutely buried in work and just came up for air to do a little catching up on blog reading. This is exactly what I needed! Can’t wait to see your progress. 🙂
Thank you, what lovely feedback. I hope that your work load smooths out soon. 😀
That sweater will be so beautiful on you! The color palette you’ve been putting together without even knowing it will be so soft and warm and a bit like wearing flowers. I have made a pact with myself that I won’t buy anymore yarn until I knit up what I have. Now, though, I keep seeing patterns on Ravelry that I have to purchase to use up that yarn, hehe.
That is a fabulous collection of gorgeous yarns. I love those colors, especially with the soft grey. I’m also pleased to hear that knitting is good for your hands. That’s really encouraging (I know, I know, you don’t need any). I’m looking forward to following along.
Thanks. I think I’m ready to start knitting today.
Evidently my hands are in great shape for someone with scleroderma. Yea, knitting!!
Yeah, you!
Reblogged this on Yarnsage.
I am also a yarn addict. I am already planning to make my daughter’s room into a craft room when she goes away to college. Lol
I love It! I actually bought a house with a walk-in closet in the spare bedroom because… yarn stash and sewing room!!
I love how you started off this post- it made me laugh! And hey, there is nothing wrong with having yarn, or we all have a problem! 🙂 Happy blogging!
Thanks you! I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one rolling in yarn. 🙂
Thiss was lovely to read