Finish One and Start Another

First off, I'd like to thank all the participants, listed and un-listed, who knit along for 40 Days For Others.  We had almost 40 knitters in the sidebar and I got a number of things from the shop.  The grand total?  I really don't know.  I'm giving 8 hats, two blankets, a child's sweater, a pair of baby socks and 18 scarves to the International institute of St. Louis via St. Pius V Church.  (I'll deliver and put up pics hopefully this weekend -- there is one knitter from the shop who says she'll have one more sweater for me this week and I'm waiting on it)  There are countless squares for afghans, hats for shelters, kids sweaters, and adult and children's socks going to charities around the country and around the world (Afghanistan and Russia for sure).  I am truly touched by the generosity of knitters -- they give freely of their time, treasure, and talent at the simple request of a virtual stranger.  You all and your talent are a generous gift to our planet.

So, in thanksgiving and for the sheer fun of it, I came up with an idea.  And Pat gave it a name...

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Stash

Here's the idea and its genesis in a nutshell.  Consider carefully whether you want to participate.  Please. 

As you careful and consistent readers know, I have amassed a stash of great proportions.  I work in a yarn shop and I get a discount.  I took the job with the idea that the money I earned working would go toward the craft...a yarn whore if you will.  I pretty much stick to that, but ... really ... while I don't work full time, I can't knit as much yarn as I can buy because I'm working so I can knit for free -- a fabulously vicious circle. 

My boss/LYS owner is a seriously generous woman.  We just got a "knitting season's end" bonus and here's what I bought (on principle I always put the bonus back in her pocket...like I said, she's generous and I get to fondle all the yarn I want all the time) First:  Enough Elsebeth Lavold Classic Al in a great grass green (doesn't read well here -- it's a color we red-heads at the shop -- hi Marlea -- tussel over) to make the long size of this cable collar jacket and the Elsebeth Lavold book with the pattern.  Second:  Enough Classic Elite Flash in the Cool Mix colorway (olive, royal blue and turquoise) to make the Where's the Opaque? Sweater from Sally Mehlville's Book 1:  The Knit Stitch, and the book itself.  Both patterns I've lusted after.  Both I haven't gotten because, well, because the yarn's expensive I just haven't.  And my salary from last week?  Used it to buy a couple (5) colors of STR and Dani's Raspberry Limeade sock yarn.  A summer's worth of knitting, no? 

Ok, well, that wasn't the idea, that was the lead up to why I want to do the Sisterhood.  Gotta make room.  At least temporarily.  Here's the idea:

• I'll pack an 18x12x12 inch box with some of my stash.  My good stash.  I'm talking sock yarn, laceweight yarn, Cascade 220 (which I have in spades!) and other worsted and bulky weight stuff,  patterns, needles, notions, books -- whatever I don't think I'll use.  Did I say GOOD stash?   (Do I have to define GOOD stash?)
  
• I'll send it off.  To Pat first 'cause she thought of the name.  Which I LOVE.  She'll fondle it, peruse it, think it over, and she'll decide what she wants.  Because she can have any of it. 
• With one catch.  That she replace what she takes in number and kind.  Well, approximately -- I guess I'm talking value here, but I'd like to maintain the diversity of the Traveling Stash.  She'll replace what she takes with yarn she loves and for which she wants to find a good home; with yarn that is fabulous and which shouldn't be allowed to languish away in someones stash, un-used and un-knit.  How-ever much she wants to trade she will.  Then she'll pack it up and send it on to the next recipient.  Whose name will be generated by my random number generator and known only to Pat until it is received and blogged about.
• What yarn to put in the box?  What yarn your stash do you love?  Is there some of that yarn that you can part with?  That's the yarn for this little exchange.  I'd also say, I guess, no leftovers/partial skeins unless it's enough to complete a project with.  And I'd also say let's not spilt up lots of yarn unless you leave enough for a project.  Natural fibers only?  Not necessarily -- I have some Fiesta Yarns rayon boucle that's going in...it's hand-painted and lovely.  And, smoke and allergen free please.
• You've got to document this stash journey.  What you receive, what you take, and what you put back in.  So to participate, you've got to have a blog -- one you update regularly.
• The path of the box will be determined at random.  Participants will give me their summer block-out dates (when they'll be gone or when it'll be inconvenient to get the box) and we'll work around them.
  
• The recipient will have a week to turn the box around -- 7 days between receipt and re-sending, get it?
• I'm limiting this first sisterhood to 10 sisters (or brothers I guess) and to US residents (sorry Canucks -- gotta really think through the customs thing -- maybe someone up there can organize a Canadian version?) so I get the box back by the end of the summer.
• If there is absolutely NOTHING in the box you want to trade, email me and I'll paypal you the shipping to the next recipient (hopefully less than $10.00).  You lose nothing. 
• Cost to you for participating? Time:  shipping and receiving.  Cost of shipping the box to the next person.  Your stash -- did I say the good stuff? 

Now, how to get 10 participants, besides me and Pat.  Hmmm.  Leave me a comment between now and Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.  I'll use that random number generator or his sister to choose from the requests.  Edited:  I'll take the first 10 who volunteer -- if we have more than that, I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.  Might have to do two.  (smile)

Remember.  Consider carefully before committing.  I'm serious about this and I'm putting myself and my stash out there.  Please only respond if you want to do this in the spirit in which it is intended:  for fun, to get yarn we can't or don't always buy for ourselves, to trade our GOOD stuff with eachother because, who are we kidding, we can't possibly knit all the yarn we collectively own now can we, so we might as well be amused by it!   And do not respond if it will stress you out...this is supposed to be fun, remember?

And...if it goes well, who knows?  Perhaps we'll keep it going in the fall, or others will...

Did I forget anything?  Oh, yeah.  A button.  We'll need a button.  I'll get on that.

Comments

[Jennifer]

Hmmm... What a good idea! I'll have to give it some thought. I'll let you know.

[Lucia]

I really like this idea! There's some mystical thing about the gift that hurts, just a bit, because you really wanted to keep it. And you think your stash is big. So I'm in. I'm not telling DH, who would want me to send out a box (or six) of my own and not get it back.

[Carole]

What a wonderful idea! And I love the name, too. I'm not going to sign up but I'm going to watch and enjoy vicariously.

[Ruth]

What a great idea! I'll join ......

[Spinster]

This sounds like a great idea, but I don't have any yarn in my stash that I didn't get for a specific purpose. Darn it. I'd do this in a heartbeat if I did.

[Mary Beth]

Very cool idea! I love it! I have quite the stash of my own but I don't think it would qualify. ;) No worries...I will enjoy watching this little ditty and who knows? It could catch on like say....the olympics! LOL

[Anna]

I would love to do this! The only other stash swap thing I did, I got sent a box full of Red Heart & Lion Brand! I would love to do one with (dare I say it?) yarn snobs!

[Cecily]

Hi...I found your blog through the SP8 signups, as I'm one of the hostesses. I would love to join! :)