Swaps.

Last June when I first started this blog, I wrote a post about some alpaca wool that I had bought and was disappointed with when I started to crochet using it. See photo below.

One of the comments I got to that post was from Jodie, who said she would love to do a swap.

I sent her the wool and so far she has knitted this hat and this winter kerchief using it.

This week I received the most amazing package from Jodie in the mail.

It contained the 2 bowls above that Jodie crocheted from wool one of her friends made using coloured scraps left over from shearing a few years ago. They are such beautiful bowls and will definitely find a special place in my collection.

It also contained the most gorgeous pile of wool, cottons and ribbon, some bought, some handmade. My wool stash is really coming along now!

Thank you so much Jodie, I am thrilled and inspired.

I have also signed up to another one of Jodie's washer swaps. I have a month to make and send a washer and a packet of seeds to my assigned swap partner.

Last night I completed my 3rd ever knitting project, an apple washer using this pattern. Please excuse the wrinkles, I haven't worked out how to block my work yet.

I hope you are having a creative day.

I made some hats.

I made some reversible sun hats for the family.

The denim for mine came from an old pair of my jeans and the floral was from my favoutire maternity skirt.

Bren's front and back came from old, worn out work pants.

Indi's denim was from the same pair of old jeans as mine and the mushroom fabric came from Spotlight a few season's ago.

Both patterns for Jazzy's came from fabric I have had for ages in my stash.

I did make one for Pepper too, but living up to her nickname The Shifter, she has shifted it somewhere and I can't seem to find it anywhere. Her's is navy with dragonflies on one side and bubushkas on the other side.

Meanwhile, the grey band is slowly growing....

Even those skeptics who kept asking if it had changed have been quiet lately.

Basket of Craft.

This is the basket that contains all the current knitting and crochet projects I am working on. There are bundles of wool piled in different places around the house, but these are the right now, can't live without, must have with me all the time items.

This basket travels with me from room to room at home and then out of the house to school assemblies, waiting rooms, friends' houses, cafes and car trips.

It contains my knitting project which is sadly at a standstill as I have run out of that beautiful wool and the shop was closed when I went to try and buy more yesterday.

Lots of crochet hooks, needles for darning in ends and scissors. I will one day soon sew up some type of lovely bag for these items to be carried in..

My granny square thing that possibly could become a laptop cover.

A partly completed beanie.

A bowl.

Some gorgeous wool that I had to buy because the shop is next to my hairdresser. I used most of another ball of this over the past 2 nights to make the skirt of a dress but unraveled it this morning when the tension was funny on one side.

And some random balls of cotton and wool that might inspire me because of the beauty of their colour or the loveliness of their texture to create something wonderful.

I am loving how portable these wool crafts are.

When I was in my twenties I drove up to Byron on holiday with my sewing machine in the boot of my car. I could not be without my craft for any period of time. Not much has changed since then but let me tell you this basket is slightly more convenient than my Bernina.

Building The Stash.

I've been sewing for many years now so my stash is quite substantial.

I've picked up bits and pieces all over the place. 

I know the sort of sewer I am that I need to be prepared for when inspiration hits and what particular materials I will need for my next project.

So I have plenty of fabric of all different weights, some printed, some plain, some new, some vintage.

I have lots of different coloured cottons.

Zillions of zips of different lengths, colours and weights.

Bias binding,

And elastic.

Then there are the desk drawers full of bits and bobs.

See what I mean?

I'm well set up for whatever new sewing project takes my fancy.

So the question I'm asking is; how does one build a wool stash?

I have a few bits of balls of wool left over from Jazzy's blanket. Bren's Mum gave me some of her leftovers and there's some unidentified bits and pieces rolling around.

But when I'm sitting in front of the fire at night and I pull out my hook to get started, there's not the materials needed to complete anything substantial.

When I read a tutorial for a groovy beanie, scarf or vest I'm unprepared.

So tell me you yarn lovers out there, is it something organic that just happens or are there some necessities that every stash should have? What is the fat quarter of the yarn world?