Fabric and Yarn Maximization

Yesterday when I came home for lunch and started working on the green/brown wrap top, I discovered that I had cut two right fronts! I didn't have enough fabric left over to cut another one, so the fabric bit the dust. It was a cheapo remnant from Vogue Fabrics and probably only cost me $3 or $4, so no big loss, but I was a little bit annoyed.

I want to make the wrap top (version 2.0) to go with a brown skirt I really like, and so I searched my stash. I have a lot of larger pieces of knit fabric - 3 yards - because I generally like to give myself the most options for garments for each piece I buy. With 3 yards, I can pretty much make any normal length dress I would want to make, even bias cut ones, but I need 4 for a longer bias cut (evening type) dress. I generally buy in 3 yard increments, though. So then the problem becomes that I don't want to cut into any of those 3 yard increments, because I want to "save" them for dresses.

It's similar to the yarn-related problem in which you stash an amount sufficient to make a cabled sweater (about 1300 yards for me) and then hesitate to knit it for a sweater that might only take 800 or 900 yards. Maybe I'm the only one who does/did this. Anyway, I've now managed to get over this on the knitting side - I knit with whatever yarn I feel like from stash, and then give away (or less often, sell on Ravelry) the leftovers. I really have no desire to knit small projects so I know if I wait for that to happen, the yarn will clutter my stash forever and I'd just rather not. My idiosyncracy is your gain!

So on that note, and speaking of leftovers, I found that blue-green variegated skein of Brooks Farm Riata I thought I didn't have, when I was looking for something else in my stash over last weekend- so I am giving that away today as a reward for listening to my ramblings. Leave me a comment on this post about how you manage your stash quantities - i.e., do you wait until you have a project that will maximize the yarn or just knit into the yarn anyway even if it won't use it all up? If you sew, I'd love to hear your thoughts on that as well in a fabric context.

So anyway, I am going to get over this sickness of not wanting to cut into larger pieces of fabric, just as I have on knitting. I have a 3 yard piece of this (a larger remnant I also got at Vogue) which is also a brown print.

It's a little larger of a print than I wanted for the wrap top (I restrained myself from getting online and buying something else! can you believe it?) but I think the white with brown will look fresh and springy and it would probably be a little too Rebecca-of-Sunnybrook-Farm for a whole dress. So I'll probably use the leftovers for a little slip to wear to bed or something - I bought a pattern to make some of those with my 1 yard leftover increments of fabric. I used to buy them at Victoria's Secret, now I can just make my own!

Have a great weekend, and I'll pick the winner randomly from the comments on Monday. Please remember to leave me either your email address (preferred) or blog URL so I can contact you if you win!

Comments

[Julie]

Oh how I love contests, even though I never win! I tend to dig through stash and use it for a pattern that works with the yarn whether it uses all the yarn or not. Same with fabric, if I can make something I love and have leftovers, that's ok, something will come up to use the leftovers, or not. So I'm curious, what pattern do you have for slips? That's such a great idea to use leftover knit fabric. Have a great weekend!

[kozykitty]

How do knits cut on the bias behave? I always thought that the reason for cutting wovens on the bias is to give them some stretch. It seems that cutting a knit on the bias would take away the crosswise stretch? Do they look the same? Bummer about that fabic. Can you use the pieces to make a tank top or something with smaller pieces--perhaps a yoke or something similar? There are some cute sleeveless patterns like that. Or perhaps you could add some interesting seam details to a plain sleeveless top which would enable you to use the fabric. It just pains me to throw away good fabric! Of course you could make some very stylish kitty toys!!

[jsins]

Most of the sweater quantities of yarn that I have in my stash were purchased with a particular pattern in mind and I have, thusfar, tended to stick with using them for the intended pattern. I have a lot of onesies and twosies in the stash that I tend to use for smaller projects and gifts. Probably the most out of control aspect of my yarn stash is sock yarn, which seems so small and harmless that I have a hard time resisting it as a frivolous purchase. I've been pretty good about not adding to the yarn stash and haven't made any new yarn purchases since Stitches East. However, my fabric stash is a different story. I recently got into sewing so I have been additing to that stash with a vengeance. I am trying to stash with particular projects in mind but have added a few fabrics to the collection that I currently have no plan for. I recently moved into an apartment with a very large storage closet so I am hoping that will decrease my stash's ability to take over the entire house.

[Susan - Knitters Delight]

I have half of my stash going towards particular projects and the other half because it was a great buy, fabric print, or a common gauge that I will sew. I end up forgetting what is for what anyway, so I just wing it. I do understand what you mean about not wanting to "waste" by cutting into larger amounts of fabric or use yarn that has more skeins than needed for a project. Still, buying more is a waste too. I say cut and be freed. lol.

[Jenny]

I am a big nerd and only buy yarn or fabric for specific patterns, and therefore only buy enough to make said pattern, so I can't help you on this one. ;) It was funny though, when I read your post yesterday about cutting fabric at 6AM, I thought, "oh boy, I would ROYALLY eff that up if I cut fabric that early in the morning." hee hee. Have a great weekend!

[ikkinlala]

I don't worry too much about maximizing quantities, but if I have enough of a yarn for a sweater I'll make sure I use it for a sweater or another big project before I consider using any of it for a small project like socks or mittens. I'd hate to end up just a skein or two short of a sweater.

[Annie]

Stash... Hmm... This is a fun one. I currently have yarn stashed in a basket, in a shoe hanger on a door, and on a shelf. I believe that I am going to make a trip to Dallas in search of a better stash solution. I like to look at all of the yarn. I buy in all quantities, though, as of lately I've purchased only in sweater quantities.

[Roslyn Hazen]

I don't worry about my stash because it is not very big. I usually buy yarn for a certain project and use it for that project, if I don't then I just use it. You can always get new and better yarns, or fabrics, right?

[heidi]

Here's a strange way that I learned I was a hoarder. ha ha My grandmother passed away and my husband and I had been living in her garage (literally.......concrete floors) for three years to care for her and let her live in dignity (ours fell to the wayside HA HA) Our belongings were stacked up all around us and in a shed in the back........when grama passed away we began to assess our "stuff" to decide where we were going and what we were taking.

My "stores" of PRECIOUS-WAIT-FOR-THE-RIGHT-MOMENT/PROJECT raw materials was ridiculous!!! I was humiliated! It was gross! not just fabric and yarn but materials of all kinds! I filled a shelf in GOODWILL with my "wow is that a great basket" stores!

When I was a little girl my grandparents traveled all over the world and would bring me little pieces of candy from other countries.......when I moved out of my mother's house I cleaned the SACRED bottom dresser drawer of treasures and there were the decades old candy........never eaten because it was too special and ruined! ha ha an experience my grandparents wanted to share with me was lost to my hoarding!

I use materials when I feel they will make me happy!! because there may not be a tomorrow... OF COURSE I don't waste them on a whim but I DON'T SAVE!!!!!!

[LaKaribane]

I only want to comment as I do not knit and want to leave the chance to someone else.

I have a minimum that I buy, which would give me a short- or sleeveless dress (it's also the customary minimum purchase here in store, a bit more than a yard. The one good thing about being 5')

But if I'm crazy in love, I buy enough for two things : top+dress or pants+skirt, depending on the weight of the fabric. Of course, I always question if I want more clothes in the same colors...

Now that I'm exploring knits, I buy 3 yds too, thinking a knit dress, twice the fun! But already the temptation is there. I'm thinking of this purple cotton jersey in particular. What to do?

I'm still thinking about it...

[Katie]

I completely understand your desire to use ALL of one type of yarn for a project, but I really think you shouldn't be so strict with yourself. Knitting is supposed to be fun, so if you have more yarn than you need for a project, but you really like that yarn for that project, use it. You don't have to use the remaining skeins for a small project, save them to be used for a log cabin style blanket or you could use them for when you need to do color work in your knitting. You could make a striped sweater or scarf if you're not big on blankets.

[Christine]

I used to do that, always saving yarn for specific projects. Then I'd have to buy more yarn for a sweater that wouldn't use quite as much yarn, then if for some reason THAT didn't work, into the stash it'd go and I'd cycle through over & over. As a result, I spent too much $$ and the stash grew exponentially. (which is not necessarily a bad thing).

I've grown fond of sleeveless sweaters or vests to use up bits and partial yarn quantities. I've told myself a single skein of yarn or two could make a few stripes, but haven't followed through on a multiple-yarn creation yet. :)
Christine
treasuregoddess@kc.surewest.net

[knittymuggins]

I totally do the "wait until I have a project to maximize the yarn" thing myself :) I don't know why, because I buy enough yarn to make a huge project, but often resist using it for smaller projects just because I feel it won't be the best usage of it. Is that weird? I'm starting to wonder if that's the best idea though....

All the projects look great & I'm looking forward to seeing Paloma since I have some MerLin in my stash already that needs a good project :) Love that shamrock color! Where'd you find it?

Have a great weekend!

[marjorie]

I tend to overbuy, but that is from years of getting "just enough" and finding I didn't have enough. I don't mind the extra skein thing because I will rummage in my yarn stash for small projects, which have come in handy when I just don't want to deal with jammed mall parking lots at Christmas--and in years when I just couldn't afford to buy a lot of presents.

It usually doesn't bother me to have a lot of fabric left over, so long as the thing I was sewing turned out well.

But please pass the Riata to someone else. I have three huge batches of Brooks Farm yarn, and I'm still figuring out what to do with them.

[Shannon]

To tell you the truth, I don't have much stash. I buy for specific projects, and then rarely stray from my buying intentions! Although, if I do change my mind for a project, I will try to find a similar project that uses as much yarn, I hate the leftover balls! There is only so many hats you can knit out of odd balls!

[jordynn]

I usually buy enough for a sweater (800-1000) yards, and save those quantities for sweaters. If I want to make something small, I buy an odd skein (or trade one on Ravelry). But I'm really bad about using up stash yarn. I usually end up buying new stuff if I have a specific project in mind... My resolution for 2009 was to use my stash yarn. I got a ton of stuff when a LYS closed last year, so I've been working from that.

I love your blog btw!

[mary]

How do I manage my stash? Well, it's a bit embarrassing to say. If I don't have enough of a certain yarn for a project, I toss it back in the huge ziploc bag and move on to the next yarn that I do have enough for the project. Ummmm, I usually have 2 or 3 options of yarn for projects. My other way of stash management is basically to only buy yarn that other ravelers are destashing in sweater quantities for less than $30 shipping included. But of course it's not a hard and fast rule.

[trashalou]

Stash is an appropriate word because I have things stashed all over the house. The official collection, one drawer each for yarn and fabric. Then there is the unofficial collection..... boxes of yarn under the bed, collection of old flannelette PJs and baby blankets stuffed behind behind my bedhead to one day make a snuggly quilt for each child.

Every time I have a massive tidy up/Spring clean I find more of both in odd places!

[Janeanne]

I am also curious about the little slip pattern.

[adrienne]

I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE that brown print!!!! I have GOT to get up there to go fabric shopping lol.

[Michelle]

HMM I try to just knit what ever I want. Alot of hte yarn I buy though is designated for a project. However when it comes to fabric I'm like you..I hate to waste it. I guess it's because I think at least with yarn I can either Knit a small project or pass on to someone else. Though what can you do with less than a yard of fabric...

[Debby]

I am like Jenny and the others; I only buy yarn in sweater quantities for a particular project. I worry that if I buy random yarn it won't be enough for a project and then I'll have to search Ravelry for another skein or two. That would so stress me out!

But...there is one small bin I have with dark green wool and I am not sure what I am going to do with it. I bought it at least three years ago for a ribbed turtleneck that may be out of style, an old Classic Elite pattern. I thought about making the greenjeans sweater from Knitty with it, but it doesn't wow me.

As to fabric, my mom used to make all her clothes (and ours as kids) and stashed a ton of fabric through the 70s, 80s and maybe early 90s in an old dresser and cedar chest. Shortly after that, she lost the love and stopped sewing. When she went to clean out her basement room last month, the fabrics were all ruined and she couldn't even give them away. So that was a big lesson to me not to buy too much more than what I can use -- I could cry for her just thinking about it!

[Rita]

I used to only buy yarn in sweater quantities when I could get a good deal and then found I often didn't want to use it for a sweater so I've stopped doing this. Now I buy yarn in sock quantities and don't use it for socks. See a trend here? Now more often than not I just pick a yarn I want to use and find something to make with it.

[Kerry]

I also previously purchased yarn only in sweater sized quantities, but could literally outfit myself until the end of time. Lately, I have broken down and used less than full amounts of the yarn purchased, for a smaller project, and then use the remaining yarn for hats, fingerless gloves, scarves, or grandbaby sized items. It's really quite liberating!

[Janet]

I usually buy yarn for a specific pattern and try not to deviate. Recently I started a sweater that about half way through was just going to be incredibly unflattering on me. I frogged it and almost immediately designated it for a different specific project.

I do have a lot of one skeins and sock yarn that was something handpainted that I couldn't resist so I usually have something small on the needles as well.

[Juli]

I'm new enough to knitting that I haven't had time to grow a stash problem yet. :) At the moment I have two baskets, one for unused yarn and another for partially-used skeins. The majority of my yarn is cheap acrylic because I've been learning with it. I'm in the process of planning my first project with nicer yarns, but I'm more likely to knit smaller items so I suspect I won't have any problems cutting into a stashed yarn. I know I'll always be able to use any leftovers for a nice scarf, or in afghan blocks.

[Shannon O.]

Usually, I buy yarn for a specific pattern. I like to knit small and big projects, so I keep stash for each....but, I will break into large project yarn if it has been around for a while...