FO | Color Me Blue

There was a time when my entire stash and all my knitting needles and tools fit into one small drawer. There's no mystery behind that miracle: At the time I was a highly monogamous knitter, so I picked a pattern, chose the yarn and focused exclusively on that project until it was finished.

Those days are long gone.

It's difficult to define a specific turning point, but like so many other slippery slopes the shift was gradual. Suffice it to say, the evolution from one WIP to several on the needles or in the planning pipeline meant more patterns, more yarn and more needles. Perhaps some of you can relate.

And that, my friends, is how this yarn joined the stash.

The original intent was to use it for cowls, mitts and similar accessories, but as lovely as the yarn was, it simply wasn't soft enough for the projects I had in mind. In the end, multiple FOs and WIPs were frogged, and the yarn was rewound and returned to the stash where it languished for several years.

Then inspiration struck. I was working on the bright and bold version of Flashpoint when it occurred to me the same modular construction might work for this yarn if I adopted a multi-strand approach. 

Once the idea surfaced, I couldn't wait. I swatched, cast on and knit happily as the pile of modules grew.

The entire project moved at a rewarding pace: It took two weeks start to finish and came together so rapidly, only a few pictures were grabbed on the fly. 

I'll try to get better photos soon, but in the meantime I'm relishing the results.

I took a deep breath and slowed down long enough to weave ends with care so both sides are attractive.

Flashpoint | Blue & Cream 

Yarn: Silk Blend Sport (Blackberry Ridge)

Weight: Multi-stranded to approximate chunky/bulky

Yardage: 1125 yards

Needles: US 11 (8 mm)

Size: Square (approx. 32 x 32 ins)

Related post: Here

This stubborn stash yarn finally found its destiny. The slightly crisp fiber works beautifully in this simple design, giving the fabric a subtle handspun texture that's quite appealing. The turquoise is pretty on its own, but the cream takes it to a new level. As an added bonus, the wool-silk blend lends a subtle sheen and produces a fabric light enough to use year round.

As wonderful as these qualities are, one crucial fact needs to be mentioned: Flashpoint used nearly every last yard, so for all practical purposes this yarn is gone.

And that takes us back to the starting point. My stash no longer fits into one small drawer, but after years of dedicated stashbusting it once again lives comfortably in its designated cupboards. 

Afghans can claim much of the credit: They eat yarn. They're fast, fun and easy. They're a soothing knit at the end of a harried day. They're more than mildly addictive. And for me at least, they're clearly the ideal way to transform tenacious stash into something terrific and useful.

Color me blue, which in this instance is a very happy color indeed.

FYI
For those who've inquired, this pattern is now available.

For more on afghans and color, click here.

Note: This post also appears as FO | Flashpoint Blue. Somehow the link to Color Me Blue was severed, and a duplicate post was the easiest way to fix it.