Inspired by Stephanie Pearl McPhee

I recently went on a spinning retreat with my local spinning group.  As I was packing I began rummaging through the stash, trying to decide what tempting spinning project to take.  And that's when it hit me.  I haven't spun in a long time.  A very long time.  There might have been dinosaurs roaming around the last time I spun.  And then an avalanche fell off the top shelf onto my head and I had another revelation... I have a lot of fiber waiting to be spun.  So much, in fact, that it's getting precarious in my fiber room. 

So I got inspired by Stephanie Pearl McPhee's self imposed sock club idea and decided to create my own fiber club.  The idea is that I will make up 14 different packets of fiber that have fully marinated on the shelves in my fiber room.  Each one will have enough fiber to make a project and will have a project idea attached.  A few of them are already begun, most are brand new projects.  Then, each month I will choose one of these packets and by golly I will actually sit down and spin!  Why 14 packets and not 12?  Because I am starting now, in November and going through December 2011.  By the end of the year I should have spun down some of this stash, gotten some beautiful, unique yarn out of it, and hopefully started a project or two from handspun.

My first project, chosen not so randomly, is the beautiful red Romeldale wool that I blogged about here.  I chose this one first because it was hogging up so much room in the fiber shelves and I didn't want to shove it back in there, so doing it first will free up a bit more space.  Plus, that red is just really, really pretty.

Here, in no particular order, are the other projects I plan to complete. 

alpaca/silk - approx 8 oz

wool/silver (superwash?) approx 8 oz

BFL/kid mohair 12 oz

superwash BFL 8 oz

Cashmere/silk - 6 oz

shetland/angora - 4 oz

cormo - 8 oz

pygora/merino and black diamond - 4 oz

cormo/alpaca - 4 oz

polwarth

cormo/merino and superfine merino

paco-vicuna - 2 oz

merino/viscose rayon

mystery superfine luxury batt - 4 oz

superfine merino/silk - 8 oz

merino/silk and merino/yak - 6 oz

Got stash?  Need space?  Love yarn?  Join along and we can spin down our stash together!

Comments

[Margaretparsley]

I think this is awesome!
At the moment I think I've got around 12 different fleeces or fleeces/fibers awaiting inspiration. Now that I'm done with school, I'll be working but perhaps I can make one project a month with a group.

Perhaps it'll give me a decent jumpstart on inventory from our own sheep. Either way, I'm IN! I'll be posting on my facebook page what I get together. perhaps I'll venture into dyes a little as well...

[Jame]

What a great idea! I'll have to borrow it. I've just listed the fibers I've been meaning to spin for the last few years, and it looks like I'll be spinning for the next 16 months in order to get through some of my stash. Assuming of course that I can resist adding to the stash and spin all of a "bag" in a month. I also listed some of my technique goals for the coming year so that I can match those up with the appropriate fiber in my stash.

[peg]

what a truly great idea! count me in, as i have way too much fibre hogging way too much room, but i'll be starting next month -- too many fibre deadlines this month. although it won't stop me from getting the bags together! now to mull over what projects to go with ...

[Diane]

Awesome idea! What are your plans for the Paco-vicuna? I was lucky enough to be gifted an ounce and it's almost too precious!

[Tikabelle]

Ooo, I like this idea. And since I'm moving next week, there will be an excellent opportunity to go through my spinning stash and see what there is to see while I unpack. I think 13 months will have to do for me; I haven't managed to spin the entire time I've lived in this house, and I'm doubtful that I'd start between now and the end of the month. December to December it is!

[Kimley]

Hmmm. I haven't spun in ages either. You're inspiring me! Though I'm also thinking of trying to do the International Sweater-a-Month Dodecathon 2011 challenge! http://www.ravelry.com/groups/intswemodo2010 Ha, it should be amusing to see how quickly I fall behind on that one...

[Terri]

I wish I had that much fiber to play with. At this moment I have 2, count 'em 2, unspun fiber projects. I am such a bad shopper.

[Rachael]

Ok, I'm In! I have TONS of fiber to get spun up, most of which have no special project in mind, but at least two do so it's a start!

[Sabrina]

What a fantastic idea! Can't wait to see what you create.