My drawer runneth over

Taking a Sivia Harding knitting with beads class tomorrow necessitated a drive to the only bead shop I know that is the most organized (how do they keep it that way with customers that bring in kids?), well stocked and helpful I have ever been in. Of course, it's about 15 miles from my house, but I don't mind when I get to see so much sparkly pretties and unusual beads at that. I knew my friend from high school was in town from the L.A. area, and it had been two years since I had seen him. Several months ago, his mother lost her hair from chemo treatments and he contacted me to see if I would be willing to knit her a hat. I promptly knit it, and tucked it safely away until he could make it up my way. Long story short, we made arrangements to meet halfway between my house and his sister's where he is staying. We both grew up on a local hof-brau's fare, which is just down the street from the bead shop, and he offered to meet and buy me dinner there, but instead I said a coffee would be fantastic! So, I waited for him at a nearby Starbuck's. What the heck was I thinking having coffee that late in the day!??! And a 'venti', or 'large' as my sweet hubby calls them. He refuses to speak the least bit Italian in a U.S. based coffee shop. He cracks me up sometimes! What I think it really boils down to is he can't remember which size is which. You know, the difference between a tall, grande, or venti. I've yet to see a barista barely crack a grin when he tells them what size he wants, a medium, so obviously, they don't see the humor. Anyway, back to why I was telling you this to begin with....(it's 1am and the coffee is beginning to wear off, so I keep losing my train of thought..haha)
While I waited for Paul...hang on, you had to know this was coming...I brought out my knitting. I got about 45 minutes worth done, which turns out, it was enough time to finish my Cointreau Cowl. It still needs a light blocking as Thea Colman suggests, but oh I do love this one, even if it is pink. I'm not sure what I was thinking when I bought this color of MadelineTosh Pashmina. I don't typically wear pink. However, I might put it back for a gift for someone I know that loves pink. This was a really fun knit....it's such a pretty pattern, and if I were to make it again, I'd probably make the larger size so that it hangs longer.

 

Not too long ago, as I was putting away my Hitchhiker Scarf, it occurred to me that my handknits drawer was beginning to overflow. So I went to spend an evening with my knitting group, and I asked one of the knitsibs what she did to organize her knits. How does she store them? I think she said she has two dresser drawers designated for hers. I told her mine was beginning to get too full and I didn't know what I was going to do. Today, I decided to revisit the situation and thought maybe it was time to gift some of those knits, like the shawl I crocheted for my aunt before she passed away. She loved it so much and told people it made her happy to know her niece had made it with love for her. She wore it constantly. I pulled it from the bottom of the drawer, and put it around my shoulders. How could I get rid of it now? I actually liked how it felt on me and how it looked, so I decided I would keep it and wear it when the weather turns cooler.

 



It wasn't until I started typing this that I had an epiphany. I have two cedar lined blanket chests, one that we use for a coffee table in our living room since it's the larger of the two. That one is filled with stash, and because I'm on a stash reducing diet, I think I'm going to pull it all out of that chest, put it in bags that I can stack up in our closet in the bedroom, and start filling that chest with my handknits. Or, I may confiscate a couple of my husbands drawers...it's all good. I'll promise him another pair of socks.

 

I would love to hear how and where you store your handknits!