CrackSilk Haze. I Can Stop Any Time I Want….
November 24th, 2008, 8:47 pm
I’ve just visited a friend of mine who describes herself as a “Yarn Collector”. She is honest that she doesn’t always intend to use the yarn – she just wants to have it. Pet it. Stroke it. Love it.
Of course, part of my visit was being proudly shown her new acquisitions. It was a happy couple of hours pawing “pretty things”. 
I dared to observe (and only ever say this if its a really good friend if you don’t want to find out how sharp a pair of Addi’s are), “Haven’t you gone a bit overboard? There lot of yarn here?”
She replied, “Yep, I know but you’ve got far more than me! You’re much worse…” 
I was taken aback and quickly decided my friend was in denial. The poor dear, how could she delude herself like that? The conversation moved on.
(Stay with me – there is a point to this ramble)
When I got home from my visit, I decided to start a new project to see me though some dental hell. I need both sides of my jaw numbed at once for two crowns. Nasty 
Emily is in the annoying finishing stages and if do my scarf I’ll just finish it!
“I fancy some Kidsilk Haze” I thought “I wonder if I have enough for a garment?”
Do you remember when I made the Earth Stripe Wrap? I confessed to having 57.5 balls of KSH in stash…
I found a cute pattern in Rowan Studio 12 and went stash diving…
…I found some KSH…mostly odd balls and leftovers …and 2 packs of 10 balls …then I found more…and more…I moved a cat…behind the cat there was more…
Lots of it wasn’t recorded in my Ravelry Stash. I took photographic evidence and loaded it in.
For those of you on Ravelry, you can visit my stash here
The trouble with Ravelry is you can download your stash into Excel and do the arithmetic accurately – no “generous rounding” options in Excel!
How many balls of Rowan Kidsilk “something” (I’m including Haze, Night and Spray here) do you think I found?
130
I honestly don’t know how it happened – a bargain here, an ebay there, an “I need to buy something to cheer myself up”…
I don’t often genuinely shock myself but that number did it. Especially when, given that the average long sleeve garment takes 5 balls, that’s enough for 26 garments!
Want to see what 130 balls of KSH looks like??
There’s some other stuff in the bottom left corner of this box but it’s nearly stuffed with KSH.
Even Thug hangs his head when sneaking past!
Here’s my stash details so far. You can see my shame for yourself…
I think I must really have a problem. How can I buy so mush KSH and not realise? I am sounding like an addict even to myself – Lord knows how this post is reading to all of you out there!
And I thought my friend was in denial?! I owe her an apology…
Any thoughts on how to cure myself?
I did concider going “cold turkey and burning my KSH and never buying more…Yeah! Like that’s gonna happen!!
My first step is this post – admit to having a problem…
Step two – use up my stash…4 balls on the lacey top ?? It’s a start…
I’ve done this much!
Just 126 balls to go now…
josiekitten said,
November 24th, 2008, 9:34 pm
Well, you’ve certainly made me feel a lot better about my stash! If Mr Josiekitten ever comments on the amount of yarn I have, I shall show him this post! LOL I think you’ve accumulated KSH like I have sock yarn!
snoopygog said,
November 24th, 2008, 11:22 pm
This is such great therapy! My meagre 9 balls (that were bought for half price in a John Lewis sale), look very, very paltry by comparison. I’m beginning to feel good about myself!! LOL. Mind you, I have to admit to ALWAYS going straight to, and touching, the KSH whenever I am in JL. The colours are sooo gorgeous and it is oh so soft. Thanks for the on-line remote counselling. I’m feeling geat! (my stash is sooo much smaller than yours…………, which means it’s OK to go ahead and buy the lovely Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend that I have my eye on.
snoopygog said,
November 24th, 2008, 11:24 pm
Hmm, the Manos del Uruguay was your fault too! LOL
Uknitty said,
November 25th, 2008, 12:52 am
My KSH total weighs in at 17.5 balls
SewIknit2 said,
November 25th, 2008, 9:25 am
wow! we’ll know where to come if ever there is a shortage! lol! thats a serious amount of KSH!
Sue
JanieB said,
November 25th, 2008, 10:30 am
You even shocked me, & I guessed a very generous figure in the mid-forties!
Moggle said,
November 25th, 2008, 2:33 pm
If there’s ever a worlwide shortage of Kid Mohair, you could keep quite a few people going from your stash alone
Congratulations, that is a real stash achievement that lightweight stashers like myself can only dream of!
CraftyCripple said,
November 25th, 2008, 4:01 pm
Well if you really want to cut down on your enormous stash you could always donate it to impoverished knitters who only have 3 balls of Kidsilk – and yes you read right, I ONLY have 3 balls. So if ever you feel like a clear out you know where to go – (stands whistling in the corner looking innocent.)
Armelle said,
November 25th, 2008, 5:39 pm
Does Rowan have you listed under Most Favored Nation status?
Lynne said,
November 25th, 2008, 8:42 pm
Ooooh, I am so jealous. I could just dive in to that box!
BTW, where is the lacy top pattern from? It’s lovely.
Heather said,
November 26th, 2008, 5:29 pm
Hi Sarah,
I tried looking on your site to contact you personally, but what the hell… I’m writing a blog review for Knitting Magazine at GMC publications and wanted to write one on you and Damn, Knit & Blast It if possible? I would need to accompany the review with some of your pictures, would this be possible?
Please contact me by e-mail.
Cheers
Heather Gregory
dawnknitella said,
November 27th, 2008, 1:05 am
***drool*** That is some lovely stash! Thanks for sharing ~
Sharon said,
November 30th, 2008, 2:53 pm
Hi Susan
I cannot believe you have so much – that’s not far off what I have – and I own an online shop selling the yarn!! I don’t have any of this in my own stash, but after reading your blog feel honour bound to add some!
Sharon
Sharon said,
November 30th, 2008, 2:54 pm
Forgot to say, I have lots of sale if you’re interested ……….. (Only joking…)
sarahpearer said,
December 4th, 2008, 2:01 pm
I’ve just stumbled upon your blog through google, cracksilk haze is about the most hilarious thing I have ever heard in knitting circles – I’ve only just started with it, I better quit while I am ahead judging by your stash! Thanks, your blog is a fab read!
mooncalf said,
December 4th, 2008, 2:47 pm
Oh my goodness, that is a lot of Kidsilk!
Maybe you could try some patterns that use it doubled? I’ve made a jumper and a cardigan with KS doubled and I’ve worn them both a zillion times.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mooncalf/kelly-cardigan
and
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/mooncalf/lucetta
Liz said,
December 14th, 2008, 6:55 am
You can always try selling/trading on Ravelry…
I frequently check there for yarn if I only need a few balls of a color (IE: Like the Eveleen project)
Damn, Knit & Blast It » It made me the KSH junkie I am today… said,
April 16th, 2010, 5:02 pm
[...] I’ve mentioned my problem with KSH several times but most notably in this post – “Cracksilk Haze – I can stop any time I want” [...]
Lorna said,
May 6th, 2010, 1:23 pm
Oh my God! I am so jealous! And I thought my stash habit was bad .. but now you’ve set me off on a mission to out-do yours. I know, I am a sick woman. If you ever consider selling any of your KSH, please contact me – always up for a bargain that will probably never get knitted up
Damn, Knit & Blast It » Taking Classes – Cracksilk Haze said,
September 12th, 2010, 5:21 pm
[...] I could have done a lot of that at home with my extensive stash but somehow I never quite find the [...]
linda said,
October 11th, 2010, 12:21 pm
How lucky are you? I have 20 balls of ksh and thought that was plenty. Your’e brilliant
Damn, Knit & Blast It » Just One Little Kidsilk Fix Won’t Hurt? said,
October 15th, 2010, 6:05 am
[...] struggle with my well documented Cracksilk Haze addiction [...]
Bluebird said,
November 21st, 2010, 3:04 pm
I am afraid I too am a kidsilk Haze addict. I bought 10 balls of the Daffodil Yellow with the intention of knitting a shetland shawl. I can’t bear to see it knit up….so I bought several balls of kidsilk in other colours…just incase…I decide to knit with them. It really is a beautiful yarn