I do the same thing in spurts with my knitting. I always have a project going, but I'm always looking around on the internet for different patterns, and in here also for new ideas. I find something that I like and then I order the yarn and there it sits, because by the time I finish my current project, I have found something else I want to do. I have enough yarn to make a prayer shawl and I was going to make a booga bag and then felt it so I have some noro kureyon and I have oodles and oodles of sugar and cream yarn for making dishcloths. I like to make them in sets and have a few for quick gifts. But yeah, I do like you do, buy the yarn and then wonder what I'm going to do with it. I subscribe to about 5 knitting magazines and there are lots of ideas in those all the time - some of them way too advanced for me, but I pick the ones I think I can handle.

Caron simply soft is a great, nice, soft cheap yarn. I love all yarns! I am so happy I enrolled in the samples from Elann because now I can feel and see the size of diff. yarns. This helps me substitute and use yarn combos from my stash. I love to felt too. Using the new eyelash type with felting is super fun! The new knit.1 magazines by vogue knitting has given me new love and appreciation for lion brand and other cheaper yarns. I really think they were wonderful to write patterns for those of us unable to constantly spend big money on yarn!

Hi, guys sorry for taking so long to reply back! Thanks for all the great suggestions!! I was able to go to H&L and fondle yarns over the holidays as we went and stayed with my parents in another bigger town. I found several that were great. I don't have my list here but I will get it later and post the ones that I like the best. Thanks for all the suggestions they are awesome!! I really do love the homespun, that is one of the few specialty yarns our walmart carries and I made my children all scarves out of it last year but I knew that their would be no stitch definition, but I have actually considered it anyways just for the feel. One of the ones that was on the top of the list that I felt was the chenille yarn. Does anyone have any opinions on that? I don't know if it would be too heavy or not as this pattern is worked with three strands held together throughout. Anyways thanks guys for all the great responses!! Carly

I, too, have a huge amount of wool suiting purchased by the pound as remnants at a local mill store. It has gone into many quilts over the years and I am now finishing one that my mother never got to finish. It's very special to me. I do not pre-wash the wool like I do my cottons, and always dry clean the finished quilts. I have always used the same wool suiting as backing. Because the fabric is not full width, the backing has to be pieced as well as the front so these quilts can become quite heavy even though the wool is light weight. The result is a reversible quilt, however. As batting, I have used flannel, cotton, or wool, depending on the desired finished weight and use. It does get quite cold up here and many people like sleeping under heavy quilts. I have tied several of the thicker quilts, but on the thinner ones I like to use larger quilting stitches (sort of like sashiko) or embroidery stitching instead of just tied knots of crewel or persian wool (I never use plain yarn). You did not ask about binding, but I use the suiting in a double fold binding as usual, but finishing at between 3/4" to a full inch wide. And the only hint I can offer is to be very careful if you have to rip out a seam. The loose weave of the wool can make it very hard to take out stitches if your thread matches too closely. You may want to have it NOT match perfectly, just in case. Have fun, I love working with wool!!