This week I have been stashbusting (that is, the process of putting to good use, in one way or another those little — and not so little — bits of yarn lying around).

Meet Alien and his best friend Alien.

They’re a cheerful little pair and smell soothingly of lavender. You can even heat up their insides in the microwave and they will keep your hands warm. The red one (called Alien) is a sophisticated little guy made of leftover Malabrigo in Geranio and Lion and Lamb by Lorna’s Laces, in Flames. The yellow one (called Alien) is Plymouth Encore doubled DK weight with some Lion and Lamb hair. In fact, Helena trimmed that hair with her scissors within seconds of receiving him, which nearly gave me heart failure (I worked hard on that, dammit) but then I thought zen thoughts and decided Alien’s hair could unravel or he could be bald for all I care. He is no longer mine. They come from the very nice little Knitty pattern here.

More stashbusting resulted in a little baby hat for a friend whose baby is due any second now (but hopefully not before the baby socks are done) from the leftover KFI Cashmerino that I knit Shedir in for my mother. This is sort of my own pattern, cobbled together from several places and with amendments all my own based on my inability to get gauge.

I particularly like the swirly top and how the whole thing looks a bit like a brioche.

An even more satisfying bit of stashbusting is that I put together a package of substantial yarn ends, leftover balls and mistaken purchases to donate to Interim House here in Philadelphia, which has a knitting program. I found out about them through Abby and am glad that some yarn will find a good home there. I’m also sticking in some large skeins of nice cotton and rayon yarn I bought at Stitches East because, well, because I thought it might be nice to.

Similar Posts:

• The only normal people are those you don’t know very well yet
• Why actors should not be allowed to procreate
• Loop de London Loop