Stocking up for stash down

Like many others, in 2012 I plan to surmount my stash along with the Delusional Knitter.While my stash isn't as large as some (*cough*Mom*cough*) it would still take me more than a few years to knit through what I've got, so 2012 will be the year I try to put a large dent in it.

Here's my plan:

1) Sweaters

I'd like to knit at least four sweaters: At last count, I had enough yarn for 12 sweaters, but I think four is reasonable for one year. I love my Fluffy Cat cardigan, and I work in an office where extra layers are always needed- even in the summer.

The four I have chosen (though this may change) are:
a) Lore Hoodie - this is already started so I figured it was a good choice! Finish early and keep me motivated.
b) Empire Line Cardigan - this one has been in the queue for a LONG time and it's just so me.
c) Eve's Ribs - too long for a shrug, too short for a cardigan - it's a shrugigan! But it counts anyway.
d) A sweater for Dave - nothing chosen yet - but worsted weight (I have a lovely dark green merino) and celtic.

2) Socks

I'd like to knit at least one pair of socks for everyone in my immediate family, and just to make it challenging, at least five pairs for myself - so that's minimum 10 pairs (it seems like a nice round number).

3) Afghans

I'd like to finish at least one afghan. I have two sockghans started, so finishing one of them would be great. But I also have 30 balls of Debbie Bliss Cathay in Apple Green - and I think it would be awesome for a Yggdrasil

4) Shawls

I love love lace and I love shawls, so it's inevitable that some shawls will be knit this year. The only recorded goal I'm going to make in this department is to knit at least one lace weight shawl. Normally, I'm not a fan of lace weight, but I got two lovely skeins of Alpaca Fino from knit camp - it would be shame not to knit it.

Rules on stash enhancement

1) Wandering Cat Yarn does not count. Seriously - some days its just too hard not to bring home something from the dye pot - though I will do my very best to knit with something from my stash first.

2) Specific yarns required for specific knits are allowed. For instance, I have a friend who is expecting a baby in March. He is a HUGE Boston Bruins, and I plan to knit something Bruins themed - so I need to buy some black, gold and white.

3) The Needle Emporium's annual tent sale is open season - the deals are just too awesome to pass by.

4) Souvenir yarn. Should I happen to travel this year, and there happens to be a yarn shop - I get to buy at least one skein of souvenir yarn (this applies to Knit Camp!).

At the end of every month, I'll post a progress log to update you all on how I'm doing.

And, since I have several boys to knit socks for, but no boy sock yarn in my stash, I did a little enhancing today before the Surmount starts:

The red is some Wollmeise I snagged from Mom's stash (more on that in another post). The other is House Cat in Jean Jeannie Self Striping with matching blue heel-and-toe skein.

Wish me luck!