To many people in the USA, those words signify paperwork shuffling, headaches, and expense. To me, those words are like music to my ears. Tax time means it’s time for my Annual Serious Stash Enhancement. When Uncle Sam returns the money he has been borrowing from me all year, naturally there is nothing better to do with it than stimulate the economy with yarn purchases. So won’t you join me as we stroll through the 2009 Serious Stash Enhancement Expedition.

My first order was to KnitPicks who kindly scheduled a book sale just for me. The first book is one to get me started in my soon-to-be-newest vice. Spurred on by the gift of roving from my friend Tracy, I have decided to learn hand spinning so naturally I needed a book to help me along. I chose Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning
Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning (Teach Yourself Visually Consumer)

I have the knitting book in this series and found it to be a fantastic reference. This book every bit as good. With lots of large, color photos and clear but concise instructions, it will be a valuable asset to my knitting library.

My next acquisition was one I have been wanting for a long time but just never got around to buying. The Best Of Interweave Knits
The Best of Interweave Knits: Our Favorite Designs from the First Ten Years

I knew there were several patterns in the book that I wanted but I didn’t realize how many of them I truly love. This pattern book will provide me with knitting projects for years to come. The first will probably be the Icarus Shawl from the cover.

I also couldn’t pass up the opportunity to order some yarn and needles. This year I opted for Bare yarn so I could play with dyeing again.

Bare Wool/silk Sock Colorway: Natural

This is Bare wool/silk fingering weight. There is enough for a shawl or quite a few pairs of socks. The silk gives a slight amount of sheen and incredible softness. I want to attempt a kettle-style dyeing. I want a semi-solid with subtle color variations so the color won’t compete with the lace stitch pattern. I also got a few Harmony needles in sock knitting sizes. Can’t wait to try them out.

I decided to share part of my tax refund with WEBS too. They always have such wonderful selection. I have also been very pleased with their Valley Yarns brand. I ordered enough of the VY Northampton for a sweater.

Valley Yarns Northampton Colorway”Merlot Heather

This yarn is lovely, soft, comes in a fabulous selection of colors and is a sheer joy to knit. It is incredibly, reasonably priced too now how often does that happen. The only wools that I have liked this much where twice the price. I am starting to sound like an advertisement but it really is great yarn.

I also ordered Valley Yarns Goshen for Hey Teach

Valley Yarns Goshen Colorway: Sage
This yarn was an incredible surprise. This is the softest, most luxurious cotton blend I have ever felt. It makes me want to order all they have and roll in it. It makes me want to knit ALL my clothing from it – outerwear to skivvies. I seriously love this yarn. Kathy Elkins, the owner, helped me so much when choosing a color. She is positively terrific. But I discovered after viewing the color cards, that I don’t dislike any color in the line which is pretty unusual for me. I will be ordering it in more colors.

And since I was ordering anyway I needed to order a little sock yarn.

Shibui Knits Sock Colorway: Peony
Totally yummy

And a little more sock yarn

Berocco Ultra Alpaca Light Colorway:Prune Mix
Camera doesn’t do justice to the color. It is just filled with little bits of color. This may be a scarf instead of a sock

And a little scarf yarn

Rowan Classic Silk/Wool DK
You will be hearing more about this one in the very near future.

And a little lace yarn

Malabrigo Lace Colorway: 51 Vaa
The color is not accurate in the photo. It is much darker, deeper and richer in person. My camera just didn’t want to cooperate that day and I was too lazy to retake the photo. This may be becoming Icarus Shawl.

Thus concludes my Annual Serious Stash Enhancement Excursion. You will now be returned to your regularly scheduled life.