During a recession, it is natural and logical to cut back on extra spending. This poses a problem for knitters—is yarn really an extraneous expense? Most of us count it as a vital necessity. Thankfully, most of us have what's known as stash—yarn that's been squirreled away, often with no particular project in mind, just waiting for a rainy day.

People have deep attachments to their stash. Blogger Stephanie Pearl-McPhee has referred to a stash as a form of retirement investment. I think of it as my own personal yarn store—I'm always delighted to rediscover what I've stashed and forgotten.

This week's project, the Jumble Throw, is a crocheted afghan that will help you make the most of your stashed yarns. First, gather all those bits and pieces—leftover balls and single skeins. You'll need 50 golfball sized balls, sorted into two piles. I like to use a method championed by the Mason-Dixon Knitting author-bloggers Kay Gardiner and Ann Shane--they divide colors into "juicies" and "blahs". Continue to follow the pattern, picking your contrast colors at random. If you're a stashless knitter or want to match the colorways shown here, you can use the selected colors of Inca Gold™, Geode™ and Ultra®Alpaca Light.

I chose Pure® Merino DK as the main color to unify the afghan and extend those bits of stash yarn. It's a perfect choice for home decor items as it comes in fantastic neutrals, is itch-free, and best of all, machine-washable.

Send us pictures of your Jumble throws; they're all going to be one-of-a-kind works of art. As a bonus, you've cleared your stash for spring yarns, coming soon...

Crocheted in Inca Gold™, Geode™, Ultra®Alpaca Light & Pure® Merino DK Skill level: Easy FREE pattern instructions Alternate Colorway

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Happy crocheting,