I can totally relate to your feeling of too much stash guilt! I also had an immense closet of "someday"
knitting projects to be started and finished. When we moved and downsized, the day of reckoning came! I spent a fair amount of time trying to find organizations which would accept wool items before I found the Knitting Connection in Medford, MA. They are a wonderful place to knit almost any
item for children 0-18. I also found Knitting the Rainbow, another wonderful group who needs handmade items for their population. I am happy to report that my stash has just about disappeared and I finally have almost no yarn left but it has taken me many, many years. The best part is the relief and joy I feel about putting my hands and yarn to good use! I
I’ve noticed that the size of my stash reflects the season of my life. I used to have a much larger stash than I do now (I LOVED Cascade 220), but after we had to clear out my parents’ home about 8 years ago my perspective changed - not just about yarn, but about stuff in general.
I hear you. I spent two weeks in July 2023 helping my 91-year-old mother pack up and clean out the house she had lived in for 34 years in preparation for the move to an assisted living apartment. That experience definitely colors my opinion on how much accumulation of anything I'm willing to tolerate in my home.
Another stasher here. Yarn has been irresistible for years and now I’m at the age that I know my stash exceeds life expectancy… I have a yarn room upstairs (other stuff in there too) plus a downstairs outpost. Sigh. However, I think we knitters love the act of knitting so much, and the inchoate pleasure represented by beautiful yarn simply makes us feel happy and secure. I’ll trade a bit of guilt for that delight.
This article totally resonated with me! I went through my stash this summer and it left me with a feeling of stress and that I will not ever be able to finish all of it. But now I will totally aknowledge the epiteth ”Yarn Dragon” ! Thank You for that!
I was really able to get my stash down to an acceptable (to me) level when I finally admitted it was okay for me to never knit certain kinds of projects. I do … not … finish sweaters. I want to be the kind of person that makes heirloom sweaters to pass down a la Alice Starmore but it’s just not me. I knit socks, a LOT of socks, easily three pairs of socks for every one other type of project. Otherwise mostly one or two skein projects, the odd beanie, some mittens, a good supply of dishcloths, the occasional gnome - that’s it. I just had to give myself permission to not have sweater yarn, or laceweight shawl yarn, or just whatever I won’t knit. Now I’m down to a fantastic sock yarn stash plush a small supply of accessory yarn.
You’ve made me feel better about my own stash 😉 I’ve managed to confine all my yarn and unfinished projects into my cedar chest. But what I don’t see doesn’t get finished. Meanwhile I pick up new projects like raffia basket weaving as if I have nothing else to do 😆 By the way, did you make that basket in your photo? You have inspired me to revisit my stash and consider how best to my yarn to good use.
The basket in the photo was bought at Target several years ago. I have two other coiled cotton rope baskets, both bigger than this one. I appreciate that they are flexible, do not snag my yarn, and provide a lovely neutral backdrop for all the colorful yarn. I didn't make mine, but I understand they are easy to make if you have a relatively robust sewing machine.
This is such a needed reminder about the stash we all have! Mine can grow in a few different places in the house while I keep thinking I need to do something about it. On that note, I am making an early New Years resolution to spend the next year (Starting NOW!) to knit winter items like hats, socks, scarfs, mittens and such and donate them all. One of our local yarn shops has a little donation box, (like the little free book library boxes) on a post at their door. Anyone is welcome to either donate or have these items. This really needs to be done with yarn that has been with me for a looooong time. I love playing with patterns and seeing what I can come up with! (I am looking closely at your very nice sock pattern!) Thank you Sandi for putting a fire under me!! 🙂
Remember, there is nothing inherently wrong with a big stash. It's really about how makes you feel. If your stash brings you pleasure and inspiration, that's great! But if your stash is causing stress, or worse, guilt, then it's time to make a change.
I think I needed this topic to help get me started! 1st off will be a 3 skein scarf of a peach color synthetic mohair-like yarn. Pretty color and feel. These 3 skeins have been with me since ..... I don't even remember! LOL I am looking forward to getting some of my stash .... out of here!
I also have been trying to downsize a lot of my crafting supplies. In addition to Maker Spaces in libraries, I have donated supplies to various Senior Centers that have fiber arts programs. Some Senior Centers have other crafting programs, like quilting, paper arts (card making). or jewelry making, so you may be able to donate other supplies as well. The Center by my parents had a Stained Glass class!
There are also charities that run stores that specialize in craft supplies. One example is Art from Scrap in Santa Barbara, CA. You may need to check the website or contact a store first to see if they will accept the items, since they may be overwhelmed or out of space.
Another good charity for knits is Knots of Love, which donates Chemo Hats, NICU blankets, and other patient comfort items, the patterns for which are on their website. They have VERY strict yarn requirements, but they are readily available yarns and not necessarily expensive. If you happen to have one or two balls of those yarns in your stash this is a good way to use them up. They are currently requesting items for Veterans through November, in case you need a quick project.
I use yarn for many different crafts that have different requirements. I started weaving, thinking it would more quickly use up my stash and soon learned that knitting yarn is not always good weaving yarn. So I have yarn for inkle, yarn for tapestry, yarn for the big loom and lots of yarn for knitting. I’ve also recently inherited yarn from crafters who can’t do their craft any longer.
It does feel overwhelming and I’m not sure where to start. This post has me thinking.
Inherited yarn (or other crafting supplies) is such a problem. On the one hand, Free Yarn! On the other hand, is it a yarn you would have chosen? These days, when someone offers to pass on their excess yarn (or the yarn their mother-in-law left behind), I politely tell them I already have more yarn than I can use and suggest some other places where they might donate the yarn.
Donating to the maker space at the library - great idea! I'm in the same yarn-filled boat. I've taken up rigid heddle weaving which uses up lots of the finer yarns, but still... And I haven't read any of those books. James is on my list.
I had a 4-shaft table loom 30 years ago, but it didn't call me the way my knitting needles did. I ended up selling the loom, and have so far resisted the temptation to invest in a rigid heddle loom. But the temptation is strong!
I feel I have too much yarn. I don’t have sweater quantities of much. Too many single skeins of sock yarn. Some kits for sweaters, shawls, socks, cup cozies, which I’ll do all of eventually. Along with too many books (which I’m slowly donating to the library) and too many art supplies for mediums I no longer paint in, all my stash needs some clearing out. Thanks for the suggestion of the knitting program at a local library. I’ll find out if there’s one around me.
The last time I moved (a bit over 2 years ago), I cleared out a big stash of arts and crafts supplies I'd been hoarding for years. So many things I tried once, shrugged, and put away, never to touch them again. So many little bottles of dried up acrylic paint. Dried out markers. Bits of needlepoint canvas and craft felt. ModPodge and etching cream and polymer clay. So many imaginary lives samples and abandoned.
I have yarn for my next 15-20 projects. I’m ok with that. I lost a lot of weight so I actually don’t have a lot of sweaters that fit me now. I donated most of the too big sweaters, but I unraveled the ones whose yarn I love too much to let go. It’s all washed and wound into cakes and ready to become new sweaters.
Applause for re-using the yarn you love. Every now and then I knit a sweater and I'm just not happy with the finished product. I sometimes unravel those sweaters to repurpose the precious yarn.
I can totally relate to your feeling of too much stash guilt! I also had an immense closet of "someday"
knitting projects to be started and finished. When we moved and downsized, the day of reckoning came! I spent a fair amount of time trying to find organizations which would accept wool items before I found the Knitting Connection in Medford, MA. They are a wonderful place to knit almost any
item for children 0-18. I also found Knitting the Rainbow, another wonderful group who needs handmade items for their population. I am happy to report that my stash has just about disappeared and I finally have almost no yarn left but it has taken me many, many years. The best part is the relief and joy I feel about putting my hands and yarn to good use! I
What a marvelous feeling, to have put your stash to work doing good for others! Congratulations!
I’ve noticed that the size of my stash reflects the season of my life. I used to have a much larger stash than I do now (I LOVED Cascade 220), but after we had to clear out my parents’ home about 8 years ago my perspective changed - not just about yarn, but about stuff in general.
I hear you. I spent two weeks in July 2023 helping my 91-year-old mother pack up and clean out the house she had lived in for 34 years in preparation for the move to an assisted living apartment. That experience definitely colors my opinion on how much accumulation of anything I'm willing to tolerate in my home.
Another stasher here. Yarn has been irresistible for years and now I’m at the age that I know my stash exceeds life expectancy… I have a yarn room upstairs (other stuff in there too) plus a downstairs outpost. Sigh. However, I think we knitters love the act of knitting so much, and the inchoate pleasure represented by beautiful yarn simply makes us feel happy and secure. I’ll trade a bit of guilt for that delight.
Happy healing!
I'm so glad your bountiful stash brings you delight!
This article totally resonated with me! I went through my stash this summer and it left me with a feeling of stress and that I will not ever be able to finish all of it. But now I will totally aknowledge the epiteth ”Yarn Dragon” ! Thank You for that!
You're very welcome.
Never, but then. . .
I was really able to get my stash down to an acceptable (to me) level when I finally admitted it was okay for me to never knit certain kinds of projects. I do … not … finish sweaters. I want to be the kind of person that makes heirloom sweaters to pass down a la Alice Starmore but it’s just not me. I knit socks, a LOT of socks, easily three pairs of socks for every one other type of project. Otherwise mostly one or two skein projects, the odd beanie, some mittens, a good supply of dishcloths, the occasional gnome - that’s it. I just had to give myself permission to not have sweater yarn, or laceweight shawl yarn, or just whatever I won’t knit. Now I’m down to a fantastic sock yarn stash plush a small supply of accessory yarn.
This is just so smart. And you must have a beautiful sock drawer!
Oh yes! Ask me how I know!!!
You’ve made me feel better about my own stash 😉 I’ve managed to confine all my yarn and unfinished projects into my cedar chest. But what I don’t see doesn’t get finished. Meanwhile I pick up new projects like raffia basket weaving as if I have nothing else to do 😆 By the way, did you make that basket in your photo? You have inspired me to revisit my stash and consider how best to my yarn to good use.
The basket in the photo was bought at Target several years ago. I have two other coiled cotton rope baskets, both bigger than this one. I appreciate that they are flexible, do not snag my yarn, and provide a lovely neutral backdrop for all the colorful yarn. I didn't make mine, but I understand they are easy to make if you have a relatively robust sewing machine.
This is such a needed reminder about the stash we all have! Mine can grow in a few different places in the house while I keep thinking I need to do something about it. On that note, I am making an early New Years resolution to spend the next year (Starting NOW!) to knit winter items like hats, socks, scarfs, mittens and such and donate them all. One of our local yarn shops has a little donation box, (like the little free book library boxes) on a post at their door. Anyone is welcome to either donate or have these items. This really needs to be done with yarn that has been with me for a looooong time. I love playing with patterns and seeing what I can come up with! (I am looking closely at your very nice sock pattern!) Thank you Sandi for putting a fire under me!! 🙂
Remember, there is nothing inherently wrong with a big stash. It's really about how makes you feel. If your stash brings you pleasure and inspiration, that's great! But if your stash is causing stress, or worse, guilt, then it's time to make a change.
Best of luck with your resolution!
I think I needed this topic to help get me started! 1st off will be a 3 skein scarf of a peach color synthetic mohair-like yarn. Pretty color and feel. These 3 skeins have been with me since ..... I don't even remember! LOL I am looking forward to getting some of my stash .... out of here!
I also have been trying to downsize a lot of my crafting supplies. In addition to Maker Spaces in libraries, I have donated supplies to various Senior Centers that have fiber arts programs. Some Senior Centers have other crafting programs, like quilting, paper arts (card making). or jewelry making, so you may be able to donate other supplies as well. The Center by my parents had a Stained Glass class!
There are also charities that run stores that specialize in craft supplies. One example is Art from Scrap in Santa Barbara, CA. You may need to check the website or contact a store first to see if they will accept the items, since they may be overwhelmed or out of space.
Another good charity for knits is Knots of Love, which donates Chemo Hats, NICU blankets, and other patient comfort items, the patterns for which are on their website. They have VERY strict yarn requirements, but they are readily available yarns and not necessarily expensive. If you happen to have one or two balls of those yarns in your stash this is a good way to use them up. They are currently requesting items for Veterans through November, in case you need a quick project.
Thank you for the suggestions about where to donate both excess supplies and finished goods!
I use yarn for many different crafts that have different requirements. I started weaving, thinking it would more quickly use up my stash and soon learned that knitting yarn is not always good weaving yarn. So I have yarn for inkle, yarn for tapestry, yarn for the big loom and lots of yarn for knitting. I’ve also recently inherited yarn from crafters who can’t do their craft any longer.
It does feel overwhelming and I’m not sure where to start. This post has me thinking.
Inherited yarn (or other crafting supplies) is such a problem. On the one hand, Free Yarn! On the other hand, is it a yarn you would have chosen? These days, when someone offers to pass on their excess yarn (or the yarn their mother-in-law left behind), I politely tell them I already have more yarn than I can use and suggest some other places where they might donate the yarn.
Never!
Reorganizing my yarn stash so I can see all my skeins instead of tucking them away seemed to help me use them!
It's just like your closet—you won't wear what you can't see!
Donating to the maker space at the library - great idea! I'm in the same yarn-filled boat. I've taken up rigid heddle weaving which uses up lots of the finer yarns, but still... And I haven't read any of those books. James is on my list.
I had a 4-shaft table loom 30 years ago, but it didn't call me the way my knitting needles did. I ended up selling the loom, and have so far resisted the temptation to invest in a rigid heddle loom. But the temptation is strong!
I feel I have too much yarn. I don’t have sweater quantities of much. Too many single skeins of sock yarn. Some kits for sweaters, shawls, socks, cup cozies, which I’ll do all of eventually. Along with too many books (which I’m slowly donating to the library) and too many art supplies for mediums I no longer paint in, all my stash needs some clearing out. Thanks for the suggestion of the knitting program at a local library. I’ll find out if there’s one around me.
The last time I moved (a bit over 2 years ago), I cleared out a big stash of arts and crafts supplies I'd been hoarding for years. So many things I tried once, shrugged, and put away, never to touch them again. So many little bottles of dried up acrylic paint. Dried out markers. Bits of needlepoint canvas and craft felt. ModPodge and etching cream and polymer clay. So many imaginary lives samples and abandoned.
I have yarn for my next 15-20 projects. I’m ok with that. I lost a lot of weight so I actually don’t have a lot of sweaters that fit me now. I donated most of the too big sweaters, but I unraveled the ones whose yarn I love too much to let go. It’s all washed and wound into cakes and ready to become new sweaters.
Applause for re-using the yarn you love. Every now and then I knit a sweater and I'm just not happy with the finished product. I sometimes unravel those sweaters to repurpose the precious yarn.