In Which I Attempt Yarn Stash Control
I have friends who are using this time of quarantine to clean, paint, repair, repurpose, and improve all the things. I also have friends who are accomplishing as little as possible, going from pj’s to sweats only on days they feel fancy, elevating hibernation to an Olympic sport.
Me? I think I fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of coping with all this. I’m still doing a lot of my Normal Life things, even though life ain’t; and I’ve added in a few Pandemic Projects™ to keep my mind and body occupied, while trying to remember to laugh everyday.
I can’t really judge myself nor my friends harshly in all our varied responses to life right now. So if you’re reading this and you feel like you’re not doing enough or doing it right or whatever, promise me you’ll take a deep breath, smile, and know that I believe in you, you’ve got this, and we’ll get through it. (Seriously, hang in there!)
When I talk about my Pandemic Projects™, I have to add the disclaimer that in between them I’m binge watching things on TV like it’s my one job in life (balance!). The biggest project has been my attempts to “organize” the yarn, projects, and accessories from 15 years of heavy knitting. It’s been tough, I’m not gonna lie. After several hours spent sorting all the leftover bits of yarns (and wondering why I kept them this long!) in the craft room, I walk into my bedroom and find MORE yarn. It’s overwhelming.
Before: I just can’t even…
Here are a few tips I can offer if you, too, are attempting this sort of task:
Take it slow. You didn’t build this mountain of yarn overnight, so bite off small pieces to sort or you will be tempted to give up the first day.
Make mistakes. I tried a few different configurations before I was happy, but I’m a visual learner and had to see if it would work (and it didn't always).
Be fearless. Don't be afraid to unravel something that you KNOW you’re never going to finish, or to throw away yarn that truly is crap, or fill a huge giveaway box of excellent yarn that you realize you will never ever use.
80’s tunes. Or whatever works for you. My cable company has given us free Sirius XM radio through the end of May and I basically live to hear Richard Blade’s afternoon show on 1st Wave.
Get help. While you can’t really have a friend over to pitch in right now, you can FaceTime your disaster for outside opinions and motivation. And perhaps wine drinking, if that’s your thing. Also, see below for other ways to get input.
After: This one is all just cotton. Remind me not to buy cotton. Please.
When you take a break from actually working on it, here are some other resources with ideas to make your yarn stash something you delight in.
LionBrand Yarn Blog: 12 Tips on How to Organize Yarn Yarn Stash
Marie Kondo (because if anything should “spark joy” shouldn’t it be your hobby??")
Studio Knit: My Yarn Monsters (I untangled some and tossed others, depending on the size)
Yarn Room Makeover (her “after” pic = Goals)
I hope this gives you some encouragement and maybe inspiration to take control of your yarn stash. There is something exciting about the fact that I now know where ALL my sock yarn is!
If you attempt this sort of Pandemic Project™, send me a pic of your “after” (and your “before” if you dare)!