Hi Alene, this is most of my stash. The non-wool portions aren't in the cedar chest (the chest was once my Grandma's). I feel warm and happy looking at it.A few years ago, not long after I became an odd duck , I went on a stash diet. Just for fun, I took an inventory of my stash and kept the list. I worked from my stash for about the next 1 1/2 years, sticking mostly to my resolution. On the rare occasion something new came in, I gave away an equivalent amount. I also just plain gave some away, which is easier when you start to feel like you have enough. Then I checked how much I had left and extrapolated how long it would take me to use up the rest at the same rate of consumption (just to feel scientific). I was startled to learn that I still had enough for a few years despite starting with what seemed like a moderate amount and giving a bunch away. Well, that really changed my way of thinking.
It's true that it can be great to have enough to shop the stash, but for me, having that stuff there and knowing I'd be wanting to make something else by the time I got to it was oppressive. I gave some more of it away and continued the stash diet. It went well with my no-UFO strategy. I have officially become a low stasher.
In 2008, I resolve to spin what I have before buying more fiber (that didn't stop me from spending my gift cert. in 2007 on fiber;) AND to work from my yarn stash. When I need to buy, I will buy in an environmentally &/or socially responsibly way. I joined a Ravelry group, Greenies 2008, to support this. There are a number of options at my LYS so I don't expect to suffer too much! In the meantime, look at that lovely wool -- I feel so rich. Love, Cindy
3 comments:
I admire your restraint. I don't dare let DH see this post or he'll expect me to follow suit. I come from a long line of stashers of various things, newspapers, books, fabric...
I've rarely met a sale yarn that I could resist. I can always come up with a half-baked idea for a project as soon as the yarn opens its thoughts to me. I've gotten better lately. One of my resolutions for the new year is to get the stash better under control and an inventory of what I have. I heard a good suggestion the other day on the Lion Brand Podcast for creating a board with swatches of all the stash yarns. Hmm, a thought. Maybe I could call it Modern Art.
Just tell him I'm weird.
You may remember he's already called you a "Freak of Nature" way back when you first met him. (He's felt bad about that ever since but it's been good for 16 yrs worth of guilting him.)
I'm dropping him off for a half day retreat about 1:30 today so maybe I'll have plenty of time for attacking the stash. Tempe Yarn is requesting donations for charity yarn so maybe I can take a bag over tomorrow since they'll be open.
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