I began this year with a vow to myself that I would downsize my yarn stash. This is never easy and so I thought I would share my bravery via my diary exerpts from earlier this year.
28th January 2022
Dear Diary,
Today was a difficult day! I made the decision to downsize my yarn stash. I knew this day had to come sooner or later. And I knew today had to be the day!
I honestly don’t know how it happened. First it was just one ball and then 2. Before I knew it there were hundreds of the things. Yarn had slowly crept into the house and grew much like feeding a gremlin after midnight.
I can honestly say that I have enough yarn to make a chain length that would span the Pacific Ocean. And while that would look really great the yarn invasion must end!
Now Diary, as you know I do use quite a lot of yarn in my designer endeavours, but there is a small amount of yarn that should have left home many moons ago.
Of course there will be tears but I can do this!
I do have a few things I do need to do first (such as browsing yarn stores online) and then the destash will begin. I think! Maybe! Or Maybe tomorrow!
29th January 2022
Dear Diary,
No time today! Destashing will have to wait!
30th January 2022
Dear Diary,
I tried to make a start on cleaning out the yarn stash but I got distracted and spent the day just squishing and admiring it all.
31st January 2022
Dear Diary,
What yarn stash?
1st February 2022
Dear Diary,
Busy, busy! I didn’t get to the yarn destashing yesterday! But have made a start today. Separating the yarns into piles in order of, I MUST KEEP, want to KEEP, need to KEEP and the very small pile that I can maybe stand to rehome.
I do think someone is trying to sabotage my efforts as several of the balls placed in the rehome pile have found their way into the keep pile. But then maybe that was just me!
Diary, I think I need help!
2nd February 2022
Dear Diary,
Yarn everywhere! I need a medal for bravery! I gave 6 skeins of yarn (of dubious quality) away. I was responsible and carried out in-depth interviews with those wanting to give the yarn a new home. I am confident they will be well cared for. I said goodbye to them, gave them one last squish and watched them depart. Yes, tears were shed but they are going to a better place.
Tomorrow I will continue sorting the massive piles of ‘MUST KEEP’ yarn and storing it neatly away! Maybe a few more will need to be rehomed! Or not!
3 February 2022
Dear Diary,
Didn’t get any yarn sorted today. Life just got too busy. I must try to get to it soon as there have been family complaints re: having to leapt over mounds of yarn to traverse the house. I even received several threats of violence directed at the yarn.
Tomorrow for sure!
4th February 2022
Dear Diary,’
Wow, sorting yarn is great! I found a skein of Malibrigo Lace that had been missing for ever! Of course I had to jump online and order 4 more in the same colour to make a shawl. One is just never enough and it would be irresponsible not to make use of this beauty!
While I was online I also spotted some lovely Debbie Bliss alpaca in a gorgeous shade of purple and added 6 of those. And what luck, they had a sale on Scheepjes Whirl, so 3 of those crept into the checkout basket. Oops!
But Diary, you would be so proud of me. I managed to get much of the yarn stash stored away and now only need around 5 large plastic containers to store the rest. Tomorrow I will head to the shops to get the containers.
5th February 2022
Dear Diary,
Shopping day was fun! I ended up purchasing 6 plastic containers as I figure it is better to be prepared. I had to pass the LYS on the way to get them and I am not quite sure what happened but the car just stopped. Now some say that is what happens when you hit the brakes, but I can neither confirm or deny this!
And what luck! They had Premier cotton on sale.. I managed to get 10 skeins at half price! Woo hoo!
6th February 2022
Dear Diary,
Today I finished cleaning out the yarn stash and packing all the lovely squishies away. I did need the 6th plastic container as the Malibrigo/Debbie Bliss/Whirl also arrived this morning. I may need to grab just one more container next time I shop as they are all very full.
The feeling of achievement from downsizing my yarn is AMAZING and I am feeling really superior!
I shall have to clean out my yarn stash more often!
