Yarn: to Buy or not to Buy
To buy or nor to buy, that is the question.
Hamlet may have reached the ultimate question about the human condition, but surely he was only one step away from discovering what really matters in life: yarn. Do you also go to the craft store when you are in a bad mood just to look at the rows of organized, color coded yarn? Do you think of all the projects you could make with said yarn? Do you peruse the pattern books and almost buy five only to remind yourself that you already have thirty at home? And don’t forget to look at the gleaming hooks and needles. But then your sister-- the voice of reason-- calls you back down to earth and says, “Why are you here? You already have too much yarn.” Alas, you must go home empty handed, but since that is impossible, you buy one skein or a stitch counter, or the one crochet hook size you don’t have and will never use.
If you also struggle with CYBD (compulsive yarn buying disorder), I would like to recommend two strategies that have helped me.
Make a short list of projects you want to finish.
At the beginning of the shutdown in March of 2020, I organized all of my unfinished projects and compiled a list. This list was over 70 projects long! I thought to myself, “I will not start a new project until I finish all the projects on this list.” Of course, after a few days, the list was even longer. This may seem like common sense, but one day I realized that if I focus on one project until it is finished, it actually goes by pretty quickly. Making the list was not enough: I need to have determination and perseverance to finish what I started. Recently I have been more focused on one project at a time, and I enjoy seeing the rapid fruits of my labor. If you have too many projects, start with the top 5 to 10 that you want to focus on.
One strategy for finishing one project at a time is to get a cute yarn bag with a hole in the top for the yarn to come out so that you have to finish the project in order to take it out of the bag. I have one that looks like a duffel bag with many compartments in it to fit the many crocheting and knitting necessities. I also have a little tote bag that fits one skein of yarn in it.
2. Make a detailed list of your yarn stash.
If you make a detailed list of your yarn, it is easier to keep track of what you have. By knowing what you have, you know the difference between what you actually need for a project, and what you want because it looks pretty. Before I left for college, I started cataloging my yarn (there was too much of it to finish before I left) so that if someone asked me to make a project, I could call my sister and tell her exactly what yarn I need and where it is. Unfortunately, I left the list at home and must rely on my ever faulty memory. If you are into all things digital, Revelry is a cite where you can catalog yarn, find patterns, and connect with other crafters. If you prefer paper,, her is a link to FREE catalog printable PDF.
As far as yarn organization goes, there a few cost efficient ways to store yarn. The dollar store is a wonderful place to go for the collapsible storage cubes. I would imagine kitchen cabinets a very nice place too, but unfortunately my mother wants to keep her kitchen, so I cannot speak from experience on that one. If you do not want to spend any money at all, there is one completely free method: just use the yarn.
Of course, what use is it to have an organized yarn stash if you do not also have an organized assortment of hooks, needles, and other notions? Below is a link to a cute hook and needle case I bought off of Amazon to match my duffel bag and tote bag.
Today’s challenge: go to the craft store and do not buy anything (unless of course you want to get me a present, then by all means, forgo the challenge).
