Monthly Archives: January 2008

That being said, I do have some new stash-management strategies that are being implemented now.

For non-knitters, “stash” is the purchased but un-knitted yarn that lurks in baskets, boxes, and bookshelves all over your house. My personal yarn stash is, I believe, of a very reasonable size. I have some yarn that I purchased early in my knitting career that is quite charming, but not in large enough quantities to be very useful. I have some yarn that is leftover from other projects–too little to have a clear use, but too much to feel okay about throwing away. Then, of course, there is the yarn that was purchased with a specific project in mind, but the project just hasn’t made it onto the needles yet.

Note: Flickr and WordPress seem to be in a fight, so for now all you get are links. I know images are prettier, but I only have so much time I can kill with this…

Photo of Stash Corner

See? Very reasonable. The basket on the left is full of what is destined to become Matt’s felted blanket, which was drafted and designed last night over a mug full of mint chip ice cream and was cast on this morning. The wonderful little cubby-hole stash organizer was purchased at Target by my man, with the intention of using it for a wet-shoe rack. I convinced him that the veneered wood was too cheap and wouldn’t hold up under wetness and dryness repeated. Naturally, he saw the wisdom in my argument and we moved the games to accommodate his wet shoes on the bookshelf by the door. I must admit, what I first considered to be a luxury item has seriously helped me to understand and connect with my stash. It’s now organized and patiently awaiting my attention.

In order to maintain my new stash-management, I’ve worked out some very clear yarn-purchasing guidelines.

1. Yarn can only be purchased for a gift until all queued projects are completed.
2. Yarn can only be purchased with a pattern in mind, and only according to the size and amount prescribed.

Also, I have established some clear stash-busting (knitterspeak for reducing stash) guidelines. These guidelines apply to all yarn that does not currently have a pattern already attached to it.

1. Squares for charity blankets.
2. Cold-weather objects for charity.
3. Wristwarmers for random gifts.
4. Hats for random gifts.

So the moral of the story is this: If I’m not knitting a gift for you, I’m going to knit one for a total stranger.

Incidentally, the random stranger might be someone who lost their house in the SD fires last fall. There’s a fantastic knitter down there who is collecting knitted squares to sew into blankets. Here are links to pictures:

Chargers Patchwork Set

Red Patchwork Set

Brown and Black Patchwork Set

Log Cabin Patchwork Set

Yes, by the way, those are bamboo bbq skewers holding the patchwork. This is what happens when I start to get creative about the use of household items for knitting purposes. They were being blocked so that they would retain the right shape and size. I am the MacGyver of Kirkwood Place North.