Haha oh it's driving me nuts that I didn't mention it too! The reason I haven't knit with it yet is that I need to find a black that is the same or similar base to make my husband a hat. He picked out the yarn at Rhinebeck this year... so if we want to blame someone we can blame him. 😜😜
Yes, you do make sense. Because you did you stash down and I watched “the minimalist housewife” Elli Hurst I knew I had to do something with all the stuff I have hoarded. The yarn stash I have is minimal 200 skeins, then I have not even thought about how many cotton balls of yarn I have from when I was just crocheting.😱 I have told myself that I have to stop buying and start looking in my stash first. Because I do that, I keep myself from buying yarn that is beautiful but I don’t need. Being conscious of the question “do I really need this” you helped me to be more aware. ❤ oh and Now I can make stuff for others with the beautiful yarns I had in my stash 😀
We are moving and in the process I had to look at my stash of knitting yarn, spinning fiber, and weaving yarn. Some were door prizes, auction and estate sale finds, and swaps, or inherited from my mom, but most i bought. I was shocked. I have filled dozens of bins and organized it all on Ravely. I want to give more of it away.
My stash only consists of planned projects. But it definitely feels overwhelming because I am finding patterns and buying the yarn for it faster than I can work
This is me too. I sat down last night and looked through everything and was very ruthless with myself (it's the only way I can do it!) I put back the stash that I really want to work with, I didn't count sock yarn because I know I'll always use that, and then the rest I boxed up to give away. There were a couple of special skeins that have no project but are too special for me to part with,but I feel better about having the yarn for projects I know I want. And if I don't use it this year, out it goes!
Thank you for showing me the path this year. I was the person overwhelmed by the amount of stash. The fear of hoarding was really on me. I had previously purchased yarns that everyone told me i needed or were essential in the stash living in the far north. And then I was the lucky recipient of so much stash from older people i knew in my community that were downsizing. How can you say no to that. 2022 was life changing for me and you gave me the boost to do it. I used a lot of stash. Knit tons. I reaffirmed what I enjoyed working with and what I didn’t. I made donation hats. I bundled so much yarn up and gave away to friends and donated. It felt good. I didn’t feel I was wasting. I was sharing. And if you can believe it I started December at -193 skeins. Yep, and I was ok buying new yarn too! I didn’t feel guilty and actually the new yarn purchases I made except for one but it’s wound and ready to go, I’ve already knit with them. Already! It feels good. Thank you for sharing your journey and showing me there is space to make these changes. Yay 2023! Can’t wait to feel the stash load lift some more (because yes, I still have too much still but I keep whittling it down!).
I love receiving destashed supplies, it has allowed me to make a lot of projects I wouldn’t have been able to make otherwise… but it is definitely easy to get overwhelmed with stuff when you do that. I’ve been learning different ways to mitigate that. I try to go through and pull out what I want first, let friends got through it, and then try to donate anything I can see ever using. Finding schools, senior homes, craft thrift stores, etc where I know the supplies will be used and appreciated also helps with destashing. Though I have been surprised occasionally by using a lot of things I genuinely couldn’t have conceived of using when I was given them, but that isn’t that common.
I love your podcasts because they are not 50% yarn hauls. I have had to quit watching a lot of podcasts because it doesn't help my spending habits. And this year, when you do buy yarn its usually for a purchase, and you share your decision making process with us, so it helps me be more mindful with what I buy. So, thank you. Also, the reason the average skeins used for projects picked up in April and on is because you finished up the WIPs from 2021 and started focusing on one or two projects at a time, so you moved through them at a steady pace. Otherwise, you would have had, like, 25 used in projects one month for casting on, but then only one or two (or zero!) for a few months after while you worked on those WIPs. Currently, I'm struggling with wanting to start all the projects. I want to use up my stash, so I want a plan for it all, and one I have a plan, I'm ready to go. Instead, I have my few year long projects (big, no rush) and then one or two smaller ones. We'll see how long that lasts. I just went through my yarn basket and have a bag to give away (after my kids go through it), plus a few more I've kept "for now" but will probably donate later on down the line.
Congratulations. What a great plan. I too get very annoyed with some podcasts with their huge hauls. There is one podcast that is very popular that I once LOVED to watch. As it grew, it become a couple hours long, or more. It was no longer fun, it became too much of an infomercial. I enjoy seeing what people are making, planning their future makes and finished objects.
I am doing a NO BUY 2023 because I have over 20 sweater quantities of yarn and I don't know how much sock yarn. I buy yarn when I am stressed so I need to work through what I bought! Rachelle in Seattle 😍
Me too ....🙃.🧶 🧶 🧶 Stash no more in 2024 Stash down drive in 2025 Stash (out) fix in 2026 Stash gone heaven in 2027 Stash done mate in 2028 I need to stop now 😁
"Buying yarn and using yarn are two separate hobbies." LOL THAT'S AWESOME! That's my new mantra for the year! But seriously, I can't help but notice how similar this process is to losing weight, decluttering in general, so many other goals. Gains and losses happen, as long as you are making progress toward your goal it's good. Thanks for sharing this process.
I love the idea of having 2 different sections... stash you love, and stash you don't really care about...I won't destash like you because I have kids around me that love to knit, and I'm happy to share my yarn with them.... but it would be great to just be able to say they can have anything from the area that I don't really want to use.
I never have had a stash (scraps don't count haha), and watching you throughout this year I actually don't want one. It is so nice to have the freedom and get excited about the yarn and the pattern in the moment, and perfectly match them ❤ Love your video's!
Congratulations! I have been crocheting and knitting through my mom's yarn stash since 2015 when she passed. She was pretty typical of having that craft room filled with yarn. I finished it up with a scrap baby afghan at Thanksgiving. Wish, I would have taken pictures of the journey. I just had lots of empty 18-gallon totes to show my progress. I loan them out to family and friends who are moving to cut down on boxes. LOL, there is that many. 😅
Congratulations on keeping a commitment to yourself and reducing your yarn stash. I love how you have created space to be more intentional with your yarn buying and project planning - not to mention regaining some physical space. A minimalist yarn stash is definitely something that a person could strive to achieve when they have quick and easy access to multiple Local Yarn Shops. For some of us the benefits of having a yarn stash that would be the envy of many yarn shops is the lack of quick and easy access to new yarn. I love your podcast. Thanks for sharing your journey.
I loved watching your journey to destashing! While I’m the exact opposite I can appreciate the simplicity of not having one. I have my own yarn room and I get excited seeing the different colors so I pick a pattern based on the yarn that I want to work with, the creative juices start to flow.
I watched this the other day and was inspired to destash. I 100% feel yarn guilt when I buy more because I don’t want to work with what I have and/or don’t have enough of any one kind. That being said, I have 2 trash bags full I’m taking to a friend later and am starting out 2023 with 32 skeins. It still seems like a lot but I have project ideas for the majority of it. Happy New Year and thank you for inspiring me!
I am so happy you have met your goal. Really, one skein in stash is not really a stash. I choose not to be stashless, but you did inspire me to go through my stash and donate a very large part that I knew I would never use. My problem is that the majority of my remaining stash is intended for projects I really want to do, but time is an issue. I try not to have more than five WIPs going at a time, and that works for me. Thank you for your videos.
Thank you! Yeah I realize I didn't explain why the one skein stayed in stash, but it does have future project plans. It didn't feel stressful though! I think that's more than okay to keep that yarn that you have plans for!
I love how you approach this topic and appreciate your love language: this is your journey and your lessons and they might give others insight/ inspiration what to do or what not to do. Reaching for your goal has opened up possibilities in your mind and I thank you for sharing your process and the kindness you show for all your viewer in whatever phase of stash they are. I am curious about the rest of your creative journey. See you next year! Katja
I enjoyed this video immensly. When I first started watching I felt that your organization was a little bit over the top but now I see the great reasons and value in all you do. I have shelves in my closet full of yarn and I don't even know what's there. There are acrylic yarns from when I first started knitting up to one of a kind yarn, too little or too much yarn for projects that don't really match anything else etc, etc. You have inspired me to pull it all out and make the "love" pile and see what will go in the box and what I can give away now. I don't have a plan for getting rid of stash but will only keep yarn that has some kind of purpose for a future project. Thanks so much for the inspiration! And yes, this will work for other areas of life in general!
I loved hearing all of your insights from your year of de-stashing. I am not trying to eliminate my stash, but I definitely do need some kind of goal to keep it at a manageable level as it has grown a bit out of control lately. I decided to tally up all my yarn (including minis and partial skeins) and the yardage, and I have over 50 km (31 miles) of yarn!! I have decided to start a yarn in vs yarn out page for each month in my knitting and crochet notebook. One thing I am doing differently, is I am not counting it as "yarn out" until the project is completed. I felt that when I was counting yarn allocated towards a project as yarn out of stash, I felt myself wanting to cast on as many projects as possible in order to make it appear as though my stash was smaller than what it is, when the issue of the yarn still physically being in my craft room hadn't changed. My main motivation for the project is the practical aspect that I need my stash to be at a quantity that is manageable for storage so I decided if the yarn is still in a tub or on my WIP shelf, it's still in my stash.
Shauna Stitches has a great plan for keeping track of actual stash by grams. I really appreciate her system because it honestly acknowledges her stash. When people say advents don’t count-that’s almost 6 skeins of yarn per advent. Best of luck with your year of knitting!
I am super impressed that your destash has worked so brilliantly! I am the knitter who gets overwhelmed with too much stash and too many wips and enjoy my knitting so much more since I thoughtfully planned my projects starting a couple of years ago. I can honestly say my stash is in one small container and I truly love every skein! I am down to 3 wips which will all be completed this year. I am inspired by your planning and by your channel in general. Thank you Natalie and Ken (and Toaster) and a happy new year xx
❤Watching in August of 2024, and may I just say you are the inspiration and the motivation behind my own stashless journey. Now I didn't have anywhere near as large of a yarn stash as you did, but between monthly subscription services, impulsive shopping trips, I was feeling so overwhelmed by how much yarn that I had I just could not create anything new that I would actually enjoy. Then I discovered your channel and knew that if a big name UA-camr could do it, so could I. I am very grateful that I can say that I have one project that I'm working on, no more skeins in my stash, and all my large scraps of yarn go into a little DelaQ snap bag for my daughters (3 & 2) to play with. ❤It is always so fascinating to me when I talk about being stashless and so many creators try pushing me towards buying more yarn, asking me what's wrong with me, insinuating that I need to go see a psychiatrist, and just the overall ignorance behind people's perceptions of being stashless. ❤I will never go so far as to say that everyone needs to be specialist, as that is just not possible for people who make items to sell or give to charity / family, but it is definitely something that I would strongly advise other creators to consider and to really take a step back from their stash and see how much it is taking over their life and preventing them from living.
I've really enjoyed following your journey! I'm OK with having a medium-sized yarn stash, but I want to avoid feeling overwhelmed/obligated. The rule I have for myself is that I can buy new yarn only for a specific project, and only if I'm going to cast on immediately.
Thank you for sharing your stash journey, Natalie! I am totally someone who would have decision paralysis if I had a large stash. I am happy with the smallish stash I have at the moment, but as I use that I plan to only replenish on a project-specific basis. My stash goal is over time to develop a "scrap stash" to use for gnomes and scrappy hats, etc. My bigger fiber/yarn goal this year is to make sure I'm setting aside more time to knit, crochet, and spin. I've started to make a plan for that based on a mix of your plan sharing (yay for Excel!) and BostonJen's (yay for Evernote!). That plan also includes something else you've inspired me to do, learn to knit without looking at my knitting as much - I love to read too, so that goal will also help me with my to-read list a bit. I appreciate you sharing what you learned through this process. It's been really helpful!
I love this attitude of figuring out what works for you! My ideal stash is about the amount of skeins you had half way through the year. I want a little bit to work from but not for it to be overwhelming! I’m hoping to do the use 2023 grams of yarn in 2023!
I found a few online forums where I resold my yarn for very inexpensive prices! It really helped with a bulk of destashing my nicer yarns and then I donated yarns that didn’t make sense to resell. I got deep about my stash after being homeless between 18 & 19, it was like a real hoarding issue (I’ve OCD and hoarding in my family and on my chart). I was so afraid to be without something to bring me joy and a hobby that I realized I couldn’t let go. I’m in a much better place now with a loving boyfriend and family who buys me yarn I’m in love with and use, it’s time to let go of what brought me joy for a while but isn’t necessary anymore. For anyone out there who is struggling in the same way, I see you and feel you and validate you ❤️
This is a fantastic personal journey that you have met. I believe that a stash down works for those you feel the need to do so. You may want to touch down in the future Nat and give us some inspiration and guidance on how some of us can eliminate our WIP'S by using the same techniques here. Taking out the oldest wip and making a plan and journey to finish it or pass it on to a friend. A baby step well worth trying. Big WIP'S can be eliminated by knitting just a few rows each day until completion. Finish that sock, cowl, hat, scarf, blanket and have goals set and you will have many a gift within the year 2023 to give to family and friends. Knowing that a much long wip is on the person you gave it to can be highly pleasing when you see them wearing it. No wip 2023. It can be possible. Let's all think about it with some tea and cake. Ken
@@KnittyNatty Ahh, yes. The infamous 30 for 30 beauty in granny square double stripes. I have one going myself but with a 100 gram sock weight of the same variegated color called dream in color from hobbii yarn. I purchased 10, 100 gram skeins for the project. Enjoying the consisted flow of color throughout. This is a definite WIP for me will never get placed aside. I work on this fabulous project every day for several hours, then it's back to my sock knitting. Ever hear of the childhood limerick that kids chanted before our time? Nick (NAT) paddy whack, give a dog a bone. This old man came rolling home. I think it's knack, but I still say NAT. LOL! Ken
Thanks for sharing your yarn journey. I love how completely non-judgmental or guilt inflicting this felt!! Makes me think about my yarn consumption from a different perspective.
I watched your destash episode from early 2022. I was also on a destash mission for 2022. But, I was not so quantitative as you and didn't measure my progress. Like you, I added and subtracted from my stash during the course of the year, but it still looked pretty huge yesterday. Then, I followed your suggestion, putting only those skeins that I loved on the shelf. Everything else went into boxes with a reminder to check the boxes this time in February. What really helped me was considering any partially used skein from a completed project as gone. I had 4 skeins of yarn purchased over 10 years ago. I didn't love them so they went into the box. I kept 3 skeins for the Daily Pullover. I kept 6 skeins of Shepherd's Worsted for charity hat projects. I kept 6 skeins of Rowan Kid Silk Haze because I love them. I also have an artist's palette of Jamieson & Smith that I cannot part with - guess I love those but they are stored out of sight in plastic bins. So, I'm feeling pretty light now. Thank you.
Love this video!!! I have learned so much, you have presented so many great insights. I have been on a stash reduction this past year also! I am nowhere as organized as you on how to accomplish this goal though. I was feeling so overwhelmed with the size of my stash that I could not move forward with planning any projects. So, I began gifting/donating yarns that I have had for literally years. Many of them purchased at knitting events. These were all still beautiful but I was not in love with them. I think I needed to use them. I knew that they should be passed on to homes that would love them and I felt great about passing these along!!! I do not regret moving any of this stash, including knitting books/patterns along!! I still have a large stash but am getting more reasonable about what I purchase now. I love the way you approached this dilemma and thank you so much for sharing your methods and experience !! Looking forward to 2023 and enjoying using stash and reducing some more. I definitely am going to do a knitting journal this year and am excited about starting that!!! I have always kept notes but this journal I am going to include more information.
Thank you for all the tips and tricks, I really have a lot off stash, want to bring it down a little, because all the way down to one won't be possible for me. But planning what I'm going to work on is a great way to keep track on my projects and ending them. Happy new knitting year, Petra
I loved watching the stash down videos. It was so inspiring I was able to eliminate stash and buy yarn for projects. I love that you said you will continue to work on your stash because without being mindful, we could end up back with more stash and feeling overwhelmed again.
So insightful! My stash has become a burden to me after accumulating yarn for so many years. What I started doing differently in the latter part of 2022 was to give myself permission to use a skein previously part of a sweater quantity for a sweater I am no longer going to make. It has been liberating. More to come!
Thank you for sharing. I recently moved and, in unpacking, I realized how much crafting supplies I had bought in 2022 that I hadn’t even used yet. On New Years Eve I promised myself not to buy anything else. Just get creative with what I have. It’s a liberating decision. So many crafters on UA-cam push products. I don’t need it to be creative.
Congratulations on sticking with it and eliminating your stash! That was such a big goal and you did it! Excited to see how you dwindle down all those scraps in 2023!
I really enjoyed how you worked through your stash and I am slowly doing the same with part of mine (mainly with the acrylic/acrylic blend that I bought in my first year of knitting). I love the other part of my stash though! Also, I am really into mini skeins and scraps right know, so I am curious to see what will you do next! One of the way that I love to use up a lot of skeins is working multiple strands: I love the colour and fiber combinations: they are endless!
Congrats on reaching your goal! I think it is awesome that you learned so much out of destashing. 82 skeins! That's a ton of work and time! That's very impressive but also a good number to keep in mind with regard to everything from yarn budgets to yarn stash amounts (if you decide you want to have a stash again) and etc. Knowing you have the ability to work through 82 skeins in a year is pretty wild! Anyway, all of the positive things that you want for yourself in 2023 and thank you for sharing the journey!
I've been looking forward to this video. I've decided to have a no(/low) buy 2023 - and tackle all those UFOs that have been left behind. This video helped me feel ok and determined by my decision. No buy is a high goal for me.
Thank you for sharing this experience. It has inspired me to look at my own stash from another perspective and find new use for this yarn that I already have.
Congratulations on your successful stash-busting. I’m not planning to count everything I have, because that would be a big task and overwhelming, but I love the idea of a balance sheet to keep track of the difference between acquisition and usage on a monthly basis.
I'm going to work on de-stashing in 2023. Your record keeping methods are definitely going to help me. In the past I have just saved labels on a cord, but even this was imperfect if I forgot to add the label. Thank you for explaining your journey. I love my stash but I HAVE to use more than I bring in for 2023.
Loved watching your year long journey!! I’ve learned so much!! I have WAY too much yarn, especially fingering weight single skeins. At this point, I can’t count how much. Probably close to 1k. I’ve decided to take a small part of your tip. I am going to keep a notebook of how many I use up and how many I add into the stash, while trying to use up my stash. So far this year, I’ve taken one out for socks, another 3 for a Sophie shawl and 4 for a cardigan. I have 1 on order, and 2 monthly boxes coming each month. I will add that I love my yarns but when I organize it, it makes me sad. It’s too much. I look forward to seeing you and Kent in upcoming videos. Happy 2023!!
I love your journey because it reminded me this knitting is a hobby I love and having a massive stash gave me anxiety that I was wasting yarn. I started donating the yarns I would not use and became more intentional about what yarn I purchased.
Hi, your stash management strategy for the year was excellent. It will be a great adventure to follow with your rules and attitude. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I love to watch your podcasts. Waiting to hear your plans for the coming year. My good wishes to you.
Thanks for this video. I will be stashing in 2023. I have to take inventory and make a plan. It will certainly help to make purchases more mindful. I realize that some of the yarn I purchased on line didn’t work out , so I will put those purchases on hold . Let’s see what 2023 brings . Happy knitting in the new year🎉
Ya I’ve been overwhelmed with my own stash so you have helped me destash some. I don’t even use half of it so I’ll be putting those unwanted ones by me in a scrap blanket or something. And you’ve inspired me to go local as well idk why
You put into words exactly how I have been feeling about my stash.Having all that yarn is overwhelming and I stress about finding the right projects that will use what I have. I too want the freedom to find a project and buy the yarn I want in the moment. Most of my stash is 4+ years old and was purchased on a whim or for a project I didn’t end up making. Now they do not bring joy because I don’t like the colours or the material. I’ve been working it down the last couple years but 2023 is the year to get to zero!! Most of it will be knit for donations.
Natalie, I loved this episode! Really got me thinking about my stash especially letting go of stash that I’m not excited about anymore. Wishing you, Kent and Toaster a Happy New Year! 🎉
Great job! I have 150 skeins collected since 2014. We live and learn! I saw something on Instagram where I can de stash 2023 grams in 2023 so I’m going to try that.
My thoughts on that stash well my goodness! I feel I had one till I saw the prices of yarn 🧶 today! Even Thrift Store Prices have gone up! I am thank full to have it!
You have definitely inspired me this year to destash. Between using yarn in projects and giving away some yarn I've reduced my stash by 36 skeins. :) I decided to do a book destash too. I've been reading books I have on my shelves instead of continuing to buy new books. Given some away to a lending book box in my neighborhood as well!
I really enjoyed when you talked about setting a big goal and acknowledging that the journey could be different than expected. I love looking at my stash and being inspired by the colors but like your idea about setting aside a box of the ones that are not something that speaks to you right now and setting a calendar reminder.
I decided mid way through 2022 to de-stash my 8ply acrylic yarn in 2023, (I'd been given large boxes of yarn again, to add to my large stash.) Naturally I started them & there. (Why waIt lol). I've made 1 single, 2 lap blankets, 6 small & 1 larger blankets for my grand-dogs. All in C2C. Also (crochet) 7 snowmen from my own pattern, plus making 6 more for grandies. I've started arranging yarn left over in colour sets. I also donated some bags of yarn to pre-loved shop. So my aim for January is to finished sorting & then to try using up one main colour.
Congratulations on hitting your stash down goal!! I have a large stash and plan to use up a bunch of it this year and also give some away. I like the idea of separating out the "I love this" and the rest. I need to go through all my tubs of yarn and see where I am at for the beginning of the year.
I like the idea of counting my skeins and reducing it. 2022 was all about not buying yarn unless necessary for a grandchild project (acrylic). A few weeks ago I got rid of most of my partial skeins, that felt great. Now as I work through my stash I will try to use up leftovers immediately so they don’t accumulate. I like the idea of documenting the process as I go. Thanks for sharing, it has been fun watching your progress through out 2022. Cannot wait to see what 2023 brings ❤❤
I have been knitting and crocheting for the last 11 years as a hobby. I rarely follow patterns and most of my hooks, needles, and yarn were gifted or thrifted. Within the last year I bought a lot of yarn because I started watching different stash down videos and other yarn craft related videos. There is a lot I didn’t know about this hobby and I bought a lot of stuff that I didn’t need just because I felt like I should know this by now or that I missed out on a lot of this community. I am committing to stopping yarn purchases for the moment. I’m not comfortable with my stash right now but I also know that I will be able to work through it since I crochet A LOT to keep my hands occupied while studying.
Oh my gosh, such great advice about decluttering, whether it be yarn stash, or clothing. I love the idea of the bins and setting a timer. I have a ridiculous amount of yarn…I definitely need to separate out the the ones that make me feel guilty. I definitely want to only feel JOY when I look at my yarn!!
So inspirational with practical tips! I followed you this year and played with the idea. I always have given yarn away if someone needed some when I taught them to knit. Then I started to dye yarn. Now I give yarn away to be able to dye more. Let me know if you need prizes. Turns out I have to free up my craft room to make room for a child moving back in. So 2023 will be a serious organized year of stashing down. I learned too, it is ok to let go of yarn, I know I won’t be working with. Thank you for taking us on your journey!
I was a hospital dietitian by trade and FIFO (first in first out) is how we kept our food and I kept my kitchen that way at home. After retirement when I spent a lot of time doing crafts I started doing FIFO with my yarn. New yarn goes on the bottom shelves and the ones above need to be used or donated if I decide I don't like it anymore. It keeps a nice rotation. I am not a person who buys patterns and plans things, I just like materials on hand and to dream things up.
Congrats Natalie! Well done! As a beginner knitter I totally understand what you meant when you said you ended up with yarn you weren’t in love with any more. My stash consists of about 4 skeins that I’m really not crazy about. It’s crazy how that happens, but it does! I think you just gave me permission to only buy yarn with a specific project in mind! And if I buy a random skein or 2 I won’t feel guilty about it! Thank you!
I loved everything about this!!!!! I’m a total numbers nerd and loved all the data. And I agree with buying & using yarn being 2 different things, both can bring joy. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Congratulations on reaching your goal! It’s truly inspiring. I took your advice in the summer and pulled a bunch of yarn out of my stash, took photos and let my friends pick what they wanted. It totally brought me joy to see what they made with it. I also looked at the yarn I gave and remembered when and where I bought it, so I could be more mindful purchasing moving forward. Seeing your video today makes me think it might be time for another destash to friends. I don’t think that I will ever eliminate my stash, but I need to be realistic with what I have and what I purchase. I loved the numbers part, I found that so interesting. I think I’m going to track yarn in, yarn out and yarn used this year as a baseline for the future of my stash.
Congrats!! I loved the numbers and data analysis! I am a CPA by day so I do enjoy excel and working through numbers. I also loved the way you approached this goal and I have become more mindful about my stash.
the data nerd in me loves the spreadsheet 🤓 I've started knitting more or less recently, and living in a NYC studio makes me keep my stash pretty small, but I loved watching this to get an idea of how you went about to destash -- it also made motivated me to renew my commitment of not building a huge stash, so thanks for that! (:
Thanks, Natalie. I have a HUGE stash... literally three closets in my home. My husband is super indulgent and appreciates that there are much worse vices to have, but you're right...eventually one starts to feel a little guilty about all that yarn... and not using it. And at some point, it's time to admit one is never going to use it. So this year, I'm taking a page from you. I'm not even going to try to DESTASH... I'm going to #DownStash. I can give away a lot of yarn to our local older folks home, and we have a Maker's outfit here that takes donations are resells to those who are looking. I may also do some giveaways on Instagram - that might be fun! I appreciate the inspiration! I really love to knit, and to buy yarn, but at some point, you're right - you want to buy the yarn when you decide to knit the project... timing, color, interests... all of it changes with time. Thanks again!
This is one of the most useful videos I've seen about destashing. Bravo 👏! Excellent points and tips. So I'm inspired further than before I watched, because I won't be all-or-nothing and more likely to succeed. ❤️ Thank you! 🌺
So happy you made your goal! It was a joy to watch. I went through a majority of my stash this year, then my dad gave me a bunch of random yarns for Christmas! But I love the yarns and there's some new yarns for me I can't quite afford yet, so I'm just enjoying the process, and I can always give some away.
This was so inspiring! And congratulations on achieveing your goal. I am very content with my stash right now. I have lots of yarns in my stash that I love and is super happy with being able to go to my stash and have yarn options for almost every project I want to make. It does not stop me from buying more yarn if I see something I really like or if I don’t have the right yarn in my stash for a project. We have recently furnished a room where I can keep my stash and also sit and knit/crochet in a comfortable chair. We added another chair so my partner or my children can come and sit with me. I love it! I feel very fortunate to have the possibility to have a separate room for my knitting/crocheting. I’m looking forward to follow you through next year. Happy New Year from me in Sweden.
I started knitting in May 2021, but I have been crocheting since I was 8. I was not interested in anything other than worsted weight from the big box store before I started knitting. I went a little nuts buying all the beautiful yarns. I have followed your destash videos from the beginning, and while I respected your goals, I did not identify with them. Now I do. This week, I am going through a reflection of the year's events and looking forward to the next year. I have noticed that I have several skeins of yarn that I just don't see myself using. I am also pulling all my WIPs and UFOs and frogging everything that is what I'm calling a "learning" knit and not one I want to complete. So far, I have frogged 6 projects and have a healthy list of projects I want to address during 2023. Given my current goals, I don't expect my stash to go down by much next year, but I am not going to restrict purchases as I ha e project ideas through the next several years.
Very impressive the amount of skeins you used in projects!! I am trying to cut mine down, but I have way too many to go to zero.I have already given away probably more than your entire starting stash! Yup Yarn Hoarder!! You are correct about the stress and anxiety this overwhelming stash causes!! I crochet mostly now and for charity! Thanks for the inspiration!! ❤❤❤❤
Although I do have a significant stash, you have inspired me to do a ravelry inventory and set up some to do projects. I love the spreadsheet thing in ravelry lets me print one. I live 1000 miles from a yarn store, but I do get mail, so I think it’s important to keep my stash in check.
Thank you. It was a great video. I didn't have a big stash until 2020 when Covid hit. I'm slowly making my stash smaller. I have done many test knits since 2020 and I only use from my stash. This has helped a lot.
This is a well reasoned mindset that I appreciate. I really like that you acknowledge the difference between purchasing yarn and using yarn, and that for you separating those two hobbies is a viable option.
Great video, well done for achieving your goal! I am shopping my stash as much as possible. I am also trying to only buy yarn if I have a specific project in mind or need some to complete a project. I have a lot of partially used skins that I plan to scrap bust as much as possible. Thanks for the idea of giving it to a school, great for pom pom and weaving projects.
I am going to try to knit/ give away more grams than I buy this year. You have inspired me to make one “scrappy” project per month in 2023. It’s the bins of partials that overwhelm me. I will organize a gain and donate anything that is not going to work for me. One thing that holds me back is finding the perfect person to give it to. But if I give it to the thrift shop, someone can discover it themselves.
So, so, SOooo proud of you on this journey. I appreciate you sharing the process with us too. And yes, I am one who totally appreciated all the number details. Now I’m off to figure out how many skeins I knit with this year!
I used to keep a yarn stash until I worked out why I felt overwhelmed choosing patterns and matching yarns. I love getting excited about projects too and choosing yarn to go with the pattern.
I plan to work on my stash, specifically leftover skeins that are partially used. My plan is to crochet a hexi puff a day, for everyday of the year, so its little and often. And at the end probably make a massive blanket or something
I have been following your journey…well done. The point of becoming a more intentional buyer/knitter is so true to me. My goal for the lock down was to have no WIP’s. I did that..This year was it was to put all my yarn in one place, organized and thinned out mostly to arts charities. done. I now know what I have (thank you Raverly stash feature) And that inadvertently, led me to the three groups, I love and will knit, what can be dyed a different color and knit, and a small basket of not sure but hold for now…Well done
It has been so inspirering to follow your destash journey. I have been working on my own destash journey for a couple of years. I am not at my goal yet but next year I have made a list of projects I look forward to make with yarn from stash. If I get to make them without adding to stash I reach my goal of a stash with yarn for 1-2 projects
Sounds gushy but I'm so proud of you on this journey, you've learned to focus on the joy aspect. I did a big destash at the beginning of this year, which went to a lady who needed it. I'm doing another next year to go to a charity shop. Which should hopefully leave me with only the yarn I love.
This is so fun to watch. I'm in a rather odd situation myself. I don't have much of a stash right now but I'm aiming to massively add to it in January, then hardly at all for the rest of 2023. That's because I'm moving to South Africa to do my PhD in February and given my tight student budget I only really use drops yarn, which I can't get in South Africa and is super expensive to have shipped, whereas its cheap and readily available in France, where I live now. Thus I'm buying as much as I can afford (that will hopefully last me the year 😅) before I leave, then will destash from that all year long 😅
definitely inspirational to help motivate me to clear some out. I definitely have more than I ever need so I am going to clear out and then think through how I want to approach 2023 without a closet full of yarn.
I'm generally pretty particular about buying yarn with specific projects in mind but what I really struggle with is managing the scraps and leftovers. Leftovers from gift projects I'm usually pretty comfortable giving away because they don't suit my color preferences, but I get lost with what to with the extras for personal projects because I still like the yarn but only need so many small winter accessories
I totally relate to your issues with scraps/leftovers. I feel overwhelmed by that leftover partial skeins in my stash rather than my full skeins/sweater quantities as I find it so much harder to identify potential l scrappy” projects and to combine different partial skeins into a projects that I will enjoy using/wearing/gifting. I have knitted so many “scrap yarn” socks and blankets but never have the colour/yarn combining confidence to try a multi yarn “scrap yarn” garment.
I knitted a ton of hats and cowls this year for Christmas gifts, finished all but 2 wips, one of which is just the sleeves and collar remaining. I was inspired by you and Kim at knit together with Kim and Jonna's channel to actually log all of my stash. It took awhile - been knitting for 50 years off and on. I purchased the knitting planner that Kim uses and will be starting it in january. I like a planner, but don't have enough going on to actually use it much so mixing knitting and planning is hopefully going to work well. Since my stash is big, I opted for the binder rather than the spiral bound and was able to utilize it because I had to add pages for the stash(they have printables). So, hopefully, in January I will be starting with a fairly clean slate and will get to some projects that I have waiting patiently on the sidelines. Swatches are done, just need to get started on them. I also knitted up a cute little cabled baby set and got it sent off. I dyed the yarn a pretty pink since the baby is a girl and momma wanted pink. It was nice to be able to make the color I needed and not have to purchase. We don't have a lys anywhere close so I decided to keep yarn on hand just in case I need a specific color and I'm glad I do. I also enjoy the process.
Why do I need to know what you are going to do with that one lonely skein?
Haha oh it's driving me nuts that I didn't mention it too! The reason I haven't knit with it yet is that I need to find a black that is the same or similar base to make my husband a hat. He picked out the yarn at Rhinebeck this year... so if we want to blame someone we can blame him. 😜😜
Love that. Can’t wait to see it and tell him Go Ducks!
Yes, you do make sense. Because you did you stash down and I watched “the minimalist housewife” Elli Hurst I knew I had to do something with all the stuff I have hoarded. The yarn stash I have is minimal 200 skeins, then I have not even thought about how many cotton balls of yarn I have from when I was just crocheting.😱 I have told myself that I have to stop buying and start looking in my stash first. Because I do that, I keep myself from buying yarn that is beautiful but I don’t need. Being conscious of the question “do I really need this” you helped me to be more aware. ❤ oh and Now I can make stuff for others with the beautiful yarns I had in my stash 😀
We are moving and in the process I had to look at my stash of knitting yarn, spinning fiber, and weaving yarn. Some were door prizes, auction and estate sale finds, and swaps, or inherited from my mom, but most i bought. I was shocked. I have filled dozens of bins and organized it all on Ravely. I want to give more of it away.
That is Kent's stash
My stash only consists of planned projects. But it definitely feels overwhelming because I am finding patterns and buying the yarn for it faster than I can work
This is me too. I sat down last night and looked through everything and was very ruthless with myself (it's the only way I can do it!) I put back the stash that I really want to work with, I didn't count sock yarn because I know I'll always use that, and then the rest I boxed up to give away. There were a couple of special skeins that have no project but are too special for me to part with,but I feel better about having the yarn for projects I know I want. And if I don't use it this year, out it goes!
Thank you for showing me the path this year. I was the person overwhelmed by the amount of stash. The fear of hoarding was really on me. I had previously purchased yarns that everyone told me i needed or were essential in the stash living in the far north. And then I was the lucky recipient of so much stash from older people i knew in my community that were downsizing. How can you say no to that. 2022 was life changing for me and you gave me the boost to do it. I used a lot of stash. Knit tons. I reaffirmed what I enjoyed working with and what I didn’t. I made donation hats. I bundled so much yarn up and gave away to friends and donated. It felt good. I didn’t feel I was wasting. I was sharing. And if you can believe it I started December at -193 skeins. Yep, and I was ok buying new yarn too! I didn’t feel guilty and actually the new yarn purchases I made except for one but it’s wound and ready to go, I’ve already knit with them. Already! It feels good. Thank you for sharing your journey and showing me there is space to make these changes. Yay 2023! Can’t wait to feel the stash load lift some more (because yes, I still have too much still but I keep whittling it down!).
I love receiving destashed supplies, it has allowed me to make a lot of projects I wouldn’t have been able to make otherwise… but it is definitely easy to get overwhelmed with stuff when you do that. I’ve been learning different ways to mitigate that. I try to go through and pull out what I want first, let friends got through it, and then try to donate anything I can see ever using. Finding schools, senior homes, craft thrift stores, etc where I know the supplies will be used and appreciated also helps with destashing.
Though I have been surprised occasionally by using a lot of things I genuinely couldn’t have conceived of using when I was given them, but that isn’t that common.
I love your podcasts because they are not 50% yarn hauls. I have had to quit watching a lot of podcasts because it doesn't help my spending habits. And this year, when you do buy yarn its usually for a purchase, and you share your decision making process with us, so it helps me be more mindful with what I buy. So, thank you.
Also, the reason the average skeins used for projects picked up in April and on is because you finished up the WIPs from 2021 and started focusing on one or two projects at a time, so you moved through them at a steady pace. Otherwise, you would have had, like, 25 used in projects one month for casting on, but then only one or two (or zero!) for a few months after while you worked on those WIPs.
Currently, I'm struggling with wanting to start all the projects. I want to use up my stash, so I want a plan for it all, and one I have a plan, I'm ready to go. Instead, I have my few year long projects (big, no rush) and then one or two smaller ones. We'll see how long that lasts.
I just went through my yarn basket and have a bag to give away (after my kids go through it), plus a few more I've kept "for now" but will probably donate later on down the line.
I also quit watching some podcasts that were more about buying yarn than knitting.
I've started skipping over the yarn haul portion of videos! Crazy when they're half the video!
Congratulations. What a great plan. I too get very annoyed with some podcasts with their huge hauls. There is one podcast that is very popular that I once LOVED to watch. As it grew, it become a couple hours long, or more. It was no longer fun, it became too much of an infomercial. I enjoy seeing what people are making, planning their future makes and finished objects.
I am doing a NO BUY 2023 because I have over 20 sweater quantities of yarn and I don't know how much sock yarn. I buy yarn when I am stressed so I need to work through what I bought! Rachelle in Seattle 😍
"Stash-free in 2023" is my mantra going into next year. I've got a lot though. To be fair, "stash down by 2025" is probably more appropriate. 😅
Haha take it a step at a time! And remember that using any stash IS working towards your goal!
Ditto 👌🧶✅🤣
Looking at my stash, it's gonna be "stash down by 2035" 😹
Me too ....🙃.🧶 🧶 🧶
Stash no more in 2024
Stash down drive in 2025
Stash (out) fix in 2026
Stash gone heaven in 2027
Stash done mate in 2028
I need to stop now 😁
@@sandiellis8305 omg dying 😂😂💀
I totally agree with the fact that you can give some of the stash away. If you aren’t going to use it, let it bring joy to someone else! I love it.
"Buying yarn and using yarn are two separate hobbies." LOL THAT'S AWESOME! That's my new mantra for the year! But seriously, I can't help but notice how similar this process is to losing weight, decluttering in general, so many other goals. Gains and losses happen, as long as you are making progress toward your goal it's good. Thanks for sharing this process.
I love the idea of having 2 different sections... stash you love, and stash you don't really care about...I won't destash like you because I have kids around me that love to knit, and I'm happy to share my yarn with them.... but it would be great to just be able to say they can have anything from the area that I don't really want to use.
I never have had a stash (scraps don't count haha), and watching you throughout this year I actually don't want one. It is so nice to have the freedom and get excited about the yarn and the pattern in the moment, and perfectly match them ❤ Love your video's!
That's so great to hear! I'm really hoping that's how being "stashless" feels for me this next year!
I agree! 💖
you are on the correct path🤌🏻
Congratulations! I have been crocheting and knitting through my mom's yarn stash since 2015 when she passed. She was pretty typical of having that craft room filled with yarn. I finished it up with a scrap baby afghan at Thanksgiving. Wish, I would have taken pictures of the journey. I just had lots of empty 18-gallon totes to show my progress. I loan them out to family and friends who are moving to cut down on boxes. LOL, there is that many. 😅
Congratulations on keeping a commitment to yourself and reducing your yarn stash. I love how you have created space to be more intentional with your yarn buying and project planning - not to mention regaining some physical space. A minimalist yarn stash is definitely something that a person could strive to achieve when they have quick and easy access to multiple Local Yarn Shops. For some of us the benefits of having a yarn stash that would be the envy of many yarn shops is the lack of quick and easy access to new yarn.
I love your podcast. Thanks for sharing your journey.
I loved watching your journey to destashing! While I’m the exact opposite I can appreciate the simplicity of not having one. I have my own yarn room and I get excited seeing the different colors so I pick a pattern based on the yarn that I want to work with, the creative juices start to flow.
I watched this the other day and was inspired to destash. I 100% feel yarn guilt when I buy more because I don’t want to work with what I have and/or don’t have enough of any one kind. That being said, I have 2 trash bags full I’m taking to a friend later and am starting out 2023 with 32 skeins. It still seems like a lot but I have project ideas for the majority of it. Happy New Year and thank you for inspiring me!
I am so happy you have met your goal. Really, one skein in stash is not really a stash. I choose not to be stashless, but you did inspire me to go through my stash and donate a very large part that I knew I would never use. My problem is that the majority of my remaining stash is intended for projects I really want to do, but time is an issue. I try not to have more than five WIPs going at a time, and that works for me. Thank you for your videos.
Thank you! Yeah I realize I didn't explain why the one skein stayed in stash, but it does have future project plans. It didn't feel stressful though!
I think that's more than okay to keep that yarn that you have plans for!
I love how you approach this topic and appreciate your love language: this is your journey and your lessons and they might give others insight/ inspiration what to do or what not to do.
Reaching for your goal has opened up possibilities in your mind and I thank you for sharing your process and the kindness you show for all your viewer in whatever phase of stash they are.
I am curious about the rest of your creative journey. See you next year!
Katja
I enjoyed this video immensly. When I first started watching I felt that your organization was a little bit over the top but now I see the great reasons and value in all you do. I have shelves in my closet full of yarn and I don't even know what's there. There are acrylic yarns from when I first started knitting up to one of a kind yarn, too little or too much yarn for projects that don't really match anything else etc, etc. You have inspired me to pull it all out and make the "love" pile and see what will go in the box and what I can give away now. I don't have a plan for getting rid of stash but will only keep yarn that has some kind of purpose for a future project. Thanks so much for the inspiration! And yes, this will work for other areas of life in general!
I loved hearing all of your insights from your year of de-stashing. I am not trying to eliminate my stash, but I definitely do need some kind of goal to keep it at a manageable level as it has grown a bit out of control lately. I decided to tally up all my yarn (including minis and partial skeins) and the yardage, and I have over 50 km (31 miles) of yarn!! I have decided to start a yarn in vs yarn out page for each month in my knitting and crochet notebook. One thing I am doing differently, is I am not counting it as "yarn out" until the project is completed. I felt that when I was counting yarn allocated towards a project as yarn out of stash, I felt myself wanting to cast on as many projects as possible in order to make it appear as though my stash was smaller than what it is, when the issue of the yarn still physically being in my craft room hadn't changed. My main motivation for the project is the practical aspect that I need my stash to be at a quantity that is manageable for storage so I decided if the yarn is still in a tub or on my WIP shelf, it's still in my stash.
Shauna Stitches has a great plan for keeping track of actual stash by grams. I really appreciate her system because it honestly acknowledges her stash. When people say advents don’t count-that’s almost 6 skeins of yarn per advent. Best of luck with your year of knitting!
I am super impressed that your destash has worked so brilliantly! I am the knitter who gets overwhelmed with too much stash and too many wips and enjoy my knitting so much more since I thoughtfully planned my projects starting a couple of years ago. I can honestly say my stash is in one small container and I truly love every skein! I am down to 3 wips which will all be completed this year. I am inspired by your planning and by your channel in general. Thank you Natalie and Ken (and Toaster) and a happy new year xx
❤Watching in August of 2024, and may I just say you are the inspiration and the motivation behind my own stashless journey. Now I didn't have anywhere near as large of a yarn stash as you did, but between monthly subscription services, impulsive shopping trips, I was feeling so overwhelmed by how much yarn that I had I just could not create anything new that I would actually enjoy. Then I discovered your channel and knew that if a big name UA-camr could do it, so could I. I am very grateful that I can say that I have one project that I'm working on, no more skeins in my stash, and all my large scraps of yarn go into a little DelaQ snap bag for my daughters (3 & 2) to play with.
❤It is always so fascinating to me when I talk about being stashless and so many creators try pushing me towards buying more yarn, asking me what's wrong with me, insinuating that I need to go see a psychiatrist, and just the overall ignorance behind people's perceptions of being stashless.
❤I will never go so far as to say that everyone needs to be specialist, as that is just not possible for people who make items to sell or give to charity / family, but it is definitely something that I would strongly advise other creators to consider and to really take a step back from their stash and see how much it is taking over their life and preventing them from living.
I've really enjoyed following your journey! I'm OK with having a medium-sized yarn stash, but I want to avoid feeling overwhelmed/obligated. The rule I have for myself is that I can buy new yarn only for a specific project, and only if I'm going to cast on immediately.
Hi Natalie. I call this : Choosing the thing that makes me the happiest - EVERY DAY!❤️
Yay!!
Thank you for sharing your stash journey, Natalie! I am totally someone who would have decision paralysis if I had a large stash. I am happy with the smallish stash I have at the moment, but as I use that I plan to only replenish on a project-specific basis. My stash goal is over time to develop a "scrap stash" to use for gnomes and scrappy hats, etc.
My bigger fiber/yarn goal this year is to make sure I'm setting aside more time to knit, crochet, and spin. I've started to make a plan for that based on a mix of your plan sharing (yay for Excel!) and BostonJen's (yay for Evernote!). That plan also includes something else you've inspired me to do, learn to knit without looking at my knitting as much - I love to read too, so that goal will also help me with my to-read list a bit.
I appreciate you sharing what you learned through this process. It's been really helpful!
I love this attitude of figuring out what works for you! My ideal stash is about the amount of skeins you had half way through the year. I want a little bit to work from but not for it to be overwhelming! I’m hoping to do the use 2023 grams of yarn in 2023!
I found a few online forums where I resold my yarn for very inexpensive prices! It really helped with a bulk of destashing my nicer yarns and then I donated yarns that didn’t make sense to resell. I got deep about my stash after being homeless between 18 & 19, it was like a real hoarding issue (I’ve OCD and hoarding in my family and on my chart). I was so afraid to be without something to bring me joy and a hobby that I realized I couldn’t let go. I’m in a much better place now with a loving boyfriend and family who buys me yarn I’m in love with and use, it’s time to let go of what brought me joy for a while but isn’t necessary anymore. For anyone out there who is struggling in the same way, I see you and feel you and validate you ❤️
This is a fantastic personal journey that you have met. I believe that a stash down works for those you feel the need to do so. You may want to touch down in the future Nat and give us some inspiration and guidance on how some of us can eliminate our WIP'S by using the same techniques here. Taking out the oldest wip and making a plan and journey to finish it or pass it on to a friend. A baby step well worth trying. Big WIP'S can be eliminated by knitting just a few rows each day until completion. Finish that sock, cowl, hat, scarf, blanket and have goals set and you will have many a gift within the year 2023 to give to family and friends. Knowing that a much long wip is on the person you gave it to can be highly pleasing when you see them wearing it. No wip 2023. It can be possible. Let's all think about it with some tea and cake. Ken
Ahh a wip refresh can feel so good! I love using the 30 for 30 method to stay motivated to work on lingering wips- 30 minutes a day for 30 days!
@@KnittyNatty Ahh, yes. The infamous 30 for 30 beauty in granny square double stripes. I have one going myself but with a 100 gram sock weight of the same variegated color called dream in color from hobbii yarn. I purchased 10, 100 gram skeins for the project. Enjoying the consisted flow of color throughout. This is a definite WIP for me will never get placed aside. I work on this fabulous project every day for several hours, then it's back to my sock knitting. Ever hear of the childhood limerick that kids chanted before our time? Nick (NAT) paddy whack, give a dog a bone. This old man came rolling home. I think it's knack, but I still say NAT. LOL! Ken
Thanks for sharing your yarn journey. I love how completely non-judgmental or guilt inflicting this felt!! Makes me think about my yarn consumption from a different perspective.
I watched your destash episode from early 2022. I was also on a destash mission for 2022. But, I was not so quantitative as you and didn't measure my progress. Like you, I added and subtracted from my stash during the course of the year, but it still looked pretty huge yesterday. Then, I followed your suggestion, putting only those skeins that I loved on the shelf. Everything else went into boxes with a reminder to check the boxes this time in February. What really helped me was considering any partially used skein from a completed project as gone. I had 4 skeins of yarn purchased over 10 years ago. I didn't love them so they went into the box. I kept 3 skeins for the Daily Pullover. I kept 6 skeins of Shepherd's Worsted for charity hat projects. I kept 6 skeins of Rowan Kid Silk Haze because I love them. I also have an artist's palette of Jamieson & Smith that I cannot part with - guess I love those but they are stored out of sight in plastic bins.
So, I'm feeling pretty light now. Thank you.
I love your idea of putting items in a box and coming back a few months later.
Thank you for taking us through this journey. The power of a goal is amazing. Well done.
Love this video!!! I have learned so much, you have presented so many great insights. I have been on a stash reduction this past year also! I am nowhere as organized as you on how to accomplish this goal though. I was feeling so overwhelmed with the size of my stash that I could not move forward with planning any projects.
So, I began gifting/donating yarns that I have had for literally years. Many of them purchased at knitting events. These were all still beautiful but I was not in love with them. I think I needed to use them. I knew that they should be passed on to homes that would love them and I felt great about passing these along!!! I do not regret moving any of this stash, including knitting books/patterns along!! I still have a large stash but am getting more reasonable about what I purchase now.
I love the way you approached this dilemma and thank you so much for sharing your methods and experience !! Looking forward to 2023 and enjoying using stash and reducing some more. I definitely am going to do a knitting journal this year and am excited about starting that!!! I have always kept notes but this journal I am going to include more information.
Thank you for all the tips and tricks, I really have a lot off stash, want to bring it down a little, because all the way down to one won't be possible for me. But planning what I'm going to work on is a great way to keep track on my projects and ending them. Happy new knitting year, Petra
I loved watching the stash down videos. It was so inspiring I was able to eliminate stash and buy yarn for projects. I love that you said you will continue to work on your stash because without being mindful, we could end up back with more stash and feeling overwhelmed again.
I love the organization and charting of your destash journey.
So insightful! My stash has become a burden to me after accumulating yarn for so many years. What I started doing differently in the latter part of 2022 was to give myself permission to use a skein previously part of a sweater quantity for a sweater I am no longer going to make. It has been liberating. More to come!
*this!
Thank you for sharing. I recently moved and, in unpacking, I realized how much crafting supplies I had bought in 2022 that I hadn’t even used yet. On New Years Eve I promised myself not to buy anything else. Just get creative with what I have. It’s a liberating decision. So many crafters on UA-cam push products. I don’t need it to be creative.
Congratulations on sticking with it and eliminating your stash! That was such a big goal and you did it!
Excited to see how you dwindle down all those scraps in 2023!
I really enjoyed how you worked through your stash and I am slowly doing the same with part of mine (mainly with the acrylic/acrylic blend that I bought in my first year of knitting). I love the other part of my stash though! Also, I am really into mini skeins and scraps right know, so I am curious to see what will you do next! One of the way that I love to use up a lot of skeins is working multiple strands: I love the colour and fiber combinations: they are endless!
Congrats on reaching your goal! I think it is awesome that you learned so much out of destashing. 82 skeins! That's a ton of work and time! That's very impressive but also a good number to keep in mind with regard to everything from yarn budgets to yarn stash amounts (if you decide you want to have a stash again) and etc. Knowing you have the ability to work through 82 skeins in a year is pretty wild! Anyway, all of the positive things that you want for yourself in 2023 and thank you for sharing the journey!
I've been looking forward to this video. I've decided to have a no(/low) buy 2023 - and tackle all those UFOs that have been left behind. This video helped me feel ok and determined by my decision. No buy is a high goal for me.
Your spreadsheet numbers are astounding! I’m glad you tracked that to share.
Glad it was helpful!
I agree with this concept and many of us in 2023 are shopping our stashes!
Thank you for sharing this experience. It has inspired me to look at my own stash from another perspective and find new use for this yarn that I already have.
Congratulations on your successful stash-busting. I’m not planning to count everything I have, because that would be a big task and overwhelming, but I love the idea of a balance sheet to keep track of the difference between acquisition and usage on a monthly basis.
I can’t thank you enough! Everything you said made so much sense! You have inspired me to think so differently! Here’s to 2023!
Thank you for this great information. I am overwhelmed by my stash. Definitely does not feel overwhelming now to work through it.
I'm going to work on de-stashing in 2023. Your record keeping methods are definitely going to help me. In the past I have just saved labels on a cord, but even this was imperfect if I forgot to add the label. Thank you for explaining your journey. I love my stash but I HAVE to use more than I bring in for 2023.
Loved watching your year long journey!! I’ve learned so much!! I have WAY too much yarn, especially fingering weight single skeins. At this point, I can’t count how much. Probably close to 1k. I’ve decided to take a small part of your tip. I am going to keep a notebook of how many I use up and how many I add into the stash, while trying to use up my stash. So far this year, I’ve taken one out for socks, another 3 for a Sophie shawl and 4 for a cardigan. I have 1 on order, and 2 monthly boxes coming each month. I will add that I love my yarns but when I organize it, it makes me sad. It’s too much. I look forward to seeing you and Kent in upcoming videos. Happy 2023!!
I love your journey because it reminded me this knitting is a hobby I love and having a massive stash gave me anxiety that I was wasting yarn. I started donating the yarns I would not use and became more intentional about what yarn I purchased.
That's awesome!!! You're doing a great job!
CONGRATULATIONS Natalie! Great information!
Hi, your stash management strategy for the year was excellent. It will be a great adventure to follow with your rules and attitude. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I love to watch your podcasts. Waiting to hear your plans for the coming year. My good wishes to you.
Thanks for this video. I will be stashing in 2023. I have to take inventory and make a plan. It will certainly help to make purchases more mindful. I realize that some of the yarn I purchased on line didn’t work out , so I will put those purchases on hold . Let’s see what 2023 brings .
Happy knitting in the new year🎉
Ya I’ve been overwhelmed with my own stash so you have helped me destash some.
I don’t even use half of it so I’ll be putting those unwanted ones by me in a scrap blanket or something. And you’ve inspired me to go local as well idk why
You put into words exactly how I have been feeling about my stash.Having all that yarn is overwhelming and I stress about finding the right projects that will use what I have. I too want the freedom to find a project and buy the yarn I want in the moment. Most of my stash is 4+ years old and was purchased on a whim or for a project I didn’t end up making. Now they do not bring joy because I don’t like the colours or the material. I’ve been working it down the last couple years but 2023 is the year to get to zero!! Most of it will be knit for donations.
Natalie, I loved this episode! Really got me thinking about my stash especially letting go of stash that I’m not excited about anymore. Wishing you, Kent and Toaster a Happy New Year! 🎉
Great job! I have 150 skeins collected since 2014. We live and learn! I saw something on Instagram where I can de stash 2023 grams in 2023 so I’m going to try that.
My thoughts on that stash well my goodness! I feel I had one till I saw the prices of yarn 🧶 today! Even Thrift Store Prices have gone up! I am thank full to have it!
I have enjoyed your stash down journey and can't wait to see what happens next!
Thank you!! Glad I saw this. It has been on my mind to use up all my stash and start over 😵💫. Thank you for the tips. 😊
You have definitely inspired me this year to destash. Between using yarn in projects and giving away some yarn I've reduced my stash by 36 skeins. :) I decided to do a book destash too. I've been reading books I have on my shelves instead of continuing to buy new books. Given some away to a lending book box in my neighborhood as well!
I really enjoyed when you talked about setting a big goal and acknowledging that the journey could be different than expected. I love looking at my stash and being inspired by the colors but like your idea about setting aside a box of the ones that are not something that speaks to you right now and setting a calendar reminder.
I decided mid way through 2022 to de-stash my 8ply acrylic yarn in 2023, (I'd been given large boxes of yarn again, to add to my large stash.) Naturally I started them & there. (Why waIt lol). I've made 1 single, 2 lap blankets, 6 small & 1 larger blankets for my grand-dogs. All in C2C. Also (crochet) 7 snowmen from my own pattern, plus making 6 more for grandies. I've started arranging yarn left over in colour sets. I also donated some bags of yarn to pre-loved shop. So my aim for January is to finished sorting & then to try using up one main colour.
Congratulations on hitting your stash down goal!! I have a large stash and plan to use up a bunch of it this year and also give some away. I like the idea of separating out the "I love this" and the rest. I need to go through all my tubs of yarn and see where I am at for the beginning of the year.
I like the idea of counting my skeins and reducing it. 2022 was all about not buying yarn unless necessary for a grandchild project (acrylic). A few weeks ago I got rid of most of my partial skeins, that felt great. Now as I work through my stash I will try to use up leftovers immediately so they don’t accumulate. I like the idea of documenting the process as I go. Thanks for sharing, it has been fun watching your progress through out 2022. Cannot wait to see what 2023 brings ❤❤
I have been knitting and crocheting for the last 11 years as a hobby. I rarely follow patterns and most of my hooks, needles, and yarn were gifted or thrifted. Within the last year I bought a lot of yarn because I started watching different stash down videos and other yarn craft related videos. There is a lot I didn’t know about this hobby and I bought a lot of stuff that I didn’t need just because I felt like I should know this by now or that I missed out on a lot of this community. I am committing to stopping yarn purchases for the moment. I’m not comfortable with my stash right now but I also know that I will be able to work through it since I crochet A LOT to keep my hands occupied while studying.
Oh my gosh, such great advice about decluttering, whether it be yarn stash, or clothing. I love the idea of the bins and setting a timer. I have a ridiculous amount of yarn…I definitely need to separate out the the ones that make me feel guilty. I definitely want to only feel JOY when I look at my yarn!!
So inspirational with practical tips! I followed you this year and played with the idea. I always have given yarn away if someone needed some when I taught them to knit. Then I started to dye yarn. Now I give yarn away to be able to dye more. Let me know if you need prizes. Turns out I have to free up my craft room to make room for a child moving back in. So 2023 will be a serious organized year of stashing down. I learned too, it is ok to let go of yarn, I know I won’t be working with. Thank you for taking us on your journey!
Well done for reaching your goal, Natalie!
Nice editing, Kent!
Happy New Year to you three ❤
I was a hospital dietitian by trade and FIFO (first in first out) is how we kept our food and I kept my kitchen that way at home. After retirement when I spent a lot of time doing crafts I started doing FIFO with my yarn. New yarn goes on the bottom shelves and the ones above need to be used or donated if I decide I don't like it anymore. It keeps a nice rotation. I am not a person who buys patterns and plans things, I just like materials on hand and to dream things up.
Congrats Natalie! Well done! As a beginner knitter I totally understand what you meant when you said you ended up with yarn you weren’t in love with any more. My stash consists of about 4 skeins that I’m really not crazy about. It’s crazy how that happens, but it does! I think you just gave me permission to only buy yarn with a specific project in mind! And if I buy a random skein or 2 I won’t feel guilty about it! Thank you!
I loved everything about this!!!!! I’m a total numbers nerd and loved all the data. And I agree with buying & using yarn being 2 different things, both can bring joy. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Congratulations on reaching your goal! It’s truly inspiring. I took your advice in the summer and pulled a bunch of yarn out of my stash, took photos and let my friends pick what they wanted. It totally brought me joy to see what they made with it. I also looked at the yarn I gave and remembered when and where I bought it, so I could be more mindful purchasing moving forward. Seeing your video today makes me think it might be time for another destash to friends. I don’t think that I will ever eliminate my stash, but I need to be realistic with what I have and what I purchase. I loved the numbers part, I found that so interesting. I think I’m going to track yarn in, yarn out and yarn used this year as a baseline for the future of my stash.
Thanks, Sarah! Ooh a destash to friends sounds like so much fun!
Congrats!! I loved the numbers and data analysis! I am a CPA by day so I do enjoy excel and working through numbers. I also loved the way you approached this goal and I have become more mindful about my stash.
the data nerd in me loves the spreadsheet 🤓 I've started knitting more or less recently, and living in a NYC studio makes me keep my stash pretty small, but I loved watching this to get an idea of how you went about to destash -- it also made motivated me to renew my commitment of not building a huge stash, so thanks for that! (:
Thanks, Natalie. I have a HUGE stash... literally three closets in my home. My husband is super indulgent and appreciates that there are much worse vices to have, but you're right...eventually one starts to feel a little guilty about all that yarn... and not using it. And at some point, it's time to admit one is never going to use it. So this year, I'm taking a page from you. I'm not even going to try to DESTASH... I'm going to #DownStash. I can give away a lot of yarn to our local older folks home, and we have a Maker's outfit here that takes donations are resells to those who are looking. I may also do some giveaways on Instagram - that might be fun! I appreciate the inspiration! I really love to knit, and to buy yarn, but at some point, you're right - you want to buy the yarn when you decide to knit the project... timing, color, interests... all of it changes with time. Thanks again!
Hey Marcy! That sounds like a great plan!!! Good for you!
This is one of the most useful videos I've seen about destashing. Bravo 👏! Excellent points and tips. So I'm inspired further than before I watched, because I won't be all-or-nothing and more likely to succeed. ❤️ Thank you! 🌺
So happy you made your goal! It was a joy to watch. I went through a majority of my stash this year, then my dad gave me a bunch of random yarns for Christmas! But I love the yarns and there's some new yarns for me I can't quite afford yet, so I'm just enjoying the process, and I can always give some away.
Good for you! Congrats on reaching your goal!
This was so inspiring! And congratulations on achieveing your goal. I am very content with my stash right now. I have lots of yarns in my stash that I love and is super happy with being able to go to my stash and have yarn options for almost every project I want to make. It does not stop me from buying more yarn if I see something I really like or if I don’t have the right yarn in my stash for a project. We have recently furnished a room where I can keep my stash and also sit and knit/crochet in a comfortable chair. We added another chair so my partner or my children can come and sit with me. I love it! I feel very fortunate to have the possibility to have a separate room for my knitting/crocheting. I’m looking forward to follow you through next year. Happy New Year from me in Sweden.
I started knitting in May 2021, but I have been crocheting since I was 8. I was not interested in anything other than worsted weight from the big box store before I started knitting.
I went a little nuts buying all the beautiful yarns. I have followed your destash videos from the beginning, and while I respected your goals, I did not identify with them.
Now I do.
This week, I am going through a reflection of the year's events and looking forward to the next year. I have noticed that I have several skeins of yarn that I just don't see myself using. I am also pulling all my WIPs and UFOs and frogging everything that is what I'm calling a "learning" knit and not one I want to complete.
So far, I have frogged 6 projects and have a healthy list of projects I want to address during 2023. Given my current goals, I don't expect my stash to go down by much next year, but I am not going to restrict purchases as I ha e project ideas through the next several years.
Very impressive the amount of skeins you used in projects!! I am trying to cut mine down, but I have way too many to go to zero.I have already given away probably more than your entire starting stash! Yup Yarn Hoarder!! You are correct about the stress and anxiety this overwhelming stash causes!!
I crochet mostly now and for charity! Thanks for the inspiration!! ❤❤❤❤
Thank you for the video. Happy New Year .🎉🎉
Although I do have a significant stash, you have inspired me to do a ravelry inventory and set up some to do projects. I love the spreadsheet thing in ravelry lets me print one. I live 1000 miles from a yarn store, but I do get mail, so I think it’s important to keep my stash in check.
Thank you. It was a great video. I didn't have a big stash until 2020 when Covid hit. I'm slowly making my stash smaller. I have done many test knits since 2020 and I only use from my stash. This has helped a lot.
This is a well reasoned mindset that I appreciate. I really like that you acknowledge the difference between purchasing yarn and using yarn, and that for you separating those two hobbies is a viable option.
Great video, well done for achieving your goal! I am shopping my stash as much as possible. I am also trying to only buy yarn if I have a specific project in mind or need some to complete a project. I have a lot of partially used skins that I plan to scrap bust as much as possible. Thanks for the idea of giving it to a school, great for pom pom and weaving projects.
Congrats on reaching your goal! I started project planning in a notebook because of your podcast - Definitely works!
Going to try to stash down in 2023,,,
Have alot of sock yarns,,and minis,,,,
Love my yarns,,so lots of knitting this year,,
Elaine😍🏘🏘
I am going to try to knit/ give away more grams than I buy this year. You have inspired me to make one “scrappy” project per month in 2023. It’s the bins of partials that overwhelm me. I will organize a gain and donate anything that is not going to work for me. One thing that holds me back is finding the perfect person to give it to. But if I give it to the thrift shop, someone can discover it themselves.
So, so, SOooo proud of you on this journey. I appreciate you sharing the process with us too.
And yes, I am one who totally appreciated all the number details. Now I’m off to figure out how many skeins I knit with this year!
I used to keep a yarn stash until I worked out why I felt overwhelmed choosing patterns and matching yarns. I love getting excited about projects too and choosing yarn to go with the pattern.
Absolutely! That's how I was feeling!
I plan to work on my stash, specifically leftover skeins that are partially used. My plan is to crochet a hexi puff a day, for everyday of the year, so its little and often. And at the end probably make a massive blanket or something
I have been following your journey…well done. The point of becoming a more intentional buyer/knitter is so true to me. My goal for the lock down was to have no WIP’s. I did that..This year was it was to put all my yarn in one place, organized and thinned out mostly to arts charities. done. I now know what I have (thank you Raverly stash feature) And that inadvertently, led me to the three groups, I love and will knit, what can be dyed a different color and knit, and a small basket of not sure but hold for now…Well done
Wow I love this journey you've been on!! Great job!
It has been so inspirering to follow your destash journey. I have been working on my own destash journey for a couple of years. I am not at my goal yet but next year I have made a list of projects I look forward to make with yarn from stash. If I get to make them without adding to stash I reach my goal of a stash with yarn for 1-2 projects
Sounds gushy but I'm so proud of you on this journey, you've learned to focus on the joy aspect. I did a big destash at the beginning of this year, which went to a lady who needed it. I'm doing another next year to go to a charity shop. Which should hopefully leave me with only the yarn I love.
Aww thanks!! That's is so kind of you! It feels really good to donate doesn't it?!
This is so fun to watch. I'm in a rather odd situation myself. I don't have much of a stash right now but I'm aiming to massively add to it in January, then hardly at all for the rest of 2023. That's because I'm moving to South Africa to do my PhD in February and given my tight student budget I only really use drops yarn, which I can't get in South Africa and is super expensive to have shipped, whereas its cheap and readily available in France, where I live now. Thus I'm buying as much as I can afford (that will hopefully last me the year 😅) before I leave, then will destash from that all year long 😅
You are in a unique situation! I think that sounds like a great plan though!
You are such an inspiration! Happy New Year! Can’t wait for the yarn journey with you in 2023! 🎉❤
definitely inspirational to help motivate me to clear some out. I definitely have more than I ever need so I am going to clear out and then think through how I want to approach 2023 without a closet full of yarn.
You got this!
I'm generally pretty particular about buying yarn with specific projects in mind but what I really struggle with is managing the scraps and leftovers. Leftovers from gift projects I'm usually pretty comfortable giving away because they don't suit my color preferences, but I get lost with what to with the extras for personal projects because I still like the yarn but only need so many small winter accessories
I totally relate to your issues with scraps/leftovers. I feel overwhelmed by that leftover partial skeins in my stash rather than my full skeins/sweater quantities as I find it so much harder to identify potential l scrappy” projects and to combine different partial skeins into a projects that I will enjoy using/wearing/gifting. I have knitted so many “scrap yarn” socks and blankets but never have the colour/yarn combining confidence to try a multi yarn “scrap yarn” garment.
I knitted a ton of hats and cowls this year for Christmas gifts, finished all but 2 wips, one of which is just the sleeves and collar remaining. I was inspired by you and Kim at knit together with Kim and Jonna's channel to actually log all of my stash. It took awhile - been knitting for 50 years off and on. I purchased the knitting planner that Kim uses and will be starting it in january. I like a planner, but don't have enough going on to actually use it much so mixing knitting and planning is hopefully going to work well. Since my stash is big, I opted for the binder rather than the spiral bound and was able to utilize it because I had to add pages for the stash(they have printables). So, hopefully, in January I will be starting with a fairly clean slate and will get to some projects that I have waiting patiently on the sidelines. Swatches are done, just need to get started on them. I also knitted up a cute little cabled baby set and got it sent off. I dyed the yarn a pretty pink since the baby is a girl and momma wanted pink. It was nice to be able to make the color I needed and not have to purchase. We don't have a lys anywhere close so I decided to keep yarn on hand just in case I need a specific color and I'm glad I do. I also enjoy the process.
Kat this is so awesome!! Keep it up!