Yarn-o-holic

Oh dear oh dear. I never truly realised how bad it had got. It crept up on me, really it did. All this time I've been telling people that I Don't Stash Yarn. Oh no, I say, not me. No, I don't stash. I buy yarn for a particular project and use it up. I never buy yarn just for the sake of it.

This week the de-clutter and re-organisation mission has resumed here at number 24 and I have been at it full pelt in the past few days. Yesterday it was time for The Right Hand Cupboard to be dealt with, and that meant time to face the reality of The Stash.

That's it above look. Bags of yarn pulled out of everywhere, it was amazing how much of it came creeping out from all four levels of this house. Yarn in the cellar. Yarn in the cupboard. Yarn under the bed. Yarn in the Attic eaves. I assembled it all on the table, sorted it, and counted 15 (FIFTEEN!!!!!!) different types of yarn. I know. I know, I know.

Want to see more? Want me to elaborate? Course you do!

OK, this basket contains left-over yarn from projects past.

There is Debbie Bliss Aran (from the Lucy Bag), felting wool (an experiment which remains in the experimental stage), Baby Cashmerino (from the baby granny blanket and the zig-zag baby blanket), Jil Eaton merino (from the baby ripple), Rowan Cashsoft DK (from my first ripple blanket), James Brett Kool Kotton (from the stripy baby blanket and round cushion) and some Rowan Pure Wool (from BB and various cushions).

There's not an awful lot of each type so I'm not sure what exactly to do with it. I'm thinking I might donate it to school, or to a new crafty/vintage charity venture that's just started up in my town.

These are my crates of Big Stash Yarn, cripes, rather a lot of it isn't there?

Left hand crate contains Heritage DK (a wool/acrylic mix) which was gifted to me by a very generous yarn shop owner, and I'm still pondering over what sort of project to use it for.

Middle crate contains Stitch Nation Bamboo Ewe (a wool/bamboo mix) which was left over from a project I worked on earlier in the year (ooooooo must show you come pics of that, remind me won't you?!)

Right hand crate is what remains of my trusty Stylecraft Special DK (acrylic) which you probably all remember from the Granny Stripe blanket, oh and the Sweet Granny blanket. I also recently made a baby ripple blanket from it for a good friend, must show you pics of that too.

Ok, moving on.....................

These are my blissful baskets of Small Project yarn, the yarn that I always keep in to make decorative things with.

Left basket contains Rowan Handknit Cotton DK which I continue to love for making decorative projects. I think I will always have this yarn to hand.

Middle basket contains my Favourite Yarn of The Year. It's a bamboo/cotton mix and I've used it for many projects this year (including the snake, the blooming flower cushion, the Russian dolls, the Flora rabbits, the hooky trim). I never spoke much about it at the time I was using it as I've been pondering the idea of offering it for sale as a "Lucy Pack", much in the same way as the Rico cotton and the Stylecraft acrylic have been selling through various online retailers. I'd be interested to hear if you think this would be a Good Thing?? An Attic24 yarn pack??

Right hand basket contains the Rico Creative Cotton (top) and also a sweet stash of Rico Essentials Merino DK (bottom) which was gifted to me by the kind ladies at First4Yarns...I need to find a suitably sweet project to use it for, I had kind of forgotten I had it.

Golly-gosh.

Golly-golly-gosh, just lOOk at it all!!!!!!!

Isn't the above image AMAZING???!!!!! And to think it's All Mine, lordy, I am hyperventilating a little just thinking about the Future POSSibIlitiEs for that little lot.

I am actually giggling away to myself looking at these pics, I feel like I've just been to Confession. My name is Lucy and I am a Yarn-o-holic.

:o)

As well as the yarn itself, I also stumbled over a rather substantial amount of Forgotten Hooky. Half finished projects, half worked ideas, hastily hooked samples.

I'm officially making 2012 the year when I Finish Off The UFO's. As follows......

Unfinished Flower brooches, from February 2009.

An un-assembled birdie decoration from October 2009.

One stripy messenger bag , from December 2009. It's all made, it just needs some assembly and some brain cells to address the making of a fabric lining.

I guess 2009 was the year when I started but didn't finish (it was the year I was pregnant, that's my excuse anyways)..

Un-assembled Christmas decs, from December 2010.

Now this is interesting....had forgotten all about this! It's a project I started making in the summer when I was falling head over heels in love with the bamboo/cotton yarn. I designed this little pattern myself, it's called Spot Square, or something like that. I need to get back to it at some point, these are wonderful little squares to hook up. I've even half-made a tutorial for these too. I'll add it to the list shall I?

Ahhhhhhhhhhh sweet flowers!! I found these mixed up in amongst all the other samples and half-finished bits, they've grown over the years from various cotton and wool yarns, little experiments, little snippets of idle hooky happiness. It reminds me of the cover of 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet, where a few of these flower patterns came from. I'm thinking I might just gather them all together and assemble them into some sort of exuberant wreath decoration, something like this perhaps.

Despite the obvious distractions of the yarny variety, I've actually made real good progress with the decluttering and reorganising this week. The crates of Big Stash Yarn have been nestled safe and sound in the Attic eaves, while the baskets of Small Project Yarn have been put within easy reach into the Right Hand Cupboard, along with beautifully labelled, clear plastic boxes of ribbons, buttons, beads, felt, embroidery thread and sewing kit. It's all coming together marvellously.

Next week's task :: my desk (above), along with a tentative foray onto the Shelves of Doom if I'm feeling frisky. And yes, the Hooky Trim pattern is also high on my list of Must-do's for next week. Holly too. Yup, I'm on it.

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 ps thank you SO MUCH to those of you who've voted for me this week, you have made me feel chocka full of gratitude and a little choked about the whole blogging thing.

((♥ heartfelt thanks ♥))

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Debbie]

Hey! I'm new to your blog & just found you thru Ravelry! Yes, you do have a rather large stash there, but it is so so beautiful and colorful! I am in the process of making one of your birdies and will show it off on my blog linking back to you when it is completed! Love your blog! Debbie

[Ricky]

Have you seen the Babette blanket(s)? They are great stash busters, and especially for leftover yarn! Have fun:-)

[Jody]

Love to see your stash, so colourful, just what I need on a foggy day. My stash is just as big and hiding all over the house! 2012 must be a year of stash busting for me!

[Nath]

Drooooooooooooooling such nice colours. So very Atticy ;) Makes me want to make a collage of my stash although I don't have all bright colors. Been into gray-ish tones lately but seeing all this just makes me smile. Wonderfull post. great source of inspiration once again ; )

Thanks Lucie

Nath

[angela-southern USA]

I think if you crochet you have to be a yarn-o-holic.How could you not be:)I did a mental tally of my stash, OH MY GOODNESS AT THE YARN!!!now keep in mind that I've been crocheting most of my life and can't part with any yarn.Enough said,right?I wish my UFO's where that limited:) Lucy pack/attic24 = a good thing!Yes I can see a"Lucy wreath"with your little birdie hanging in the center.Could be a great cal for spring:)Don't work too hard;)

[Ana]

I've totally loved this post. All those yarns in all those colours !! And I must say yes to attic24 yarn pack. In fact I bought the Rico one from First4yarn.

[Kimberley Wise]

What a wonderful stash of yarns, and I thought I was bad!!! I have an entire cupboard dedicated to wool!
I've sent you a little something as I've copied your lovely ripple pattern and am frantically making a blanket for my lounge :D I love your tutorials and that you share them. Many thanks.x

[gaia]

I love to read your blog but today's post just rocks! (My husband always complains of my yarn stash and makes me guilty of having them so this post of yours made me feel better :)). Your photos are gorgeous and I can't wait to see your 'spot square' tutorial and your other finished projects

[manuela]

Dear Lucy, in recent months I have used the creative cotton Rico to make scarves with granny's japanaise, look what a beautiful scarf i made ​​this summer: http://lecrocettedimanu.blogspot.com/2011/02/granny-blanket-squares- ripple-3.html.
See you soon and thank you for your beautiful post.
Manuela

[Karen]

Is it weird that I felt giddy with excitement upon seeing your stash? Lovely yarn! Wish we had those... our supplies are mostly mercerized cotton, probably because we're in the tropics. Keep creating your beautiful work. Hope you can share a messenger bag tutorial; it looks like something I would bring to work everyday. Much love from the Philippines.

[Leah]

I absolutely loved this post! All that wool - how utterly fabulous! The colours you use are so super cheerful and gorgeous - I think a Lucy Pack is most definitely needed!!! Have a wonderful week hon. Leah xx

[Mariette Stevens]

Lucy, you can never have too much yarn! Most of the people in our knitting group have boxes like this. It is actually quite, quite normal.
What other way is there when you are creative? We need to be able to have a good old rummage around in delicious colourful woolly stuff whenever we can! :o)
What nice unfinished bits and bobs you will have fun finishing next year.

[J]

Glad to see that you too are a yarnoholic. My friends laugh because I have a closet in my spare bedroom that I moved all the clothing out of just to have a place to store my yarn collection. Wish I could say that I have accomplished as many projects as you in the time I have been reading your blog, but unfortunately, I am a bit slow...But it is fun looking at all that yarn and dreaming about what it can be made into!!! Love your blog, and luckily based on the voting, so does everyone else!!! Thanks for all that you do for us!!!

[Bonnita]

If my stash were that small! Try a dozen 18 gallon bins full! It only multiplies if you leave it too long.

[anne@andamento]

Wow! Boxes of lovely colourful yarn and such pretty WIPs. Wish my cupboards held such treasures...

[Johanna]

Love the yarn and really, really would like to have a tutorial for the spotty squares. Pretty Please?

[Acs Patricia]

http://patriciakezmuvesmozaik.blogspot.com/2011/09/az-uj-kanape-hatasa-hobbira.html

[Ros]

I would definitely buy another Lucy pack if you were to offer one. I need to sort out my stash too. Ros

[S@@@rtje]

Oei ... herkenbaar :)!

[Cate]

I ADORE the spot squares!!!! PLEASE please, a tutorial on them would be fantastic!

[Stacey]

Oh my goodness... I just LOVE the colors in your collection!
I use up all of my fave colors... so my stash is starting to look drab (filling up with all of the leftover colors I don't like!)

[Sammycake]

Oh my goodness, what a lot of yarn!

I'm Sammy, I'm new to the crocheting world and I've been following your blog for a few weeks now. I love each and every one of your creations - the little flower and leaves pattern makes me giddy with happiness and I now have 9 teeny crochet flowers sitting on my mantle piece and it makes me feel very warm and fuzzy each time I look at them. I've also just finished making my other half a lovely ripple scarf from your neat ripple pattern, so I just wanted to say a great big thank you for your patterns, they're truly wonderful!

Thank you!

Sammycake x

[Claire]

I try not to think too much about stashes and UFOs, it just makes me panicky. Especially at this time of year. Tidying it up does help somehow though doesn't it, it almost makes you feel in control...

[Julie]

Makes the heart sing to see such beauty in a box.

[Pom Pom]

I love it! You pick the best colors!
I always think about Attic 24 when I shop for yarn.