'Fessing Up About Stash
There is so much buzz right now about yarn stashes. (And you know me - I can’t resist putting in my 2 cents.... ) Apparently most fiberholics have them - astoundingly, some don’t! As much as it intrigues me that some don’t and I think I’d love to walk on the wild side and join them I’m afraid I’m already on the side of the ‘most’. I can't say I actually "planned" to have a yarn stash - it just sort of started happening. Once I became aware there actually was such a thing as "stash" (thank-you other bloggers) and like the best laid plans of mice & men I did set boundaries for it - the double door wardrobe of 1/4” plywood we rescued from the old farmhouse on the back 60. It was thoroughly unsightly so it got a paint and rose stencil makeover to match my office. I lined the newly added center shelf with aromatic cedar and admired it. Waaaay more room than I would ever need!
I admit some of my earlier yarn purchases were foolhardy - like the really inexpensive 30 cones of assorted hair-thin synthetic blends bought sight unseen (!!) that probably fell off the delivery truck at a fabric manufacturer. Once they arrived I knew I’d never use them. They basically took up the entire bottom half of the wardrobe until I managed to reduce the count using eBay to about 16 cones - still waaaaay too much left. One of these days I will find some closet corner - OK some completely empty closet - to stow them in. For the interim they live in a (very) large clear plastic bag taking up too much space on the floor of my office. After all, the wardrobe is reserved for stash; ie; yarns I actually love.
At present my stash is divided into several groups. As mentioned, the wardrobe contains yarns I love; like Braemar chunky 60/40 wool acrylic blend, now out-of-production and rare as hen’s teeth which I was fortunate enough to obtain quite a lot of (about 100 balls) from the daughter of a former yarn store owner in the UK. (C'mon, it's not that much - just 10 bags of 10). Patons Bella - at least a double chunky weight in 4 dazzling colors, also out-of-production, enough to make 4 smashing throws (at about 15 balls per throw). My jealously guarded out-of-production Rowan merino yarns which I had huge plans for but will probably never use because I am not a proficient enough knitter to ever do them justice. An assortment of other chunky weight yarns in luscious colors and textures round out the top half. Yes, it’s a fairly big wardrobe.
The bottom half is a cornucopia of treasure like Cashsoft, a machine washable cashmere, other exotic fibers and blends in various weights, all absolutely wonderful, as well as a mundane collection of acrylics stuffed in the back - out of sight, out of mind. I would love to go into details but in order to do so I would have to move the wicker chest and the fabric lined laundry hampers piled in front of it which, alas, also contain stash... all superwash in a rainbow of colors and variety of weights except for my favorite basket of Wild Geese Fibers yarn which is always displayed in full view like hunting trophies to be admired and fondled on demand. Stacked on top of everything else are various projects in beautiful woven baskets (both mine and DDs). There is aslo a small deacon’s bench in which I store my handspun which for some reason I don’t think of as stash because it’s SO special. The only other yarn I have is a zip-closure clear plactic “suitcase” a department store comforter came in and it holds my sock yarns, pictures of which I posted earlier this year. It’s not even full and I don’t feel any urge TO fill it. There’s lots there for a looooong time!
My fiber stash I will only mention as a footnote since every piece has been photographed and posted here since I started spinning a year ago so there’s nothing new to tell. It is stowed in a small cedar chest in my office (and a very large box hidden under the air-hockey table in the sun room).
So there you have it - my full confession. I feel strangely cleansed....
I admit some of my earlier yarn purchases were foolhardy - like the really inexpensive 30 cones of assorted hair-thin synthetic blends bought sight unseen (!!) that probably fell off the delivery truck at a fabric manufacturer. Once they arrived I knew I’d never use them. They basically took up the entire bottom half of the wardrobe until I managed to reduce the count using eBay to about 16 cones - still waaaaay too much left. One of these days I will find some closet corner - OK some completely empty closet - to stow them in. For the interim they live in a (very) large clear plastic bag taking up too much space on the floor of my office. After all, the wardrobe is reserved for stash; ie; yarns I actually love.
At present my stash is divided into several groups. As mentioned, the wardrobe contains yarns I love; like Braemar chunky 60/40 wool acrylic blend, now out-of-production and rare as hen’s teeth which I was fortunate enough to obtain quite a lot of (about 100 balls) from the daughter of a former yarn store owner in the UK. (C'mon, it's not that much - just 10 bags of 10). Patons Bella - at least a double chunky weight in 4 dazzling colors, also out-of-production, enough to make 4 smashing throws (at about 15 balls per throw). My jealously guarded out-of-production Rowan merino yarns which I had huge plans for but will probably never use because I am not a proficient enough knitter to ever do them justice. An assortment of other chunky weight yarns in luscious colors and textures round out the top half. Yes, it’s a fairly big wardrobe.
The bottom half is a cornucopia of treasure like Cashsoft, a machine washable cashmere, other exotic fibers and blends in various weights, all absolutely wonderful, as well as a mundane collection of acrylics stuffed in the back - out of sight, out of mind. I would love to go into details but in order to do so I would have to move the wicker chest and the fabric lined laundry hampers piled in front of it which, alas, also contain stash... all superwash in a rainbow of colors and variety of weights except for my favorite basket of Wild Geese Fibers yarn which is always displayed in full view like hunting trophies to be admired and fondled on demand. Stacked on top of everything else are various projects in beautiful woven baskets (both mine and DDs). There is aslo a small deacon’s bench in which I store my handspun which for some reason I don’t think of as stash because it’s SO special. The only other yarn I have is a zip-closure clear plactic “suitcase” a department store comforter came in and it holds my sock yarns, pictures of which I posted earlier this year. It’s not even full and I don’t feel any urge TO fill it. There’s lots there for a looooong time!
My fiber stash I will only mention as a footnote since every piece has been photographed and posted here since I started spinning a year ago so there’s nothing new to tell. It is stowed in a small cedar chest in my office (and a very large box hidden under the air-hockey table in the sun room).
So there you have it - my full confession. I feel strangely cleansed....
I think you need to follow up your description with some photos
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Sorry Shannon but I don't think I'm ready to get quite that naked yet! It was hard enough to actually admit I HAVE a formidable stash (even though I trip over it every day!! LOL!!). Just use your imagination (and double it!) ROFL!!
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Numbered thoughts.
1. Thank you!
2. You are a great knitteer, you can knit anything, including the Rowan. You just need an idea that "speaks" to you.
3. Baskets ... did you make them? or buy them? (I love handmade willow baskets)
4. Ditto on Shannon
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1) Thank-YOU! Your yarn is my pleasure!
2) I see you are a lot more optimistic than I am!! LOL!!
3) I have tried many different crafts in my day but I know better than to tackle basket making! I am quite content to purchase and love other people's creations! I do indeed have one willow basket which is like 2/3 of a globe in shape - it is my favorite - and it holds your yarns!!!
4) Ditto my comment to Shannon - I'm not quite ready to expose myself further! LOL!
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Not even if you sat on me, and tickled my feet, would I tell about my yarn and fiber stash. :o) Maybe just admit of having a stash.
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I hear you!!! Admission is about as far as I'm ready to go myself!!!
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