How do you decide what you want is actually what you need? For knitting, it’s simple. Since I sell what I knit (or spin), any purchase that furthers that regard is pretty much “game on”. That is, until now.
The studio is ridiculously full of fleece, rovings, yarn, cotton, packaging, 3 spinning wheels, and even 4,000 elastic bands. I feel like I have moved into Costco – sans large wheel of cheese. I really want to get to the bottom of the pile….but the things I want to knit are from the yarn I haven’t spun yet, or the Malabrigo or Fleece Artist I don’t own yet.
I even have a partner in crime now. Pearl (who is an awesome thrifter) has stumbled upon my weakness for vintage plastic needles. And so…the collection grows.
How do you justify your stash if you don’t knit for a living…Seriously, I want to know. I need to make myself feel better about this growing mountain of yarn under me.
Your dog’s use of the yarn…..now that sound like a story.
carmen,
I live with my two girls, my mom and our dog. trust me, my yarn must fit in my bedroom, for safety sake. so I have it stashed under a table in my room. if it was out in the family room or someplace my girls could get at it, my wonderful handpainted yarn may find its way into an art project for school! they know they can not use any of the yarn in my room, anything out of my room is fair game for creative play. smile….and don’t get me started on my dog’s use of yarn….
Firstly Sharon, if your stash is actually in those containers, I admire you.
Secondly,I love your rule! It satisfies the need and the want….It would actually make me work harder on stash busting….
Oh yes, and then there is the budge issue…so unfair.
I struggle with the want vs. need. My stash is small compared to others, my yarn fits into 3 cubbies and 1 large wicker basket. Yet in those 4 containers, I have enough yarn to knit probably 10 pairs of socks, several hats and many mittens. So I don’t NEED more yarn. But oh how I want yarn. My current “rule” is if I knit 2 things from my stash, I can buy 1 new skein of yarn. Is working for now. but I’m feeling a need to go spend some time at my nearby happy place! (translates to local yarn shop) The other best way to curtail my shopping in a want mode, is to look at my checking account balance and compare it to the bills that have yet to be paid. That usually sends me shopping in my stash!