How to build a workable YARN STASH. 🧶

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Today we're chatting about how to build a yarn stash that works for you. These key considerations will leave you feeling more in control of your developing collection of yarn. Time stamps if you want to come back to this one for reference: 02:59 : A word on my opinion... 04:00 : The question that inspired this video... 05:20 : Does size matter? 07:26 : How to determine what sorts of yarn to buy... 09:28 : How do I know how much yarn to buy? 13:39 : Yarn versatility...what's that mean? 16:56 : All the single skeins... 21:58 : What about OVERCONSUMPTION??? 😳 22:30 : Should I go out and buy a bunch of yarn RIGHT NOW??? 💸 23:50 : Ask yourself a few questions. Other videos to explore: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3OalKZ_j619epI&pp=gAQB kzbin.info/www/bejne/npvVaqyppNONrqs kzbin.info/www/bejne/r57Ck2qZbbuFecU kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYC2dGOdjNqbj6c

[@makingmods]

My stash tip: once a year, I lay out my whole stash and take a photo. I favorite the photo and it gives me an idea when shopping of what I have, what I may "need", and helps provide perspective on those impulse buys.

[@lelalu101]

I think this would help me more than just maintaining my raverly stash because I've got lots of stuff that is second hand and therefore unknown fiber, brand, colorway

[@velvety2006]

I do this too, most of the time I find I can make at least 3 projects with just what I have in my stash lol XD The last buy was purposely for projects I wanna make

[@simoneclarke5104]

My husband and I live very frugally and simple, so buying yarn must be very intentional. I decide on a pattern, I take it to the yarn store and ask for my options. I choose my yarn for that specific project. I am not in a financial situation where I can go by yarn because I like the look of it or I just want it for some project down the road. When we do travel and I buy myself a souvenir of yarn, I will always buy sock yarn as I absolutely love to knit socks. If I were to ever have the money to purchase a sweater quantity of yarn on a holiday it would be carefully planned out and my pattern would go with me. I like my yarn stash to be small and manageable, all my yarn has a project attached. This works really well for me.

[@miyukisisson6444]

This is me too! I love the idea of having a giant stash of yarn but the budget just isn't there yet.

[@eggysalad]

this is exactly how i am! i also like to be very intentional with the ethics and quality of the yarn i purchase so i tend to save up for a while with a pattern in mind to buy ethical, sustainable, chemical free merinos for my sweaters.. i can typically make about 4 sweaters a year if im lucky, but i like it this way because why would i need more sweaters than that!

[@marythomas5886]

I am so impressed! I usually go on yarn buying diets and work from my stash. Then if there are events I have room for more yarn! I need to be better! 😊

[@marythomas5886]

I am so impressed! I usually go on yarn buying diets and work from my stash. Then if there are events I have room for more yarn! I need to be better! 😊

[@simoneclarke5104]

@@eggysalad I agree with all you said!!

[@MrsStevenBrown]

If there is extra in your stash, consider donating to a seniors home, preferably a low income or govt run home as those ladies would and do literally cry when there is a yarn donation they can work with and enjoy making with. As a recreation activity worker we sort and make sure it goes to those who appreciate and use the yarn for crochet or knit project, craft projects and even just ball winding time for dementia patients. ❤ Any yarn is used and loved by these ladies❤

[@hilarycohen1470]

Some of us have been gifted serious quantities of yarn. My bro is a serious shopper, with wonderful taste,and frequents high-end craft and art fairs, where he buys me yarn gifts. Now that he’s been trained not to offer me mohair (itchy), unnatural fibers, or anything in yellow, I regularly receive spectacular gifts of indie yarns. It’s a lovely thing.

[@plummyplummy]

on the topic of sweater quantities: if you're a mohair or suri alpaca enjoyer, what i have often done is bought either a fingering weight or fuzzy lace weight yarn in a dk sweater quantity, with the intention of looking for its counterpart to have a complete set on hand. this also makes it easier to use variegated hand-dyed skeins in a sweater project, as it can be softened by pairing with a solid yarn!

[@kayjeanne8346]

I've been thinking about this too. When I first started out I bought a lot of single skeins. Recently I've been thinking of incorporating them into a single project using a mohair strand to unite them and soften the color differences.

[@dostopitnow]

I have always enjoyed your podcast, however I recently Unsubscribed from a lot of knitting channels due to the over the top influences. I am a serious knitter, I knit everyday, it is a lifestyle for me, but, now that I am in my 70's, I only want to knit things that are practical for me and that is socks, or occasionally a hat. I down-sized my stash to only include sock yarns, mostly fingering weight. I can still knit a shawl, that I will never wear, or a cowl which I won't wear either, but socks I wear everyday. Shorty socks in warmer months and mid-calf in cooler months. I also don't need to see other knitter's FOs, WIPs or Plans, as these aren't relevant to me any longer. What I would like to see is more tutorials on techniques, sock knitting techniques. I'm always up for learning a new way to do a heel, or toe. I have had a really difficult time finding said tutorials. Sorry for the long comment, but I'm feeling frustrated by the knitting community at present. I don't need to be sold another stitch marker, progress keeper or advent calendar. I just want information and to learn something new.🙂

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Thank you so much for sharing your perspective! I feel that wholeheartedly. It’s a lot and in a lot of ways, just too much. I’ve found that my channel has evolved over the years to be more of a place where I share perspectives and ideas as opposed to things and projects. I’m much more inspired by that sort of content as well. All that said, I’m happy that you still find something in my videos. ❤️

[@ltravis17]

So very well said

[@fulfordmg]

I just enjoy listening as I knit to people I enjoy as I spend a lot of time alone. Thank you for being one of those people. Keep doing you.

[@spines.and.needles]

@dostopitnow - You might have already found these channels because they have high subscriber counts, but you might like both The Nerdy Knitter (most of her stuff is educational as she's a master knitter and a knitting instructor) and DreaReneeKnits podcast I'll Knit if I Want To (which is focused on answering questions submitted to her). The latter just answered a question about sock knitting this week!

[@irisdesousa_arcoiris]

You might enjoy the patterns and cuffs and heels, with technical explanation, toe up and cuff down, in this german channel (quite some videos have english subtitles or are even spoken in englisch) : Sylvie Rasch - Crash creative things But by only looking at her hands and how She shows, one can totally understand what to do, even more as an experienced knitter like yourself.

[@janicemonkowski5329]

Well, how exciting to hear my question addressed! Thanks, Tayler, you're the best!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

You are VERY welcome. It’s a fantastic rabbit hole to go down. ❤️

[@christenagervais7303]

I'm pretty much a monogamous knitter. I find a sweater/cardigan pattern that I like and buy the yarn for it. If I buy souvenir yarn, it is always sock yarn. I never just buy a skein of yarn just because it's pretty unless it is a sock yarn. I don't have a stash. I can't afford one.

[@eleanoreadams]

Geat Video! I went to Scotland in 2024, and while visiting Ginger Snap yarn store in Edinburgh, I found 3 yarns I loved, and had the staff help me buy the amount in each for a sweater in each. The staff even went so far and to I.D. the Ravely patterns in my size. So I got 13 new skeins for my stash then, and now I have 3 new sweaters!

[@KevinMontreal]

Great video! Here’s my tip, before committing to a whole sweater’s quantity, buy 1 skein and work up something small. You may love the yarn or you may hate it and if you hate it, it’s going to be a long journey to make a sweater…

[@nicolenewell6863]

I just started collecting souvenir yarns, I look for really fun hand-dyed yarn that is dyed locally to wherever it is I’m visiting. Since most of the yarn I’ve been drawn to is fingering, I’ve decided I’ll make myself a pair of socks with yarn I get as souvenirs. Right now I’m making a pair of Seattle Socks. 😉 Also, I wear neutral and jewel toned colors for my main clothes but have enjoyed crazy bright variegated and speckled yarn for my socks! Best of both worlds.

[@valeriea.gladstone6440]

Yes!!! Your stash needs to work for you. Curated is the word! I have yarn from the 1990’s, that still works, others I have grown out of! My taste has changed, so what I make has changed!

[@lisadriscoll6264]

I used to buy pretty yarns without much consideration of an end product. I purchased lots of sock yarns and a few sweater quantities without specific projects. Many of these yarns didn’t work out for me. I now purchase for a particular project most times or buy solids/totals that will complement sock or fingering yarns for socks, shawls, vowels, etc. too much yarn gives me anxiety. New Years Day this year, I went through my entire yarn stash. I sorted it into a donation pile and a keep pile. I donated 3 trash bags of yarns. Of the “kept” yarns, I catalogued them all in Ravelry and identified potential projects for quite a few. I then stored the yarn away again but the bins are sorted by yarn type/projects and the ones I want to start sooner are in front. I feel so much less anxious about the yarn and can now go pull some out without been overwhelmed about where to locate it in from the various bins and tubs.

[@StitchesGonnaStitch]

As long as you have internet connection on your phone, I have never had a shop complain if I'm looking up pattern ideas to purchase yarn, whether it's sweaters, short sleeved tops, blankets, gloves, whatever. Heck, there's one shop in particular that if they're not super busy has even pulled up pattern ideas on Ravelry with me and we can get an idea on yardage to purchase. May be harder at a festival if it's a remote fairground but it's also OK to go into the festival after having looked at a few patterns you may have favorited. You can also use a special single skein or two in stranded colorwork on the yoke of a sweater or something as well - yes, even if it's variegated. I think that's so underrated when people use variegated, ombre, or self-striping yarn as a contrast color.

[@lindaspencer6547]

Tayler, I so appreciate your educational approach to your podcast. After years of buying yarn and patterns (almost always with the intent of using them together) I find that my desire to knit xyz grows much faster than my ability to do so (yes, I’m a garment knitter) and now I have way too many projects in my queue. As time goes by I find that I no longer love the pattern or am wanting different colors now than when I made my purchase. I’m sure this is obvious to all, but it is helpful for me to say it, the patterns aren’t going anywhere, there will always be more soft, colorful/neutral/naturally dyed (fill in the blank) yarn; I don’t have to buy it all now. So, I’m using Ravelry more and when I favorite a pattern that I see, I make notes about why I put it in my favorites, what yarn was suggested and loved by the maker, etc. Then, next time I am almost done with a sweater I can look through my favorites and make a selection. Surprisingly, I find myself not always still drawn to the style and am happy to look at other options. I appreciate your kind acceptance of those who have over purchased or who choose to build a stash as well as those who opt out of stash building.

[@patricialeach4279]

Definitely find the same. Thanks for sharing!

[@allisonlittlefortin4891]

I really appreciate the timing of this video. I accumulated a yarn stash back in the 80's and early 90's and when my kids came along and work got hectic, I gave it to my mother. When she downsized houses, in the early 2000's she gave it back. When I retired in 2019, I reached for my needles and started tackling the stash. I have been planning projects around the yarn I had, some of which is really not what I would choose today, and I probably have another year before I have reduced it to real scraps. I have bought a few new yarns, either for gift knits or for souvenir projects (wool bought in Barcelona for the Gaudi sweater, etc) From this perspective, I genuinely think that I prefer not to have a yarn stash at all, but just plan projects that inspire me and buy the wool as I am ready to begin them. So much of what I have accumulated so long ago is less to my taste, or harder to get inspired by. I will probably find a middle ground between just in time buying and an enormous stockpile, with a focus on forward planning and waiting for sales, but always project inspired. Thanks for the opportunity to realize how my thoughts have evolved.

[@cricketcs9505]

I have a reasonably large stash. I downsized by donating to lys to share/sell in their destash sale. Guilt from not using it removed❤

[@janetcannonteacher]

As you said, my yarn buying has evolved through the years, and now I'm better at getting "useful" colors, weights, and types of yarn. I have a lot that I don't like for crochet or knit, so I am finding other ways (weaving, rug making, etc.) to use it.

[@kristalpower292]

Thanks Tayler. I really appreciate how you have addressed this topic. Yarn Stash videos often focus on organising it or debates about how big or small it should be. I like having a stash because it means I can knit and crochet even I don’t have disposable income. I have recently found I have enough yarn but not enough that is workable. I now feel confident I have more tools to curate my stash. It’s also provided me with some inspiration for how I can organise my yarn for my crafting. Love your take on curating a workable stash that works you.

[@annnna4e]

The way I knit has changed a fair bit over the last couple of years - for a long time, I was exclusively a Shawl Knitter, so for nearly ten years I only bought single skeins, maybe two of a kind. I've realised that my colour selections have been very consistent though, and I've always ONLY bought fingering and lace weight, so a lot of my single skeins have been able to go together in a jumper as I've moved more into garments. My favourite jumper style takes 350-400g for my size (as a plus size person!), so if I buy four, I know I can get a jumper. If I buy five, I can get something cabled or in brioche. My most recent finish was my first in a fluffy yarn (single strand fingering, but fluffy), and it was 240g. I had 400!

[@VampireOfDisaster666]

Now that I've been crocheting for nearly a year, and have moved away from the "oh pretty phase", and actually know how much yarn a project will swallow, I'm giving my stash a critical look. I've been trying to destash. Now I only buy yarn with a project intended for it, and meanwhile I search for projects to lessen my stash. This video gave me the confidence I needed to continue down this line. Thank you 😁

[@SupermodelKara]

I just sorted and organized my stash the other day, I'm putting myself on a yarn diet after getting it all sorted 😆 When I started knitting I did very basic projects and mostly accessory knits like scarves and hats. The majority of my yarn in the beginning was bulky/chunky weight yarn. I had a mix of big box brands and even smaller hand dyed yarns that were more expensive. As I've gotten more serious about my knitting and have expanded on not just my interests as a knitter but also my skills set, I've learned a lot about what types of yarns I like and I've learned how much to buy for bigger projects like sweaters. It's a whole new world when you get a stash that actually works for you! Even though I'm going on my yarn diet, I am really looking forward to this little break in buying yarn because I know I have several sweaters and pairs of cute socks and even summer tops that are waiting to be knit because it's all in my stash!

[@cindyjacob6562]

I just finished the exact same thing! It’s taken me a week (yes I’m ashamed) but I finally have my yarn organized, inventoried and into the ravelery website. I have way too many projects I thought I’d make, but I have some great yarns too. I’m excited to figure out what I can make with what I already have!

[@sharbear1968]

Perfect timing Taylor. Not to stash shame anyone but as beginners, at least myself, I started crocheting Dec ‘22 and instantly amassed and incredible amount of acrylic yarn. First a skein or so, then blanket quantities. Then I discovered knitting and became obsessed with sock yarns and finer wool and hand dyed. I have so much self loathing whenever I go into my yarn room (yes, an entire room in the course of 2 years). This month I printed patterns and bagged up at least 27 projects as my ‘25 goals. I only need to purchase yarn for two sweaters. This has made me more mindful about what I love to make and what my stash should look like. Anyone want a yarn room full of big box store acrylics? 🤣🤣🤣

[@KomekoroKoa]

Serious question: do you have any Caron Cloud Cakes? It’s been discontinued and it’s my favorite for shawls/scarves in the Minnesota winter. I have trouble with wool against my neck.

[@MrsStevenBrown]

Please donate to govt seniors homes, those ladies would appreciate ANY yarn to work with and use to spend time with.

[@ASLchica09]

Have you tried posting on ravelry? If your stash is already on there you can easily post it to sell.

[@Lissabee82]

This is literally me! I ended up donating all my acrylic.

[@sharbear1968]

@@KomekoroKoa oh gosh sorry. I just have 2 blossom cakes macaw. I’m still trying to decide if I’m going to finish that WIP.

[@iamthewhimsy]

Awesome subject and discussion! As someone with a rather prodigious yarn stash (collected and curated over 20 years running), I've definitely wrestled with having practical picks vs. "It was pretty and I bought it on vacation" skeins and quantities. I've really enjoyed the ways that some designers have come out with designs that use single skeins in combinations that let the knitter combine stash and think about how to combine yarns that might not otherwise coordinate, and to create really cool original pieces, like the Fade shawls and sweaters that employ the fading technique. Thanks for the really thoughtful approach to stash and for the yardage ranges! Those will come in handy for more than just planning acquisitions for my own stash, but also for gift planning, if I intend to get yarn for a knitter pal or make a gift for someone knitworthy in my sphere! Have a great week!

[@CnBlu]

I was so surprised to hear people collect a yarn stash on purpose! I've never bought yarn or seen a friend buy yarn without knowing what it was going to be used for and when. I finish a knit before starting the next one. If I find something beautiful I and don't have a project going on, I look up a pattern and buy what's needed for that. If I already have a project, I take a picture of the yarn and label, and find out how I can get the yarn when my current project is finished. Tastes and skills change with each project, I can't be sure what I'll want to knit in half a year or a year! There's an infinite amount of beautiful yarn in the world, we won't run out even if we don't buy it immediately 🩷

[@sandravt2168]

Truer words have never been spoken! Even if all the yarn shops in the world would close for a year, I'm sure we'll find enough yarn in each other's yarn stashes to keep us busy :) I myself am guilty of impulse buying in the past. Now, when I feel tempted to buy a nice yarn (that is of course ON SALE! LAST CHANCE!) I tell myself: when I buy this, another skein that I impulse bought in the past and that's still sitting in my stash will have to go. Which is mostly enough reason to just leave the shop (or website). I used to laugh at jokes on social media where people say: 'Oops, I did it again' and bring home a bag of yarn without a project, but it's actually not helping anyone when we're just hoarding resources that we're never going to use - especially the environment.

[@CnBlu]

@@sandravt2168 Very good point about the environment. I also find it a big motivator to finish a project, because I get to go buy a new exciting yarn for the next project. It's much quicker and easier to buy yarn than it is to knit it :D Because I only buy what's needed, I can better afford to support ethical and local makers and dyers. For my next project I'll find the yarn that's produced (and possibly dyed) closest to my home. But first, finishing my socks!

[@susanmarshall3709]

Unfortunately, I am an impulse buyer. I see the pretty colors and think what I could make with them and next thing they are sitting in my stash because I have more patterns than time. I have been putting the pattern in the bag with the yarn to remind me what I originally intended to make with it. I store my yarn in plastic boxes and only get to look at it from the sides. That means when I want to make an item, I have to sort my yarns to find enough skeins to make the items that the yarn was not intended for when purchased. I now started questioning if I REALLY NEED the new yarn! FINALLY! I loved your podcast. Thanks.

[@angeknitsandsews7867]

Thank you for this video it’s very informative. I learnt to knit in my earlier years, no idea how, but didn’t knit for most of my adulthood. Oh how I wish I had. I came back to knitting in early 2020 - the clue is in the date. Oh my goodness, I had a lot to learn - Ravelry, seamless garments, socks, circular needles and gorgeous hand dyed yarns! Wow. I was completely seduced by these gorgeous colours and speckles. Living in rural France at the time the weekly delivery of stunning single skeins of yarn was a joy. Most of this is still unused. 😊 Five years on I now know that I prefer neutral colours and fairly plain sweaters. I love to knit socks and that’s where my colour urges are satisfied. So for me, a small stash of sock yarn is the way forward and to only intentionally buy for projects. Also not to be influenced by the influencers which is why I love your channel. Though your book channel is a different matter in terms of influence having just bought my first Stephen King horror book. 😂

[@mimikriegbaum7893]

Loved this video! For me, I need to have a sweater pattern already picked out before I walk into that yarn shop. If I don’t, I literally place myself in a corner of the shop and browse through Ravelry to see if anything catches my eye. If it doesn’t, I pass up a sweater quantity and grab a single skein of sock yarn if it suits me. This is just what works for me 🤗

[@morganroseshelor460]

I have a small stash because I've been gifted a generous amount of yarn from a friend who weeded through what she's not using. I laid it all out and took photos, and my goal this year is to knit through it. I'm probably not going to finish knitting through it in one year because I have a new baby and a preschooler, but seeing it all out, and writing down what projects I imagine each skein for made me realize I don't need to purchase yarn for a long time. The stash includes several skeins of beautiful fingering weight yarn and I don't like knitting socks, but I love using the free Easy Peazy Scarf/Shawlette pattern from ravelry to make triangle scarves that can be wonderful gifts. I've made a list of knit worthy friends and family and listed their favorite colors, and I'm making them versions of this pattern to use up this lovely yarn. I also love that the scarf is something that people will get to see and enjoy the lovely yarn, instead of socks, that'll be hidden in shoes.

[@joannebooy7517]

Love your WNH and GBL podcasts. Thanks for all that, lots of inspiration and food for thought. Honestly, the idea of a stash is something I have never aspired to. The only stash I have is what’s leftover from projects or failed projects I have frogged. And I try to use those whenever I can. I totally agree that souvenir yarn shopping is amazing, it’s a great memory for later of that time and place. But I prefer finding patterns I love and then buying exactly the amount and type of yarn that will be good for that project. When I travel, I always bring a pattern along and make my splurge on exactly what I will need-no wastage or wondering if I’ll ever use it. It just gets cast on and started when I have time. Then the sweater or hat or whatever, when I finally finish it, reminds me of where I purchased it.

[@catnapper3923]

It’s a thoughtful episode. When I picked knitting back up after a 10 year hiatus, my preference was something entirely different than now. So I’m destashing like crazy, which mostly consists of donating yarn to “big box” charities. I do still buy single skeins - sometimes I want to show appreciation and support for small businesses. You know. At present, though, I am swallowed by my stash, so this is a no-buy-and-really-decrease year for me. Thanks Tayler. You are so good. Xx

[@patricialeach4279]

Very familiar.

[@diannecarter1754]

I have so much stash I got when I first started knitting. It took me at least 2 years to realize I had stash issues lol. Everyone should have to watch this video when they start their journey…it would save so much money

[@KatyB-GryffindorChaser]

So so true that a healthy yarn stash doesn't mean a huge stash. I have a huge stash and it's too much. I love knitting AND I love collecting yarn. They're kinda two separate hobbies, and unfortunately, I've collected an overwhelming amount of yarn. Much better to figure out a strategy for keeping a workable stash.

[@LeesaRe223]

As always so informative and helpful...especially the estimates on 'sweater quantity'. I've been very fortunate to do so traveling and have the financial ability to buy some souvenir yarns. The first 2 times I did it rather haphazardly and as you noted ended up with amounts that maybe are as beneficial in my stash. Last year I went to Norway and completely changed my approach. I visited some stores, found some yarns I loved and went back to my hotel searching all my Ravelry favorites and went back with the actual pattern I wanted to make and had the right quantities in front of me. While I still love all my earlier purchases this approach works much better for me.

[@karengaray5114]

Thank you, Tayler! This video was very timely for me. I have a very large stash, partly due to 6 or so trash bags full of yarn that was given to me over the years. Over time, my knitting preferences have evolved, and many of those yarns don't work for me any more. I'm in a stash down group on Ravelry, and seeing what others do to organize their stash in a way that works for them has helped me realize I want to revamp my stash. In the last few years, I have mostly knit shawls, cowls, and occasionally hats. I plan to eventually make a sweater, but that's not what I purchase yarn for these days. I love Westknits shawls, which work perfectly with those single souvenir skeins, or with 2 skeins. I mostly work with fingering weight. I have started buying those special skeins in pairs, looking to coordinate with colors I already have. I have a lack of solid or semisolid colors to tie together the fun skeins, so once I have destashed enough of what I don't use to have space, I will fill in that gap with 2-4 skein sets of solids to coordinate the hand dyed preciouses. A sweater quantity for me would be quite a large amount, since I am plus size, so I'd rather wait until I know I'm ready to make a sweater before investing that much at once in yarn. I love your channel and I'm so glad I found you. So many channels these days are all about promoting products or people, but you always emphasize to do what works for us, not what the bandwagon says. You are a breath of fresh air.

[@atorres8760]

Ive always been someone who has had a stash for hobbies. If you walked into my craft closet you could pick out stuff to make a quilt, do some embroidery, sew a dress and on and on. What I’ve discovered is I like plan as much as I like to make. So since I’ve picked up knitting again, I’ve been planning different projects. Finding a pattern, searching for the right yarn, finding size and quantity, and how I would modify the pattern. But I’m not always buying. This should help my stash problem.

[@LisaMattison-i9e]

I've only been knitting for a year and a half, but I've crocheted for over 20 years. Collecting and "curating" yarn has always been as much of a hobby as crocheting and knitting.... As i love to "shop" my stash at home first, to see if i have something that will work. However, i do make purchases with specific projects in mind and use those fiber purchases for those projects, usually. I'm a very visually inspired person and having my large collection to use from and get ideas from us very inspiring to me. Hope that info helps!!❤️ Love your channel and info Tayler!!🥰

[@brogoff1837]

This was so helpful! I sorted my stash a few weeks ago, dividing and storing by yarn weight, which helped me see gaps in what I had and what I didn't have. Your video was the perfect next step - I realized that I enjoy knitting accessories the most - mitts, shawls, hats, cowls. I just started knitting my first sweater and bought yarn for a second one. I also am continually refining what yarns I like working with the best. I also realized I like having two projects - a "big" one, and a smaller "portable" one. It's so interesting to see what directions my knitting follows!

[@bridgetchristianson8706]

My trigger was “on sale”! It took me awhile to figure out that there would always be another sale or another skein of yarn that was pretty. My stash became a bunch of random skeins instead of something workable. I feel like I could have spent my more wisely if I had a project in mind. Luckily I did learn and now, whenever possible, I try to incorporate at least some of my stash into each project.

[@hattierensberry2526]

I’ve vowed this year to knit as much from stash as possible! My stash is at a pretty workable level, but now that I am getting into quilting I want to make sure that my yarn has defined spaces so that I can better organize my fabrics. I keep a lot of scraps, so I started a New Year’s scrappy blanket (the pattern is Scraptastic Stashbusting Blanket). I’ve been trying not to overthink it, and have instead been sorting out specific amounts to allocate to either the blanket or to future small color work projects like mittens! I’ve been collecting skeins of random hand dyed DK purple for a few years here and there, which this year are going to become a striped sweater or dress. My goals for this year feel quite manageable, especially because part of that is using stash yarns to make gifts for others as an early jump on birthdays or Christmas.

[@SarcasticShrubbery]

I have a relatively small stash because I don't have much space. Usually I'll only buy larger quantities of yarn for specific patterns (and use them right away), but sometimes they don't work out and I keep them for whenever a better pattern comes around. I also keep all leftovers and single skeins because I love figuring out how to combine them into scrappy or colourwork projects. Most of my yarns are in the same colour family so they tend to go well together. Whenever my two designated yarn bins get too full, I'll go through them and make myself find a stash busting project or two before I'm allowed to buy more yarn. I've recently made an ankle length Petite Knit dress entirely from single skeins and leftovers, and it's my absolute favourite for the cold weather!

[@wendys8593]

Content aside (which was excellent) I appreciate your work on and ability to teach a clear and well organized podcast. So refreshing.

[@cloverpineknits]

Building my stash has come completely from experience through trial and error. I've actually set a goal for myself to critique all the yarns I use over the next year and narrow down what would be, for me, workhorse yarns. I have a saved Google Doc to keep track of my favorites in categories of weight and spin type (worsted & woolen spun). That way if I go to a festival or see a great sale, I'll know exactly what I like and what is worth investing in. I am hoping this will streamline my stash and make it more efficient for my craft.

[@anneellison8188]

This was a REALLY good video! I've been a knitter for many, many years but still found some useful information in this video. I know for me, if I've had skeins around for years, maybe ones that I purchased on impulse or was gifted from someone else, that I haven't used, I donate it. I do a yarn purge every summer. And THEN I go through my list of items that I want to knit, and make a list of yarns I need for those items. Yarn in and yarn out! Its a process.

[@kathryniwhite]

Incredibly helpful, clarifies the general basics of amounts per yarn type.

[@nicoleortmann9204]

Thanks so much for a rational and reasonable look into stashes. It was nice to hear the idea that a stash is individualized . And your amount guide was fantastic!

[@LeahBandB]

This is interesting to me as someone that doesn't keep a yarn stash. I've always preferred ro find the pattern first and then find the yarn for it. So I guess my LYS is my yarn stash 😆

[@alexandriadillhoff7069]

I love this. I have a small stash mostly just sock yarn scraps. I love this video because I feel like it gives me freedom to maintain a few hanks of lovely sock yarn. Especially as someone who loves more "Expensive" yarn for knitting so it's nice to have something that I can pick up and use when the budget is tight. ❤

[@CJ-fc8qj]

I am determined to work through the odds and ends stash I have accumulated. Wherever possible I combine yarns (like a scrap blanket either knit or crochet). These are projects that I know will be WIPs for a long time but as I have leftover yarns from projects that match gauge, I add them to that project basket. Interestingly enough, last year I decided to look through my favorite and queue in Ravelry and come up with personalized "sweater quantities" numbers for different weights - they all fall within your suggestions. I also just started picking up souvenir yarns, I almost always opt for sock yarn for a pair of socks or a toque - I live in part of Canada that gets cold and snowy so I ALWAYS have use for these accessories! Thanks for another informative video. I really appreciate how you approach topics. As you say, I always take something of value away!

[@MrsStevenBrown]

When buying a sweater level, pick out at least one color than goes well with it and get a skein of it…you may want to add a stripe or collar detail etc in the future, or make a detailed stranded color yoke etc…having at least one color that has contrast and same weight etc…leads to more options. ❤

[@sagasandstars]

Years ago I got a guide that Ann Budd put out, the knitters handi guide to yard requirements. It is laminated it has everything from mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, socks, sweaters etc. In multiple sizes and multiple gauges. I carry this with me, in my current project bag (don’t leave home without that). Although I am more like the woman that wrote in, I tend to buy patterns, and then look for yarn that I would like to use. Exception is I have bought many, Stephen West, and oh my gosh , the man is brilliant. I love the yarn that they offer in their kits as well. I have a yarn store 4 blocks away. I don’t need a stash! Lol😂

[@netty062]

I totally agree about the value of the comments contributing to the video itself. Great as always! My stash is huge and it both stresses me out at times but inspires me and is handy when I'm inspired to start something new!!

[@LasReina]

Hello from Sicily 👋 I have two stashes of yarn, one is a couple of big plastic boxes filled with single or couple of skeins that i purchesed when I started knitting, and I occasionally use for making small projects, cowls hat or dolls and decorations. I stopped knitting for 5 years than when picked up knitting again I was more conscious of what I make ( all the garments for me and my family) and bought a lot of sweater quantities in our favourite colours, for which I have plans but I can always change my mind.. so I have filled a cupboard of these skeins, but not feel overwelmed when I see it, just inspired and lucky that I can knit what i want all the time.❤

[@claireclaireclara]

This is such an incredibly helpful video. I have been asking myself these questions a lot lately AND although I have a rather small stash it actually stresses me out because of the individual skeins. The yardage numbers are so useful!

[@KellyYoung-q1y]

Just over a year into my fiber journey, this is finally the yarn stash video I needed! I appreciate the thoughtful, helpful and grounded approach you always bring. Its not about the quantity, but the quality of the stash--can I use it, does it serve me. But, yeah, you can have some special skeins in moderation and because they mean something--because this hobby still has to bring joy. What's more sensible than that! Thank you!!

[@katelynrader4592]

I am so going to save this video for the days I feel like buying everything available 😂 Thank you for the thoughtfulness that went into this. This is just what I needed! It's fun to splurge occasionally, but I definitely get overwhelmed when I have more than a year's worth of projects to get through, so I'll be keeping that in mind in addition to the other great points you made when considering my stash this year going forward!

[@shamszakhour6076]

Hi Tayler! I'm a woman of regular height and short arms with a large bust and waist, and small hips. I live in a moderate (cool) climate that rarely gets hot or particularly cold. So, I prefer to wear fingering weight sweaters. I don't like cardigans on ME (with my shape and age I look very dowdy and grandmotherly). I exclusively wear long sleeves, even in summer. So I buy sweater quantities in fingering or DK weight and generally purchase around 2000 yards. I arrived at this size by looking at many patterns in my size. I also don't like to do colorwork, but I do like textures and cables. This quantity works for me. For smaller accessories, I buy 2-3 skeins of 100 gms, or 1 100gm (2 50gm) skein for socks. And, yes, my stash is definitely fairly overwhelming. Thanks for this topic!

[@susansheaffer4035]

I have moved away from getting more yarn just to stash it. I found it frustrating to fall in love with a pattern & never have the appropriate yarn in my stash. I want to knit what I love, not just to use up yarn that I stashed years ago. My knitting preferences have evolved so much over the years & I have gone through phases where I might be knitting socks only for a year or shawls. Now I want to mostly knit garments. Yarn I stashed back then is not going to work for me now. So now I try to only purchase yarn for projects as they come along. I have donated some yarn to a local retirement community where the skeins can be used & get the love the deserve. I still have a ton of yarn (with projects in mind) I am trying to work through but am trying to no longer add yarn without a plan.

[@joannedashiell2418]

My rule of thumb is that if I know I can get it online or at my LYS I wait until I’m ready or almost ready to cast on. I’m in love with Malabrigo and all their colors but if I bought sweater quantities in each of the colors I love I’d be overrun! If it’s a brand I don’t know, on sale, or a unique to that store type of yarn, I tend to buy it if it lights me up. This break down is SO helpful, I never know how many hanks to buy and one is never enough. I need to look up averages for kids sweaters too, because if the budget doesn’t allow for a sweater quantity for me, sometimes it does for the kids! Loved watching!

[@catherinecunningham7126]

Great topic. My husband is retired now so yarn shopping is a bit more limited BUT, it wasn’t before so I do have a good size stash because I bought so much “oh that’s pretty” yarn but only a hank or two each so not really enough to do anything with. I am trying to work through it but we live in the middle of nowhere now so I don’t need sweaters, scarves, cowls, shawls etc. I want to organize it so I can see it all and be able to get inspired. I like knitting and crocheting blankets, amigurumi, dishcloths, household things to give as gifts so eventually I will get through it. Organizing it and keeping it that way is definitely more workable. 🌵🌻

[@branwen1463]

This video is a great example of why I am hooked on your videos. The practical breakdown and easy to approach methods that people can use or not. These numbers are going in my knitting notebook, just like your break down on picking the correct size did. Just wanted to say as a newer knitter, thank you! ❤

[@cozymagemakes]

I really enjoyed this video and ended up taking notes of the sweaters quantities suggested in the back of my knitting journal to reference later. I really got into knitting around 2020, with lots of things changing with COVID-19, lockdowns, and everything else going on. I turned to knitting for an escape and have found friends along the way. I also quickly created a stash and bought much more yarn than I knew what to do with, at times that I couldn't reasonably afford. I've correct course and now am really intentional when I purchase yarn, usually a sweater or shawl quantity in colors I really enjoy from stores or dyers I have grown to love. At times, I am overwhelmed by the size of my stash and started holding yarns double or triple to make cardigans and sweaters while taking nice chunks out of my stash and into my wardrobe. Your videos are always so lovely and I've learned something from this video that I intend to work into my own knitting journey and stash. 💖

[@mishkalarsoncreations]

When I lived in a tropical climate I bought nothing but cotton. And when I lived in a northern climate, I bought nothing but wool. I’m in California so don’t get a lot of chance to wear any wool, but I have been knitting with nothing but wool over the last year and when I found out one of my local discount places was no longer gonna be selling it. I decided to buy it in bulk whenever the prices started to go down. I now have enough to make several Icelandic, sweaters, mittens, hats, whatever I choose. So starting in February, I’m just gonna be cranking them out.

[@nokesbob2256]

This is the video that I did not know I wanted! I mean, YES! I have that kind of yarn stash where I've got too few of something to make what I want. Or I've got yarn that I can't find a pattern that will use all of it or a pattern that will actually look good in what I have. When I go yarn shopping, I usually buy at least 3 fingering weight skeins of the same thing. That's enough to make a sweater. Three skeins will make a nice shawl. But I have some yarn that I have no idea what to do with it. When I go to yarn events, I take along the patterns that I want to find yarn for, or at least the amount of yarn and the name of the project. I find if you have the pattern with you, it's easier finding enough yarn and the right yarn. I like having the single skeins of a color that I can use as a color pop in what ever I'm making. Thank you for the advice, it is much appreciated!

[@shyrabenson9320]

I'm very new to knitting (only started a few months ago) but I've been crocheting for nearly my whole life. I fell out of crochet for a few years and when I finally came back to it, I realized that the reason that I'd stopped was that I didn't enjoy using the same cheap acrylic that I had so much of in my stash over and over. I started exploring other yarn fibers and was immediately in love with crochet again. I've been trying to work through all my solid, worsted acrylic so I can rebuild my stash with yarns I actually like. And learning to knit has only reinforced this

[@kayjeanne8346]

Life is short! Donate the acrylic and move on. Every community has people who craft for charity who can often only use acrylic.

[@arlenethayer5374]

Very timely for me. I recently did a big downsize and am now putting my stash in ravelry. I am maybe 40% done and can see how unbalanced my stash is and how it does not reflect the knitter I am today or my current areas of focus. This leads me to the thought that I will need to release quite a few yarns again when I am done with the inventory. If I don’t I will be held hostage by “I should use something I already have” and not be truly knitting what I desire to spend my time and energy on! Thank you!

[@rosaidhphillips7677]

My souvenir yarn is always sock yarn these days. Socks are my go to when I don't have the energy to make anything more complicated. I liked that you emphasised that there's a place for single skeins. That is what my stash is missing these days. I got real good at buying sweater quantities, and now when I want to knit a quick hat or a baby jumper as a gift I don't have yarn in those quantities, even though I have a massive stash. The other thing I had to learn was that I like intricate patterns and colour work, so lovely hand-dyed yarns don't actually work that well for the kinds of things I want to knit!

[@retahallonquist7614]

I also created an inventory of my yarn the most of the info available on Ravelry and some extra fields as well and used that to determine which stash yarns I had the most of. From there I took those yarns and stewed on what to make with them, or what yarns I could carry together to accomplish a desirable project. Learning from Ann Budd's books that are basically recipes for sweaters of various construction types where you determine your gauge first, find your size, and follow the numbers helped me to learn how to design my own sweaters without written patterns.

[@unplainjane123]

I’m a beginner knitter (just finished a year of knitting) and shop per project. I decide on the pattern and buy yarn for that. I don’t have the budget for a stash also I change my mind a lot on what yarn I want to use. I actually don’t like having yarn with no purpose. I have all these random leftover skeins sitting around and it drives me nuts. I am knitting a stash busting blanket with it. No shade on people that have a big stash. Everyone is different.

[@jenniferjohnson9335]

Girl. Part of my issue with my yarn stash is how I inherit yarn. I inherited yarn from my grandmother, my Mom and my aunt (who is alive, but lost to dementia). Not all of this is stuff I would buy, but I didn't even keep all there was! I should submit some for your consideration for What to Knit with This Yarn posts. Personally, I don't buy yarn now unless it is for a specific project. Thanks for sharing!

[@Emilee_Johnston]

This is perfect! I have often wondered how often knitters & crocheters buy in sweater quantities. I used to live in Taiwan, a very humid country, so my stash was quite small and I just purchased the amount of yarn I would need for each blanket I crocheted for my nieces & nephews. I still carry that tradition for each new niece or nephew and keep the remnants -which are sometimes 1 skein of each color. Now, I have started to purchase larger quantities, but always enough for my tiny size: an XS. Part of the reason why I steer away from knitting sweaters for others is because the cost gets costlier and at the moment that does not work even though I would love to. My stash is small, remnants of blankets I've crocheted over the years, and it only has 2 sweater quantities. Maybe this will get larger as my confidence grows. Now that I don't have to worry about the humidity of Taiwan's air, I will probably still keep that habit of just buying the amount of yarn you will need for a blanket & sweater I wanna make.

[@elizabethgrosvenor153]

Thanks for this video. I have knitted since childhood, and fairly consistently throughout most of my adult life, and I just realised recently that the stash I have... doesn't work properly. I have knitted one jumper, because I saw a bundle of 7 skeins of the same colour on offer, but apart from that there really isn't much cohesion. I've done some buy-the-yarn-for-the-project, so I have different weights of leftovers, I have done a fair bit of buying random skeins, I have been gifted a big pack of small amounts of different coloured dk, and I also inherited the knitting bag from a relative. From that knitting bag is one ball of laceweight alpaca, I think, that really doesn't go with anything and has sat in my stash for over 15 years. So I'm making myself a cowl and then never ever working with that kind of thing again! I actually like knitting blankets. I want a really big cosy blanket in a really thick squishy yarn. So I am using up all my oddments in that, held multiple at times, and then I can start again with intention. Some more jumpers, because it's nice to have an absorbing project that takes all your concentration, and some more blankets, because it's also good to have a mindless knit. And fewer small projects that need endless seaming for the amount of knitting time.

[@RamandRiddle]

Great video! I have a ridiculous stash right now. (400+) A great way to keep track of that giant stash is a spreadsheet. I have columns for brand, yarn name, weight, yardage, color, and how many balls or skeins. It’s organized by weight first and then brand. When I’m ready to start a new project it’s nice to be able to see a list of what I have because it’s impossible for me to remember every skein. It’s useful when I’m shopping too. It lessens the chance of over buying for me.

[@Jadzinek]

I always buy yarn for a project. When I find an exciting pattern and especially when I'm finishing a project, I order online yarn for the new thing. My stash consists entirely from leftover skeins, which means there are single skeins of not very compatible yarns, definitely no sweater quantity, (with a possible exception of plötulopi of which I once ordered multiple colours to see them in person and decide which one I wanted to use for that colorwork project and I ended up with some three or four colors unused.) Which is good for me, because I don't really like to use my stash yarn. I don't feel overwhelmed, more like bored with it. A new shiny project needs a new shiny yarn, not something which has been sitting in my bags for a long time. I like new, different yarns, new experiences, not a yarn I already know well... Even if I'm planning on a project for longer time, I don't buy the yarn until I'm ready to cast it on, so that 1) I can change my mind till the last minute on what exactly I'm going to use and 2) it's new and exciting when it arrives. As for "sweater quantity" I think about it in weight - I don't like to knit chunky/bulky even aran is quite too thick for my taste so I'm always thinking half a kilo should be just right, 600 grams to be on the safe side, I wouldn't like a heavier sweater anyways.

[@janetkemper9177]

I loved this video. I am currently going through my stash. I have gifted a bunch of yarn to a co worker, that I know I will never use. I have come to learn that I like rustic, woolly wools and that’s what I grab when I am knitting for myself. I also tend toward neutral colors, with maybe a pop of blue or green thrown in. I am now trying to be more thoughtful when I make a purchase and think about what I actually am going to use it for specifically.

[@foxbanefibers1341]

I’m so glad you went over “sweater quantities”! I’ll be tucking that away for future use 🧡

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

Thank you so much Astrid!!

[@sharks2571]

One tip for shopping intentionally is keeping a list of yarn you want for specific projects (even if not a specific pattern) on your phone, so when you go yarn shopping you can buy the fun skein knowing where it's going. I also have ravelry bundles for projects that use 100g of fingering weight yarn and one for 100g of dk weight yarn, and one for my absolute dream projects, so I can consult these and buy the yarn with more of a plan

[@sarahnielsen8057]

I loved this video! Before watching, I really didn’t think there were much reasoning behind my stash.. But I see know that there are some key features that make it work! I prefer sock yarn, fingering weight, and non superwash wool. I’ve never made a sweater, so there are no sweater quantities - but it’s perfect, because I love making baby clothes and accessories 🥰

[@sarahager3462]

This was such a great episode. I love when you deep dive into subjects like this!

[@Houseplant.sketchbook]

What I learned after two years of crocheting again. I buy pretty yarn on a whim to often, usually only one skein probably several colours, as I enjoy working with colours. But accumulated more than necessary. If it's a bigger project like a garment or blanket I start with the pattern and then select the yarn. I don't have bigger quantities at home, so I need to buy new yarn and single bought on a whim skeins get left behind. Or I need to search up and down to get another skein of the discontinued yarn (speaking from experience). My goal is definitely to use more stash, actually use the handyed yarn, not just tjink it's pretty and something else that doesn't needs to wound in a ball and only aquire new yarn as necessary for a pattern. And I learned I love using random bits and bobs for spontaneous things. Theoretically my stash is alright I just need to use it and reduce and not grow it.

[@WafflingAboutWool]

It has since been redesigned, but I have an old "The Knitter's Handy Guide to Yarn Requirements" leaflet. It is helpful to determine how much I'd need for whatever it is I'm considering making. I am very much a yarn prepper. I need my own personal yarn store to shop from it seems. Spinning and processing fiber for spinning adds to the nest of potential. I like it for what it is. Yarn is a "finished object" to me as it is.

[@HeikeJoerss]

Always so much to learn from your videos. Can't say often enough: thanks for your research and sharing with us. I never considered building a workable stash. My stash just happened: leftover balls from former projects, yarn bought for a specific project and not started yet and the occassional beautiful ball bought here and there. Never thought of building a collection. But I really like your considerations and questions. Thanks, Heike

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

I'm so glad that you find value in these videos Heike. Thank you so much for commenting and for your support. ❤️

[@adelinaprentice4703]

My whole ~aesthetic~ with knitting and crochet is incorporating bright colors with a more neutral color, so the single skeins of bright colors work up really nicely in bigger pieces. One of my favorite sweaters (not knit by me) is black, with L O V E in intarsia in bold colors. I love it! I recently bought a single skein of a pink/yellow variegated yarn from a local dyer and I didn't have a plan when I bought it.I have since gotten inspiration from it, I am going to knit up a tank top in black or dark gray and use the bright yarn to intarsia a snake pattern. The real challenge is finding the right neutral yarn to go with it lol!

[@WOOLNEEDLESHANDS]

I love this! And I think the the way you collect yarn with your aesthetic in mind is really intentional and inspiring. Even if there’s no pattern at hand, you just sort of know what you’re drawn to and how you like to use it. Love the idea of the black tank with intarsia. 🖤

[@Ms.Murchison]

Thanks for the thoughtful video! This is something I've been thinking a lot about lately as I've started branching out in the kinds of things I knit and gotten more informed about the yarn I use. My stash, for the most part, is made up of single and double skeins of stuff I bought while on vacation, and I've learned the hard way that my yarn kryptonite is beautiful, hand-dyed fingering weight yarns--- and I don't knit socks! A girl can only knit and wear and gift so many hats, scarves, etc. :) Several of those vacation-skeins are beautiful 100% alpaca, which I adore but which I also learned lately are not great for garments. So your point about considering fiber content is a really good one! Thanks again!

[@lieslnew8247]

Great video, Tayler. I am visiting a special yarn shop next weekend and these suggestions will come in very handy. 😊

[@crrizello5157]

Thanks for the video. I agree having an intentional stash is the way to think about it. I'm in the downsizing phase of my life so trying to use up my existing stash (which isn't a lot) and then figure out what's next. I like to test knit, so what I would like is a stash diverse enough that I can have the yarn necessary for a test knit as needed.

[@rachelblack8894]

I’m commenting at the beginning of the video, so maybe you touch on this. I have a large stash, and I love it. I love looking at it as much as I love using it. I love buying a new skein and adding it to my collection. My stash is full of hand dyed yarns that were limited offerings and can’t be purchased now. My stash would overwhelm and stress many people out, but it brings me joy. I think the right size stash is whatever brings you joy and doesn’t cause you anxiety.

[@lornastewart4224]

What a great video. I always try and think what would fit in my wardrobe! I tend to follow a few designers and you get to know what size to knit and therefore how much yarn to buy. Im also taller so add at least 10% extra for length. I totally agree about being more intentional with my purchases as after attending a yarn festival i was so overwhelmed, next time i went with a shopping list of patterns and yarn quantity for each one,😊

[@corrinneloudon525]

Thank you, I wish someone had told me this when I first started learning to weave. The first couple of yarn festivals that I attended were just so exciting! Talk about a child in a sweet shop 🙂. I’m still impulse buying but am very mindful of the storage space available and of how much I’ve actually used since my last festival-splurge 🙂. The next festival is in April, so I need to get busy…

[@josdantas9739]

Great topic I have a small stash and only recently started buying yarn for a project vs just buying it because I like it. In fairness to myself 😂 my knitting has evolved understanding more about how yarn behaves in projects. For me I bought yarn based on my skill level and as that developed my yarn no longer work for me. I really loved your opening of the video 💕

[@BeckyClowers]

I have recently been looking at my stash a little differently. I t started with a souvenir skein that I knew I wanted to include in a sweater. I found a pattern that reminded me of memories of the trip where I had purchased that special skein and created my favorite sweater ever. It got me thinking of other yarn in my stash and I realized that I had several partial quantities of sweater yarn and that I might just need to pick up a couple more skeins to complete the color work sweater of my dreams. It has freed my mind to consider more options than just hats (my go to for small projects).

[@knittielynnie]

So interesting that you covered this topic today! I just had the girls over for knit night. I have some of my stash out as inspiration and decor, so this same topic came up. I love my stash, as long as it keeps itself tidy, except for the two skeins of a failed project which stare me down every day. My gals gave me permission to toss the judgemental skeins, and now my stash is beautiful and stress-free.

[@lindat5782]

I buy one ball of a certain yarn I like or come across. Then I knit up a swatch. Sometimes an extra swatch were combine the yarn with another yarn. I label them with info. Then when I want to make a certain project I go through my swatches for ideas.

[@ShehnazKhan1]

Thanks for this video Tayler. When I first got into knitting through KZbin videos everyone kept talking about “acquiring “ hand dyed yarns every week. It made me think I also had to buy and accumulate a “stash”. Now I feel like I just have bits and pieces of yarn that are not enough to make a wearable garment that I would want to wear. Now, I wish to hadn’t done that and only bought enough for one project, made the project and then gone out to buy what I want for the next one!

[@CristianaPereira-t9l]

I have been watiching your videos for a long time, I love your summer knits inspiration (because like you I prefer my shoulders covered), but this is by far one of the most useful videos I have seen from you. Congratulations! I do have a stash, mainly of discontinued yarns/colors that had an amaaaazing price for quality items, but whenever it gets too much I start to feel stressed! It is amazing to have the quantities so that I can try to figure out the amount to buy on sale next time. Thank you so much for your work!

[@cadno3423]

I feel like my stash collection has gone through an interesting journey. I started off as a crocheter - initially just doing amigurumi, and later moving on to garments. Then last year, I picked up knitting. Because I still love crocheting amis, I have a huge stash of DK cotton, which is great when for that. But for knitting garments (which I now prefer over crocheting them), it's not as good. I've bought a lot of wool/wool blends, and other animal fibres, but I haven't really got a stash that hangs well together. I love doing knitted colourwork, and every time inspiration strikes me to knit something like that, I find I need to go out and buy at least one skein to make it work. This tells me I need to build up more of a stash of rustic woollen yarns that compliment each other well, so I can always pick up a couple of skeins for any given colourwork project

[@alexandraburger7471]

Hello 👋🏻 and thanks for this great episode! 😉 I find this a very difficult topic, as you said. Influenced by knitting influencer and social media I feel like having no stash at all. On the other hand there is this trend of down-stashing. So as a content consumer I feel thrown a part by to clashing opposites. On the other hand, the 10-15 skeins (not including the souvenirs 😂) stress me out. I feel like I have to knit with them before I can buy something new. But mostly the stash does not fit the projects even tho I have single skeins of handayed yarn perfect for my shawls - I love big colorful shawls!... Do you notice my dilemma?? It has been 3 years since I started knitting and stared building up my stash. Have not found my balance jet 😊 Love the topic and I find it inportante to say: You do you 😜

[@ruthdennisKnits]

When I began to knit myself cardis and pullovers I used worsted weight yarn. I noticed that most of the patterns required 900 - 1000 yards of yarn. So I bought that much yarn per long sleeve garment. If I had leftovers I knew I could make hats or granny squares for a future use. 40 years later, I still purchase this amount🧶🧶🧶

[@itsallhungup6748]

When I buy yarn it is usually for a specific project in mind. If I am traveling somewhere I can go to a yarn store, which isn't often, I curate a list of patterns I want to make and look for yarn that fits those patterns. The bulk of my stash has been donated to me by friends cleaning out their stash or stuff I bought when I was a beginner that I really need to get rid of but tell myself I might need one day...

[@joannamartin7917]

Great episode! Telling my story!❤❤