If I were building my yarn stash today, here’s what I’d do different

If I were building my yarn stash today, there's a few things I'd do differently. Here's the mistakes I've made building my yarn stash and what I'd do different if I were building it today.
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[@beverlypatzke236]

This is a good practice for everything….quilting, art supplies, etc.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Very true Beverly!!! I remember how “stocked” my Grandma’s fabric stash was! 😂

[@Tfwcrochet]

The advice about googling a yarn to see how it looks in other lighting is so good. I have been fooled way too many times ordering yarn online!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Its happened to me more times than I’d like to admit lol 😂

[@Lisbeth_59]

First of all, I love that hat! Great color for you! I love the idea of looking up yarn colors in your browser; lighting can and does make such a difference!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you my friend! Yes, I’ve learned that lesson lol 😂

[@LJernegan]

I am taking up knitting again after a hiatus. I just bought yarn for a project. I then sat down and watched dozens of stash busting videos to avoid buying everything. My scrapbooking hobby became a scrapbook supply buying hobby so easily.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That’s super easy to happen for sure!!!!

[@sylviabryant9433]

Your advice is well received, I am 67 years old and self taught myself to crochet 10 years ago. I still have yarn that I will never use and no one to donate it to. I crochet blankets exclusively for homeless shelters and veteran's homes in my small town in Texas.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That’s so awesome that you taught yourself crochet! Yeah, I think we all have some of those yarns don’t we!?!? That’s so great you’re able to make and donate blankets to those in need ❤️

[@lorriehutson5258]

Hi I've been crocheting for a year now. And I really wish I had found you sooner! You are so right about learning what you like to crochet. I want to learn how to do amigurumi but I realize that I crochet when I'm watching tv or at a car show, not where I can read instructions/ a pattern and make sense of it. So for now, I'm putting that on the back burner and working on what is bringing me joy!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you for your kind words of support, I appreciate it!!! It sounds like you've got it figured out! 😀

[@JamieJohnson-on2jz]

My big tip to make sure that your yarn stash is what you want and what you need is to not focus on building a yarn stash. For the first few years, you won't know exactly what you're going to use. You will find yarn and feel it and say this is really soft, I like it, and you will buy it and unless you have a project in mind for it it will sit there for eternity. You will not want to use it as a beginner, because you don't think your skills are good enough yet. So you'll buy those budget yarns to practice, and then you'll end up making whole projects with those yarns, and completely forget about that nicer yarn that you purchased. Or, you will buy all of the yarn that you need for a particular project at once to avoid needing to follow a dye lot, But you might become overwhelmed with the project because you should have focused on smaller projects to get a steady tension down before jumping into something huge. Either way, when you first start out, just learn the stitches. It's like someone learning to play the piano without learning their scales. They might be able to read music, but they can't fill in the gaps between what's on the paper and what cadence the composer intended. And they can't improvise when they mess up at the recital and backtrack and be super embarrassed. Learning your scales is a necessary evil. Learning to keep an even tension in different basic stitches, being able to make rows on rows of double crochets without letting them lean, and working with dark colors without getting confused about where to put your hook are very important basic foundational skills that you should have down before trying to predict what type of yarn you will want to work with. If you can't crochet well with a dark color yet, you will get extremely frustrated with eyelash yarn. If you do not have a steady tension yet, you might throw in the towel after row two working with a weight 3 yarn. These are things you don't even understand when other people tell you until you master the basic techniques. So my advice to anyone looking to start a yarn stash is to work with super saver for a while or something similar, and then slowly branch out as your interest in different types of crochet branches out. Never purchase yarn without a purpose. Having a stash is great, but in the beginning, let your unfinished skeins and abandoned projects be used to learn the basics, and then you can decide what is important to you to have. Sincerely, someone who spent $300 on yarn she never used as a beginner for a tapestry crochet blanket that was abandoned because of what she now knows were tension issues in colors and textures she wouldn't have purchased if not for that project.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I agree, it 💯 pays to wait until you’re more experienced to build your yarn stash!!

[@HappyCraftyHomemaker]

OOOOOH! There are so many things I would change... Not for where I am not, but...

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

You put a lot of serious thought and planning into your stash!

[@TheWolfwife]

You are SO speaking my language. I have a lot of yarn that I just don't know what to do with.... None of it goes together...there's not enough of anything in particular to make a project.... It's just crazy...And there's SO much of it!!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

It’s crazy how fast it can get out of hand!! Well, just know, you’re not alone!!! 🫶🏻

[@shaykayraycrochet]

You've definitely already voiced most of my do-over wishes, but probably the biggest mistake that I made was the yarn weight issue. I stocked up on tons of worsted weight acrylic because it goes on sale the most and at the best prices and has the most variety (it seems). However, I have found that I love making wearables that drape and aren't too heavy for me to enjoy wearing in the south, so I wish I had bought only DK and fine/sport weight yarns, especially for anything acrylic. Also, I would prefer to have mostly cotton blends and bamboo yarns with only fine weight acrylics and that they would all be machine washable or dry cleanable. I don't mind laying items flat for drying, but I just know that I will not wear the items if I know that hand-washing is in my future. I also know now that I love cakes, but I don't love striped wearables, so more of my stash would be filled with gradual fading ombre yarns and cotton king style cakes. I also wish I had known how heavy some items will get when crocheted vs. in the ball and when to use a lacier stitch and larger hook to help with that issue, but that's more about other do-over wishes not necessarily related to building the stash itself. I have lots of those. Hugs & blessings💜💜💜

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I appreciate you sharing your perspective, I think it’s totally related to yarn stashes! I also think your reasoning makes perfect sense. And those striped cakes are so enticing and beautiful, but you’re right, you have to like striped yarn! It sounds like you’ve done a great job figuring out what you you love using and why!

[@mishellegarrett9243]

I have a curated yarn stash based on preferred colors. Although I have other colors that I don't prefer or even dislike, most of which have been given to me, I don't buy colors I don't like. Even at clearance sales I pick and choose the colors. The one color I don't buy is pinks, Barbie pink, bubblegum pink, oh and especially neon pink. In fact I don't get neon colors at all. The actually cause me headaches. The pinks I'll buy will be mauve, dusty pinks and Victorian rose colors. I'm not a fan of most oranges but I've surprised myself with discoveries of some that as you would say "spoke to me". I've been crocheting over 30 yrs so I've had time to curate. I appreciate your channel and I hope we'll get to see what ya make.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Hi Mishelle! That’s awesome you’ve been able to curate such a good stash! I’m totally with you on the neons too. I know a lot of people love them, but I rehomed all my real bright yarns, I knew I wouldn’t ever actually make anything with them!

[@Yarnover_PullThrough]

I needed this video like a year ago but just found it now. So I learned the hard way and I’m still learning. I thought I needed every color big twist acrylic yarn because I didn’t know about the different textures, weights, and yardage per project.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Oh yeah, I think most of us have been there!!!! I’m still learning too…FOR SURE 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️😂

[@slowcrochet]

So many good thoughts here, Shannon! I don't think I would go back in time because I appreciate the lessons learned, but I would want my younger self to know that not all acrylic softens up in the wash - so if it's too scratchy to enjoy working with, it may end up being too scratchy to enjoy the project. This craft is more about the joy in the making than the finished items, so everything that ties into the process really matters. Love seeing you back, my friend!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I am glad to be back, it was only a week, but I really missed it! Thank you for your encouragement! And I think your totally right about the acrylic 😃

[@crochetyourwaytoday]

Great discussion starter! Your thoughtful approach to your craft is refreshing. İf I could go back I would not get sucked into mystery bags/boxes. Since Facebook marketplace is local and I can inspect the yarn, I would still use it to experiment on different yarn. However, quarantine isn't discussed very much on the YarnTube streets. Having some best practices introducing any yarn to my stash, and storing it safely would have helped me be better prepared for storing natural yarns. Thanks for your thoughts on this topic.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you so much for your kind encouraging words! Yeah I totally get the allure of mystery boxes but I think they are so full of yarns I probably won’t use! Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who doesn’t like them lol! 😂

[@DCNY1220]

Hi Shannon, I agree with you 100% 😊

[@sweetmomentsbyjessie]

Really great tips, Shannon! If I was restarting my yarn stash, I wouldn’t buy a lot of yarn just because it was on clearance. I did that so much when I first started crocheting and I now have a lot of yarn that I will never use or don’t have enough to make a bigger project. Thank you for sharing! 🙂

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Yep, exactly what I did too! 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️😂

[@sweetmomentsbyjessie]

@@ShannonTalksYarn Lol 😄

[@lynbattersby]

I think my beginner mistake was buying magazines for the free yarn and hook they offered. Invariably, the yarn was coarse, and the hooks were plastic and pulled a lot. I ended up donating all the yarn and hooks to my school and bought myself better yarn and hooks over time. I teach crochet at my school (I'm an English teacher), and I'm already swapping out the students' plastic hooks for better metal ones.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I can totally see myself falling for that too lol!!! That’s super cool you get to teach your students crochet!!! I would have loved that when I was in school (30 some years ago!)

[@apotter1440]

Hi Shannon, Excellent video because it speaks to me. I crochet a lot of donation items along with things for friends and family so I use all the “mistake Yarn” into granny donation blankets.Like you, I have decided to only buy yarn for a specific project and no more sale buying for no reason. Who thought so much goes into buying yarn. It has been such a learning process😂.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Oh my gosh, yes, it has been such a learning process for me!!! I’ve got a bag of mistake yarns that I can use for my newborn hat donations, no not going to waste but it’s still kind of disappointing lol! Like you said, it’s a process! 😃

[@jlklbr56]

Such great thoughts on this, Shannon! I certainly have some destashing to do. You absolutely speak my yarny language. 💙🧶💙

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thanks for much for watching and commenting! Good luck with your destash! Just remember, it means more room for yarns you really love! 😃

[@francesdurietz750]

A very good talk Shannon I only have yarns that I want for making items for charity and the highest yarn is a low 4 weight at the most .I like to also make special items as gifts and I go to my yarn stash first .Mine has built up over the last 30 years or so.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you so much! Thanks for watching and commenting too! It sounds like you've got a really good handle on your stash-that's awesome!

[@joannunemaker6332]

Good advice! It's so easy buying yarn!😊❤

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thanks Joan! And yes it is, a little too easy lol 😂

[@marciagross4985]

Very good advice, Shannon. I made many of the mistakes you mentioned. I have learned from the mistakes, but I am sure your recommendations will help others. Really liked your advice about looking for specific yarns in various places on the web to learn more about how it will look in a project.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you Marcia! I think so many of us have made these or similar mistakes, it’s easier to make them than I’d like to admit lol. Yeah, I’m definitely going to be doing more research from now on, just tons of double check that I’m seeing what I think I’m seeing! 😃

[@LisaT_]

Luckily? I’m short on storage space, so I buy project directed. I have the smallest of stashes. I did buy recommended yarn to do a crochet-a-long, it was the new bamboo from Joann called “Lucky Brand”. It’s very soft and pretty, but unlike almost everyone else, I struggled to crochet with it. It was hard to hold on to, limp and sloppy. It was splitting on me like crazy where so many others said it was amazing. I didn’t get past row 5 and starting row 6. After numerous attempts it was getting frayed and fuzzy after frogging. I took it apart & tossed it. 😤😩. Now I have 7 cakes (diff colors) of it. Only a couple yards missing from 3 of them. Sigh…. So, now I’ll buy one and try it first.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Oh nooooo! I have totally worked with yarn that it seems like I’m the only one who doesn’t like it lol!! But that’s unfortunate you had such an experience! I hope you either find a good use for it or can get rid of it! I get where I don’t even want to look at a yarn anymore lol 😂

[@icywong8752]

Thanks for the great sharing. You exactly speak my mind. I wish I had known this before.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I hear ya! It’s always so easy to look back with more experience and critique ourselves 🫠

[@eleventhcaptain8718]

"yarn desert" is exactly what it feels like living in my area, the only yarn store around is overpriced because they don't focus on it and the options are so little. I bought most of my yarn online and fell into the habbit of buying without knowing well what i was going to do with it, it was just pretty and on sale. great video, i started destashing and thinking more, thank you for the information

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I’ve had the same issue and the problem with primarily online shopping is I don’t always know/expect what I get and I don’t want to ship it back! Thank you so much for watching and commenting too! I appreciate it 😃 Also I’m glad you understood what I meant by yarn desert, I was afraid it would make sense!

[@showandtellmeg]

I have done the same thing with the sale yarn! I stumbled in Walmart when they were clearancing all the yarn to prep a w to not carry it anymore and I grabbed more Caron Simply Soft then you can shake a stick at - then I discovered i didnt really like that yarn. It w a s only $1 each, but still. So much yarn. 😅

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I can’t say I’ve ever found clearance yarn at Walmart, but I always look every time I’m there lol!!! And Caron SS is an interesting yarn. I like the feel and the sheen but I’ve always found it to be so splitty. I probably would have been like u and bought a bunch too lol 😆

[@showandtellmeg]

@@ShannonTalksYarn lol Yep - my thoughts exactly - so splitty! But I didnt know at the time. This was like 10 or 11 years ago when Walmart was not going to sell fabric and yarn anymore, so everything was majorly clearanced and I bought several tubs worth of yarn. Ive made some things out of it, for sure, but I've donated and sold a lot too. Live and learn!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

@showandtellmeg exactly!

[@aksez2u]

Some excellent points made here - thanks!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

You’re very welcome!!! 😃

[@wildflower-spirit-creations]

I know what i like now. I wasted more money buying pretty acrylic yarn when i would have actually saved money by buying a sweater quantity of merino, which i would have used and enjoyed wearing the project.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That’s exactly what I mean! 💯

[@Andy-Cat23]

Great tips! 😻👍❤

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you! 🫶🏻

[@Rachellovesyarn]

I am newish to buying yarn and I have bought some that I dislike crocheting with so I just gave it away. I try to feel the yarn before I buy it and pick colors that spark joy with me now. I don't enjoy bright colors to wear but a bright blanket is nice. Thank you for all your tips and helping me not have FMO.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Hi Rachel! I think you’re smart for moving on from the yarn you dislike, instead of trying to convince yourself to use it (like me lol 😂) It’s sounds like you’re off to a great start, keep it up! 🫶🏻

[@leilonnihamilton8356]

I think if I could do things over again, or start from scratch l would just buy what I need for one project. I would not buy any more until I finished the project. When I finished one then l would buy what l need for the next project. Since I already have yarn l am trying to use what l have and only buy if l need more to finish the project.😊

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I hear ya!!! But I don’t have the restraint right now lol 😂 I hope you’re doing well ❤️

[@colorjunkie]

If you find a yarn that you really like- stick with it. Buy multiple skeins in all of the colorways you think you'll use. Often times we think that one wearable in that yarn is enough. Why have a limit? Seriously- if you really enjoy it- make ALL THE THINGS!!!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I couldn’t agree more!!!!! 😃

Ravelry is amazing to make that inventory! The colour palette tip is something I have been following from the beginning, because I'm really into the seasonal theory of personal coloration and I only wear stuff that is in my Dark Winter colour palette, so it wouldn't make sense to buy colours that don't fit in. But I did fall into the trap of buying colours others in my family liked, not often, likely. The yarn weight and fibers I like to work with were harder to define, but I think I'm slowly getting to know myself as a knitter (and crocheter) at that realm

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you for the Ravelry tip! I’ve got an account but I really haven’t explored the site much. I’ve been getting into my season color this past year and I enjoy it. For a long time I thought I was a winter but found out about the subseasons. Im a little torn between dark winter and deep autumn but I’m really leaning towards autumn. I haven’t had mine done professionally, this is all my own speculation lol! 😃 It sounds like you’re doing a great job with your stash!

@@ShannonTalksYarn you really seem to like autumn colours! I hope you turn out to be a Dark Autumn in the end and prove your intuition was right 😁 The Ravelry "Stash" section allows us to enter so much useful information, such as place and price for which we bought it, the dye lot, the place in which it is stored, photos of the yarn for a quick overview and they also show us in the side of the page when we have the same yarn in different colours. They calculate meterage automatically and also update the totals automatically when we use X amount in our project. Plus we can download all of this info in an excel sheet. If you do end up using it, maybe a video about it would help other people to find this out 😁

[@PataPtichou]

The mistake I've made is buying too much of a new yarn (new for me) to get free shipping, and ending up not even liking the yarn.. I'll still use it eventually but I could have avoided that just by accepting to pay a few extra € and a lot less money in the end! Because 10€ of yarn + 5€ of shipping is ultimately less expensive than 50€ of yarn and 0€ of shipping. Just buy the right amount for a project with this new yarn, do the whole project and you'll now if buying a stash of this particular yarn is worth your hard earned money! It might seems obvious for a lot of people but it's hard to resist when you have the opportunity to avoid shipping fees

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

oh yeah, that free shipping will get you! You are smart to not fall for it anymore!

[@PataPtichou]

@@ShannonTalksYarn oh, I certainly still fall for it 😂 but not with unknown yarn haha

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

@PataPtichou hahahaha me too! 😂

[@KP-bq7yc]

This totally speaks to me.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

It turns out it pretty normal to make mistakes along the way!

[@colorjunkie]

Yarn sales are a thing now. It is very rare to have a month go by and a big box store not have some sort of sale. Back 20 years ago when I started knitting- Walmart pretty much only had Super Saver and Peaches N Cream. So scratchy and crappy. JoAnn's and Michael's rarely had a sale specifically on yarn- you basically waited for that 40% off coupon to roll around, and then you splurged and bought as much as you could find.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Oh wow, that’s so interesting! I am grateful we have better access to both yarn and sales now!

[@user-dp3iu3hz7u]

I do have a lot of stash. But I regret buying cheap yarn. I will tell myself I’m creating a work of art! Plus I like to support my LYS. 😊

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I hear ya!!! Sometimes cheap yarns just aren’t worth it lol. I wish I had an LYS near me, that would be so much more fun than online!

[@crochetisgroovy9220]

Very good advice. I have plenty of yarn myself. Luckily I do enjoy making amigurumi for the kids in my life. I have given a lot of yarn away to friends as well. There is an organization I am able to make items for and donate, yay! I have quite a bit of LYS yarn that I need to pay more attention to as well. That will come in handy as accessories for friends. I'm not gonna lie, I still love to buy yarn, but more often than not, I look, feel, get into my happy place, then walk away.🥰

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I honestly still love buying yarn too! I’m just trying my best to be more selective and just get the ones I really love! ❤️

[@wildflower-spirit-creations]

I have my naturals and blends in the weights that i like with some inexpensive acrylic for making cute toys and children's articles.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Awesome!

[@brittanykrieger5828]

Thanks for sharing your experience. I am working on my stash busting projects and I am looking at how I can take the time to make a huge blanket out of granny squares.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That is such a great was to use up yarns that maybe aren’t your favorite! You can make it more fun by mixing and matching them more. I hope the project goes great! 😃

[@maryannedeering1663]

Hi Shannon, loved this video. Speaking of stash, lol, I love love love your stash behind you . I am partial to those colors and love your hat and color you choose for it. Again, Great video 😊

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you so much MaryAnne! The hat is big twist value in cinnamon, I will definitely be buying more of it for other projects. I had gotten those discontinued jumbo yarns last year and wasn’t sure exactly what to do with them, but I honestly will probably leave them as a back drop since I love the colors so much! 😃

[@cocoscrochet6380]

Hi Shannon 🤗 I can absolutely relate to everything you said! 🥰🧶🤩

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Hello Beautiful Friend!!! I figured I couldn’t be the only one!!! ❤️

[@kalenreichert]

Thank you for sharing all of your excellent advice and life lessons! ❤

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

You’re welcome, and thanks for watching! 😃

[@amrose250]

I have wasted money buying “bargain or sale” yarn. They look great in a stash but rarely get used. Now I only buy specific yarn for specific projects. That way I’m not using a yarn that doesn’t really work or one that I really don’t like. It saves money in the long run.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That’s exactly what I’ve found too!

[@needlepullingthread1573]

Hat ? I am wanting one for myself, so I found yours I am curios if it’s a free pattern ? Love your vlog

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you!!! 😃 It is a free pattern, but it isn’t mine, it’s from Alicia at Littlejohn’s yarn. It’s really easy and works up quick, it’s my go-to for a slouchy beanie! I put a link down in the description box!

[@denisehoffmann5006]

💜

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Hi Denise!