Loch Briar Knits Ep 140 || A Knitting Podcast || I LOVE YOU, GOOD-BYE || Way Too Much Yarn

[@AnthrophobiKristy]

You have wonderful taste in yarn! I know very well how a big stash can be overwhelming. I hit that point a couple years ago, but I couldn't bear to part with anything. So I took full advantage of Ravelry's notebook feature. I added all of my paper patterns (books and magazines) to my library, then I put notes on each pattern listing for the yarn requirement for my size, and I put them in sets based on type (cardigans, socks, etc) and yarn weight. Then I put my entire stash in Ravelry, with pictures and amounts. Now I can easily see how many sweater quantities I have in each weight and pair them with a pattern and put it in my queue, or if I want to knit a hat I can quickly match yarn to a pattern, etc. It took a long time to get everything in Ravelry but it's been worth it. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

[@LochBriarKnits]

That's exactly my plan for the Make 9 this coming year, but I haven't tried the notebook feature! I'm going to give that a shot.

[@pathowes32]

Wow you have a lot of lovely yarn. Good luck with your destash

[@LochBriarKnits]

Thank you! 😊 It makes it hard to let go of it, but some of it has got to go!

[@FortheLoveofWool]

I LOVE that British Blue!! Point me to the de stash!

[@LochBriarKnits]

It's on my Ravelry page - link is in the drop down. It's a beautiful yarn. I wish I looked better in that colour!

[@nokesbob2256]

A very beautiful stash! Sometimes I feel that way about my yarn too. I have de-stashed before, but it's not really that. It's that I like to get things done, you know, the everyday chores, all that stuff. So my brain wants to go that fast in knitting. Which I can't do, so I feel like I'm not knitting fast enough and I get frustrated. I am trying to tell my self that I'll get to it one day soon, and I have knit a lot of my yarn.

[@LochBriarKnits]

Oh that is exactly it! I'm very goal oriented, so in my head I have to 'get the thing done'. I love the process, but there's also so many things I want to knit and then I buy new yarn and I want to get it used. And I think when I get to the point where I feel I have too much yarn, I feel like I'm never going to get there and so I need to destash to make things manageable.

[@mickiwhite4754]

Wow! You have alot but if you love it then keep it! I dont have a huge stash but alot of sock yarn which really overwhelms me.....I have really scaled back on buying this year and have been knitting what I have. Its hard though with so much out there and every podcaster has SO MUCH!!Tomorrow I'm going to put yarn with patterns and that keeps me committed.

[@LochBriarKnits]

I find the stash I'm willing to let go of, I like, but I don't LOVE. I'm beginning to feel overwhelmed by it, so anything I don't love is going to get re-homed. But I agree with adding patterns to the stash helps. If I know what I'm making with it, I feel justified in keeping it. I find every few years I do an entire house purge if I feel the house is getting cluttered and nothing is safe!

[@gailweeks4334]

I see a hoodie or a Henley in your hubbies future. The lovely Grey colours would make a great Henley. The Purple Knit Picks (downstairs) if you combine with a shade of blue mohair would downplay the purplish tones. There is a pattern for a v-neck poncho where you knit 2 long narrow squares with beautiful cables and just sew the ends together. Super simple and attractive. If you have Briggs & Little it makes great felted clog slippers. What about a heavier oversized hooded cardigan for yourself for those cool windy days? Or an Easy V by Caitlin Hunter? Keep it in the Maritimes and do one of Jennifer Beales beauties?? She uses such extraordinary construction techniques... Don't forget the Seaside Market in Musquodoboit Harbour today!!!!!

[@LochBriarKnits]

We didn't get down to the Seaside Market! I so wanted to go but hubby had to get his Covid Booster and then it started raining like mad!

[@foreverchasingthesunsets5842]

In January, I did a no buy and lasted until September... then I attended a Fiber Festival and Rhinebeck! During my no buy, I allowed myself to buy patterns and notions but no wool. I created a poster board with my WIPs and stash but I also did not knit much in 2023. My mom was diagnosed with dementia and needs more of my time. I'm doing the same no buy for January 2024 and will change my poster board to reflect the new year. So much wool!!!

[@LochBriarKnits]

I did a no buy for the first 6 months and actually lasted until August. Then in Oct/Nov I went a little off the rails. But like you, I don't feel like I got as much knitting done this year thanks to a bunch of outside factors. I'm definitely doing a no-buy for the first half of 2024 at least. Sorry to hear about your mom.

[@FeijaFleur]

Oh, I loved seeing so many of the beautiful yarns in your yarn pantry! 🤩 if it no longer brings you joy, or it becomes overwhelming or feels like a burden, I believe destash is a great option.. and in the meantime, enjoy those yarns that still make you super excited a little extra (there were a few, I could tell!) If they make you happy and arent overwhelming for you, I don't see the problem, even if you just get to look at/squish them and don't find the time to work with them for another 5 years... 🎉

[@LochBriarKnits]

There are definitely some skeins that I know I'm likely not going to work with and am perfectly happy letting them go to someone who will. Some might be a little harder to let go of, but all of my favourites will definitely stay!

[@bebegranger9417]

Good grief. I thought I had a ton of yarn. Destash is a good idea. 😅

[@LochBriarKnits]

I know - it's too much! (Never thought I'd say that about yarn...)

[@barbarawatson1667]

OMG! What a stash, I’m envious!

[@LochBriarKnits]

Haha - I'm overwhelmed! I love it all but some of it has to go! (To make room for more no doubt...)

[@barbarawatson1667]

PS looking forward to your vlogmas! Hugs from Calgary.

[@LochBriarKnits]

Yay! Thank you! Me too! My Advent calendar arrived yesterday so now I'm super excited!!

[@evelynbaker6715]

Do not know if I am wrong but it was a sleep and a few minutes of the shower.

[@LochBriarKnits]

Haha I have no idea what you're talking about!