MY STASH IS OUT OF CONTROL // Reduce Your Stash with Me and Stashdown 2023 // Take Back Your Stash

[@yukonviv9166]

I’m downsizing my stash. I started in June 2022 as I wanted to be intentional with my yarn. Family losses this past year showed me that someone has to clean this up later and tubs of pretty yarn will not be my legacy. I changed my mindset and I moved a lot of stash out either through working it or giving away. I’m very conscious now of working what I have (which is still too much for me to be comfortable with) before purchasing something new. And if anything new is brought in I’m using it immediately. Example in the first five weeks of 2023 I finished three pair of socks from stash. I purchased a new ball and immediately cast it on this weekend. I’m also “testing” what I have. If I am knitting and don’t enjoy working with a certain base or a certain yarn, I’m stopping, ripping it out and pulling those from my stash because I don’t want to knit with them. Those I’ve given away, I don’t think I’ve wasted it, I’ve tried it and it’s not for me. I am really hoping I can keep this mindset up through 2023 and get my stash to a much more manageable level for me.

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Yes! Have you heard of Swedish Death Cleaning? It's a practice that encourages you to clear out so that when you die, you don't leave all this behind for your loved ones to deal with. There's a popular book out about it now (I haven't read it) but I've been trying to keep that in mind in all aspects of my life. I'm attempting to let all the minimalist mindsets into my life! I love the idea of testing your stash! And of passing on what you're not in love with. I often feel guilty about wanting to get rid of something because it's still useable, I spent money on it, or it was a gift. NOT THIS YEAR! We got this!

[@Pipscape]

This resonates so deeply. I, too, have family stuff (literally and figuratively) I'm dealing with and I have thought...yarn is not my legacy. Neither are unorganized papers or a garage you cannot walk through. I'm starting the Swedish Death cleaning a little early (hopefully, as I am only 50), but I don't want my things to be a burden to anyone else the way one of my parent's are to me. Kudos for looking long term and being realistic about it all. 🙌⭐

[@berniefeeneer2686]

Such a sensible way to look at stash. Love it.

[@gamergranny285]

I'm an experienced knitter and crocheter.. in my opinion. Have 13 grandchildren. And been retired for a few years. So have a bag of acrylic yarn.. I didn't know what to do with.. and last year my wool yarn started to grow. So just after Christmas I bought a round knitting machine and started to make beanie hats to donate to my local elementary schools and some for my grandchildren. By February... my acrylic yarn stash is much less and made about 50 hats . Finishing up my craft cotton yarn this month and never buy this stuff again. I'm now working on my sock yarn. I don't have a large yarn stash compared to many people. But too much for me. Hope by the end of this year to be able to store all my yarn in one medium size box.

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Well I'm sure those grandkids are keeping you busy with your making! My mom makes a ton for my kids and is working through her stash while making them hats and sweaters. And I'm so close to buying a circular knitting machine too! I can crank through so much stash if I get one. I think that's what I'm getting myself with some of my Christmas money but I haven't hit checkout just yet. I have to talk myself into it haha

[@gamergranny285]

@Little Mitch Stitches check out the KZbin videos before though ... re cost/benefits. I bought the cheaper one because I won't be selling my work. And in 2 or 3 years I may not use it much. Don't know. .. It is a fantastic way to destash in a hurry. I made about 40 hats in about 2 weeks.

[@LittleMitchStitches]

@@gamergranny285 Good point! I have a couple friends who have the Sentro which is probably what I'm going to get. No way I'm paying for the Addi haha!

[@annajjarrett]

May e goals. ? A pillow for everyone in your family for Christmas next year. Patterns endless. Love this.

[@lisaw8202]

I've been conscious of knitting down my stash since COVID lockdown encouraged me to put all my yarn together and make some decisions. I've been focused on buying little and using stash ever since. It's lovely to have all this yarn, but I feel it's so wasteful to just collect it! The biggest difficulty I've found is trying to find appropriate projects that actually want to make and own from the lively yarn I already have. Often, I have to buy new yarn to go with something in stash! Not what I had hoped to do, but I really want to love the projects I make, and that's not always possible without getting a contrast yarn, or a different main color or something. I don't want to just knit indiscriminately, the way I bought my yarn, which is how I got into this in the first place! My whole goal is greater intentionality and awareness in my choices overall. It's interesting to me, the difficulties we cause ourselves by participating in a society that indulges in such excesses! I know I indulge indiscriminately in so many things,, and I often don't notice it. When I do, I'm at a loss as to how to change these habits. So, slowly and with growing awareness, I'm enjoying challenges such as this.

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Yes to all of this! I've definitely had to buy yarn to supplement what's in my stash to make some projects work. I think that's totally fine because even though we're buying more, we're buying with intention and using it right away so it's out of stash quick. What's difficult for me (and maybe you too) is letting go of perfectly good yarn that we *can* use but don't necessarily want to anymore. Because we spent money on it, it's hard to let it go. I try to use what I can of that yarn for charity projects at least but not all of it is appropriate for that either. I follow a lot of minimalism/decluttering KZbin channels and Facebook groups in hopes that they'll eventually rub off on me. I'm doing a lot better with buying SO MUCH less, but still having trouble letting go of "useful" things (bit of a hoarder here haha).

[@louannyoung8434]

Lisa, I resonate with so much of what you are saying here. Transferring the stash to an item that then sits in my closet is no good either! I have a good deal of yarn purchased for shawl projects and have discovered I don't wear them. I love to knit them, but I don't wear them. I have several shawls I need to rehome. I'm trying not to buy if I'm not ready to make that item immediately. Clearance sales at my LYS create a temptation for me! I'm happy to give yarn from my stash to others who will use it. Most of the stash I have for sale on ravelry I sell for almost nothing (plus postage) just happy to know someone is using it!

[@wklilly1]

I’m in!

[@LittleMitchStitches]

🙌🙌🙌 Let's do it!

[@bluejay5531]

Hi! love this! I just found you while I was desperately seeking for some motivation to confront my stash...it is so out of control I am ashamed to even deal with it let alone share how much yarn is hoarded in my tiny flat...so far what I have started (the steps are at the same time more or less) the first step I took was last year to start a booklet inventory (which is not totally up to date) and to organise it and store as best possible, with lavender, in ziplock bags, in plastic tubs, that are taking up space in my living room under the table...the second step was to stop buying it, which I have started in November 2022 and so far, July 2023 I have bought some yarn once, which I am going to forgive myself for and carry on. The third step is to keep knitting along from my stash. Now moving forward I need to keep up with the no buy, find a way to stay motivated and focused (it's hard when watching knitting podcasts, which are usually what get me into trouble) while seriously downsizing my stash and finishing the inventory. I do not have any in real life knitting community so I mostly connect online through watching YT videos, which makes things harder. I noticed that if I focus on less projects at a time I am more relaxed and focused on finishing things faster, but I do like to start more projects. I am afraid of really tracking how much yarn I have but I do feel very motivated by podcasts of stash busting with numbers of grams/skeins consumed/knitted, so I may try to do that and make it a game rather than a guilt trip...thanks for sharing these ideas! will jot down your monthly challenges and use what I can when I can.

[@Pipscape]

Would love to see you organize into your yarn cabinet. I need to do mine, too.

[@LittleMitchStitches]

My yarn hutch is fairly organized. It's all the stuff that doesn't fit into the hutch that isn't organized 😂😂🙈🙈 The hutch is also very multipurpose, storing things right now that really don't belong in it, but I also don't have any other good place to put them (like my tools- I need a toolbox!) It's a project I really want to do, but need my children gone for a whole day so I can tackle it without interference. And that pretty much NEVER happens. I'm really hoping to get to it soon though because I can't finish rearranging furniture in the apartment until I get my craft corner situated.

[@Pipscape]

@@LittleMitchStitches Getting the craft corner organized is so important! Do you have one of the three tiered rolling carts from Ikea? I use it to roll tools and WIPs into and out of my corner which is just a chair in the dining room - a public space that needs to stay tidy. It works really well.

[@LittleMitchStitches]

@@Pipscape I actually just got one of those from Michaels for homeschool supplies! The craft corner has a big Ikea table (currently covering in crafting and other random stuff), plus my desk/computer/file cabinet/printer, spinning wheel, homeschool supplies, and lots of random papers and crafting supplies. Basically anything we don't want the kids touching gets thrown over here because it's surrounded by a baby gate. It's pretty much the equivalent of a junk drawer or storage room at this point.

[@maryclark1578]

I have lots of stash! Time to stash down! Made a little dent last month with the blankets. Need to start some new projects! 😊

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Fill out the form so I can add you to the spreadsheet.

[@maryclark1578]

Where do I find the form?

[@LittleMitchStitches]

It's linked in the description of the video

[@LittleMitchStitches]

forms.gle/jr5hfF92fm5NZ6Bq9 right here

[@juliacross8020]

Ohhh I want to stash down with you!!

[@LittleMitchStitches]

YESSSSS!! Let's do it! Is yours as bad as mine is?? 😂😬😬

[@juliacross8020]

@Little Mitch Stitches haha I've got a sizable stash that I have been slowly trying to work on down. Always happy to have a little more of a push to keep on stash busting

[@LittleMitchStitches]

We got this! I hope haha

[@cloudynookstitches]

Hi I’m a fellow yarnie KZbinr and just subscribed to your channel. Great ideas. Ty Laurie

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Thank you! I need more crochet channels in my life! Subscribing now!

[@CasualKnitter]

I had to come back to this fun video to remember the challenges! I actually do not have a big stash but I also want to track how many gr of yarn I knit every month!

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Someone just suggested having them written down separately from the video so I'm going to try to make a printable for it this weekend to share. I'll let you know when it's done!

[@knittinintheheights]

Omg- I think we are all channeling each other!

[@LittleMitchStitches]

I think everyone is feeling this way this year! So many people I follow are wanting to finish their WIPs and reduce their stashes this year.

[@knittinintheheights]

@@LittleMitchStitches True, very very true! It is 100% time to just knit my stash...

[@melitacarder]

Love this 💚 I’ve already started. I’ve counted all my yarn in January and gave away everything that I no longer loved or wanted to work with. I love the ideas of the monthly challenges. I’ll join in whenever they fit in with my life 💚

[@CasualKnitter]

Thank you for posting such a detailed video with yearly goals! I think for 2023 i want to learn how to knit with 2 colours and to knit gifts way in advance and not 2-3 weeks before the actual holiday :)

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Knitting gifts in advance is key! One year I did socks for my whole immediate family- brother (size 13 foot!), husband, 2 kids, mom, and stepfather. It took literally all year to do. Now whoever has finished socks gets some and whoever doesn't is on the waiting list! Thanks for joining us! We're all going to do great this year!

[@kairenlewis7526]

I love this idea! I am in the process of turning my spare bedroom into a craft room (something I have wanted to do for years). Because my stash is currently stored everywhere, I don't actually know how much I have, but I know it's a lot! I also know there is a ton of cotton yarn that I don't want anymore, but because it's buried in the mountain of yarn I have, I have put off looking for it. This challenge is the perfect opportunity and I can't wait to get started. I hope your own challenge is going well for you. Thank you for this video and the challenge itself.

[@DCSquirrel]

As I take a break from inventory of my stash. I’m in this process to hopefully reduce my stash as it’s become ridiculous.

[@LittleMitchStitches]

I can completely relate! I can't even think of trying to do an inventory because there's just too much.

[@2Crochetcurious]

I am coming in a bit late, but appreciate your plan! Signed up for the spreadsheet!

[@LittleMitchStitches]

That's ok! Jump in where you are or back log if you want, whatever works for you! No reason you can't start today. You can help make up for all the yarn I've bought this year 🙈

[@emilyrodriguez1226]

Im watching this at the end of August and it sounds so fun I just went a little yarn happy this month and now have yarn everywhere lol so I need to do something

[@mirandavikanderson6958]

I m great if tracking and add my yarn to my ravelry. My issue is deep diving into my old stash

[@judithdenise5983]

Not participating but I cheer everyone on! 😊

[@LittleMitchStitches]

We need all the cheerleaders we can get! Thank you for watching!

[@originalstitches6125]

My stash is a very large as I inherited an estate in 2020 with much yarn. I have the mall inventory done ravelry, but could definitely aim at using up a bunch this year.

[@LittleMitchStitches]

I'm jealous- I was never good at keeping my Ravelry stash updated. Hopefully posting on KZbin more will keep me accountable more!

[@brittanykrieger5828]

I am not going to buy more yarn until I am done with my crazy amount of yarn this year.

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Ooooooh that's some willpower! You can do it though!

[@valeriea.gladstone6440]

alos knitting for charity is great way to stash down

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Yes!! I've recently been working on some soap sacks to 1- use up my cotton stash and 2- donate hopefully locally if I can find a place to accept them. If not, I'll ship them to Soap S.A.C.K. in New Jersey www.soapsacks.com/

[@sharonspier1292]

I haven't purchased yarn since end of June 2022 but started tracking in January 2023. I'm counting grams

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Wow! I don't have that willpower. Please send some my way 😂

[@knitty781]

Oh, my goodness! You are a younger version of me!! I love spreadsheets for quick calculations, but writing it down helps me to truly remember what my goals are. (My son told me studies show that writing goals in a color other than black will help you remember. We ignore black print because we see it all the time on our computer screens.) I, too, wish to use what yarns I have and finish projects I started. What good is that beautiful shawl if it's still on the needles? How will those half knit socks keep my feet warm? Why don't I have a pair of mittens?

[@LittleMitchStitches]

I love this! Yes, I have to physically write things and I've always preferred blue ink to black (but pick fun colors when that's an option!) I worked at a daycare and we had to fill all our paperwork out in black ink because supposedly it was more "professional" than blue. But blue visually works better for me again the black print.

[@619to253]

I love the challenges you have. Do you have a worksheet with the monthly challenges. I don't want the Google doc. Rachelle in Seattle

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Thanks for watching! I don't have them written up separately but that's a great idea! I will work on that this weekend and share it when it's done!

[@toknitorknot33]

Great idea ! I am in ! ❤

[@chrissy24-7]

Yarn 💣- ing, marling a project, doing a scrappy striped gift if you don't like stripes... Make an outfit to wear in knit in public day 😊. I'm being more conscious about yarn choices, matching patterns from my queue with stash yarn, finishing one incomplete project a month, or frogging... Making a decision anyway... And I have a couple plans

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Those are some good goals! I wanted to also finish and old project a month and I've already failed! But I've been good about not casting anything new on at least...so far!

[@Pipscape]

I went deep stash diving for a stripey Saturday Shrug (current darling of parts of IG). Found some amazing luxury yarns I was "saving" and just decided to use them even if it's not the "perfect project that will use all the yardage." But it's gloriously soft and will make a fantastic gift. Yay for stash busting in 2023!

[@brittanymorris943]

As I have watched this I brought in 3200 yards of cotton yarn 😂 it’s plied 100% cotton yarn spun from a local spinner but I do need to stash down and downsize my WIPs as well got way too many. I actually put away around $10 a month Canadian now so I can still buy but with more of a purpose than spend spend spend

[@LittleMitchStitches]

I just bought yarn at Vogue Knitting Live and like 6 skeins of acrylic at Michaels for a craft project that will use barely any of each color 🙈

[@brittanymorris943]

@@LittleMitchStitches I would love to go to vogue knitting live but being in Canada it would be way out of my budget as a single mom of 2 boys 😅 their needs out weigh my yarn needs

[@LittleMitchStitches]

@@brittanymorris943 It's local to me (hour-ish train ride) so I go for the day. Just to the Market because I can't afford the classes. I have 2 boys too!

[@kaytiej8311]

Never! Leave the notebook stash alone!

[@sondra.gets.scrappy]

Love these goals, I’m in!

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Thank you for joining! We got this!!

[@tdewtx]

I have 5 kids born in the 80's and they all have jumped on this bandwagon of being convinced that procrastination is the new ADHD, and even trying to convince me that I probably have it too. If you could read minds you could probably read mine on that theory...lol. I think that this idea is a great idea. I actually have 4 projects I need to put in my project book. I try to put in when I start what yarns and colors and what needle size I used on it.

[@maryclark1578]

Send. Me an easy sock pattern. I’ll start with the boy’s size!

[@LittleMitchStitches]

I'll probably be prepping one in a couple weeks for my class. I'll send you one then. Worsted or fingering weight?

[@maryclark1578]

I did know. I’ll see if I have fingering yarn. I think I bought some a couple of years ago.

[@LittleMitchStitches]

I can give you the yarn you gave me a couple months ago for it. They're perfect for socks for the boys since they're only 50g skeins and only 1 of each color

[@annajjarrett]

How about to save money for food ?

[@purlingswine]

Me Me!!! Sign me up please!

[@LittleMitchStitches]

Let's do it! Do you think we'll make it through this time? haha Fill this out forms.gle/jr5hfF92fm5NZ6Bq9

[@et1016]

You just keep saying the same thing over and over again.

[@Iluv2crochet]

I have waaaay too much yarn. 🧶 I should not buy any more! I have to get some willpower. 😂