In a series of letters this week, we will explore what makes us be better stitchers while being productive and gaining enjoyment from our hobby!
Whether it’s souvenir yarn collected during your travels or “unicorn” yarns snagged from your local yarn store, your yarn stash is something that deserves to be admired and enjoyed! There are various schools of thought about displaying versus hiding one’s stash. I say it’s all about the organization method you choose for it! Find and dedicate a space in which you can keep it all together. If it goes with the decor of your home, find the best way to display it, preferably covered to protect it from dust and other elements. You don’t have get to get a bookcase to fill with yarn, but if you do, separate your yarn by weight, from lace on top to super bulky on the bottom and all the others in between. It’s a great way to keep yourself aware of which weight yarns you tend to get more and which ones you tend to knit with less! Make sure to keep your yarn away from direct sunlight because many dyes used in the yarns are sensitive to it and might fade over time.
If you have to or choose to keep your stash stored without displaying it, make sure to document your stash of yarns, colors, and quantities by photographing it and using the helpful stash tools on Ravelry or by creating a secret Pinterest board. By doing this, you can keep your own inventory up to date, along with its location. This will also give you easy access to your stash on your smartphone when you feel some separation anxiety and need to check on it!
Recently, I was privileged to listen in on Clara Parkes reading from her new book, A Stash of One’s Own. Don’t miss her book launch event at fibre space on September 14—it’s a chance to hear her thoughts on stash and what it means to us!
Items referenced in this letter:
bookcase – IKEA kallax
soft boxes – IKEA Dröna
hard boxes – IKEA Lekman
