A reader left this comment with questions. It may be questions others have so I’ll answer them here.
I have a question. I’m bad at ordering when I shouldn’t too – and then storing away for another day. How soon do you use what you order? Do you ever get to a project right away? I’m struggling with having so many projects and supplies I want to tackle. And always being tempted by new things I see. I’ll get something and want to get to it, but it gets stored away. I’ve vowed not to expand beyond my sewing area (which is the breakfast nook and a den – who needs those for their intended use?) and I’m bursting at the seams!!
First, you have many questions! <G>
How soon do you use what you order? Do you ever get to a project right away?
I have yarn here that’s 10 years old. My first order with ESK was placed in 2008 and it was 2010 when I found The Loopy Ewe. It’s been downhill since then. For a long time, I ordered because it was so pretty. Now, I do that occasionally (or should say “did”) but for the most part, I buy for projects.
In my Ravelry queue, I only add items once I have the yarn to make them.
Project in Queue
Above is a clip from my Ravelry queue. You can see that I want to make Almost there and the yarn I bought to make it is Squoosh Fiberarts Rapture in Air, Arsenic and Sweet Potato. I have three skeins each of Air and Arsenic and on skein of Sweet Potato.
Yes, there have been projects that I I wound the yarn as soon as it arrived and cast on. That doesn’t happen often. Usually I see a pattern that I really want to make, order yarn and by the time it arrives, I’ve moved on to another project I really want to make.
Yarn
I do keep a spreadsheet with all my yarn. The clip above is from the ESK spreadsheet. The yarn is in tubs according to order numbers so I can easily find what I need. It helps so much to have the yarn organized.
Can I blame you for part of my problem?
Sure . . unless you have a husband that wants to scream at me and then I would cry and that would not be good! 🙂
Laura says
I don’t knit, but there are many parallels to quilting in this post! Last week I spent $120 on quilting stuff I don’t need. As long as one’s budget can afford it and one’s home can store it, I don’t see the harm. I’m never bored, that’s for sure. 🙂
Pinot and Piecing says
Whenever I feel like I have to much stuff, I watch a season of the TV show “Hoarders.” Then it’s easy to get rid of stuff! And clean the house. And not go thrift shopping or buy things that need to be fixed. Or buy anything. Or eat lunch. A few episodes of Hoarders cures everything!
Linda in NE says
Maybe I should have my husband watch Hoarders. He’s never found anything that he doesn’t want to save just in case he needs it someday. Any time I mention cleaning stuff out he gets all worried and watches me like a hawk because he just knows I’m going to get rid of some of his precious junk. He’s been known to go through the trash before pickup just to be sure.
Stacey says
I’m a quilter and always tempted by fun new fabric lines and color ways. There will *always* be more amazing fabric lines, and there will always be deals and sales but for now all the fabric that made my heart soar is waiting to be used up in my sewing room. If I find myself online shopping mindlessly then I put it in my cart and walk away for a few days. Usually I forget about it. Or it’s sold out. if it’s still calling to me then I take a screen shot – I can always find it later on Etsy or somewhere. And you know what? I’ve never needed to go through my screen shot folder – I’ve always been able to find something else that makes my heart soar.
Step one was I started by unsubscribing to email lists or deleting them without looking. If I NEED something (batting, or a few fabrics to flush out a quilt) then I can always sign up for email lists to get a coupon and unsubscribe when I’m done.
Step two is contain the collection by sorting it so you know what you have (if you’ve got piles and piles and piles of purple yarn or endless supply of whatever weight then you won’t need to buy more) has kept it in check. When I sorted mine I used smaller tubs and sorted by color. If it didn’t fit into the tub then I culled out some of my not favourites and donated to my local quilt group as they’ll use it for charity quilts. Having full bins helps me mentally limit myself so I don’t talk myself into stash building. My stash is full!