Today, as I was spending the third day entering each skein of yarn into a spreadsheet, I said “Why am I doing this?” Do I really care which container has which yarn? The answer, at least for today, is NO! I just want to get those tubs out of the way so I can get back to knitting, maybe sewing and do some cross stitching. If I continue doing the spreadsheets, I’ll be on the computer for the next month instead of creating.
I have 6 huge bags and 6 tubs of yarn that’s all entered on the spreadsheets. The rest is just going into bags and tubs and being put out of sight, if I can find such a place. Maybe I’ll label some tubs as to weight and toss the yarns into those tubs and that will help me find what I’m looking for. It isn’t like there’s only one needle in this haystack. If I decide I want brown chunky and can’t find it, I’ll just use green chunky or make something different.
No matter how much vacuuming and smashing and cramming I do, I’m afraid I’m going to have a whole corner in the sewing room with tubs stacked floor to ceiling. There’s just no way around it. Too much yarn! There . . I said it. I don’t feel any better though.
I’m pretty sure that unless it’s really, really special, I’ll never buy yarn again. You know I did this with fabric and stopped cold turkey and haven’t bought fabric in years. Even if I start quilting again, I doubt I buy fabric. Let’s hope that’s where I am with yarn!
So . . if you hear that I’m buying yarn ever again, say something really mean to me!!
Liz says
You have a great start on getting things under control and I think you made the best decision to put the yarn organization on hold and to move on to other things.
If you kept a backup of the old spreadsheet file of yarn, you can always search that to determine IF you have the type & color of yarn and then you can go on that great search. If you find the yarn, great, otherwise, you can be doing a bit of organization while you are doing the search. Otherwise, go buy the yarn until you are fully organized with the yarn. I won’t be mean to you about craft purchases….
I’m not sure if I decluttered my book stash of cross stitch patterns, but if I find some that I don’t want, I’ll let you know. Perhaps we can set up a book/pattern exchange with our online friends.
Nelle Coursey says
I think I am in the same spot except I don’t have near as much yarn as you do!!
Sandi B says
After Vince leaves for Texas, I’ll come up and help you for a day or two. With one reading and sorting, the other can type. That should make it much faster! And, it would be fun!!
Arrowhead Gramma says
My thought on the yarn storage: I would put all the same type/weight (sport, worsted, chunky, etc.) in tubs/bags with a label of the yarn type/weight on the outside of the tub/bag as the type/weight of the yarn starts each knitting project. You could also number each tub/bag and keep a list in your computer.
Judy Laquidara says
That’s better than nothing but when I want to make a project, I need to know how much yarn I have. For instance, if I have 10 tubs of worsted weight yarn and I want to make a sweater that calls or 1,400 yards, I don’t mind using yarn if I have 1,600 yards but I wouldn’t want to use 1,400 yards out of 2,200 yards and have 800 just left over – that would be a waste. And, if it’s a sweater with lots of different stitches, it needs to be a lighter solid-ish color for the design to show up nicely so I would still be digging through tubs to find the perfect yarn. With a spreadsheet, I could sort by weight and then by yardage and go right to the tub I need.
The best thing would be if I had not bought so much yarn!
Suzette Harris says
I think cataloging is a good idea but doing is important too. Maybe catalog some with a picture until later allowing yourself more time to use it. You’ll find a perfect balance for yourself I’m sure!
Laura says
I’ve had a heck of a time organizing my quilting fabric/projects/notions and cross stitch supplies since we moved into this house six months ago. So I feel your pain.
Judy Laquidara says
We’ll get it done though, right? 🙂
Susan Nixon says
I think you’ve made great decisions about storing and buying yarn. I hope you can stick to it until at least half your yarn is used. You haven’t bought any more fabric, but you also don’t quilt much any more, either.. Here’s hoping you don’t abandon knitting for XS and then collect a million bits of floss. LOL At least it takes less room, though. =)
Kellie Steele says
I have the same problem, but when you have many different hobbies and an excess of products for all of them it becomes an over whelming problem. Now instead of falling in love with a pattern and buying supplies needed, whether it’s knitting or dressmaking or quilt making, I instead chose a piece of fabric or some yarn and find the perfect pattern for that piece and make it. It’s a lot less storage needed for patterns than for fabric and yarn and I am using my stash, but I still get the joy of hunting for a great fit. It is also saving me money as the patterns are the least expensive part. But I make sure I finish each project before I start on the next otherwise I just end up with a to do list a mile long and a million new patterns bought but not much progress done. But sometimes the planning and matching are the best part.
Kind regards
Kellie