I’ve Fallen Into The Stash, And I Can’t Get Out…
After several recent attempts to find something specific in my yarn stash, I decided that it was time to clean house. I set up a database of all my yarn a long time ago, but it was a Microsoft Access file, and when I switched to Mac last year, I just sort of quit using it. Microsoft doesn’t make Access for Mac (what the hell is up with that anyway?), and the file just didn’t convert nicely to an Excel file. So I had these bags and bags of yarn everywhere, and there have been additions and subtractions all over the place in the stash. It was time to reorganize. It finally dawned on me that I still have my old laptop, as I use it from time to time when we travel, and that I could still use the old file. It just needed some serious updating.
So that’s what I’ve been doing all week. Box by box, I dumped it all out, sorting, counting, tallying, drooling. It was a little like a college reunion, where you meet all your old friends that you haven’t seen in years, and you remember why you loved them. There were a few skeins that made me think “what the frack did I see in them anyway?” (Just like that old college boyfriend, the one that got a pitcher of beer dumped on his head for being a jackass.) I have almost all of it back into boxes, and added all the new yarn purchases over the last 8 or 9 months to the database. No, I have no idea how many yards total I have. I am so not going there. Even if I were to add up those skeins to get that number, I would not under any circumstance publish it to a blog that my husband occasionally reads.
Here’s a little taste. First, a small sampling of the sock stash, out for inspection:
And back in the box:
Just to give you a hint of how much yarn I have, I’ve numbered the boxes.
And don’t ask. Yes, that’s a “9”, implying that there are “8” boxes of yarn before this one. I am just not saying how many there may or may not be after this one.
Ok, Ok, here’s a bit from one of the other boxes. I’m not saying what number this one was. It was the “mostly lace” box.
That’s all. I am not giving out any more information. I’m just thinking that after tallying all this up, I might consider printing out a list, putting a monetary value on all of it, and getting a separate insurance company rider for it. Don’t laugh, it’s actually not such a dumb idea.
Next time: Perhaps a Finished Object. I’m close, so close.
Good golly. I can’t believe how much stash you have (just a tiny bit of an envy attack here).
BTW, did you find the right shade of Liquor from the various leftover Kidsilk Haze?
So let’s just say you have a “healthy” stash. It could be useful in times of emergency. 😉
It must be spring cleaning time. I’m doing the same thing. Did you find any skeletons? I found a bin of novelty yarn. Ugh! The sock yarn all looks scrumptious.
Insurance might be a good idea. One gal on the sock list had her stash flooded. She fought with the insurance company for a good 2-3 months because they wouldn’t believe a “private” person would have $3000 worth of yarn. She posted they settled, not sure how much was given.
I organized my stash, numbering boxes and creating a little database, this past winter. I am still quite pleased with myself …
Let me guess – it was you who dumped the pitcher of beer over the jackass boyfriend’s head, right? (I just hope it was cheap beer!)
Aah – just when I’m feeling a little guilty about my stash, someone comes along who makes me look like a piker! Of course, I wasn’t too surprised because I’ve seen it firsthand (well, at least the boxes – I was a good guest and didn’t snoop inside). But I’ve been a good girl and haven’t bought in quite a while.
An insurance rider! – I love that.
My meager stash would MAYBE half-fill one of those boxes. I’m a sad excuse for a knitter, I know.
Well, if it makes you feel any better, you’ve made ME feel much better! :0) Isn’t organizing fun?
I feel so much better. My boxes only number 4.;-) HOWEVER, I should have at least 1-2 more but I have no room for them. Thank goddess, yarn stuffs into corners nicely;-)
Lorette- It kinda says something when you need a database to keep track of your yarn.
Not that it’s a bad thing. With only 3 rubbermaids, I’m clearly an amateur.
There’s nothing wrong with having some yarn in the house. (Or the car) (Or the office) Insurance is a great idea!
I started organizing mine in a database last year too but didn’t keep up with mine either. Maybe your post will motivate me to get back at it. Probably not, but you never know.
Just making sure you know about ravelry.com. It’s in beta stage now, but looks promising!
I have always thought your database was such a good idea. I myself don’t think I am brave enough to sort through mine. I have lots of just any kind of yarn. Having only recently started actually getting the higher quality yarn fever.
Also if I went through my stash, I’d have to see all those projects left in limbo. I’d rather just pretend there aren’t as many as there really are.
Ignorance is bliss.
So is a good sized yarn stash.
🙂
Oh boy – that’s a lot of yarn. That new Ravelry site would probably be perfect for you!
hee hee, I’m glad I’m not the only one with a gargantuan stash!
I keep a notebook with all my stash listed, and I’m not admitting to how many boxes I have, either. Looks like you have some nice stuff there.
I have plans for a spring cleaning myself soon and I shudder at the thought of just how many skeins of sock yarn I own! You have some juicy stuff there Lorette!
You’re a hoot. Definitely non-disclosure is the best policy here (grin)
I tend to hide my yarn in baskets all over the house and my office – there’s no record – I figure what I don’t know can’t hurt me (hah!)
Besides, I truly need to keep building up my fiber IRA… otherwise, I’ll have nothing to play with when I retire!
I did the great stash corral exercise right after Christmas.
Don’t beat yourself up over the stash. I don’t have more than you do, but I do have quite a bit that I don’t know what I will be making with it. In the past, I’ve done a lot of buying because it was such a “bargain.” I am more selective now, plus I’ve been on a yarn diet since January and have been pretty good so far.
I am trying very hard to use what I have, but there’s the occasional – I’d like to make ____ and I don’t have a suitable yarn.
This morning, I decided to make a Moderne Log Cabin blanket from the Mason Dixon book for a wedding gift, and it should put a dent in the Amore stash that was such a bargain at the time. It’s not really what I wanted to use, nor what I wanted to make, but I made it fit.
I’m stubborn that way.
The point of this post (and there is one) is that you have more of a selection; so….Don’t worry, be happy.
I have imposed a “no new hobbies” rule (that dates back to about 1975) because my yarn stash is so huge–as is my stash of sewing fabric (a lot now inherited from my mother, for a total of 9 Rubbermaid tubs). A rider would be a great idea, but I think insurance companies would never appreciate the value–nor would they understand how precious yarns that have been discontinued are.
My husband always has that look of shock when I take out something that has been away from view for many years and consider working with it. He has the sneaking suspicion that there is even more than the vast amount he knows I have. He is also shocked when I can’t find a particular knitting magazine. He seems to be saying “how do you know one is lost?”.
I’m starting small with the organizing, though. I will be working on my needles first. After that, I think it’s time to sort the yarn.
*giggle* Thank you so much for cheering me up about my stash. No really, it made me giggle sometimes. I keep saying I’ll organize/inventory my stash, and then I turn around and look at it, and become overwhelmed and get depressed..
I’m NOT laughing–matters of the stash are of the serious variety around these parts. I have a stash inventory somewhere too. Mine is in the form of an Excel spreadsheet, but I don’t remember if it’s on my current or previous laptop. That’s how long it’s been since I last tracked the stash. Scary…
Hee hee – I actually put my boxes and bins on display last year for Flash Your Stash. Of course, the yarn has multiplied fruitfully since then… But wow – that’s a whole lotta sock yarn. I might have to break into your house. 😉
Very impressive stash!! If you ever loose your job all your worldly possessions, you could sell your stash and eat for a year!! My stash has a lot of embarrassing acrylic in it, from long, long ago. Have you found anything embarrassing in your stash??
And as far as falling into something you can’t get out of, what better place could there be?
🙂
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My husband found my entry about my stash mileage the other day. Ooops! He’s still walking around looking a little shell-shocked.
Swoon! Not only do you have a glorious stash, but it all looks so lovely. Think of it as art 🙂
Sigh…..I need to go through my stash and do the same thing. One more thing to add to my list of things to do…Thanks for the inspiration.
Who’s laughing? You think you’re the only stashaholic out there? Not a chance. We love to see our fellow addicts let it all hang out. 🙂
You haven’t posted in a while. Did anyone have a of the yarn you needed to try to fix the shawl? I looked but didn’t have any in my stash that was the same color.
I’ve definitely thought about adding the stash to my insurance! After all, it’s worth more than my TV…and it’s not a small tv 🙂
Database! Boxes with numbers! Whoa. I’m impressed with your competence, woman.
I can’t face the truth about my stash because it involves facing the truth about all the UFOs. Maybe in the fall. My summer resolution is to finish all the sock yarn projects and not think about any more yarn until all of that has been transformed into footwear.
Long time since you’ve posted — hope all is ok. Or are you really stuck in your stash??!
Long time since you’ve posted — hope all is ok. Or are you really stuck in your stash??!
Long time since you’ve posted — hope all is ok. Or are you really stuck in your stash??!
I just finished organizing everything (and spreadsheeting it) except for individual sock yarn skeins. I couldn’t face that yet. You work hard. You play hard. You see people die early. You know that postponing pleasure is not such a good idea. Stash brings pleasure. I also will not post the details.