In the craft world, it’s easy to think about the things you don’t have, and ignore, belittle, or simply not see the things you do. It’s spring, and you need to find a way to organize, compartmentalize, and make use of what you have in your supplies stash; not prioritize additional things to add, or things you think you can’t do without. Today’s post is one of many that will help you tidy up all those “loose ends” — from bits of leftover yarn, to unfinished projects, endlessly long “to-crochet” lists, and more. Hopefully after reading this you’ll feel inspired to sort through your own collection of yarn and other supplies, with an open mind, a fresh perspective, an organization tool and a new appreciation for what you need — and what you don’t.
Let’s start with the basics: working with materials that are already in front of you, and enjoying the process. (Because if you don’t enjoy crochet, despite having mastered the skill, then there’s no reason to do it!)
Take a look at your supplies bin — or, as many crocheters call it, “yarn stash.” You’ll probably see the potential for an abundance of projects. However, with those ideas, you may also be contemplating all the things you don’t have, and want to go out and buy, to make the project “perfect.”
Don’t be tempted to do this. More often than not, what we miss is what’s already there. If your mind is set on a project that will be red, but you need a contrasting color (CC) and don’t have pink or white, the shopper in the crochet brain starts working immediately. Whereas you may not see the opportunity to create something with various shades of blue, which may already be with you, available among the material.
Other times, you may head to the nearest craft store, spend up to an hour picking “the right yarn,” and go home to find yarn very similar to it already on your shelf. (Been there, done that.)
Or you purchase lots of yarn, put it aside for the “right time to make something,” and forget that project was an idea to begin with. If you didn’t see any other use for the yarn, it goes untouched, possibly for months at a time.
My Advice: Look at what you have, and see what can be made with it, before going on to other projects.
How many times have you thought, “I’ve got all this extra yarn and have no idea what to do with it”? I’m going to be a bit harsh now and say that lack of motivation is not an excuse for going out and buying more yarn to fill the stash. Sooner or later you’ll look at the cupboard, shelf, wherever it is you keep your craft supplies, and see that it’s overflowing with all the yarn from “could-be” projects that haven’t materialized. It’s alright to have a decent-sized stash; just don’t overdo it.
Usually there are two types of crocheters: (1) those who choose a project to work on based on the available materials, or what “speaks” to them; and (2) those who have a set idea of what they want to make, and are looking for specific supplies to fulfill their end goal. This reminds me of a writing assignment years ago, where the class was given a list of words to incorporate into a piece. When we workshopped our pieces the following week, what stood out the most was the different approaches we had taken in constructing our work. Some of my classmates had gotten frustrated trying to fit the words into their piece as part of a preconceived idea; others (like me) tried formulating an idea around the words alone, using that as the base to construct the piece.
Bottom line: we all think differently. If you have a preference for one method of using up yarn, or another (or maybe both), you can adjust your stash-reducing approach accordingly. However, if you end up with more yarn than you can manage, it’s time to rethink your approach, whichever it is.
Try designing a project out of the yarn that’s waiting to be transformed, and see what comes out of it. Do NOT think that you must go out and buy something to add to the finished piece — that defeats the purpose of this whole endeavor. The goal is to work with what you currently have, without needing to add anything extra. Regardless of any project you had in mind, set aside the yarn that you don’t have any current plans for, and start there. Put the “unusable” to use. The project you end up making may not be the one you had in mind initially, but it may lead your creativity to something new: something you wouldn’t have explored if not for the yarn already in your stash.
If it helps, create an inventory list of all the yarns you have, and try to figure out what you want to make with it — crochet outfits, accessories, decor, etc. (Though most times this won’t be necessary; you’ll find ways to use up the yarn much earlier.)
So today, do something a little different: thank your yarn, for the inspiration that’s already there, set in motion. And put your creativity to work. Now go turn that pile of unused yarn into a masterpiece! 🙂
Keep being creative, my friends!
–Orchid
P.S. I am behind on emails and responding to requests for patterns and such… right now is the middle of exam season (and as some of you know, time management and I are sometimes besties, sometimes not). I have seen your requests, and am doing my best to respond as promptly as I can. I’m also working on a newsletter to send to subscribers soon, so please keep a lookout for that! If you haven’t yet subscribed to the Crochet Buddies Newsletter, you can do so by filling out the form below:
Have a wonderful, craft-filled week!
