Shopping Your Stash
Shop for yarn you already own!
1/26/20263 min read
If you’re anything like me, you’ve collected quite a large stash of yarn. Lately, I’ve been working towards organizing my stash better and using up more of what I have before buying more yarn.
Why Shop Your Stash
One of the great things about shopping your stash is that it’s already yours! You don’t need to spend more money than what you’ve already spent. This is especially great for those of us here in the US dealing with tariffs on top of rising prices. Another great thing about shopping your stash is that it should all be yarn that you like (with maybe a few exceptions). Take it as a chance to rediscover beautiful yarns that you loved and had to buy. No need to wait for shipping, you can start a project today. It may also work as a creative challenge to match the yarn you have to projects you want to make.
Get to Know Your Stash
I highly recommend keeping a record of what you have in your stash. You can do this on Ravelry if you’d like, one of my readers introduced me to Yarn Keep, which I personally like a lot, or you can use a basic notebook and pen. The benefits of having an analog record of your yarn stash are that you can punch holes in the paper and tie a bit of the yarn onto the page so you have a small sample of what it looks like and how it feels; you can also attach yarn labels and swatches directly to the page. Some important things to record: yardage available, weight, colorways, different dye lots, fiber content, and, of course, where the yarn is located.
Yarn-First Project Planning
Once you have a good idea of what is in your stash, you get to find projects suitable for specific yarns. While this can be frustrating at times, it can also be a lot of fun! Let your imagination go wild and be inspired by the yarn itself. What kind of fiber is it? How much of it do you have? What kind of stitch pattern would look good in this colorway? Keep in mind that highly variegated yarns tend to look better with simple stitch patterns. Tonals and solids have better stitch definition and can let the textures shine. Some of the advanced search features on Ravelry will help you narrow down patterns that match what you have, but that can still be overwhelming. Having an idea of what the yarn should be used for will help keep your search focused. No matter what pattern you choose, swatch first to see if you like the feel and drape of the fabric that yarn creates.
Mix and Match
Mixing and matching yarns together gives you a whole new world of possibilities! Holding different yarns together forms a thicker yarn, giving you more options for yarn weights to combine. This is a way to play with color as well. I have seen people use marling to create beautiful gradients of color. Knit a swatch with yarns you’re considering holding together to make sure they work as well as intended. You might be pleasantly surprised at the results!
Tricky Yarns
Sometimes you have small bits of leftover yarn from other projects. These can be hard to use, but I usually like keeping them around and using them for accent colors. Check out some of my favorite stash-busting patterns here. Sometimes you have yarn in your stash that was gifted to you that isn’t really your style. Consider using it to make something for the person who gave it to you, since they clearly liked it. These yarns may also be suitable for charity knitting. Sometimes you have yarns in odd colors. Try marling with other colors and see what happens. If it’s a busy, highly variegated yarn, try pairing it with a neutral color to balance it out. If it’s something you'll never use, feel free to donate it or give it to someone who will.
The Emotional Side of Stash Knitting
A lot of yarn hoarders (myself included) often feel guilty about how much money they have spent on yarn, especially when it sits unused for too long. Using up your stash helps relieve some of that guilt, and provides a creative challenge of finding projects for yarn you already have. As you go through your stash, you will likely find some yarns you’re ready to let go of. Enjoy the extra space that it creates! During this process, you may have to accept that tastes evolve, and that’s fine. Be honest with yourself about whether or not you’ll actually use a particular yarn. Generally, we knit for the joy of the craft, and our stash should be a source of inspiration, not stress.
I hope this post has inspired you to knit from your stash. It’s something I’m working on too! Use the form below to let me know: what’s the oldest yarn in your stash? Happy stitching!
