Last week, I mentioned how my yarn situation has become WHACO as defined by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee and I'm officially off buying yarn until my yarn can be contained. (insert stoic tears here) I needed a plan of action so I turned to my trusted knitting sages -- podcasters Helen Stewart, Jo Milmine, Jasmin and Gigi, and Laura and Leslie. I listen to a lot of podcasts and there are many wonderful podcasters who have provided me with great advice (I'm thinking of you Dr. Gemma and Marie Segares, and Kara Gott Warner), but these ladies had the information I needed to help me out of my WHACO situation.
First, I listened to Helen Stewart of the podcast Curious Handmade. In episode 105, she made some new year yarn resolutions (I meant to do that too, but . . . ) and declared January Stash Appreciation Month. Her excellent suggestions included making an inventory of the yarn. I promptly unpacked all my yarn again (to Tiki's great delight -- see photo above) and made an itemized list on a spreadsheet. It took a lot, lot, longer than I had anticipated, but using a spreadsheet allowed me to tally up the yarn amounts I have.
Turns out, I really do have a lot of yarn. Not counting mystery yarns (yarns for which the labels fell off), cone yarns gifted to me by Peruvian cousin, Ana, and yarns that are in works in progress, I have at least 11 miles/18 kilometers and over 27 pounds/13 kilograms of yarn. If I were to add in estimates for my other yarns, I know I've got at least a half-marathon's worth and comfortably over 32 pounds/14.5 kilograms of yarn.
So what to do? I turned to Jo Milmine of the Shinybees podcast. Helen Stewart put me on to the Shinybees podcast and I'm so glad! Jo Milmine is seriously committed to making her podcast funny, irreverent, insightful, and relevant! I'm in the process of listening to every single one of her podcasts so I listen to her first recordings from South Africa in between listening to her current London musings. And in this world of tea-drinking knitters, Jo Milmine urges us to get a beer or a gin drink and settle in to listen and knit! (no shade to tea, but I'd much rather relax with a glass of wine) In episode 77, appropriately titled "Knitting Goals" Jo Milmine outlines how to set realistic knitting goals, including how to stay motivated, focusing on progress instead of actually reaching your goal, and making sure you are accountable for your goals. I can do this! I can reduce my stash! But how to stay motivated? And how will I deal with the accountability aspect?
Enter the Knitmore Girls. In episode 377, Gigi and Jasmin discussed Stash Dash. (cue angelic voices) Gigi is gearing up to win Stash Dash and explained that Stash Dash is a virtual race created by The Knit Girllls where the goal is to bring down your stash!!!!!! The Knit Girllls also have a fabulous podcast, actually a video podcast, where you can see what they are working on. Stash Dash will begin on May 27 and has multiple goal levels. There are even prizes! The rules are all in Ravelry in The Knit Girllls forum. I'm in!
So, I have a goal and a method of accountability. Now I will set myself to step 4 of Jo Milmine's setting knitting goals advice and get to planning.
First, I listened to Helen Stewart of the podcast Curious Handmade. In episode 105, she made some new year yarn resolutions (I meant to do that too, but . . . ) and declared January Stash Appreciation Month. Her excellent suggestions included making an inventory of the yarn. I promptly unpacked all my yarn again (to Tiki's great delight -- see photo above) and made an itemized list on a spreadsheet. It took a lot, lot, longer than I had anticipated, but using a spreadsheet allowed me to tally up the yarn amounts I have.
Turns out, I really do have a lot of yarn. Not counting mystery yarns (yarns for which the labels fell off), cone yarns gifted to me by Peruvian cousin, Ana, and yarns that are in works in progress, I have at least 11 miles/18 kilometers and over 27 pounds/13 kilograms of yarn. If I were to add in estimates for my other yarns, I know I've got at least a half-marathon's worth and comfortably over 32 pounds/14.5 kilograms of yarn.
So what to do? I turned to Jo Milmine of the Shinybees podcast. Helen Stewart put me on to the Shinybees podcast and I'm so glad! Jo Milmine is seriously committed to making her podcast funny, irreverent, insightful, and relevant! I'm in the process of listening to every single one of her podcasts so I listen to her first recordings from South Africa in between listening to her current London musings. And in this world of tea-drinking knitters, Jo Milmine urges us to get a beer or a gin drink and settle in to listen and knit! (no shade to tea, but I'd much rather relax with a glass of wine) In episode 77, appropriately titled "Knitting Goals" Jo Milmine outlines how to set realistic knitting goals, including how to stay motivated, focusing on progress instead of actually reaching your goal, and making sure you are accountable for your goals. I can do this! I can reduce my stash! But how to stay motivated? And how will I deal with the accountability aspect?
Enter the Knitmore Girls. In episode 377, Gigi and Jasmin discussed Stash Dash. (cue angelic voices) Gigi is gearing up to win Stash Dash and explained that Stash Dash is a virtual race created by The Knit Girllls where the goal is to bring down your stash!!!!!! The Knit Girllls also have a fabulous podcast, actually a video podcast, where you can see what they are working on. Stash Dash will begin on May 27 and has multiple goal levels. There are even prizes! The rules are all in Ravelry in The Knit Girllls forum. I'm in!
So, I have a goal and a method of accountability. Now I will set myself to step 4 of Jo Milmine's setting knitting goals advice and get to planning.
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