Tips for Working from Your Stash
As knitters, we all share a common passion: the love for buying new yarn. Each skein is not just a ball of fiber but a bundle of potential, promising endless creativity. But let's face it, this hobby comes with its challenges. The cost can be hefty, our storage spaces are overflowing, and the guilt of unused yarn piles up just like the skeins themselves. In 2023, many of us felt the pinch of these issues. So, let's make 2024 the year we change our yarn-purchasing habits for the better!
Please note that this blog post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking one of these links, I earn some yarn money at no extra cost to you!
Take Inventory
First things first, know what you have. To get really organized and prep for future stash projects, you can write down what you have. That’s where the free stash organizer from @woolwala comes in handy (check her link in bio to download yours for FREE). An old fashion notebook works, too! Or, instead of writing, simply pulling out your stash and sorting it is all you need.
Once you’re ready, it’s time to dive into those bins and baskets. Sort your yarn by color, weight, or fiber type. Whatever makes the most sense to you!
Plan Projects Around Your Stash
When you have your stash all organized and you know what you’re working with, it’s time to plan. The goal here is to come up with at least a few projects that you can assign some yarn from your stash to. Or, if you want to go all out, assign it all! I recommend grabbing the Knitwear Capsule Wardrobe Blueprint to help you plan. It’s a very handy Canva template that let’s you brainstorm knitting projects that’ll you love and actually wear.
Creating a plan will help you reframe your thinking of your stash. Instead of thinking “what the heck am I going to do with all this random yarn?”, you will start getting excited as you begin envisioning what all that awesome yarn is going to knit up into. And remember, nothing is set in stone. You can always adjust your plan as new inspiration comes to you. However, having some sort of plan in place is a great first step to transforming your stash from a pile of yarn into a closet of well-loved knits.
Now, if you sit down to plan and realize you don’t have enough of the same yarn in your stash for a single project, don’t worry. There are so many creative solutions for using up your yarn! Some ideas include:
Mix and Match Colors
I’m no Picasso, but mixing and matching colors can turn your project from meh to OMG. The The Knit Edit is like the Picasso of yarn. Her patterns give amazing guidance on mixing colors and textures. Add one (or more!) of her patterns to your Knitwear Capsule Wardrobe Blueprint. Or, if you love the color-changing technique but have a different pattern in mind, she has a color-changing technique resource available for purchase! So if you have a bunch of random skeins laying around, mix them together to create a one-of-a-kind garment.
Get Creative with Stripes and Color Blocking
Another fun option for making the most of those smaller quantities of yarn is by incorporating stripes or color blocks into your projects, just like I did with Staple Sock on the left below below. Go back and forth with two or three colors, or get wild and make some fun, chaotic stripes like I did with the Anytime Tank on the right below! For that project, I had a bunch of mini cotton skeins that were sitting in my stash for years. I put them to fun use to create a statement piece that I love the style in the summer.
Want to skip the stripes and try a color block look? Pick a pattern and assign the ribbing one color and the body another. Or make every part of the garment a different color!
A perk of playing with stripes and color blocking is having fun and experimenting with color combinations. The end result is a fun, unique garment! (And one annoying part is having to deal with more yarn ends. But the positives outweigh the negatives, right?)
Embrace Scrap and Mini Skein Projects
My FREE Staple Scrunchie knitting pattern comes with guidance on how to make three different sizes of scrunchies!
And, of course, you can finally put that stash to use by whipping up small projects. Forget the guilt of having yarn bits lying around. Explore projects like the FREE Staple Scrunchie - the perfect stash-busting project! (because who doesn’t need a scrunchie?)
A couple of other quick patterns that don’t need much yarn are my Short Staple Beanie and Tall Staple Beanie knitting patterns. Whip your yarn stash up into a few beanies to mix and match with your outfits during fall and winter! They make super sweet gifts, too.
These patterns not only require little yarn, they also let you use ANY yarn!
What To Do with Unwanted Yarn
Transforming your stash into well-loved knits is rewarding, but what about the yarn you no longer want or need? Here are some creative and thoughtful strategies to give your unwanted yarn a new lease on life.
Doing a Yarn Swap with Friends or a Knitting Group
Organizing a yarn swap is a fantastic way to refresh your stash without spending a penny. It's like a treasure hunt among fellow enthusiasts!
Plan a Meet-up: Arrange a gathering with your crafty friends, local knitting group or online craft community.
Set Guidelines: To keep things fair and enjoyable, establish some basic rules, such as yarn condition standards or how to handle uneven trades.
Themed Swaps: For added fun, you could organize themed swaps, focusing on specific types of yarn, like wool-only or a color-specific swap.
Socialize and Share: Swaps are not just about trading yarn. They are also great for sharing patterns, tips, and bonding over shared interests!
Donate Yarn
Donating yarn is a heartwarming way to support others and give your yarn a meaningful purpose.
Charities and Non-Profits: Look for organizations that accept yarn donations for their crafting projects. These could include groups that make items for hospitals, shelters, or community centers. If there is a creative reuse store (basically a thrift store for art supplies) in your area, you could also donate the yarn to them! Thrift stores like Goodwill also accept yarn donations.
Schools and Libraries: Local schools or libraries might appreciate yarn donations for their art and craft programs, especially those with knitting or crochet clubs.
Senior Centers: Many senior centers have knitting and crochet groups that would be grateful for yarn donations.
Bonus Tips for Managing Unwanted Yarn
Making gifts: If you’re not inclined to use your yarn for something because you don’t think you’d wear it, what about a friend or family member? Would the color or texture bring them joy? Consider making a special gift for them!
Crafting for good: Consider using the yarn to make items for charity auctions, fundraisers, or as donations. Hats4Healing is a great non-profit charity that donates hats to pediatric cancer patients.
Repurposing: If the yarn is not suitable for knitting or crocheting, it could be used for other crafts like weaving, macramé, or even school projects.
Working with your existing yarn stash is not only a savvy move to save some bucks and use what we already own, but also something that could spark your creative exploration. Embrace the chaos, dive into your stash, and let the yarn take the lead. Share your stash-busting project ideas down the comment section below! Your ideas could inspire the next knitter who stumbles onto this page :)