Are You A Yarn Collector?

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

JulieB — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:02:04 GMT

I am a fairly new knitter, since October 2008, so you would think that I don't have too much of a yarn stash problem. HAH! I discovered a lovely yarn shop with equally lovely yarns I never even knew existed and I fell in love....with ALL of it! Yarn has such life waiting to be born out of it, and I love to look and touch, especially to rub the skein or hank on my cheek. SO, I have quite a stash of many skeins of yarn for stylish knit and crochet cardigans (I have crocheted most of my life, but never a sweater!) filling the dresser and nightstand drawers that were used by my two adult children, whose bedrooms have been turned into guest bedrooms. Heaven forbid anyone would need to put clothes in those drawers! I am a sixth grade teacher (in my 28th year) and knitting and crocheting are DEFINITELY my stress-relievers! I'm busy with baby sweaters right now because the teachers at school keep having babies. I set a precedent 2 years ago by crocheting sweaters for 2 teachers, and now all the new moms want one! At least they managed to space out their due dates reasonably for me! Anyways, I love yarn, crocheting, and knitting...I'm "hooked" and "needled", and have the stash to keep me busy for many years to come. Oh, yes...I will continue to buy those yarn pretties that just HAVE to come home with me!

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

carmel71 — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:07:41 GMT

As I was reading, I realized I had to add some things to my comment. Every time I look at my stash, I start a new project. Currently, I have four on needles almost done. I make time for working on each one while curled up on the couch with my little doggie and hubby in front of the TV. Last month, I made so many things, they haven't even been used yet. Dog sweaters, dishcloths, hoodies(my favorite), bags upon bags, scarves, hats, mittens, and of course, socks.

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

carmel71 — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:48:24 GMT

OMG You guys!!! I have been crocheting since before I could read, learned to knit shortly after. Can you imagine my yarn stash? My patterns and books are outrageous too. Years ago, I started to design my own patterns, so, binders of my stuff are everywhere. I always buy when I see a new color, or fiber. If I buy for a specific project, I buy extra. I love to look at my yarn all the time. So, when my grown sons were in high school, they built me a "bookshelf" with cubbies to store and view my yarn. It has grown beyond that, even after I donated some to children I have taught. To me, its not collecting yarn, its adopting and giving it all a home!! I live, eat, sleep, drink and love YARN!! Anyone who hasn't caught the bug, doesn't know what they are missing. I have gained about 60 pounds from sitting at home just "playing" with my yarn. Its sick, I tell you. Now, its time for me to go workout.

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

ritarazzle — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:32:54 GMT

I had plastic grocery bags, drawers and baskets full. 30+ years worth. I put them all together in a 17 G. container just 3 days ago. I needed another one so I went out and bought two! I went to Michaels (because they had a sale) and ordered 4 skeins on line later that day. Why? Because I had more room! When my guy asked me why I am still buying more yarn I simply said “I don't have that color!” I crochet mostly scarfs, doilies and afghans

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

Helen1969 — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:45:35 GMT

I'm a self confessed yarn collector always have been. I come from a long line of yarn collectors. Although I think I've broken the record as currently I have 400 kgs of yarn and fleece in various stages. (blush) Yet still if you put me near any yarn or fleece and I'll drool over it and have to bring some home - I don't know why yarn brings this out in me almost like the love one would have for a husband. Ha ha ha maybe that is why i'm single as my heart belongs to my yarn. (lucky thought as I think a husband wouldn't tollerate my addiction). Glad I'm not the only one.

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

Irene@4 — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:43:33 GMT

OMG! Am I a yarn collector? How could I not be! today went shopping and got wool yarn 50% off. Now how could you not buy that! I am starting to collect totes to put my yarn in. The problem is in my head I have knitted everything in site. Oh and what about the books! I can't seem to keep my hands off them. Pretty soon I think I may have to sneak into the house with them before my husband sends me to a looney doctor. But hey! I'm getting pretty good now, I'm only down to 2 projects...so proud of myself....lolol

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

MonicaB — Thu, 08 May 2008 03:32:49 GMT

SABLE-Stash Acquistion Beyond Lifetime Expectancy; that's how I've heard it described. Limited storage in my small apartment keeps my stash somewhat limited. I do buy with projects in mind--great at starting, horrible about finishing; but I also buy single skeins because they look good or feel good. I also tat & have quite a stash of thread for that (Majestic 80 count thread is so very soft & lovely). Patterns are also hard to pass up. When I retire I'll start/finish all the knitting, tatting, sewing projects and read all the books I've collected (yeah, right...)

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

JeanH — Sun, 04 May 2008 09:26:23 GMT

I once owned a yarn store, and when the time came(due to health reasons)to liquidate my yarn,it was almost like I was expected to give away 'my children', it was so hard to do. I kept some of almost everything! Some that I kept was enough to complete the type of project I had in mind for it - however, a lot of it was the last few (2 or 3)balls of a certain kind or colour that the buyer didn't really want and I couldn't just give or toss away, because 'it may come in handy, some day'! Consequently, I have boxes of yarn, but when I see something new that I like, or have a good idea for - then it's more yarn, some knit or crocheted with, the rest in more boxes, because 'my eyes are bigger than the hours I have to use it all'!

One concellation, when I had a yarn store, I found out I was not the only one, but that it seemed to be a trait of those who knit and crochet.

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

Laura@2 — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:09:43 GMT

One of Michelangelo's famous quotes is "I hope that I may always aspire to do more than I can ever accomplish" Michelangelo. I hope this too, but I hope that I never run out of money to add more yarn to my stash; since, obviously, more yarn is always going to be perfected and invented! And, it is also for that reason that some of the things I have not yet given away (although those are many) are not yet finished!!! -- so that I may try out new patterns as they come along!

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

JulieM@2 — Thu, 01 May 2008 21:25:00 GMT

oh god! Both yarn AND patterns. I tell myself that I'm being careful with my money by just buying one of each skein, that I'll go home and swatch and THEN decide if and what to knit. And that I can order the 14 skeins for that cable sweater online cheaper. But now I have all of these single skeins .... And I blame the Interweave online store for my collection of downloaded patterns -- "but it's just $4.50." There aren't TOO many "what was I thinking?!" mistakes, but it's obvious to everyone but me that I'll never get to all of the projects.

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

KarenP@6 — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:29:37 GMT

LOVE ALL THE COMMENTS ON YARN COLLECTORS---I DO EVERYTHING BUT SMELL IT!!

K PAGE-DENVER

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

Marleesi — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:59:50 GMT

Hmm... It?s so nice to know that women everywhere share this collecting-material-for-everything- feature. I think it may have started in the beginning of times, when women had to take care of their family with whatever they could gather from the surroundings of their living places.
I have bought one skeins thet are so gorgeous that I just could not walk out without them, and also kilos of yarn that was not mae any more, so I was afraid that I would never get it if I didn?t get right then... and everything else in between. In result I have yarn older than my marriage (33 years) and same goes for sewing materials. So, I have a room for my hobbies, but it?s so full of materials that I really don?t have room to actually make anything. Luckily I also have a daughter, who knits and makes her own clothes, so I?m getting rid of something sometimes.
I always think that when I retire from my work, I?ll move to the country and start knitting in earnest!
Marja-Leena

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

Robing34 — Thu, 01 May 2008 00:57:07 GMT

I'm just like Sandi - one skein of simply gorgeous yarns because I had to. So I generally look for patterns that involve lots of colors. I've got a relatively old Vogue knitting pattern for a circular shrug that I should be making up one of these days, but instead went out and bought enough yarn for a diagonally-knit top from The Ultimate T-Shirt (or some title like that, Barry Klein is one of the co-authors.

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

NancyG — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:52:58 GMT

I usually make scarves to gift to family and friends so I usually buy two skeins of a fun fur, or other novelty yarn. I pair two strands of the fun stuff with a base yarn and knit up a simple scarf. Each and every one looks completly different from another one. But in the process of making sure I have enough of the fun stuff, I found myself buying two skeins of every type I came across. Thank goodness for Big Lots - they sell lots of fun furs and other novelty yarns for a buck or two a skein; also an online yarn site has sales. I have enough skeins to make scarves for a small town by now - LOL. I have a Barrister's bookcase with glass shelves that open 'up' and have my yarns stashed there so I can see them, or take them out and move them around figuring what colors I want to go for the next scarf. Nancy G. in Florida

re: Are You A Yarn Collector?

MargaretC@2 — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:45:10 GMT

Hello Knitters, I am a medical student, mom to a toddler and wife. I don't knit very often as you can imagine, so I, regretfully, don't purchase yarn very often either. :( In fact, right now, I don't even go to the yarn store for fear of buying what I cannot use. In a previous life, I would buy practical yarn while longing to buy beautiful, blissful, gorgeous yarn I doubted I would use. The practical, wool yarn (I live in Wisconsin) was put to use making sweaters that have never been blocked or stitched together. Margaret C.