Wednesday 30 March 2011

Tidy mind, tidy stitches (2KCBWDAY3)


So..... organisation eh?

hmmmmm


I am an ex teacher, possibly soon to be, a teacher (long story, don't ask). I am organised. VERY. I think in colour and folders so when it comes to photographing and blogging about my world, no problem. I have file names, temporary places for wanna be posts and Ravelry projects.

My stash however is not so organised. it began with high hopes, hopes that have rapdily become buried under jewel tones and dark and gothling. It started off in two boxes, from Ikea; a bit like a double shoe box if you like. I had needles in one, patterns etc. Stash in other. Then I bought more yarn... and needles. I moved out of boxes and got a third box. This became 4..... things were getting hectic under the bed.

Then I broke up with my ex and realised I was going to have to move said stash. Not good. I started a stashdown and to redistributed things: yarns were organised by weights, things were destashed and I kept out yarns I'd be knitting with. Order was restored and I was feeling good- yes after a break up, it was THAT kind of break up. I hit a knitting funk and realised that this was an ambitious box of yarn I'd kept out of storage (yes, the others went to storage, it was hideous, let's try not to dwell on it).

With great joy I found digs in London and moved the stash out into plain view, all laid on top of the massive wardrobe, still in boxes but there to remind me not to go to wild again. It felt manageable and bar a fear of moths, I felt comfortable. Comfortable enough to have a yarn slip and buy more. Ahem. It was ok though, I knit my Christmas gifts from my stash, I was virtually a saint.

My stash now? Well. I moved again. At first it all seems rather perfect. See this? It's my space. I share it with the man beast but as you can see I have yarn, books, laptop and such all in one place. I can tuck myself in here and pretend I'm my very own knitwear designer. I even have pretty needles on display.
Closer inspection reveals it's not ALL THERE. See that under the desk? That wee cabinet? More yarn. Mooch into the bedroom to get a tshirt and tucked into my wardrobe? More yarn.

So my mission for 2011 has been to stash down. It's not hideous. I am aware there's a lot more terrifying stashes out there but I love my yarn and I want to knit it. Unknit yarn is pretty but it's unfulfilled. I will do my best and review the year in December. If only I wasn't doing that US trip in September... I feel my will power is only so strong!
lest we forget

To see others posts and enjoy the joy that is blog week type 2kcbwday3 into google for today's posts. You won't regret it- I've loved reading everyone's posts (and comments, oh yes, the comments are wonderful!)

14 comments:

Alittlebitsheepish said...

I have big plans to go to America one day with an empty suitcase and most likely bring back my entire body weight in yarn.

Chrissy said...

I think you are fully entitled to go mad in the US in September, you are being good all year round aren't you? I've decided next time my OH goes there on business I'm going to find a yarn store near his hotel and ring through an order for him to pick up. It's the only way for me to get lovely US yarns.

Alexandra said...

My stash started out small too, but it just kept growing - it's hard for me to resist when I see pretty yarn!

You have plenty of time until September to knit from the stash and then you could get a few things on your trip!

Anonymous said...

Pretty but unfulfilled! What a neat way of putting it. Sadly I have far too much of that around. It's all so very, verrry beautiful, but... far too much. (Thanks in large part to the past year or so. Mad stashing as I realised I wasn't *always* going to have my very own yarn shop to pull from, and of course lack of actual knitting time... )

Leah said...

I love seeing the yarn nestled in amongst the books! Looks like it fits :)

Unknown said...

It's funny, my notions and needles are organized but my stash is just stuffed into two Lantern Moon baskets. I'm both organized and not.

Anonymous said...

I love the last picture it looks so artsy and creative XD.I'm glad your stash is getting under control XD

Anonymous said...

I'm actually very frightened to look at my bank account right now and let it add up the yarn purchases for me over the past several months to see accurately how much damage I've done. I don't want to know. Enjoy your beautiful stash! Don't we all deserve that out of life? I think so.

Ness said...

What an impressive stash! And it all looks so tidy (if wide-spread)! :)

Gracey is not my name.... said...

I like your setup....all my stuff is on one room, too (mostly) but not such a pretty setup! Where are coming in the US?

Anonymous said...

Yes, there are MUCH worse stashes out there so I don't think yours is bad at all. I'm trying to stash down, too. It's very hard.

rachel said...

Moving is one of those terrible ways to disrupt stash. I can relate, completely.

The Knitting Way said...

I agree - yarn is mostly better than men! We can survive a bad break-up; but a bad parting with our yarn (moths? I shudder!)

pip said...

I love your laptop/office/yarn space... very organised!! Are you on the way back into teaching or on the way out?