Clutter Busting #5 - yarn stash and controlling it.

Pretty sky porn picture just because I liked it. 

Abby plays Softball - college softball.

It's her senior year and I am trying to make as many of the games as possible. 

Meaning --- ALL DAY Saturday and Sunday are often spent at the ballfield

Either a road trip or her home field (which is still an hour from home) 

I have crocheted at ball games for years now. 

Nothing new here. 

Except for my approach to it now. 

Gathering supplies adds to the clutter.

I would see pretty yarn.

Buy pretty yarn.

Feel guilty about pretty yarn.

Cuss about storing pretty yarn.

I had it stashed in boxes in the hall. 

Bags tucked all kinds of places. 

I had yarn all over the place.

Crochet hooks too.

Then when I needed to start a project, I would go buy pretty yarn for that project.

here's what's new. 

I have consolidated my yarn stash to a large degree. (yay me)

Mind you - it is still ongoing, I keep finding yarn (see line above about bags everywhere)

And I have a list of projects I NEED to do. 

In an earlier attempt to organize the stuff, I had purchased some clear zipper bags to store the stuff in. 

(Yes, I know - I do need to be better organized, I need less stuff) 

I have this list of projects - I keep it on the corner of my desk at work 

Right now it has 4 crochet projects on it.

I have grabbed 4 of these zipper bags. 

And one Project Bag.

And one plastic Box.

I have the list. I sit down. Drag out all my stashed yarn boxes. And start putting projects into the zipper bags. Mixing and matching yarns from the massive stash. 

After I have compiles yarns that I think work together for a project, I then simply drop a note in my bag. (ie. blanket Renee and Nick (April) ) 

the label is who it belongs to - and when I need to have it finished

I then hang them on the closet rod by punching a hole in a zipper bag and using a simple coat hanger.

I was working on a blanket when I started this. (from the stash)

a yellow - green- and variegated yarn. 

So I finished it.

Folded and in a zipper bag. (this one has no planned owner so I'll have one for a surprise baby if needed) 

Then there was the scarf - a fun project idea that had been brewing for a while.

Also a stash project. 

And I finished it. 

The finishing was a big deal too - See I have bags and boxes of unfinished items cluttering my world too. 

I have found that plastic lidded boxes are better suited for having in the car with a waiting project.

Yarn seems to escape tote bags. 

I have the "next" project yarn and hook (and pattern if needed) in that box. 

So when I finished the scarf at a the first ball game of the day, I folded it, balled the remaining bits of yarn (we will cover that later) and retrieved the next project from the car. 

Loaded it into my project bag (made by my buddy Vallen) and started this one. 

Having this plan, I am able to continue with my normal way of watching softball.

Hook in hand.

Points to make about this 

1. I am using up stash - aka reducing my clutter.

2. I am accomplishing handmade gifts. (very important me) 

3. Being prepared means I don't "run to WalMart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels" to grab some yarn because I am out of something to do.

yes I am guilty of that

4. Making the Zipper bag - with the notes - and hanging them in order means I can take a look and be ahead of the stress of waiting too long to start the handmade gift. 

5. It also gives me the time to buy for a project (if needed). For instance - I buy colors I am drawn to and one of the blankets I need to finish by October is in colors that were in slim supply in my stash. I made the list and dropped it in my wallet. Then when I saw a great yarn on sale I was able to buy just what I needed for this project. Make the zipper bag and get it in the system. 

As of right this moment, I have cleared the following from the stash.

- Six skeins of baby yarn into a blanket

- 5 skeins of lush soft yarn into a scarf that I love.

- 5 skeins of denim blue and some scrap bits are being made into a baby blanket now.

I have in the plastic box (on deck - so to speak) and from the stash.

- 8 skeins of assorted blues, tans, and neutrals (for a sofa throw) 

I have in zipper bags

- 8 skeins of a color called PEACOCK (yes it is stunning) for a baby blanket

- 8 skeins of newly purchased assorted yarn (see note 5 above) for a sofa blanket.

Look at that - that's 32 skeins of yarn GONE from the stash. 

And 8 that will not get added to the stash. 

This is cool.

Results.

ONE CLUTTER STRESSED WOMAN BECOMING LESS STRESSED.