Thursday, July 17, 2008

To Stash, or not to Stash, That is the Question!

Thanks so much for your supportive comments re my auxiliary ‘Yarn collection’, Based on that experience, I had to lie down with a Bex and a nice cup of tea (or as someone suggested, breathing deeply with my head between my knees)!

I was then inspired to investigate the two other – umm – ‘yarn marshalling areas’ - to see what was happening there, and the results have made me hesitant to post for some time – but here we go!

Linen Cupboard (Primary yarn area)

I have 24 jumpers worth,
plus a lace stash,
4 duvet bags (those clear square plastic bags which zip open that you get when you buy doonas or blankets) – 1 is manufactured sock yarn (Patonyle, Arwetta, Opal, Heirloom, etc etc, some handpaints and baby wool- generally a four ply collection). Some of this has overflowed to fill a 25 litre tub in the auxiliary stash. 1 is Bulky yarn; 1 is assorted 8 ply and one is luxe yarn – silks, alpaca, yumminess for special projects.
There are also 2 large plastic tubs – 1 x 55litres and 1x35 litres holding the jumper stuff,
several bags of cotton,
2 large bags of worsted weight skeins for felting projects,
3 shopping bags of novelty yarn and some other bits and pieces.
All this covers around 2 cubic metres!


Downstairs (Ancilliary yarn area, primarily devoted to sock yarn)

Here’s where I really had to put my head between my knees.
8 jumpers worth ready to go. – In project bags with patterns – all set to cast on!
98 pairs of socks worth of artisanal yarn. There’s a lot more than 98 skeins – because much of the yarn comes as 2 skeins for a pair of socks. Of course, some is effectively 2 pairs of socks per skein (Wollmeise etc) around 30 pairs worth is forming it’s own sock club – bagged up with an appropriate pattern – one which ‘spoke’ to me and I have matched up – some is real sock club – from either Red Bird or the Rockin’ Sock Club.
Some felting stuff, some cotton, some bits and piece.
My extensive downloaded pattern collection, books, magazines, pattern books and journals.


If I knit 10 jumpers a year, 10 pairs of socks a year and assorted single skein projects I have enough yarn for 9 years of jumpers, and around 15 years of socks.

Given that I am 46, is this going to be enough? Will this see me through to retirement?

I don’t think so. So now, I’m worried. I need to get some more plastic bins and get serious about acquiring a stash. I need to really start acquiring some yarn – because there are a lot of knitting years ahead of me and I’m not sure I have a large enough yarn collection to last me till I’m 80 or so.

So over the next 10 years, I’ll be talking to stash advisers, investing in yarn, sheep and alpacas. I’ll reclaim my mother’s spinning wheel and talk to Mandie about fibre. This stuff is my superannuation – and I need to get busy!

15 comments:

Rose Red said...

Do you actually knit 10 jumpers a year, 10 pairs of socks etc? If so, please can you tell me your secrets!! I'd love to do 10 jumpers a year!!

As I've found by counting my monthly ins and outs (yarn wise), I've been buying more yarn than I'm using anyway, so if you are the same as me, then, really, you've got enough yarn to last you for 9 years after you will no longer be able to use it!!!

(but a little bit more never hurts!)

2paw said...

Well, a girl needs a hobby and yours is very excellent. I am sure there isn't as much fun in a gemstone, or a commensrate amount of cigarettes!!! Embrace your stash I say!!! And well done!!

TinkingBell said...

Well so far this year I 've managed an item of clothing a month - 2 jumpers, 3 cardigans, 1 top (need to get Wicked finished to make this months tally)
I've also made 5 pairs and 3 half pairs of socks and some other incidental stuff (scarves, wristwarmers, hats, other stuff) So I'm sort of on track - but me secret? I have no life!!

The best part of my day is sitting down after getting kidlets to bed and knitting stuff!

Nora said...

Oh gosh!!! I don't know what to say... ENJOY!

Nora

Bells said...

You know, we are all here to help you with this investment portfolio you're setting up. We're all just a few clicks away, with advice, suggestions and inspiration!

Go Tinkingbell!

gemma said...

Feeling slightly jealous. Sounds like lots of fun at your place.

My M.i.L. is working her way through her crochet cotton stash, which she bought while working for that sad day when she retired and could no longer afford to lash out. It's a good plan, and I intend to embrace it too.

JustJess said...

I am superbly jealous of this treasure trove. I must say that my stash is pathetic and barely fills one plastic container... I think I need more yarn! You are an inspiration!

Michelle said...

Now see, that's the spirit!

Five Ferns Fibreholic said...

Hmm I really need to kick it into high gear for my retirement plan. My RRSPs may just not be enough to see me through. It's ALWAYS wise to plan ahead.

knightlyknitter.wordpress.com said...

ROFL!!! Stash Investment Plan - I like your style!!!

Kate (Kiss My Frog) said...

You are my hero! I have never in my life seen anyone with such mad justification skillz!

MadMad said...

Hahahahaha! You are definitely not ready to retire! What a great way of looking at it! And I think I'm going to adopt this mentality, because I have started getting all gaspy when I go visit my stash. At one point I even made myself make a pair of mittens for the Afghans group. But do you know how little yarn mittens take up? So I'm just adopting the Tinkingbell Retirement Plan instead. Wanna go shopping?

Donna Lee said...

Thank you for the justification for purchasing more yarn when I have enough to keep me busy for a long while! I'll tell my husband, "dear, it's for my retirement so I stay out of your hair and your shop".

Lynne said...

Is that SABLE? [Stash Accumulated Beyond Life Expectancy]

10 jumpers a year plus 10 pairs of socks? Are you planning any sleep in your future?

Amy Lane said...

hee hee hee hee... I still don't have the guts too look at that too closely... if I knit from stash for a year--I may empty a bin or two, but I don't know if I'll touch the heart of the stash!