After a couple stale months where it took all my power just to break even, I was able to decrease my total yarn stash in July! It was a productive and eventful month, with lots of finished objects, including some pattern designs and personal projects as well as some pattern tests! I feel like my creative momentum is building right now and I am so excited to keep it going.
I had two pattern releases in July, and I am super proud about all the work it took to do so! First, my Endless Summer Scarf, an infinity scarf that doubles as a nursing cover, was released for free on The Hook Nook Blog. The engineering it took to design this piece was a doozy, but I am really happy with how the finished scarf functions in multiple configurations to fit changing needs and styles. The PDF of this pattern will be available for purchase now from my Etsy, Ravelry, website shops. I also released the Sweet Pea Infant Cover Up so now you can have a little Mommy and Me moment by making both the adult and infant versions! I had so much fun making one for my daughter to wear on our beach trip out of the yarn leftover from my own cover up. Since there was interest in a smaller version, I worked to get a pattern out into the world for the little ones. You can find both the adult and infant versions in my Etsy, Ravelry, LoveCrafts (adult and infant), and website shops.
I also participated in Sock Week 2021, hosted by @knittynatty of Love in Stitches, and finished my second pair of socks this month (as well as a coordinating baby pair for my daughter). I learned a lot of new techniques for these cuff down socks and I am really happy with them! It felt so good to finish off those beautiful hand dyed skeins of yarn.
I worked on finalizing a new pattern, the Just Peachy Pinafore, which was inspired by my daughter, Georgia, and some beautiful DK cotton yarn I purchased from LeRoo Cotton called Georgia Peach and Sunny Days. So keep an eye out for that pattern, coming soon!
What a month! All that crocheting and knitting definitely used up some yarn, though I did buy a few new skeins too. Now that I am settled in at our apartment in California, I was able to get a lot done in my efforts to #AttackMyStash2021. It feels really good to make some progress on that goal that I originally set in 2020 (you can read about it here) and have continued into this year (read that updated resolution here). The past 18+ months have been filled with efforts to be more mindful and less wasteful when it comes to my yarn buying and using habits. You can follow along on my journey, which I update once a month, through the Attacking My Stash tab up above. You can also subscribe to my blog to be notified when I post a new update, whether as part of #AttackMyStash2021, a free pattern, or something else new and exciting. I also post regularly about this goal on my Instagram @crowchetcreations. You can join in through tagging me or using the hashtags #AttackMyStash2021 or #crowchetcreations!
My Budget
This year, I have been more willing to purchase yarn, especially if it is from a small business or local yarn shop. I made a trip at the beginning of the month to Fillory Yarn, a local yarn store to me in San Jose, California. I only intended to buy a single skein of yarn and I came out with four skeins. When I compare that to the single skein of pink acrylic yarn I bought from a big box craft store, I feel like I did a pretty good job with investing my yarn money in small businesses. I am fortunate that I can afford to spend money on hand dyed yarn. From the LYS (local yarn store), I bought a single DK weight skein for a contrast color I needed for a knit sweater pattern test. I also purchased a few fingering weight hanks for making socks because I’m obsessed with knitting socks right now. It took a lot of self restraint to not spend more money on nice yarn, but since my family is coming to town in August and I expect to spend a ton of money on yarn with my mom, I refrained from buying more yarn.
My Yarn Stash
As I mentioned above, I purchased five skeins of yarn last month. But for the first time since APRIL, I have decreased my yarn stash (hold the applause). I used up 17 skeins of yarn in July, which makes my net usage of yarn 12 total skeins. That is a big difference from using barely the same amount of yarn as I purchased, which has been the case the last few months. So I am proud that I am back on track with my goals!
Like I mentioned above, I finished a pair of cuff down knit socks, using the Ewe2Yarn that I purchased in Texas before our move. I also used the last little bit of that yarn to make Georgia a pair of toe up socks.
Most of the yarn I used up in July was DK weight cotton that I used for a pattern test. I tested the Serendipity Bows pattern set by Woodland Stitchcraft and was able to use a ton of mini skeins!
I also designed a new pattern, the Just Peachy Pinafore, that is currently in testing and set to be released in September. I still have more of that yarn, so I may try to design a “Just Peachy” item for a mama to match their little one so I can use that yarn up.
I am really happy with how much yarn I used in July, and especially happy that I have a lot to show for it!
Things I Learned
This month, I learned that my willpower to resist hand dyed yarn is much lower than yarn at the big box craft store. I can’t just browse at a local yarn store or else I get sucked in! The yarn dyed by small business and indie dyers is so beautiful, unique, and special. And when I appreciate the effort put into that yarn by individuals, I have a hard time justifying NOT buying what catches my eye. At least I have the self-control to not buy everything I think is pretty.
I realized, as I spent a lot more time knitting than crocheting in July, that knitting uses up much less yarn. And since I am a fairly new knitter, I am slower than when I crochet. While I will continue to knit and expand my skills, I want to make more time for crochet so that I can actually use up my yarn! I am still loving knit socks, and I also have a knit sweater pattern test to work on, so I will be doing a combination of both crafts throughout August.
This month I found that when I volunteer to pattern test, I tend to use up more yarn than when I am focusing on just making my own designs. Designing my own patterns takes a lot of math and brainpower (and a healthy amount of frogging), but crocheting for myself or just following a pattern means I can craft more mindlessly. I participated in two pattern tests in July, and used a lot more yarn than in previous months. I don’t want to overload myself with too many pattern tests, especially when I have a lot of patterns in my queue and designs in my head. But I enjoy pattern testing and want to make some more selfish makes that require less brainpower soon. So hopefully I will continue to use up yarn doing so!
Things to Change
I mentioned above that crochet takes less time and uses up more yarn than knitting does. I want to make more time for crochet, especially making donation items! I am working on a scarf right now to donate to the Elder Orphanage Christmas in July event (hosted by @lizs_indiana_attic) but I have a lot more that I want to make before the items need to be shipped out at the end of August. That is a great reason for me to crochet, and will hopefully use up some of the skeins I’m not quite sure what else to do with.
I also hope to frontload this month by using up a lot of skeins early on in August. My family is coming to visit at the end of the month, and I know that my mother and I will be spending some time visiting local yarn stores together and spending some money. The more yarn I use up earlier in the month, the better I will feel about buying new yarn that excites me!
Since I now live in sunny California, I didn’t realize that fall is so close! Makers are crocheting pumpkins and getting ready for fall markets, and designers are coming out with autumnal designs. I need to get a move on a couple designs that will be perfect for the changing seasons, even if I won’t be able to wear them too much over here (just inside my cozy, air-conditioned apartment). There are exciting things coming!
Thanks for tuning in to this update about my successful progress towards using up my yarn stash in efforts to build more minimalist and intentional habits in my craft! I am hoping I can continue whittling down my yarn over the next few months. Check back next month for another update! As a reminder, you can read all my past updates at the Attacking My Stash tab up above. Definitely share with me down below or on Instagram how you are working through your yarn stash by tagging me @crowchetcreations or using the hashtags #crowchetcreations and #attackmystash2021. Happy making!
XO, Emily
