Attack My Stash 2020: October Update

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What a month October has been! We welcomed Georgia Grace Miller into our lives this month, which honestly derailed my crochet plans. Other than that, I participated in a pattern test and saw my own testers work hard at perfecting the Sweet Pea Wrap Top pattern. Even though I did not meet my short-term goal of using up one skein of yarn a day, I am still really happy with how much of my stash I did go through, considering one major life change that happened this month. It has taken me a little bit to get back into the swing of things and start establishing a new normal as a mother. In general, I think my expectations for my little business will change as I adjust to having a baby. I am excited to see what this blog and Crowchet Creations will look like in the future!

There are still two months left in 2020 for me to work through my yarn stash. At the beginning of the year, I set a goal to use up 75% of my yarn to help save money, declutter craft supplies, and become more intentional in my craft. You can read my previous monthly updates in my efforts to “attack my stash” here and learn more about this year-long goal here. I hope my journey to become more minimalist in my craft will inspire you to use what you have and find more joy in making.

My Budget

This month, I did not spend any money on yarn! I used to think spending no money on yarn would be the exception to my yarn-buying habits, rather than the rule. However, I have found that I am not as easily entranced by the promise of new yarn as I used to be. I definitely have developed a more minimal mindset to accumulating craft supplies as a result of my budgeting and decluttering this year. I hope that I can continue to limit my spending on yarn at the craft store so that I can save up for high quality, hand-dyed yarn from small businesses instead.

My Yarn Stash

This month got really busy with the birth of our first child (who would have thought?) so I fell a little short on my short-term goal of using up 31 skeins of yarn during the month of October. My full-time job also got really busy as we were short-staffed, so I ended up picking up a shift or two this month as well before I went on maternity leave. In the end, I used up 21 skeins of yarn this month, which I am really happy about. I felt like time was running away from me this month, between working full-time, final prep for the baby, and our actual delivery and hospitalization after birth. My total number of yarn skeins is currently 365 as a result of my destashing in October. So even if I used up a skein a day, it would now take me an entire year to work through all of my yarn! While sometimes I can knock out a skein or two in a day, it usually takes me longer than that to use up a ball of yarn. I already knew pretty early on in the year that I would not be able to use up 75% of my yarn this year, but I hope to continue making good progress at making meaningful projects with the yarn I have. I think I will continue this goal of attacking my stash into next year as well until I have decluttered down to a more reasonable amount of yarn.

Things I’ve Learned

This isn’t really yarn related, but this month the biggest thing I learned is that babies take up a LOT of time. You would think that in between feedings I would have a good hour or two to get stuff done- nope! Feedings are irregular, diapers need changing, the baby needs snuggling, and your hands get full. I’m sure all moms already know this, but it was new for me as I experienced this for the first time. Add on top of that the lack of sleep as I wake up multiple times in the night for the baby and that I am physically recovering from labor and delivery, and I have less energy and move more slowly than I used to. Overall, with a little one in our house, my crochet habits will change as I have different demands on my time. As a result, I need to update my expectations and goals for crochet and my business.

I also learned that an essential part of Attack My Stash 2020 includes decluttering the mental clutter associated with my yarn. I have a lot of anxiety built up in my piles of unfinished crochet projects. While I can use up more yarn by just picking up a skein and making something with it, I am finding that it is more mentally beneficial to me if I use up yarn in order to finish a project I already started. Over the past month or so, I have started quite a few projects as a result of my creativity blossoming. Having these projects left out and unfinished affects the environment of my home and makes my space feel a lot more cluttered. My ideas are also wrapped up in these items, and my mind cannot relax from this inspiration until those projects are done.

Things to Change

I need to prioritize finishing projects that I have already started. As I mentioned above, this will reduce the number of skeins in my yarn stash but more importantly, I think it will reduce the mental clutter I have related to my yarn. I need to finish the Pineapple & Pine’s Falling for Textures CAL afghan that I started in September- I am so close! I just need to block the squares and attach them together. I also have three different designs that I have started but I need to finish crocheting. So I have a lot of WIPs to work on next month.

I also want to make sure that this next month, as my husband goes back to work and I am left home alone with the baby, that I take some time each day to crochet and do other things for my self care. In my bullet journal, I included a monthly habit for November to crochet, and I will try to at least do a little most days. I have no idea how many skeins of yarn I will be able to use this month, but since right now our entire family is adjusting I am okay with being more lenient in my goal to attack my yarn stash.

We have so much to be grateful for this month! I am excited to see what the next month brings as far as completed projects and progress at decluttering my yarn. You can stay up to date with my progress in this year-long goal by following me at Instagram @crowchetcreations or through the hashtags #crowchetcreations or #attackmystash2020. Definitely share with me on social media or below how you have worked through your yarn stash!

XO, Emily