I think it goes without saying that March took an unexpected and drastic turn for the worst. With the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly spreading to almost every country in the world, our lives have been turned upside down. My goal to use up 75% of my yarn stash this year hasn’t changed, but the world in which I shop yarn and sell crochet is different than I projected this year. I originally was planning on participating in my first Spring craft fair, but that will most certainly not happen in 2020. My reasons for decreasing my yarn stash, from decluttering and creating more space in our small home to becoming more minimalistic and content with what I have are still there. However, in an emotional time with constant news updates and changing health recommendations for citizens and healthcare workers, crochet has become more of a solace than a means for additional income. You can read about my original goal to #attackmystash2020 here and about last month’s reflection on my progress here. I post a reflection blog post every month with details about what went well for me, what was a challenge, and how I plan to work even harder towards accomplishing my destashing goal. Who knows how April will go? Make sure to subscribe to my blog to be notified when I post that update.
My Budget
The past few months I had barely gone over budget with my yarn purchases, so I was determined to work within my small budget for March. Considering that I started a new job in a hospital as a bedside nurse and been asked to shelter-in-place to slow the spread of the novel Coronavirus, you probably guessed that I stayed within budget this month. And I did! I only bought one skein of yarn that I used to finish up a massive pattern test requiring super bulky yarn. I had an internal debate between my thrifty self and my minimalist self over whether it was better to buy more yarn for less money from Walmart or to buy a smaller skein for a higher price at a craft store. I could either save money but be left with excess yarn to further clutter my stash, or spend more money on the yarn I actually needed. I decided to save my moolah and buy a larger skein, knowing that I would eventually use it up since Lion Brand Yarn Wool-ease Thick & Quick is my favorite super bulky yarn. And I wasn’t wrong! I used up more than I thought I would for the pattern test, so it was a smart purchase to just buy more yarn. I think what matters most about purchasing yarn is being intentional with how we plan to use it, rather than just buying yarn because we like it. I have avoided buying other yarn this month because as a healthcare worker, I know how essential it is that we stay home and slow the spread of COVID-19 to protect our citizens and our healthcare system. It did not feel right for me to go to the craft store, even though not a lot of people are there, because all of us should try to be home unless it is necessary to leave. Food and medical care is necessary. Businesses deemed essential are (mostly) necessary. Yarn and craft supplies are not necessary.
My Yarn Stash
Since I have avoided shopping for yarn, I have been left with just my stash as a resource for my craft. I have plenty to work from, but with the hope of making products for Spring/Summer dwindling, I have had to think a lot about what I want to crochet. I definitely have a lot more to brainstorm concerning what to make with my yarn stash, but this month was a really successful step in the right direction to meet my goal. I used 14 skeins of yarn this month, bringing my current total number of skeins down to 492. My ultimate goal is to have approximately 127 skeins left over at the end of this year, and with a net usage of 13 skeins of yarn I am finally in the 400s. Overall, the yarn I crocheted this month was pretty evenly spread between LBY Wool-ease Thick & Quick, acrylic worsted weight yarns, and cotton worsted weight yarns. I worked on a lot more skeins than I finished, so I hope to finish off some of those balls that are still lingering from finished projects this month. With everything going on this month with starting a new job and a stressful global pandemic, I am really happy that I used up as many skeins as I did. My short-term goal for March was to use up 32 skeins of yarn to get me on track to finish 75% of my yarn stash by the end of the year, but that is something I am still working towards for April.
Things I Have Learned
The greatest thing I learned this month was that sometimes, I crochet to relax and relieve some stress, while sometimes I take a break from crochet to relax and relieve some stress. We live in a crazy world, and I need to constantly check in with myself and what I need. If I need to work on a crochet project to feel better, I can do that happily. If I need to just snuggle with my husband and be still to feel more peace, I can do that too. Without craft fairs for the foreseeable future dictating my stock, I have a lot more freedom to crochet what I want, when I want. I had gotten so used to crocheting with every minute of free time that lately it has not always been what my soul needed to heal from the unprecedented stress of the current situation of the world.
I also learned that I need to get more creative with the projects I make right now to keep my interest. It’s getting too warm for sweaters, hats, and scarves, and here in Texas it will definitely stay too warm for a while to crochet bulky, cold weather gear. I’m not selling a lot of products right now due to craft fair cancellations, so I can’t really make 30 dishcloths for my home. I need to not only find new and interesting projects to make with the yarn I have, but also probably find people to whom I can gift items. I think this will bring me greater purpose in my crochet at this time when it is hard to imagine a tangible item that I need right now when all I want is for my family and I to stay safe and healthy.
Finally, I realized that I need to learn a lot of new skills to help me use up my stash. I have some really nice local yarn that I have been saving for sock-making, and yet I don’t know how to knit socks. I have some beautiful fair isle-style yarn that would be great in a sweater, but actually I don’t really know how to knit at all. So maybe by “new skills” I mean that I need to learn how to knit more than a square and really grow my yarn talents. There are advantages to knitting a piece over crocheting, especially when it comes to items you don’t want too thick (like socks and sweaters, imagine that). I need to just do it!
Things to Change
Again, I am going to set myself a short-term goal to use up 32 skeins of yarn during the month of April. This time, I am going to be more diligent about working towards this goal daily. I wrote down this goal on a sticky note that will sit on my desk so I can be reminded every day of this goal. I am going to make a more concerted effort to use up the mostly-used skeins I have worked on recently so that I can finish the job I started.
Also, I am going to spend more time beefing up my Etsy shop so that I can potentially sell more finished products online (with in person sales screeching to a halt with the crisis). I have a lot of Spring/Summer stock already built up as well as some timeless pieces like earrings, stuffed animals, and wall hangings. Make sure to check out my Etsy shop, CrowchetCreations and favorite it so you can get updates on new listings! As I get more product out of my house, I am also decluttering our spare bedroom and preparing room for me to use up more of my yarn stash.
Finally, I am going to set my sights on learning new yarn skills, such as knitting, so that I can use more of the beautiful yarn that I already have. Wish me luck as I embark on this journey! With all my experience crocheting and a grandmother who is a pro knitter, I should catch on with some effort on my part.
I hope that you are all staying safe and well during this crazy time. I also hope you have found joy in crochet as I have, as well as in other things too. Let me know down below how your efforts to attack your stash have gone recently, or you can share on my Instagram @crowchetcreations or through the hashtags #crowchetcreations and #attackmystash2020. Please remember: Community over Competition at this time and love those near you.
XO, Emily
