Thanks for these thoughts! I am slowly getting more purposeful in my yarn buying after being a total sucker for anything pleasingly colorful. It’s also rare for me to get to shop in person at yarn stores so it’s hard to resist when I can see it in real life! I have to remember that beautiful, fun yarn can be endless so I will always encounter something wonderful again! And to try and have a concrete project I’m going to make before buying on impulse. It helps to be thinking about sustainability and the environment, and that motivation keeps me on track into less buying. The most sustainable yarn choice is the yarn I already have!
Your Ravelry comments were very interesting to me. I saw it more as a database, to organize my stash, & check out how others have used different colors and yarns on patterns I wanted to try. I never was able to become immersed its built-in community.
Your Don't Buy List is a lovely reminder of what we need or don't need in these times. 2024 was my year of not buying any brand new clothing( except for underwear as I'm not a barbarian) which I've almost successfully completed. 2025 will be definitely be the try not to buy new yarn year, which I've already started by raiding my stash for the climate blanket I'm planning. It will be a mix of fibers and some making do on colour choices but that will add to the visual example of the year I think.
I really enjoyed this post, and needed the reminder of not buying more yarn. I have about 2 years worth of projects on hand and definitely do not need to buy more ( with the caveat that grandchildren projects are the exception. I have 4 grands ages 4yo - 9mo and use quality acrylics for them. They hold up well, and are easy to care for.
Oh thank you. What a lovely read to start my day. Yes I have bought more yarn, have fallen into buying too much, etc. I'm done with my Xmas gifts and am just enjoying December for me. Trying new techniques, playing in little knit alongs, and basically trying to not stress through the season. I suppose it's my way of being good to myself.
Oh, this is so good. I totally agree with all of your points above - especially about the knitting community. Ravelry was so very dominant for a while and actually I am quite pleased to see people doing their own thing and finding their own people.
As much as we hoped we might achieve true social change through the medium of yarn I think it was a very big ask. Knitters are a diverse group of human beings after all. That's not to say that we can't do amazing things, but I think connecting with people on a personal level and being involved with local communities more is definitely the way to go.
I'm not sure it was a big ask, but then again, I hold hope for a really very big ask—a truly inclusive world where we all have what we need. 😉 I'm so glad you enjoyed this piece.
T
I totally hear you on having too much yarn. I’m on a mission to knit entirely from stash at the moment
Thanks for these thoughts! I am slowly getting more purposeful in my yarn buying after being a total sucker for anything pleasingly colorful. It’s also rare for me to get to shop in person at yarn stores so it’s hard to resist when I can see it in real life! I have to remember that beautiful, fun yarn can be endless so I will always encounter something wonderful again! And to try and have a concrete project I’m going to make before buying on impulse. It helps to be thinking about sustainability and the environment, and that motivation keeps me on track into less buying. The most sustainable yarn choice is the yarn I already have!
Your Ravelry comments were very interesting to me. I saw it more as a database, to organize my stash, & check out how others have used different colors and yarns on patterns I wanted to try. I never was able to become immersed its built-in community.
Your Don't Buy List is a lovely reminder of what we need or don't need in these times. 2024 was my year of not buying any brand new clothing( except for underwear as I'm not a barbarian) which I've almost successfully completed. 2025 will be definitely be the try not to buy new yarn year, which I've already started by raiding my stash for the climate blanket I'm planning. It will be a mix of fibers and some making do on colour choices but that will add to the visual example of the year I think.
I really enjoyed this post, and needed the reminder of not buying more yarn. I have about 2 years worth of projects on hand and definitely do not need to buy more ( with the caveat that grandchildren projects are the exception. I have 4 grands ages 4yo - 9mo and use quality acrylics for them. They hold up well, and are easy to care for.
Oh thank you. What a lovely read to start my day. Yes I have bought more yarn, have fallen into buying too much, etc. I'm done with my Xmas gifts and am just enjoying December for me. Trying new techniques, playing in little knit alongs, and basically trying to not stress through the season. I suppose it's my way of being good to myself.
What wonderful food for thought. Thank you.
Oh, this is so good. I totally agree with all of your points above - especially about the knitting community. Ravelry was so very dominant for a while and actually I am quite pleased to see people doing their own thing and finding their own people.
As much as we hoped we might achieve true social change through the medium of yarn I think it was a very big ask. Knitters are a diverse group of human beings after all. That's not to say that we can't do amazing things, but I think connecting with people on a personal level and being involved with local communities more is definitely the way to go.
I'm not sure it was a big ask, but then again, I hold hope for a really very big ask—a truly inclusive world where we all have what we need. 😉 I'm so glad you enjoyed this piece.