Several of my yarn friends (Laura, Kay and perhaps Mary and Carol?) have threatened to go on a "yarn diet." It involves stop buying yarn for anywhere from 9 months-1 year!!! It involves knitting entirely from stash with a few exceptions such as: sock yarn counts/doesn't count (depends on who you ask); yarn on yarn crawl or purchased at retreats/yarn festivals is "legal." Yarn purchased for gifts for others at their request is okay so long as you don't already have a similar type of yarn in your stash? You are allowed to fall off the wagon once a year with a get out of jail free card.
Can I agree to this diet? Well . . . I'm definitely returning to a diet-diet (food related) in January. What would January be without a real diet? It just wouldn't. A food diet sounds almost excciting right now, because I've gained so much holiday weight that I feel positively glutonous. Even a financial diet (that Jim and I have both been focusing on lately) and getting my financial house in order is once again sounding appealing and very much needed. But when I comtemplate a yarn diet for some reason, it makes me feel very antsy and like this wouldn't be entirely a GOOD thing.
Yes, it would be good to discipline myself. Yes, it would be very good to whittle down some of my growing stash. Yes, it would help me clean out the "guest room" in my house that is slowly evolving into the Yarn Room. Yes, it would help the financial diet (see paragraph above). Yes, I have plenty of potential projects to keep me busy for the next year PLUS. Yes, the yarn I am planning on buying for Bob's zippered cardigan sweater would be exempt under the rules. But for some reason, having the "you shall not indulge in yarn" dictum hanging over my head would feel somehow Draconian. I don't know why, but it really bugs me.
In 2006, when I look at it in total, I really didn't buy much new yarn at all. Only the Alpaca Vest yarn. I bought some Smittens yarn for the Smittens class but took it back when the class was cancelled. I bought some sock yarn, but not much of that. I bought some yarn for Freeform knitting projects, but again not much. I bought dibs and dabs of yarn throughout this year - but no major projects. No big expenditures.
So why does the mere contemplation of being on a total yarn diet make hives erupt on my skin? Why? I don't know but it does. Even if I appended the RULES to allow for me to make yarn purchases for classes I sign up for, I still don't think even that would be okay. I think I'm not going to do the Yarn Diet. Sorry folks, but this girl would probably indulge LESS if not restricted. I'm afraid I'd simply rebel if I even attempted to put those rules over my head.
So no Yarn Diet for me. Nope.
On a lighter, happier note, I am definitely going to the Studio's knitting retreat at the end of January and I absolutely can't wait!!!!!
9 comments:
Ah, Chelle, don't take the KFYS pledge if it's going to cause you stress. I figure it will actually reduce my stress level by resolving storage problems, that's why I'm doing it. But you should do what makes you feel good -- not what's going to make you break out in hives. :-) :-)
Mary said...
I'm with Kay on both points. Knowing I have so much yarn and projects that I fell in love with stuffed in "coffins" makes me anxious and ever-so-slightly self-loathing. The buddy system of cutting back, I think, will revitalize an appreciation for the art over acquisition.
But hives?--not good! ;)
I'm with Kay and Mary and LOL at the idea of yarn coffins, because that's what they are!
You know, you could buy the 50% off yarn at a certain place FOR us. Buhwa ha ha ha haaaaa!
See why I need the yarn diet? I'm already working the angles. Also, the yarn retreat is exempt because one, it was paid for in 2006, and it's a yarn fest. :)
Oh no.....I can live without food, but no yarn diet. Yikes! I always need something to go with what I already have on hand to make.....something. Besides I can not carry the guilt of yarn stores near me going out of business. I have a duty.
Carol
Well, you know I'm exaggerating on the hives. I am a salesperson, so I tend to exagerate for the sake of humor and drama. It makes a better story doncha know!!!
A month ago, I swore I wouldn't buy new yarn until Maryland S&W...and I'm with you. It made it worse. I don't buy yarn all the time, but I really wanted to once I was on the "diet" - it was stressing me out. I finally gave up on the idea. What I'm trying now is no impulsive internet buying - and that's working fine.
Jeanne, yeah, see, it must be my rebellious streak, but I just KNOW I would rebel and buy like crazy. I'm glad I'm not the only one who recognizes this tendency in themselves!
Right now, for instance, I'm knitting on a sweater with yarn I bought 18 months ago. I'm using up stash and it's some of the most delightful-to-the-touch yarn I've ever used (Marr Haven Natural).
I'm the same way when it comes to restrictions. There's a rebel inside me that rears it's head when I'm denying myself of something. "Oh yeah? Who says we can't have this? We'll show 'em"
Have fun at the retreat, it sounds like a lovely way to re-coup after the end-of-year wildness.
Post a Comment