July 28, 2010
Stashing and De-Stashing
We’ve talked about stashing before. Some of us you do have a yarn stash, some of you don’t. Some of us you wonder how people get along without a stash. Some of you wonder why in the world people want extra yarn sitting around. I went through my stash last weekend and pulled out a bunch of yarn that I no longer want or need in there. (Four big Loopy bags full. Gracie looks horrified by the whole thing, doesn’t she?)
The yarn that came out of the stash typically fell into 3 categories:
1. Yarn that someone gave me from their great aunt’s old stash. (Or their friend’s stash. Or their grandma’s rejects. Etc.)
2. Yarn that I bought on sale because “it was too good a deal to pass up”. (I’ve learned. Last weekend just reinforced that.)
3. Yarn that I bought to see if we wanted to carry that line here at Loopy (and then decided against it).
I have a lot of sock yarn stash. It used to be THE thing that I loved to knit. Socks. Of course I still love to knit socks, but I have branched out. I really like all of the new shawlette patterns that use 350-450 yds. of fingering weight. It’s a perfect use for some of these colors that I still like, but will (realistically) probably not knit up into socks. Now I’m just as likely to look at a skein of fingering weight yarn as a potential shawl, instead of just as potential socks. Here’s one stash picture just so those of you who buy yarn from us every week, know that I’m just like you. I like having lots of choices and I love having a stash. (No, that’s not all my stash. I also have numerous plastic bins of it. I’m just not sure WH needs to see all of that in my blog. I have it strategically separated in different parts of the house so that one never sees the full extent of it. I think it’s better that way.)
Look what I found in my stash – one of the first skeins from Madelinetosh, when Amy was truly an indie dyer, doing this on her own. See – she even handwrote the label! This, I am keeping. Along with plenty of other skeins. And I found something else I like to knit – sweaters. So now I’m starting to stockpile yarn for future sweaters. 
Just this week, I took skeins of this and skeins of this for someday sweaters. (Yes, I realize they are both green. What can I say?) And guess what? I’m going to do a legitimate swatch for both sweaters. See? I did learn my lesson.
So I’m curious. For those of you who do have a stash of one kind or another, what do you figure you have the most of – Laceweight? Fingering weight? Sport? DK? Worsted? I’ll have a related question for you on Friday, along with our Sweater Challenge winners.
Sheri wholikesbeingsurroundedbycolorathomeandwork
Seanna Lea said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:13 pm
I have a lot of sock yarn and lace weight. I think that is 90 percent of my stash. I have maybe 10-20 skeins of worsted weight (two to three sweater patterns worth), and maybe 5-6 of bulkier yarn. Everything else is DK or smaller. I love my fingering weight knitting.
Kay said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:16 pm
I have mostly fingering weight yarn (aka sock). I’ve been making shawls out of it for the past year but usually have at least three pairs of socks going at any time. I do have a respectable amount of DK weight too, and a bit of worsted but . . .sock yarn is my downfall.
Frances said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:17 pm
I love looking at pictures of other people’s stash and seeing how they store it. I would love to have a beautiful yarn cabinet like yours to put some of my stash. Right now i just keep it in plastic tubs in my spare room – which is really the book and yarn room. Sock yarn still makes up the majority of my stash, but I have branched out more to other weights and I confess that I have enough for many sweaters in everything from laceweight to bulky. I like fingering weight and sport mostly for sweaters as well, because the climate here does not require heavier knits. That does not stop me from knitting or wanting to knit other kinds of sweaters though and I have plenty of DK and worsted weight in my stash too.
dana said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:19 pm
it would be a toss-up between sock yarn and lace yarn. i feel free to buy both just becasue i like the yarn, without having to have a project in mind for it. because socks or shawls generally only take one skein! yay!
i rarely buy sweater quantities of yarn without a plan for it, however vague the plan might be.
im just lori said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:20 pm
My stash is mostly things from The Loopy Ewe…with a smattering of local yarns and handspun. Most of the yarn is light to heavy fingering, with a good chunk of worsted in there too.
But yeah, my stash is mostly your fault, Sheri. Thank you.
Melody Bryan said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:23 pm
OMGosh – what a question – I have quite a stash of sock yarn but don’t knit socks – I probably have the most stash of worsted and live in Florida – go figure ! I do have a fair amount of DK weight and very little chunky – obviously again because I live in FL and I have a fair amount of lace weight too. Let’s just say my play room is referenced as the “wool room” because there is so much yarn and rug hooking wool in there. I have to say – I was impressed with the cupboard full of sock yarn you pictured. YGG – Mel
kit said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:25 pm
Most of my stash is sockweight, the rest being mainly worsted with the occasional bulky or mohair. There was once a time when I would only knit with mohair, back when I was a newbie doing scarves by the bucketload.
Bev said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:30 pm
Definitely sock yarn with some sport weight and a few potential sweater projects. I am looking at a lot of it now as potentional shawlettes as well. I keep trying to put myself on a yarn diet, but so far I haven’t been too successful.
Kim B. said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:35 pm
I primarily have fingering weight yarn. I am sock knitting addicted but also seem to have branched out to shawlettes. I have been organizing/destashing lately but there seems to be no end to some of the yarn I don’t want any longer. I’m going to find good homes for the yarn I loved and bought when I worked in my LYS but no longer want.
Bonnie H. said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:40 pm
I have mostly fingering weight yarns in my stash. I have patterns picked out to go with some of that yarn and some of it is just “free” yarn. Lately, I’ve been thinking of other things to make with it besides socks. I have yarn for three sweaters – a February Lady, Hey Teach! and one which the name escapes me. I want to make more sweaters but I’m trying to hold off until I get some of these others done.
Cyndy Harkins said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:44 pm
I have only been acquiring a stash for a little over a year, so mine is small (my husband doesn’t think so, however). It’s mostly from Loopy and fairly evenly divided between sock yarn for socks, sock yarn for a sweater, DK for two different sweaters, worsted for a big Girasole if I ever get around to it, and a little lace for an unknown project. I think I bought it with a shawl in mind. Seems like a lot of sock yarn for someone who is only on their 4th pair of socks.
Doris said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:54 pm
I have mostly fingering and lace weight yarns in my stash. I have some worsted and DK for a few sweaters that I plan to make. My stash is kept in a variety of places also…sock yarn is mostly in under bed boxes in my bedroom, with most of the overflow in plastic tubs with the other yarns. There is some scattered in other places, as well as the stash of fiber for spinning. Like you, I feel that what DH doesn’t know won’t hurt him…suffice it to say if the bed ever broke our fall would be quite cushioned (we might not even notice!). He is quite the enabler, though, so that works out too.
Jeanne said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:55 pm
Mostly I have sock yarn in my stash and just like you Sheri, I am beginning to discover those cute shawlette patterns that use fingereing weight yarn. I also recently discovered what to do with all my little left over balls of sock yarn when I am done with a pair of socks: scarves! On a size 7 needle, cast on 25 stitches or so holding two skeins together using garter stitch. I’m going to add some button embellishements when I’m done. I’m planning on giving them to friends for Christmas presents. And even though garter stitch can be boring, I’m having a blast because of all the different color combinations that show up as I’m knitting!
Natalie said,
July 28, 2010 @ 2:58 pm
Most of my stash is fiber, followed closely by a great big whack of sock yarn. I think the common theme between the two is the great array of really fabulous color. I do love me some color!
TMTTYRR said,
July 28, 2010 @ 3:01 pm
Stash??? Do I have STASH????
(Love that picture of Gracie. Paddy feels the same way when I go through mine.)
I have the most fingering weight, frankly. Or maybe it’s lace weight, though all of that fits in one bin, and the fingering has two. Yardage wise, it’s probably the lace, but bulk wise, fingering. I have one bin that has all the sport weight and heavier in it, two for fingering, and one for lace. Of course, then there’s the two new bins upstairs, plus the bin of things that are actually earmarked for projects and grouped, and the bin of WIPs, along with the auxiliary basket of WIPs in the den. And the yarn that is hiding in my room. (You can ask BFF Liz about my hyper-organization. She helped me sort it.)
Yep. I have stash. I LOVE stash!!
Dr. Jackie said,
July 28, 2010 @ 3:06 pm
Fingering. For socks and shawls. Though at this point I think laceweight is running a close second!
I selected a bunch for de-stash. Now what’s the next step in finding homes for them?
Kat Jorgensen said,
July 28, 2010 @ 3:13 pm
My stash is mostly fingering weight – like you, Sheri, I love shawls and shawlettes. Also I love scarves, lacy little scarves by Anne Hanson are my favorites. Fingering weight seems to fit the bill. I rarely knit socks any more. Although I still love them and will probably go back to them when we are no longer in the hot fires of summer heat. I do like sweater knitting too. But for that I try hard not to stockpile yarn. I usually buy for a particular project rather than stash acquisition.
Spinning yarn (shiny new hobby) has made me look at yarn in a whole new light. But then I tell the family if they were dependant on my spinning skills for warmth in clothing, they’d have to just wrap themselves in the fiber. I’m a very slow spinner.
Good for you, Sheri, for going through your stash and voting some of the skeins out. They’ll find homes with people who will love them.
Judy Laquidara said,
July 28, 2010 @ 3:16 pm
I’m still pretty much just a sock knitter so 99.9% of my stash is sock yarn.
polly said,
July 28, 2010 @ 3:21 pm
Fingering, fingering, and did I mention fingering? I’m now stockpiling any skinny bugga and bugga but I go through phases of various indie dyers….
Mandy said,
July 28, 2010 @ 3:29 pm
Fingering weight. Without a doubt. I could choke a horse with it. And I haven’t knit a sock in over a year. From the looks of your picture (Love Gracie’s expression BTW!), I’m wanting to destash about as much as you – Now, how to go about doing that? The MadTosh skein you showed brought back memories – she’s local, and I have a few of those skeins myself
Do hope you get some more of her merino light again soon; I’m dying to knit an Austin Hoodie in Denim.
Kathryn said,
July 28, 2010 @ 3:33 pm
I have mostly sock yarn. Tons of it! I, too, have it stashed all around the house so DH doesn’t have a heart attack! I buy yarn for the color not the project and I love having it around me so I switch out skeins every so often. I have also taken up weaving to help me with my lack of “stash control”.
A friend of mine (non-knitter) asked what would happen to all my yarn if something happened to me and I have to admit…it’s a dilemma! No one in my family knits!
Rachelle Crosbie said,
July 28, 2010 @ 3:35 pm
I’ve got mostly fingering (97 stashes on Ravelry), next is DK at 58 stashes. Not so many of the other weights, though I think maybe I should double check as I think a couple of them have been destashed recently (and I do mean only 2)
Angela said,
July 28, 2010 @ 3:37 pm
My stash is primarily fingering weight. While I love to knit socks too, I’ve found fingering weight yarns are also great for baby and children patterns, as well as small shawls/scarves. Or you can knit it doubled for something heavier.
Janice said,
July 28, 2010 @ 3:40 pm
Fingering/sock yarn outnumbers all the other skeins in my stash by many fold. I also was a dedicated sock knitter. I still knit socks but also love shawls, fingerless mitts and even try to slog through a sweater sometimes. Sock yarn is what I buy for a souvenir when I’m on vacation or on Mondays when the Loopy Ewe posts its new stock. I know it’s due to a certain lack of self control but it sure make me feel good.
Vicki said,
July 28, 2010 @ 3:46 pm
No question – sock yarn. That’s what I buy any time I’m somewhere new and don’t have a project in mind. I know I can buy one skein (or two occasionally) and get something out of it. And then there’s all those sock yarn clubs. Now, I just need to pick up my needles again (and learn to knit 700 times faster than I currently do).
)
Diane said,
July 28, 2010 @ 3:46 pm
Mostly fingering weight in my stash, but have worsted weight too – but purchased the worsted wt. with specific patterns to knit up for myself. With my first grandchild on the way – am finding patterns for baby hats, sweaters and even found a blanket for baby in fingering weight – so I am going through my stash for washable yarns to knit up. And I can always double up the yarn to make it a different thickness for other patterns I already have for the baby …or me…
LittleWit said,
July 28, 2010 @ 4:08 pm
At this point my stash is pretty balanced. I have a lot of everything! I will say it’s predominately wool and maybe a touch more fingering weight yarn than I would like to admit. I periodically look for the holes in weights my stash and try to fill those holes while at wool festivals or knitting conventions.
Jenna said,
July 28, 2010 @ 4:15 pm
I probably have the most worsted weight, but none of it is enough to knit a sweater with. My goal for this year was to only buy worsted if it was enough for a sweater. I’ve had good luck so far, only one minor falling down.
Frankie said,
July 28, 2010 @ 4:17 pm
I have mostly fingering weight in my stash but it’s followed very closely by my stash of lace weight.
I just love knitting with those weights of yarn . . . socks, shawls, scarves, etc. Anytime I try to knit with worsted weight and big needles, I feel like I’m using rope and tree branches LOL!
Brittany said,
July 28, 2010 @ 4:23 pm
DEFINITELY fingering weight. I think because it’s SO easy to buy just one ball and know that I can make a project with it and only need the one ball.
Also, that picture of Gracie cracked me up!!
Lee said,
July 28, 2010 @ 4:26 pm
Most of my stash is worsted and fingering. I had big plans to crochet all of these afghans for people and then realized that they were such a time sink. So my yarn closet (yes I have an entire closet from top to bottom) is mostly filled with this afghan yarn. The fingering is the stuff I love though! I like to just go look at it all and touch it. It makes me feel better knowing I have a choice.
Eventually I’d like to get some of those skeins worked into projects and then work on what I really want to do and that’s design sweaters in lightweight yarns. Yup. That’s my plan… for within the next 20 years… ish.
Karen said,
July 28, 2010 @ 4:35 pm
Can I give the smart answer and say you already know what I have the most of?
But honestly, I’d have to say fingering is my largest stash. I really need to finish organizing it. I’ve got it about 1/2 done. You know those XXL ZipLoc bags? I’ve got quite a few of them filled to the brim with yarns I know I want to keep and they are sorted by dyer. I still need to go through the rest and decide how I’m going to destash it or store it or give it to charity.
Connie Benotti said,
July 28, 2010 @ 4:36 pm
My stash is overgrowing my house. Every so often I do a destash. It helps keep me honest. I take the good yarn (I know its all good) and donate to a local convent. The sisters knit for the poor and many of us at the lys donate the yarn. Great cause. Then I look at other yarn and have given skeins to friends and family if I know they want it and I have no immediate use for it.
Lastly in my guest room closet there are several big bins and they are all labeled. Several bins are designated to projects. One entire bin is for afghans. Another for sweaters. Another for large worsted or chunky wraps. Lace has its own bin. and then there is random sock which could comfortably have two bins, but I have combined random into one and those with accompanying pattens into another. Shawls are the same some with designated patterns and the rest is in the random bin. All skeins are in zip lock project bags within the bins. There is a separate stash for my bags. I have a line of Bags I designed when the economy was better.
Wollmeise is also separate. Itys a big closet.
Lynn Z said,
July 28, 2010 @ 4:41 pm
Hands down, fingering weight. And now that I look at it for projects other than socks, I am starting to accumulate it more quickly!
I’m also getting quite the handspun stash, which is why I’m giving away all of the handspun I completed during the Tour de Fleece (plus one skein I’m still finishing). Handspun needs to be knitted and not stuffed in a bin in the closet.
Ruth said,
July 28, 2010 @ 4:45 pm
That’s a tossup between fingering and worsted. Although there’s a fair amount of lace and a bit of DK. Yes, I have a problem.
Meg said,
July 28, 2010 @ 4:48 pm
Fingering weight – nothing else even comes close.
Gwen said,
July 28, 2010 @ 4:48 pm
Uh! Oh! I read somewhere that sock yarn is not considered stash, so I’ve been going along thinking that I don’t have much stash . . .
Lilie said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:00 pm
Sock & Sport. The sport is due to my love affair with Bugga!!
Carol said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:03 pm
Definitely sock or fingering weight yarn. At least that’s what I tend to buy because I like it but without having a specific project for it.
I do have stashes of other weights that I bought for specific projects. Then I realized that I was somehow trying to buy yarn for all the projects in my ravelry queue. Well, that’s really digging yourself a deep hole because the queue gets longer and longer and the stash gets, well out of control.
Leslie said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:08 pm
I have WAY more sock yarn than anything else, and 90% of that sock yarn is single skeins of a colorway. The laceweight is slowly catching up though…
Linda said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:08 pm
When I went thru my stash and categorized and seperated…the biggest pile and the most totes filled was fingering wt….followed by worsted.
Denise V said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:10 pm
I love the picture of your stash cupboard. I have to know….was that before or after the de-stashing?
My stash is definitely fingering-ful. I love to knit socks, scarves and shawls. I have a few skeins of worsted for hats or mittens. I’m also using the worsted for some “placemat” wedding gifts.
JulieC said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:11 pm
Stashing started with sweater quantities of yarn to make sweaters that never came to be. This was back when yarn stores were few and far between, and the internet was in its infancy, or at least nowhere near what it is now. Then came sock yarn, then lace yarn… oh, and yarn for felting projects, too. Yikes.
Linda said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:15 pm
The majority of my stash, I think (I have never seen it all together in the same room), is fingering because it is so easy to buy 100 gms and know you have enough (for socks anyway) as a souvenir on a trip or just a “taste” if you are on a yarn diet, but my lace is growing the longer that I am on ravelry and TLE’s website. I am only counting a sweater quantity of dk or worsted as one “unit” of stash (are we allowed to count that way?).
Julia said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:21 pm
Definitely sock yarn! I have a lot (though not as much as you) but I keep looking at and buying more. Oh well…..
Barb in MA said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:25 pm
the picture of your stash cabinet makes me want to empty my grandmother’s curio cabinet of my daughter’s windstones and other dragons, and just fill it with yarn. so stash yarn… light fingering weight ( a few large containers of Rowan Botany in so many colors), and then the lace yarn I may never get to but do I care? just admiring the yarn is great satisfaction. I’m not including sweater kits that I have in separate containers as I intend to make them some day, while for the light fingering and lace, occasional ideas get in my head for some of them. adding to that, I love Skinny Bugga, I guess my son will have new winter hats this year.
Ruth Ellen said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:28 pm
I have tons of sock yarn, and like you, I am loving those single-skein shawlette patterns. But I also have many single skeins of worsted for quicker knit scarves, a bunch of lace weight for bigger shawls and stoles, and a couple of sweaters’ worth of yarn for amorphous sweater plans.
Barbara said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:28 pm
Fingering weight – sock yarn – two dresser drawers full. I love it, it is what I knit the most. Your cabinet inspires me to find something pretty to store my yarn in instead of a dresser – it should be admired.
Carol in Zion, IL said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:31 pm
I’m an equal opportunity”Stasher”. I think my lace, fingering, and sock stash are about the same–low on worsted. HMMM… maybe I should shop??
hillis said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:37 pm
Like you I love to knit socks and have three tubs of sock yarn. Yes, agan like you I switched and started the small shawlettesand now hooked on stash yarn for these. I love yarn, bottom line…hillis
JaneB said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:38 pm
I definitely have more fingering (sock) yarn but lace is running a significant second. Worsted and DK not so much, but more than I had a few months ago…LOL
Nancy W said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:40 pm
I have sweater yarn for specific (sweater type) projects then I have lots of single skeins that I bought to see if I liked the yarn and how it would knit up. Finally, catching up to all of that is my sock and shawlette yarn. I think my stash is beginning to get out of control – before I even realized I had a stash. Oh, my!
Anne S said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:53 pm
I have a lot of lace/fingering/sock weight yarn becasue I love to knit lace and used to get my yarn from a weaving supply store, but the majority of my stash is aran/DK/Worsted weight because I bought most of it intending to make a sweater (and another and another . . . ) so I usually bought 1 or 2 bag lots (I’m a big girl) to make sure I had enough.
I guess it also depends on whether you are talking about weight of yarn, or number of skeins/balls/cones/hanks, or storage boxes devoted to a certain type, or . . .
Yes I do have a yarn problem.
Debby said,
July 28, 2010 @ 5:59 pm
I have mostly sock/fingering. I am starting to acquire some lace now. And I love green so almost all of my stash is green or has green in it. I keep trying to branch out into other colors……….
Kristi ~ Ohio said,
July 28, 2010 @ 6:05 pm
Sock/fingering weight followed by lace weight. I’d say 80% of my yarn at the very least is from The Loopy Ewe.
HeatherB said,
July 28, 2010 @ 6:19 pm
I would have to say the majority of my stash is sock yarn, because it’s so easy to stash! You can buy one skein and you know it will be enough for a pair of socks, or mitts or a shawlette if you so choose. I do have sweater yarn stashed but most of it was purchased with a particular project in mind, although I do have some that just has an idea of a sweater.
I was on a felting kick a while ago and have a bunch of Cascade 220 singles for small projects of some sort. There is some lace too because someday I will once again make a shawl out of lace weight, rather than fingering…at least that’s the plan.
another Michelle said,
July 28, 2010 @ 6:34 pm
Well, Sheri, most of my stash, which is largely fingering/sock yarn, was bought from you!!
I blame my friend, Martha, for reintroducing me to knitting while on a girls beach trip and then showing me your website!
Seriously, I’ve been sorting stash the past few days and came up with one big red Loopy bag-full that is going to Interim House in Philadelphia for their knitting program.
I need to go on a knit from stash program because I’m going on a big trip to Europe next summer that I hope includes a visit to Wollmeise. Of course, this knit from stash regime won’t start until August 1 because July is my birthday month and all purchases in July are exempt!
christine said,
July 28, 2010 @ 6:35 pm
My stash is split between lace and sock yarns. I don’t knit a lot of sweaters just because of how long they take, so I don’t have a lot of worsted yarns at all.
Angie said,
July 28, 2010 @ 6:52 pm
According to Ravelry, I have 25 in fingering weight with worsted coming in 2nd with 14. I bought ALOT of sock yarn when I first started knitting. Now that I’m knitting sweaters, my stash of worsted, DK and aran have increased. I like all weights…makes it easier to choose a yarn for a project.
Laurie said,
July 28, 2010 @ 7:07 pm
I think probably 90% of my stash is sock yarn, and probably 95% of that I bought from Loopy Ewe!
Sharon said,
July 28, 2010 @ 7:18 pm
Laurie right before me just stoled my post!!
90% fingering weight sock yarn and 99% of it bought from the lovely Loopy Ewe! Then there’s also the worsted weight because I like to make felted bags.
Yvonne said,
July 28, 2010 @ 7:20 pm
I have mostly fingering weight. I do have some cotton worsted weight for when I was big into dishcloths. Someday I want turn some into bags. And yes a lot of it was purchased at Loopy Ewe but I do have some cheap store bought yarn from Jo Anns that will someday be the stripe vanilla socks maybe Christmas Gifts.
southparknitter said,
July 28, 2010 @ 7:47 pm
What yarn I have the most of depends on whether you count be the project or by the skein. By the project sock yarn would be the most but every knitter knows that sock yarn doesn’t count as stash. Actually probably would win by the skein too because sock yarn is deceiving. 2 or 3 storage totes of sock yarn is probably like 10 totes of worsted or DK weight.
I destashed some pretty awful yarn I’d bought to make prayer shawls and decided it was so awful that I was not going to make any more shawls with it. I’m donating it to a ministry that makes lap robes for hospital in nearby city. I need to consolidate/compress some stash but don’t want to do that until cooler weather.
southparknitter said,
July 28, 2010 @ 7:49 pm
ps I’ve learned not to buy sale yarns either. With the exceptions of sock and lace weight yarn, I try not to buy yarns unless I have a specific project.
Laurie said,
July 28, 2010 @ 7:50 pm
Thanks mostly to you, the bulk of my stash is sock yarn and then laceweight. I do love having it around to look at and pet, but chances aren’t looking great that it’ll all get knitted up anytime soon!
Cheryl said,
July 28, 2010 @ 8:00 pm
Hands down or should I say feet down— sock yarn or fingering weight. And like many of the previous posts mostly purchased from the Loopy Ewe. Most of which once I received it I decided it was way too nice for socks. One of these days I’m going to try my luck and making shawls, shawlettes or lacy scarfs. I have also been searching Revalry for sweater patterns that use fingering weight yarn.
Joy Linn said,
July 28, 2010 @ 8:10 pm
Definately sock yarn..although Lace is running a close second to that…I guess I really have the most of absolutley-had-to-have, cannot-live-without, and never-got-around-to-actually-knitting-up yarn!
BlondiKnits said,
July 28, 2010 @ 8:12 pm
First, it is important to note: sock yarn does not count. Srlzy. I have bins and bins of worsted (which doesn’t match up with many of the comenters!) I cannot resist a good tweed, so more than half the stash is tweed. But it doesn’t go bad, and you don’t get extra credit for dying with all your projects completed — so go ahead and stash!
Helen said,
July 28, 2010 @ 8:45 pm
These days it’s sock, sock and did I mention, sock? I hardly ever knit socks with it, though. Sweaters and scarves and shawls, mostly, and the odd hat. Lately, some lace too. All the other types of yarn just languish in a bin at the back of the closet. Time to do some destashing?
Kay said,
July 28, 2010 @ 8:48 pm
Fingering weight is the yarn I have the most of……I bought some spiral hampers at WalMart for storage. Imagine my surprise when I filled four of these and I still have not sorted all of my stash. My stash is obscene and I too have bought yarn that I discovered I did not like or was too good of a deal at the time…and now I have to wonder what was going through my mind. lol
Cathie said,
July 28, 2010 @ 9:06 pm
It’s a toss-up between sock/fingering and worsted. I have SOOOOO much yarn sitting around in storage bins! Of course I also have goodly amounts of DK, sport, and chunky/bulky. I do believe I’m a true yarnaholic! Just can’t pass up beautiful yarn!
Karen Van Raden said,
July 28, 2010 @ 9:10 pm
For sure sock yarn. I love it. I want to buy more of it everywhere I go. Worsted weight yarn does not call to me unless I have a project in mind. Neither does lace weight. But sock yarn in all of its loveliness and variety – I want some of each it seems.
Jean said,
July 28, 2010 @ 9:16 pm
My biggest stash item is fingering weight sock yarn. I have no willpower when it comes to sock yarn. Like you I do like to spread out the storage locations a bit because it might be a bit of a shock to my husband to see it all in one place. He is already worried because I also quilt and that also creates stash.
James said,
July 28, 2010 @ 9:23 pm
I de-stashed about 2 months ago. I got rid of 3(!) trash bags full of yarn! I donated it to a church that has a prayer shawl ministry (they’re not as picky about what they’re knitting with as I am;-) I, too, blogged about stash this week, but my blog entry was inspired by a friend of a friend who is a serious knitter, but only buys the yarn for her next project. She might as well tell me she’s from Mars! I kept a lot of lace, enough worsted for about 6 sweaters and tubs and tubs of sock yarn. But didn’t I read somewhere that sock yarn doesn’t count as stash? Well . . . that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!
Lori said,
July 28, 2010 @ 9:25 pm
Ravelry says that I have the most yarn in the fingering weight catagory, followed by DK and worsted.
Lisette Luchini said,
July 28, 2010 @ 9:42 pm
Most of my stash used to be worsted weight. In the last 2 years I’ve changed to alot of fingering weight. Its easier for my hands to knit and I actually like the finer stitches.
Robin said,
July 28, 2010 @ 10:07 pm
My stash is mostly fingering weight. Part of me thinks I need to knit them all into socks but then I think they would make great shawlettes. I have found that I enjoy knitting those and I like to have different scarves to wear when it is cold.
cheryl said,
July 28, 2010 @ 10:16 pm
Well, I thought I might be getting too much yarn stashed around the house, but I see some people have me beat
I plan to let my husband know this. Mostly, I’ve been buying sock yarn and fingering weight even though this is the first year I am going to try socks. I’m halfway on the little free sock yarn kit from Sheri. I love to do shawls with these yarns. I have some worsteds in a big Longaberger hamper, other things in bins in my guest room closet. The ones I love to take out and look at, touch and hope to knit NEXT are in another basket and a big glass lidded crock (from Target) in my bedroom. Others that are closest to the being-knit-next list are in baskets and bowls in my family area. I like to hear how people store/use their yarn. Now where do you keep your needles?
Lael said,
July 28, 2010 @ 11:11 pm
Sock yarn – and roving. But I did a little stash busting (roving) during Tour de Fleece and I am starting to consider shawlettes, too, for getting through some of that sock yarn!
Kathy Sue said,
July 28, 2010 @ 11:16 pm
Sock/fingering. No question.
Jocelyn said,
July 28, 2010 @ 11:16 pm
I re-organised my stash not that long ago. It was epic. Something I’m not looking forward to doing again anytime soon. Just plain stressful; realizing you possibly haven’t got enough time in this life to knit all of that!
Fingering weight is the reigning queen in my stash, along with blue colourway (38 yarn types in this colour!) I have over 250 yarn types stashed in Ravelry and with possibly over 350 skeins, I think.
Having said that, it has been 30 days since my last actual purchase of yarn. At least that’s what my Paypal history tells me. There were other club subscription related payments but technically they don’t count since I signed up for them in January. I can honestly say that I am happy with my stash now. I need to knit.
Wicked Awesome Knitter said,
July 28, 2010 @ 11:23 pm
I’ve been told by some that I MAY have a problem with having too much sock yarn. I don’t think it’s a problem at all, we get along just fine.
Melissa said,
July 29, 2010 @ 12:47 am
Definitely my stash is mostly comprised of fingering weight (oh, is it.), followed by worsted (mostly single skeins for various hats and then some for a few sweaters) and then a wee bit of lace weight. I just love to knit socks and shawlettes, so it’s the perfect balance for me.
Malin said,
July 29, 2010 @ 1:14 am
Sock yarn, no question about it, though I tend to knit more sock yarn shawls than actual sock right now
I also have a good amount of laceweight, and maybe five or six sweater worths of worsted and dk.
Kathy said,
July 29, 2010 @ 1:17 am
I just moved to a new home and decided I needed to know what was in my stash so I put almost all of it into Ravelry. Big eye opener. I have a lot of fingering weight yarns. In your cabinet I did not see too many yellows that must be because I have them..
janna said,
July 29, 2010 @ 3:17 am
My stash is mostly fingering weight or worsted to chunky weight. I live in a cold climate so need to feed my sock habit as well as my sweater addiction. Really!
Like you, I have my stash spread out in several locations so if my husband finds one stash of stash, he MIGHT think that is all there is.
Jane said,
July 29, 2010 @ 5:42 am
Mostly fingering/sock but there are 5-6 sweaters in the collection of yarns now
Lisa said,
July 29, 2010 @ 6:36 am
I have lots of worsted wool from my felting craze. Then I found fingering yarn. I have tons of that too. Then I found sock yarn! This is my absolute favorite! I have yarn throughout the house in huge ziplock bags. My hubby’s mom (who also knits) was visiting from Texas and I pulled out “one” of my bags. She must have sat in the bedroom for an hour just touching it! I’m still a WM virgin and I’m very afraid if I am ever lucky enough to grab some from TLE…. I know that will be bad, very bad… (runs out to buy more ziplock bags…)
I love how you have yours stored in the cabinet. It’s beautiful!
Teri said,
July 29, 2010 @ 6:51 am
Oh, I love that sock yarn cabinet. I would have to say that that’s most of my stash, but I’ve got a lot of yarn, period. I need to destash that sale yarn that is in the wrong color/weight or that I didn’t buy enough of to do anything with. I’ve got a big sackful of novelty yarn from that first year when I was attracted to shiny and yes, cheap. The sale rule applies here, too.
I’m totally with you on the multiple stash locations. It’s important to keep some things from DH!
Shannan said,
July 29, 2010 @ 7:32 am
I definitely have more fingering weight yarn than anything. Although, lace weight is quickly catching up.
Kathy said,
July 29, 2010 @ 8:13 am
Most of my stash is Ewe’re fault 8)
I mean fingering weight.
Worsted running a close second.
And I’ve recently discovered small shawl knits to help justify sock yarn stash.
Always socks OTN, though.
Cindy in Happy Valley said,
July 29, 2010 @ 8:41 am
Thanks to you and the sock club, gotta be fingering. I’m “saving” most of it for shawlettes and scarves…..It’s too pretty for my stinky feet!
Channon said,
July 29, 2010 @ 8:49 am
By far, my stash is fingering weight, but I have a nice laceweight section and a worsted section. I have almost nothing heavier than worsted, and virtually no Dk-sport weight(s), so of course, guess what yarns are catching my eye these days?!
Joyce said,
July 29, 2010 @ 8:55 am
I have a lot of everything! If you think projects I probably have more sock yarn than anything else, followed closely behind by laceweight. If you think total skeins it would be worsted for sweaters, but that’s just because a sweater generally takes several skeins.
Bonnie H. said,
July 29, 2010 @ 8:56 am
I forgot to mention when I posted yesterday that I also have yarn in my stash to crochet an afghan. I’ve been thinking about getting that project going so that I can get that bulk of yarn moved out of the stash!
Mary Beth said,
July 29, 2010 @ 8:58 am
I knit a ton, but I have more buying power than knitting power, so my stash is decent.
I try to have a variety of different weights on hand. I find DK, sport, and bulky weights to be the hardest to use when it’s stash yarn. I try not to purchase those types of yarns “just because”. I never feel badly about fingering, lace, or worsted weight yarns in the stash b/c it’s easy to find a good match for those.
I am trying to get into the practice of having a purpose for the yarn when I buy it.
Christienne said,
July 29, 2010 @ 8:59 am
HI Sheri! As far as the stash question, I can’t honestly say what I have the most of yet… I will sway towards worsted because I think that’s what most of it is … but I haven’t actually seen a lot of it in a long time. My husband of exactly 2 months today is learning (slowly I think) that the ‘Stash’ situation is bigger than he originally thought. He made me a bookcase with fabric boxes to store my yarn… Then he realized I was still putting some in my closet and some in another basket and some in yet another basket with a lid … I wholeheartedly agree you can’t have all your stash in just one big open to the public kinda place! lol : ) So now we’re looking for an extension on the bookcase idea since I went shopping last weekend and my knitting ladies at church are still hoping I’ll take more yarn home.
Keep up the great work and as always, the laughs! : )
PS _ Loopy is my absolute fave, even my Hubby thinks he’s cute! : )
Kelli said,
July 29, 2010 @ 9:09 am
I find that I am knitting more sweaters, but I tend to stash sock and lace yarns. I buy sweater yarn for a specific pattern and tend to knit it within a year, but the sock and lace yarns get stashed and knit whenever.
Em said,
July 29, 2010 @ 9:15 am
My stash-ette is still utterly haphazard… I obviously still have some stash-building skills to acquire. Maybe I should do that akill before I try to learn fair-isle
Can anyone recommend good guidelines or references? 
Helene said,
July 29, 2010 @ 9:40 am
I have mostly fingering and lace because one or two skeins can be made into something. One or two skeins of worsted or sport – will begin a sweater but not much else.
madonnaearth said,
July 29, 2010 @ 9:53 am
I probably have more worsted weight than anything else. But fingering weight is my favorite.
Veronica K said,
July 29, 2010 @ 9:54 am
I have mostly fingering weight, with a few sweaters’ worth of Cascade 220.
Kathy said,
July 29, 2010 @ 9:57 am
LOVE the pic w/Gracie and the bags o yarn. It reminds me of the delightful photo book “Cats at Work” that features felines in careers that include retail, hospitality and supervision. I wonder how many cats actually work in LYS, probably a dream job for any feline who wouldnt maul the merchandise.
Jody said,
July 29, 2010 @ 10:12 am
My stash is mostly fingering weight, and almost worthy of its own set of shelves (thanks to Loopy & company). I hardly look at worsted anymore, which is probably a mistake. And I get a look like the one on Gracie’s face when acrylic is mentioned!
katfish said,
July 29, 2010 @ 10:16 am
Since we are actually converting a room to a fiber studio, stash is on my mind alot.
I define “stash” as yarn without a commitment. 10 skeins of souvenir Nova Scotia mohair is not stash since it is in a plastic bag with a note saying “sweater”. See? It has a commitment.
And the commitment can change if necessary.
Wonderously, DH is the one who came up with this. He and I were discussing stash (thank you, God, that he loves fountain pens) and he came up with the definition.
My uncommitted yarns are sockweight. I also have an embarrassing amount of uncommitted Wollmeise. I also have a slew of new ziplock bags and white 3 by 5 cards upstairs RIGHT NOW. By September, everything I own will be committed to a project or destashed on Ravelry. POOF! Stash gone.
In crochet, stepping down a yarn weight makes for nicer projects. Laceweight crochet socks (I hear) fit in normal shoes. So the sockweight will act as DK or sport in crochet projects.
Doris said,
July 29, 2010 @ 10:19 am
What will you do with all the stash you no longer want? I too, have lots of stash I will no longer use, want, like, etc. What to do with it !!!!
Meesh said,
July 29, 2010 @ 10:45 am
I have mostly worsted/DK weight for sweaters, so much so that I will never be able to knit or wear them all. That’s if you count by total volume/yardage. If you count by number of projects, then I definitely have more sock yarn, mostly from TLE!
Jeannette said,
July 29, 2010 @ 10:54 am
My stash seems to be evenly divided between yummy sock yarn (that I will knit up some day), and yucky leftover acrylic yarn (that I am slowly pawning off on people).
Lynne E. said,
July 29, 2010 @ 11:19 am
My stash has lots of worsted, DK (sport), fingering, and lace yarns, but almost no Aran or chunky yarns. I simply don’t like the look and drape of huge knit stitches. Until last year, I didn’t have a whole lot of sock yarn. Now I have lots, because I took TLE’s motto, “Sock Yarns Don’t Count as Stash”, to heart!
Joannah said,
July 29, 2010 @ 11:33 am
I have a significant amount of fingering and of worsted weight yarns. I only think of it as ‘significant’ when I’m gearing up for a move. When it has settled back into it’s usual hidey-holes it seems like a very reasonable amount to have.
Mustanggirl68 said,
July 29, 2010 @ 11:40 am
I just reorganized my stash so that now I can enjoy looking at some of it instead of having it all packed away in bins. I found that I mostly have fingering weight yarn. I was really into knitting socks but like you I have branched out into knitting shawlettes. I have also been using my slightly heavier fingering weight yarn for cowls, mitts and baby sweaters lately.
ElizabethD said,
July 29, 2010 @ 12:57 pm
Mostly sock yarn, but with worsted running a close second, especially heavy worsteds like Peace Fleece and Bartlett’s Maine wool.
Jess said,
July 29, 2010 @ 12:59 pm
I used to be heavily stashed on sock yarns. At this point I am not. I think I owe this to spinning. Now that little 4 or 8oz purchase is fiber.
So now I’m pretty well diversified and have a bit of everything. I think my stash is now being taken over by the leftover half skeins and such. I’m going to have to find a way to clear them out before they start making me crazy!
Maria said,
July 29, 2010 @ 1:04 pm
My daughter called me a hoarder last night. I’m still in shock. I have lots of yarn…in all weights. I don’t even want to know how many sweaters I could make out of all of it. I could also make lots of socks and lots of lace shawls.
I’m going back to my knitting now that I’m depressed!
Brianna said,
July 29, 2010 @ 1:06 pm
Definitely fingering weight. When I buy worsted weight yarn, I buy it in quantities for a worsted-weight project (scarf, sweater, etc.). I’m far too non-committal to do that often, so I usually stick to single skeins of fingering weight. Much less pressure that way
chihoci said,
July 29, 2010 @ 3:06 pm
My stash is mainly fingering weight. I think I HAVE TO purchase some lace weight yarn, because I DON’T have it in my stash!!
Victoria said,
July 29, 2010 @ 3:31 pm
Fingering. No doubt.
turtle said,
July 29, 2010 @ 4:06 pm
I would say it is a toss up between worsted and lace weight. Though my stash is greatly getting smaller with not having the funding to shop lately for new yarn (lol, daughters college is reaping the rewards of our dollars!)
Linda said,
July 29, 2010 @ 4:55 pm
That is a spooky post because I’ve been changing my habbits, too.
No one knows better than you that I like to stash fingering weight sock yarn, but the last few months, I’ve been stashing enough sportsweight and fingering weight to knit sweaters, and knitting them. (It started with the KAL when I knitted Mr Greenjeans. Fun to knit and lovely to wear.)
I try not to stash laceweight but sometimes those really pretty colours seduce me into buying a skein.
Natalie said,
July 29, 2010 @ 5:14 pm
I’m heavily leaning towards lace weight & fingering. I don’t have much to speak of in heavier weights of yarn. The lace stash is growing and may need to graduate to a larger bin this week and I’ll demote some of the yarn I’ll never knit to a destash. It’ll be tough but worth it.
KittenWithAWhiplash said,
July 29, 2010 @ 5:19 pm
Mostly worsted/sport. For years I only crocheted sweaters and blankets, and after switching to knitting stayed with the same them. SO most of my stash bas been purchased with those in mind.
Ronni said,
July 29, 2010 @ 6:25 pm
IMy stash distribution by weight is different depending on if you look at it by weight or yardage. (Can you tell I’m an engineer?) By yardage it breaks down as 41% fingering, 25% lace, 15% worsted and 19% other weights. ‘Course that’s only for the yarn I actually managed to get entered in my spreadsheet…. LOL
Debbie D said,
July 29, 2010 @ 6:42 pm
I definitely have more sock yarn than anything else. I have tried to become more selective in the past 18 months and have sold/given away a good bit of my stash – but my MIL still says I could open my own yarn shop!!
Julie said,
July 29, 2010 @ 7:21 pm
I have enough yarn to make 3 sweaters & TON of socks & a few lace skeins. Then there’s the odds n ends and a few skeins of cheapy icky washable stuff that starts with the letter ‘a’ to make the kids vests for this fall/winter. And some cotton for quick gifts
My girls are wanting the red bags shown in your photo above. I personally love the china hutch filled with yarn, now that’s a display!
Jan said,
July 29, 2010 @ 7:49 pm
Worsted. But my stash runs the gamut. I rarely buy yarn now; mostly it comes to me for free (from the charity knitting group).
Because most of my knitting is for charity, bought yarn usually represents something for charity (that needs a specific coloration, such as red/white/blue for TAPS, or red for Red Scarf Project), or to make a gift.
And again because of the charity aspect, a lot is acrylic or acrylic blend.
Unfortunately, the stash continues to grow, as I can’t seem to knit quickly enough!
Dorothy said,
July 30, 2010 @ 12:16 am
Hey, I read some place that sock yarn does not count as stash!!
Guess that we have to count that now huh? Well I love to make everything out of fingering/sock weight yarn. My love is socks! but I also love sweaters, and shawls, scarves…….So I had to disguise some of the yarn. I love some of the decorative hat boxes and flat boxes that really look neat stacked..they are very good at dispersing my overflowing sock stash all OVER the house. I give lots of socks away as little Happy Day gifts. I wish my hands went faster. I have a quilt shop by day and I knit all night…………….I am so far behind BUT so happy I have things to plan and make and all the gorgeous yarn to buy. I do hold you, Sheri personally responsible for all this gorgeous wonderful stuff!!! Loopy is great!!
Pam said,
July 30, 2010 @ 12:26 am
I have tons of sock yarn followed by Kitchen cotton because I love to make my own washcloths.
Melinda Noonan said,
July 30, 2010 @ 8:04 am
I seem to have a lot of lace yarn and sock yarn and no time to get them knitted up. Guess I buy them because the are pretty and soft.
Samoofish said,
July 30, 2010 @ 8:04 am
It’s all sock yarn in my stash. For bigger projects I buy what I need and only when I’m ready to start. I never thought I would have a stash, but it’s being growing without me realizing it!
Christienne said,
July 30, 2010 @ 8:48 am
A followup to yesterday’s post- I ended up going through all my crafty stuff last night – found more yarn of course so tried to consolidate my stash… My husband now knows that I need more storage space!!!! lol : ) Happy Friday to all at Loopy!!
Brenda J said,
August 1, 2010 @ 11:37 am
I have mostly fingering weight because I too like socks and you can buy just one skein and know you’ll have enough. In spite of a large stash, half the projects I knit require a yarn purchase.
Bev said,
August 1, 2010 @ 12:57 pm
I have way too much sock yarn. I just finished my craft room and decided to move the yarn in and get it sorted out. I dumped in on to a blank canvas and then counted. OMG there was a lot and it was just the sock yarn. The worst part was that I kept finding more after I counted it. But I’ll buy more. I love yarn!!!
Rani said,
August 2, 2010 @ 7:30 am
Sock yarn coming out my ears! And now I have hand-knit socks coming out of my drawers. It’s time to start knitting shawlettes. AND sweater knitting will be my focus in 2011!!
Jody O said,
August 2, 2010 @ 4:44 pm
Mostly fingering and lace weight, but some DK and worsted in sweater quantities. Mine is all in huge zip topbags right now due to an earlier moth problem, and I’m still debating on whether to put it back in the bins. I’m thinking perhaps I’ll do that after I invest in a gross of smaller zip top bags to keep the evil creatures out.
Kelly Andrews said,
August 2, 2010 @ 7:03 pm
I have mostly fingering because I am addicted to the texture and colors of sock yarn. I don’t knit near as fast as I think I do with all of the yarn that I have. Oh well. It’s fun to go through it all!
Paula said,
August 3, 2010 @ 2:31 pm
90% of my stash is sock/fingering.
Joyce said,
August 3, 2010 @ 5:55 pm
Most of my stash is fingering weight, and a lot of it purchased at your wonderful shop….have some lace weight and a bunch of patons yarn that I purchased when just starting to knit….
Sandi said,
August 9, 2010 @ 10:28 pm
Yes, like most here my stash is mostly fingering and mostly from The Loopy Ewe…. What I want to know is: Will you be selling some of that de-stash and if so will you do it through Ravelry or through The Loopy Ewe????? I would love the opportunity to look through it!!! LOL