This week, I finally finished a project I’ve been talking about since last year: I donated 4,170 yards of synthetic yarn that I had no plans of using to charities. (That’s the equivalent of about 11.5 skeins of Red Heart Super Saver, in case you need a visual.)
I’ve been participating in the Surmount the Stash challenge all year, and every month I’ve said that I would try to find a local charity to donate some unloved yarn to, but I never got around to it. A few weeks ago, I was looking for some things in my stash and realized just how much space was taken up by yarn I never plan to use. I went online and found that a local hospital‘s crochet and knitting group accepted donations. After emailing the coordinator, I found that they would take any acrylic or acrylic blend yarns that are machine washable, and I started packing a bag.
On Monday, I delivered a 3,637 yard donation to the Roosevelt Yarnies. This included:
- Caron One Pound partial skein – 496 yards
- Caron Simply Soft – 315 yards
- Herrschner’s Worsted Weight – 180 yards
- Lion Brand Chenille Thick & Quick – 100 yards
- Lion Brand Cotton Ease assorted partial skeins – 447 yards
- Lion Brand Homespun – 185 yards
- Lion Brand Suede 1 full and many partial skeins – 458 yards
- Lion Brand Watercolors 2 full and 1 partial skein – 124 yards
- Moda Dea Tweedle Dee partial skeins – 27 yards
- Red Heart Eco-Cotton Blend partial skeins – 131 yards
- Red Heart Pomp-A-Doodle 2 skeins – 108 yards
- Red Heart Super Saver 2 full and many partial skeins – 1,066 yards
I also included some extra hooks and needles that I had on hand.
With a little searching on Ravelry, I discovered that there was in fact a charity that would accept novelty yarns. That is how I ended up sending Knitters and Crocheters Care 5 full and several partial skeins of Bernat Boa (533 yards).
I’m really glad that these yarns could find a purpose elsewhere. I bought these when I was buying anything in the world that was on sale. Since participating in Surmount the Stash and the 23 Day Frugal Living Challenge, I’ve been looking at my yarn (and other things in my life) much differently.
For the first time in years, all of my synthetic and synthetic blend yarns fit into one plastic tub, and my entire yarn stash fits into my plastic tubs. (Previously, I always had a bag or box with yet more yarn that couldn’t fit anywhere else stuffed in a closet or on the floor.) I’ve also reduced my collection by the equivalent of an entire plastic tub in just a month. Now, I can actually find the yarns I want to use to make something fun! Wow.
For more Finished Objects, visit Tami’s Amis.