My first yarn collection started in grade school when I would save up my allowance to go to Ben Franklin Crafts and splurge on jewel-toned Red Heart Yarn and DMC embroidery floss for friendship bracelets. When I went to college, my trunk was packed with bins of yarn and cloth, leaving just enough room for a few clothes and a small futon mattress.

Throughout my 20s, I constantly hunted for deals and filled even more bins with more and more yarn and cloth than I would ever use. Over time, my stash grew from a few tubs to enough to need a moving van.

I adored my stash, and it was my pride and joy. But eventually, I realized that its sheer magnitude was beginning to overwhelm me. It became a tangled pile of shame, guilt, and unfinished projects rather than a source of creativity. I would open my studio door and walk right out with a headache. I felt like my mind was stuck, and I couldn’t ever figure out what to make.

Then I read a study about decision paralysis called the “Jam Study” that explained that people were more likely to purchase a product if given fewer options. Other studies supported this concept; stores with less variety were surveyed as more satisfying to shop in over stores with more options. Our brains can only handle so much decision-making before needing a break. It was a lightbulb moment, and I decided to apply this concept to my studio, so I did the unthinkable.

I purged. And it changed my creative life.

How to purge your stash

I created simple rules to help me decide what to keep or donate. These are just guidelines, not hard and fast rules.

Unlike cloth, which usually comes in enough yardage to create at least one piece of clothing, yarn often accumulates as bits and bobs or mismatched quantities along with more significant amounts of yarns we might have found on sale or were gifted to us.

First, I sort out the yarns I have the most of and assess them before moving on to the smaller yardages.

Larger Quantities (800+ yards)

KEEP

• The yarn inspires and excites me.
• I can visualize its use, whether a complete project, just a structure or a draft.
• It’s a studio staple—a fiber or weight I regularly use. 

PASS

• The yarn doesn’t inspire me—I keep looking at it but never find a use for it even after years of owning it. 
• I had a project in mind but never really got serious about doing it. This could be a sign I’m not excited about it.
• It’s a color or fiber I never use, or it doesn’t fit my current weaving style like it used to.

Small Quantities (Single Skeins, Half Cones, Bits & Bobs)

KEEP 

• Handspun, unique, or special— these are like the  “jewels” of my collection.
• A color or texture that pairs well with other yarns, making it useful in future projects.

PASS

• Yarns that aren’t very special or easily replaceable.
• Cone and skeins that don’t fit my palette—even if I like the color. I find it easier working with a more limited number of colors than keeping everything under the rainbow. 
• Anything in a fiber or yarn weight I don’t weave.
  
  If I feel unsure about giving the yarn away,  I place it in a box or bag and store it for 6 months. If I never have a reason to open the box, I let it go.

After destashing, my studio became more productive and less stressful, especially since I prefer to display my yarn in the open. My productivity after a studio clean out and I have more fun designing projects. It is like having my own personalized little yarn store I can “shop” in.

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