The Knitting Muse (no links since Lynn has ceased the blogging life) told me about a Ravelry group (Stash Knit Down) hosting "Race to the Bottom of Your Stash". She had signed up, and I thought she was nuts.
Until. (There always is an "until". It keeps life interesting.)
The knit-down includes any use of yarn or fiber, as long as it is GONE. And it counts all the yardage in UFOs that are finished in the 18 month time-frame (April 2019-September 30, 2020). The lights clicked on for me: external motivation to get UFOs done.
I have not thrown out yarn, donated it, burned it, or given it away. I have finished some UFOs, and plan to finish more. I have been steadily knitting. The truth that comes home is that knitting one's stash is a V E R Y slow way to use up stash. The real bang for the dollar is finishing UFOs, where the total yardage of the piece then counts. My current startitis is not helping whatsoever. (Knitting discipline is an oxymoron.) I DID set a realistic goal, or what I thought was a realistic goal (25,000 yards in 18 months). I knew it would push me but not unattainably so. I am currently behind, but have my sights set on finishing stuff. And starting new stuff. Late fall through early spring is, indeed, our prime knitting time.
I apparently am focusing on sweaters, hats, and scarves. When I told Mr. E that I didn't seem to be thinking much about knitting shawls, his response was completely unknitterly (as one might expect): "You have too many shawls already." One can only nod sagely, allowing the husband to interpret that nod as he may.
One finished projected, woven of slubby rayon, warp was green/variegated blue&green/blue, weft solid blue slubby rayon--
I don't have any UFOs but I have plenty of yarn in the stash!
Posted by: Carole | Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 07:30 AM
Wait, Carole has no UFOs?? Is that allowed? Also, I want to see that scarf!
Posted by: lynn | Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 07:59 AM
I also have no UFOs, technically, because I try to knit a row or two on all three things on my needles.
Posted by: Margene | Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 09:25 AM
Weaving: the knitter's secret weapon to use up stash.
Posted by: kmkat | Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 02:35 PM
The wool has had two stashdowns (2kg one year, 4kg another) but my focus at the moment is the quilting stash that is both bigger and older. I may be here for some time.
Posted by: Caroline Morris | Sunday, November 10, 2019 at 04:10 PM
I can completely visualize Mr. E. saying that.
Posted by: Claudia | Monday, November 11, 2019 at 09:06 AM