37,444 yards is not the amount I have walked this week, or even this month. 37,444 yards is a rough estimate of how many yards of yarn I have in my stash. 37,444 yards is about 21.28 miles, astounding I know.
I decided to make a list of all the yarn I had in hopes I would be excited about it and get motivated. You know me and lists, I like to make them for every occasion possible. I did this a year ago but have given thousands of yards of yarn away, well I have added a few thousand too. I decided I needed to have an accurate account of just what exactly I had in my stash.
I have 55 different types of yarn which makes me wonder why I never seem to have the yarn I need for a project. That is down from 63 types last year even though I have added loads of new yarn to my stash this year.
So now you are witness to exactly how much yarn I have. The only yarn not added were little bits and bobs of leftovers in a basket on one of the white shelves above. I am coming clean with my stash and am determined to get more used up before I can buy more.
Of course right after I made that decision I got an email that my nearest yarn store is having an anniversary sale this Saturday. I will not be deterred even with the chance to get yarn on sale. Actually most of the yarn I have bought has been on sale so as you can see that only leads to trouble.
Some little one I know got a new set of wheels. This was my next door neighbor's car when she was little. She is now able to drive a real car with a parent so you can see how old this is. It is in perfect condition and the battery still works. But there is a catch, only big boys who wear underpants can get in it, that is the rule isn't it?
I know you all think I am mean, well I think so too but I have to find something to motivate Little Buddy to get more interest in being a big boy. We will see how this works, so far nothing else has.
I thank you all for your well wishes for Mr.22. He went to the burn clinic at the major teaching hospital near him yesterday. They were thrilled with how he has healed. He is on no restrictions anymore, but I told him to take it easy, that skin is very, very fragile. If I showed you what it looks like now you would be horrified, but it is better and that is what is important. Now to find something else to worry about........
That car would motivate me to do just about anything you wanted me to do, it's adorable.
ReplyDeleteOh Meredith, you know when you have kids there will always be worries. I think that is a wonderful motivator for Little Buddy. He will want to ride in that car so much he will be potty trained before you know it. And nope. I don't think you're mean at all. Now. Let's address your stash. It's not bad at all. You should see mine. Now, mine is terrible. I have way too much yarn but it does get knit up eventually. I tend to use the same yarn for the same projects over and over again for the charities I crochet and knit for so when it's on sale I try to take advantage of it. I love how yours is out in the open where you can see it. I keep mine in a closet on shelve behind closed doors. :-). Have a lovely weekend my sweet friend.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
I'm kind of scared to figure out just how much yarn I have. I have it stashed in different places in my condo. Every so often I come across stuff I forgot I had!
ReplyDeleteSomeone is very lucky to have such a great car. Using it for motivation is a great idea!
Maureen
Your stash is so pretty, and knowing you, it will be steadily depleted as you stitch and weave more wonderful projects. Let's make a deal...don't look for anything else to worry about...ok? I hope the super car helps fuel reaching the desired result! xx
ReplyDeleteYou are not mean at all. Hopefully, it works.
ReplyDeleteYour "deal" reminds me of a cousin of mine who was anorexic at the age of 16. Her doctor said that she only could go to the Scouts' World Jamboree to Australia (that was her big wish and the wish of her girl scouts' group) if she had 36 kilograms. She reached the goal.
I missed your last post about Mr. 22...sounds not so good so I'll take a look.
ReplyDeleteThe yarn thing. I think when someone has a passion, hobby, interest, talent, we tend to have a vision that keeps us investing in future projects that sometimes we rationally don't have time for. Good intentions, but not time. I do that with books. They pile up and I get overwhelmed. Sometimes I'm in the middle of 5 at a time! Just can't say no.
Thats one cool car and I think you are spot on with your prerequisite...incentives are powerful. It can be as simple as when my kids were young, they could have a snack after school after they cleaned their rooms. Simple compared to what Little Buddy has to do but I think you are very smart. Keep us posted!!!
Jane
It's hard as a mama not to worry but my favorite quote is: “Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere." (Erma Bombeck) I'm working hard on not worrying since both my boys are so far away. Glad to hear Mr. 22's burns are healing up nicely. Your stash looks pretty darn nice to me. And doesn't seem to be such a huge stockpile. Mine is stuffed everywhere. But I will be rearranging the kids room (we already gave away the bunk beds) so I'm hoping to be able to spread out and organize better. Hope you have a relaxing weekend. You might just need to go look at some yarn on sale ... that won't hurt anything. ha! :)
ReplyDeleteOh! Forgot to say, I don't think you are mean at all. Zack took forever to pottytrain so I bought a small wading pool for our balcony and got him some little speedos and he was told that he could not go to the bathroom in the pool and that when he needed to pee, he had to go to the bathroom. Thank goodness that worked. I would be gong to the bathroom all the time if I had that fancy little sport car as incentive. :)
ReplyDeleteYou certainly have an impressive stash, you work so quickly it will soon go down. Its having the strength to stay away from bargains and adding to it, good luck with that one. Reward charts worked with the Grandsons they love going to soft play, he'll get there bless him. Glad to hear Mr 22 is on the mend.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you're mean one little bit. If this helps him turn that corner to be potty trained then so be it. I hope it works, my dear. I don't think your stash is out of hand at all. Mine is worse but your yarn is nice than a lot of mine. I keep giving some to my DILs friend and need to give some to Betsy. I'm SO glad your son's burn is better.. what a horrible thing to happen to him. And I think you are way too wonderful of the person to spend much time worrying. But I am with you on one of your worries. :-) You know the one. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your son is healing well Meredith and well done on getting to grips with your stash, I will weigh all mine at the beginning of next year as long a it's less than the year before then I will be happy. I love that car and I don't think you are mean at all I hope your restrictions bring the about desired result. Have a great weekend. :) xx
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot of yarn you have but then again, 4 ply and lace yarns run up the miles really quickly. You can never really have enough yarn! Of course you are far from being mean and completely right, sport's cars cannot be driven with nappies :-)
ReplyDeleteI must have missed a post of yours, I didn't realise Mr 22 was not well. Glad he is improving. x
I'm so glad to hear that Mr. 22 is healing well. You are right about finding something else to worry about, thank goodness we have lulls in between.
ReplyDeleteFabulous car, good luck to little Buddy with the accompanying rules! So glad that Mr 22 is healing well. I hope it is a swift mend for him. I don't have loads of yarn, but it does somehow accumulate here in little dribs and drabs. I have two different balls out at the moment to start a scarf, but I just can't decide between them or pick a pattern. No doubt inspiration will strike soon. Or more likely I'll do a very simple one that I've made before. Wishing you and yours a good weekend Meredith. CJ xx
ReplyDeletegood morning, I think the majority of us crafters and artists stock pile our supplies-I do too-have way too much but I love it all and I enjoy the hunt for it-so I don't worry about that anymore as it is part of who we are.
ReplyDeleteso sorry about the burns on Mr 22 but happy he is healing now, and that fabulous car is the perfect mortivator for Little Buddy and hope it works
Hugs to you Kathy
That must have taken some time adding all that yardage up. Better to have too much than too little though, I'm sure you agree. Wow, what a fab car, if anything's going to do the trick that is. Glad to hear that Mr.22 is on the mend, it's a horrible thought thinking how much worse it could have been but it sounds to be healing well which is great news.
ReplyDeleteMy grandson who lives many miles away was allowed a new book from me Everytime he ate a new vegetable for a month and when he wanted to come and vist was told only big boys were allowed on the plane he achieved the books but still working on the toilet training as he gets too interested in what he is doing and dosent what to stop to go the toilet it all takes time
ReplyDeleteI think there's always something to worry about, just don't let the worry take over... kids! I wouldn't dare see how far my yarn would go, rather a long way I think. Hope the car works and lil Buddy gets excited about being a big boy xx
ReplyDeleteSuch great news about Mr. 22 year old!! YAY!
ReplyDeleteAnd a new car for Little Buddy? Perfect motivation I would think. Hoping it works. But, he is a crafty sort, isn't he? He may find a way to weasel out of what he needs to do - lol.
And stash? Oh my. I don't think I have ALL that much (after all, I haven't been knitting for all that long), but the fact that I do not know -- have no idea -- what I have is a concern. I may need to make a record (or not...).
Have a wonderful weekend!!
You are a smart mom! A red car will motivate most boys!!!
ReplyDeleteWell that is a great stash of yarn!! I love the little car and I hope the incentive helps Little Buddy take that step in potty training! Hugs.
ReplyDeleteLove that car. Precious. I don't think you are being a bit mean. I think you LOVE Buddy and discipline is one of the many ways to show it.
ReplyDeleteYou are not mean; you're one smart Mama! (Now if DD#2 could think of something equally smart to use on her daughter!) As for your stash, it's a great idea you have to list it. Sadly, that would take me forever, but that is precisely what I need to do, too. Thanks for the push!
ReplyDeleteLiking your honesty....I have loads of yarn....some of it gifted from others who don't know what to do with it (and I'm not sure I do either!) but it has to be said, I nearly always need to buy something different when I spot the next project I want to make....I really only have a handful of special yarns and I only buy them a skein at a time, so there are no really big projects in them, all the other stuff is fairly bog standard and not terribly exciting.
ReplyDeleteLiking the new wheels, and liking the rule too :-)
That little car is a great incentive for LB. I don't think it's mean at all, it's great that you're teaching him that some things are a privilege for being a big boy.
ReplyDeleteYou're so productive with your knitting, it's great to have a huge 'pallette' to work with! When I was sewing a lot, I had a stash that just might rival your yarn stash. It was great to have around when the spirit moved me and I didn't want to make a trip to the fabric store. . . . So, there, I hope I've justified your addiction for you! LOL!
Now, this is odd: I've just started writing a list of my own stash! In a few days we'll see who has more yards, lol! ;) That car is rad, btw, I really hope it'll work well with motivating Little Buddy...
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty stash you have! Isn't it the truth about never having the yarn you need in spite of having oodles and oodles of it. That car is cool! Looks a bit like my Mini.
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased to hear Mr 22 is healing well (and also relieved there is no picture!). Hope he continues to make excellent progress. Your stash looks so pretty it could be regarded as decoration. Why is it that we never seem to have the yarn needed for a project despite having enough skeins to stock a small store? The car is a great incentive for LB and it is not mean, although I can imagine it is tugging at your heart strings. Wishing him lots of success so he can be driving around soon.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lot of yarn!I love the idea of the car to get Little Buddy toilet trained.I am sure it will work.Keep us posted.Glad your son is healing well.Burns are nasty,painful things.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear Mr. 22 is healing well.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I think Steve had that same underpants rule for HIS Mustang and it worked out quite well.
In my car --- we have a no coffee rule, but it only applies to Steve since he is the spilly kind.
Hope Little Buddy takes the bait and that a brand new ride will be just the incentive he needs to go BIG!
I feel so terrible for Mr. 22. These things happen -- and he is really suffering! I am glad that he's healing, though, and send my best wishes.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you are mean at all. The rule is that you must wear big-boy pants in a red car. That rule is not your fault!
I am sure I have stashed more yarn than you have. I admire your stash honesty, but I'm going to stay in a state of blissful ignorance!
Wow! That is a lot of yarn. I find my yarn is like my clothes. I don't know what I have hidden away in storage or in the back of the closet! I am not even an avid knitter but somehow have a lot of yarn. It seems like whenever I think of making something I don't have quite the yarn I need or the amount I need. i guess the takeaway lesson for me is buy no more until I need it for a specific pattern. Then buy only what I need. An expensive lesson, ha ha. But you on the other hand, are an avid knitter and you have so many beautiful yarns too. I hope you can put it all to good use and that your list will help you. Hugs to you and little Buddy (p.s. I've taken my own blog off line. I haven't stopped blogging yet but need some time to do my thing and rest). Take care and hugs. xx
ReplyDeleteLol....it is perfectly normal and fine to have that amount of
ReplyDeleteyards of yarn. I see nothing wrong with that at all. Glad Mr. 22 is
healing from his burns, great news!!
All that yarn looks so pretty and colourful. I'm on a yarn diet as well now until I've used up the mountain I bought recently. It's incredible how the yarn stores know when you're on a yarn diet and then send you countless emails telling you that their yarn is reduced. It's all character building! I'm sure you'll find lots of lovely things to knit with your beautiful stash.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that Mr 22 is healing well.
The car is amazing, I hope the bait works with Little Buddy.
Have a good week. Janet x
I like the way you've organised your stash and that large clear glass jar for all your leftovers is a really good idea. I don't think you're being mean at all, you know your son better than anyone and the motivation for the car might just be what is needed. After all, you've done a great job so far so no reason to think you aren't right this time too. Glad to hear Mr 22 is on the mend. Fiona x
ReplyDeleteI like the way you have thought about it as yardage. Try searching Ravelry on the yarn search rather than the pattern search, it reveals some great projects for exactly the yarn you have, I did it and it worked a treat. And what can I say...cool wheels! Jo x
ReplyDeleteThat car is so cute! I hope it works as a motivator for Little Buddy.
ReplyDeleteYour yard stash is like my book stash. ;-)
I know you like lists but I hope you didn't count all those yards of yarn manually - that's why Ravelry is there! hehe
ReplyDeleteYou have a lovely collection of yarns and books. We can see what your favourite colours are now too ;-)
Have fun!