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E V E R L A S T I N G C A R E Glass Front Cremation Niches Beautiful Views Affordable Pricing 95 Mt. Airy Road Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 908.766.0522 • SHMPCEMETERY.COM Eat, Run, Knit By: Carolyn Hanson 2015 is a year of change. I’ve changed my eating habits, ran my first 5K and knit- ted only from my stash. Purchases from yarn shop closures (sad), yarn crawls and festivals have forced my storage space to pass from concealed into Yarn Decor. I’m now on a mission to knit/crochet from my closet. I’ve been busy. From January – July, my completed projects and (the number of skeins used) include: Despite the number of completed projects, the year’s outgoing skein count has made no discernable impact. In all of the above, only 57 skeins were consumed. That’s maybe 1/10th of what’s available. [Those with a stash are not even blinking. Those without, I can hear you gasping.] Yes, it’s a lot, but when inspiration strikes, options are key. (How’s that for justification!) So what to do to reduce/purge in a major way? Here are a few ideas: - Follow the advice given by Maria Kondo in her bestselling book, The Life- Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Take out each item, i.e., skein of yarn, and hold it in your hands. If you do not love it, truly love it, set aside to throw away, give away or sell. Keep only what you love. [Her focus is not yarn, but it applies. Read the book.] - Post as “willing to trade or sell” on your Ravelry page and help a fellow Raveler get the last skein needed to finish a project. - Before making a yarn purchase, ask your fellow stashers if anyone has the desired yarn and wants to swap or sell. Chances are, you can make a deal. - Shop for patterns only, then yarn shop in your stash…you already own the best yarn. Get those creative juices flowing. - Next time you’re asked to create a gift basket for a fundraiser, use yarn, nee- dles, a few patterns, notions and a lesson. - Pull out the size 19 needles or the size S crochet hook and work with 5 or more strands held together to make a big and quick afghan, poof (ottoman) or rug. This one project alone could easily gobble up 20 skeins or more. How to match yarn to a project? - Select a pattern - Next, select yarn that matches the pattern’s gauge (stitches per inch), and drape (wool is different, from cotton which is different from silk, etc) - Not enough yarn, be creative • Try Color Blocking, using multiple colors of the same yarn or type of yarn. • Try stripes, or an ombre look (dark to light in one tone) - Barter with a fellow Raveler or friend - Still no matches, on to the next pattern Follow me on Twitter @CarolynCHanson and tell me about your #BigYarnStash and ideas for making it manageable. Carolyn Hanson is a local knitting and crochet designer, teacher and fiber artist. She can be contacted at cchanson3@gmail.com. - 5 Scarves (9) - 2 Shawls (7) - 2 Necklaces (2) - 3 Tops (12) - 1 Hat (2) - 3 Covered Rocks (1) - 1 Yarn-Bombed Mailbox (1) - Other - Sales (6) - 1 Skirt (6) - 1 Pair of Socks (1) - 2 Baby Gifts (6) - 1 Cat Cave (4) www.theconnectionsnj.com