Welcome (or welcome back!) to the JPD Journal! Today we're focusing on decluttering your yarn stash with intention. As a knitter and designer, I understand the joy of collecting beautiful yarns, but it's important to reevaluate our collections and find new homes for the yarns we no longer plan to use. Let’s get into decluttering together and discover creative ways to find new homes for our beloved yarns.
A Sustainable Approach to Decluttering
Spring is the perfect time to transition our wardrobes and knitting projects to embrace the warmer weather. However, as we declutter, it's crucial to be mindful of the environmental impact of our choices. Donating clothing and yarn to thrift stores like Goodwill or Savers may not always lead to the desired outcome, as many items end up being wasted in landfills or incinerated. So, let's explore alternative options!
Selling and Trading
If you have yarn or clothing items that are in good condition and you'd like to recoup some of your investment, selling them online can be a great option. Platforms like Poshmark, Depop, and Etsy provide opportunities to sell your items to someone who is excited to make use of them. Or, if you’re interested in trading instead of buying and selling, consider exploring the Lucky Sweater app, which allows you to list your handmade, slow fashion, or vintage items for potential swaps. It's like Tinder for makers and sustainable fashion enthusiasts!
Hosting Swaps
Sometimes, the best way to find new homes for your craft supplies is by hosting a swap with friends or local crafting groups. Gather your unused items and invite others to bring theirs as well. You can organize a swap for any type of item, from yarn to clothes to home goods, allowing everyone to find treasures that spark joy. It's a fantastic way to connect with your community, share your love for fiber arts, and give new life to neglected pieces.
Supporting Secondhand Shops
In some neighborhoods, you'll find secondhand arts and crafts supply shops—my local one is Make and Mend—where you can donate your unused materials. These shops provide affordable options for students and artists in need of supplies. If there isn't a local shop nearby, consider donating your yarn to online platforms like Yarn for the Birds, where proceeds go towards bird rehabilitation projects. It's a win-win situation!
Yard Sales and Community Platforms
Traditional yard sales are still an effective way to rehome anything, including your yarn and clothing. Check if your neighborhood hosts an annual yard sale event or set up your own sale on your lawn. Additionally, explore local buy nothing groups, free and for sale groups, or zero-waste groups on platforms like Facebook and Nextdoor. These communities offer a hyper-local platform to list your items for free or a minimal cost, allowing you to help someone who needs those items while decluttering your own home.
Donating with Purpose
If you've exhausted all other options and still have items you can't find new homes for, consider donating them to thrift stores like Savers or Goodwill. Savers even offers coupons that can be used for shopping, allowing you to support sustainable choices when you’re ready to buy new (to you) pieces. You can plan your donations around your shopping needs for a more conscious cycle of consumption.
Rethinking Your Yarn Stash
As knitters, we often find ourselves with a stash of yarn that surpasses our knitting capacity. The term S.A.B.L.E. (Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy) is thrown around crafting spaces as a cute expression for having way more yarn than one could ever use in a lifetime. It essentially describes hoarding, but it’s seen as a funny or aspirational thing among knitters. Rather than promote this type of overconsumption, I think it's essential to be intentional about what we keep. Consider your future knitting projects and realistically assess what you can accomplish in the next year or so. Take into account changes in your style and preferences over time. Let go of yarns that no longer align with your knitting goals and find joy in passing them on to someone who will appreciate and use them to make something beautiful!
Spring cleaning doesn't have to be limited to closet clearing and deep cleaning. As knitters and makers, we have the opportunity to declutter our yarn stashes with intention. By reevaluating our collections and finding new homes for unused materials, we can contribute to a more sustainable and mindful knitting community. Whether through selling, trading, hosting swaps, supporting secondhand shops, or donating with purpose, we can give new life to these beautiful yarns. So, let's embrace decluttering and slower consumption and make room for more creativity and inspiration in our knitting spaces. Happy spring cleaning, friends!