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OMG! I’M SWIMMING IN YARN……

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I’ve just learned that my beloved mother in law is coming to stay for several months.  Have to make room for her.  Seriously.  What to do with all the yarn/books/hooks/magazines/print outs/etc in the ‘yarn room’ that will be her bedroom?  I’ve spent the past TWO days – no kidding, hours and hours – organizing, boxing, winding, cutting, sorting, etc this mess.

yarn-mess-1-0809

Does it help to know that I have ADD?  Does it help to know that I’m a rotten housekeeper?  Does it help to know that I’ve been working way more hours lately than my supposedly part time job usually calls for?  Does it help to know that much of the stuff in this room was given to me?

No!  None of that knowledge is either an excuse or a solution to this mess.  So far, I’ve sorted and boxed many skeins of yarn, way too many computer print outs of patterns, and an astonishing number of UFO’s that have simply been abandoned.

The ADD part for an adult who is supposed to be the main housekeeper is this:  If I can’t see it, I don’t know I own it!  Well, I know in a vague way that I own lots of yarn, patterns, hooks, etc.  And, I may recall in a more specific way that I have lots of red and black RH yarn.  But, for the life of me, I cannot tell you -even having recently culled through this mess – if I have enough of anything to crochet a sweater or if I have a G hook in rosewood or even if I have a pattern for a Christmas doily.  I’m sure I have all of the above, but I don’t KNOW it.

So, forgive my mess and know that it will be to the advantage of my readers that there will be lots Lots lots of contests soon to receive the overflow of my yarn trove, hooks that I’ll never use, and duplicate pattern mags and books.  Don’t go far.  I’m gonna unload these things over the next few months and you’ll ALL have a good shot at winning some.

Note:  In the interest of full disclosure, the picture above is from an LB blog.  I CANNOT find my camera in all this mess.  Surprised??

Comments

  1. Holy cow. I could have written this post a few weeks ago!!!! I just cleaned out my room for my MIL and discovered the same situation. I don’t know what I have without it being out in the open. And I certainly don’t have enough of anything to finish a project of significance. And now that everything’s clean, I’m almost frozen with fear to let it all explode again. But I have to dig things out somehow and pack a few knit/crochet projects to take on the go for traveling and don’t even know where to begin.

  2. I’m in a similar state as we’re converting my office/craft room into the nursery for our first baby – due in early Nov. – I know I have some time yet, but we started tackling it this weekend and- whew! where do I move it?! Good luck to you and keep your head … above the yarn!

  4. My yarn collecting obsession has become so huge! The first thing that came to mind as I was rushing home the other day (after an ADD episode where I left the oven on with sculpey clay in it and left the house for 3 hours) was, what if the house is on fire? How will I replace all of that yarn?? My goal now is to use up what I’ve got and try to resist collecting for a while. 🙂

  5. Me too! I’m the same way–if I cant see it it doesn’t exist. The house is always a little messy–not gross, just messy. Yard and minivan too because I have to have everything out where I can see it.
    I even took the doors off the kitchen cupboards so I could find things when I cook (it looks a little weird but it works for me). I didn’t know this was a symptom of ADD and I really didn’t know anyone else had the same problem (I’m an enigma in my family). Thank you for sharing and please dont let me win any of your contests–you know why : )
    Jill

  6. Are you my twin?? I do have the yarn semi-contained, but it is stuffed in nooks and crannies everywhere the bags (and boxes) will fit. Plus loosely contained WIP bags…

    I also have about the same volume of beading “stuff”…. A patio full of those containers, etc., and WIPs on the dining table… my dresser… bookcases……

  10. Don’t feel you’re alone. I finally got my yarn stash organized – and now I won’t allow a yarn to go into my closet until it’s on the list. It’s the only way to keep track.
    Now as for patterns and books … um, that’s a whole ‘nuther situation.

  11. If you really want to hang on to some of that “stuff” then try underbed storage boxes for every bed in the house. And bed skirts ( a simple 10-12in. strip of fabric pleated and pinned to the box spring) work wonders. Then there are the slyly disguised double stack sofa table (4 bins) and the end tables from those nice storage boxes. Of course they’re covered with a lovely coordinating drapery/upholstry remnants or clearance fabrics from JoAnne Fabrics. Those bigger bins also fit nicely under your hanging clothes in the closet and as a bonus you can put your shoes on top so you don’t have to bend over so far! : ) If it were fall I’d suggest the attic. Who needs a linen closet? Turn it into an organized stash space by putting the towels under the bathroom sink and giveing everybody the sheets that fit their bed to put in a drawer in their room. I have lots more ideas! Ever seen a boys room that had a train shelf running the perimeter of the room. Then what’s wrong with a lovely collection of the same size plastic shoe or photo boxes bordering a room? Makes sense to me. Ok, Ok, I’ll stop. Can you tell I’ve been through this a few times? : )

  12. Well gal this really makes my day here.. we too had company the last two months and I really cleaned up things too and found stuff I didn’t know I even started… I do have two of those unfinished projects done now and another one to be done soon… then I have one more that a friend started and her eyes got bad so will work on that after the one afghan I have going for myself… then not sure what after that… so I truly think we are all alike in so many ways… so when I read stories like this one.. I dearly love it and it really makes my day… Nancy

  14. I’ve just moved and have finally put all the yarn in one place! Since I am a stasher I seriously didn’t know how much I had since it was under every bed, in cabinets, closets – the car! It’s out of control. My mom had yarn that was twenty years old in the back of her stash (nice stuff too!) Nice to know the rest of the knitting world has this stash problem!

Have you read?

Granny Square Along by Lori Holt: A Crochet Book for Lovers of Vintage Colour

There is something about a colourful granny square that never seems to lose its charm. Perhaps it is the familiar clusters of stitches, perhaps it is the endless colour combinations, or perhaps it reminds us of a blanket that lived on someone’s sofa for about thirty years and was still everyone’s favourite.

Lori Holt’s Granny Square Along Crochet Book, part of her Cozy Crochet Series, leans beautifully into that nostalgic appeal. If you enjoy her scrappy, vintage-inspired style, this collection brings that same feeling to crochet.

What catches my attention is the focus on giving those squares a purpose. Making granny squares is wonderfully absorbing. Turning the growing pile beside your chair into something useful is sometimes where enthusiasm needs a little encouragement.

This is a review-style look at the book’s published details and project previews, rather than a hands-on assessment of every pattern.

What Is Granny Square Along?

Published by It’s Sew Emma, Granny Square Along by Lori Holt of Bee in my Bonnet is a 91-page, spiral-bound crochet book containing 13 projects.

It is Lori’s first crochet book, and the inspiration is personal: her grandmother taught her to crochet granny squares. That connection suits the collection’s traditional, colourful character.

The spiral binding is a particularly practical detail. A book that can lie flat beside your work is much more appealing than one that keeps closing just as you reach the next instruction. We have enough to keep track of without recruiting a mug to hold the page open.

More Than Another Granny Square Blanket Book

The project selection is the strongest selling point for me.

Alongside an afghan, the collection includes cushions, bunting, a scarf, stockings, jar cozies and a project bag. Smaller makes include a pincushion, bow, sewing book and potholder.

That variety gives the book appeal beyond one large project. You might choose a small decorative piece first, then return later for something more substantial.

The sewing-related projects are especially interesting for readers who move between crochet, quilting and embroidery. A handmade pincushion or sewing book feels right at home beside a fabric stash, and it offers a lovely opportunity to coordinate your crafts.

If you already enjoy our colourful granny crochet bag feature, this collection has a similar appeal: familiar squares used in cheerful, practical ways.

The Vintage Colour Appeal

What draws me to this style is the way small pieces of colour can create something with real personality.

Granny squares lend themselves to that collected, patchwork-like look. You can repeat a carefully chosen palette or introduce more colours while keeping a consistent background or finishing shade.

For a crocheter who also loves scrappy quilts, that is an appealing connection. Both crafts let you play with colour in manageable little sections before bringing everything together.

There is also room to make the overall look your own. If bright combinations are not your thing, a quieter palette might suit your home better. Just remember that changing the yarn itself involves more than choosing different colours.

Is This Crochet Book Suitable for Beginners?

Fat Quarter Shop lists the book as intermediate, and its accompanying introduction says it is not intended for complete beginners.

My recommendation would be to approach it once you are comfortable with basic crochet stitches and working a granny square. An adventurous beginner may enjoy progressing through the projects, but someone learning to hold a hook for the first time will need foundational instruction first.

The book includes written instructions and partial diagrams. That combination may appeal if you like having a visual reference alongside the text, although partial diagrams should not be mistaken for complete charts of every project.

Before tackling a larger square-based make, it is also worth becoming comfortable with finishing. Our guide to joining crochet pieces with mattress stitch explains one useful technique. Follow the book’s specified joining method for your chosen project.

Check the Yarn Before You Shop

The recommended yarn is Lori Holt’s Chunky Thread, which Fat Quarter Shop identifies as #2 weight.

That is worth noticing because the name could easily send you looking for a much thicker yarn. Check the actual yarn specification rather than choosing by the word “chunky.”

Most projects use a 3.5 mm hook, while designs worked with two strands use a 4.5 mm hook. Follow each pattern’s individual requirements.

If you want to substitute yarn, compare fibre, weight and yardage, then check your gauge and the finished fabric. A replacement can change the size, drape and structure of a project, particularly a bag or fitted cover.

And while the scrappy appearance is tempting for stash busting, it does not mean every leftover ball will work together. Those odds and ends still need to be compatible. The yarn basket may have other ideas.

Who Would Enjoy Granny Square Along?

I would put this book on the shortlist for crocheters who:

  • Love Lori Holt’s vintage-inspired aesthetic
  • Enjoy granny squares and want ideas beyond blankets
  • Prefer a physical pattern book beside their work
  • Like smaller handmade gifts as well as larger projects
  • Move between crochet, sewing and quilting

It is less suited to someone seeking a comprehensive learn-to-crochet manual or a collection focused on garment design.

For more ideas about what your finished squares can become, our guide to different ways of joining granny squares offers further inspiration. Different joins can give similar motifs quite different personalities.

Is Granny Square Along Worth a Look?

For me, the appeal is the combination of a familiar crochet motif, a cohesive vintage style and a useful range of projects.

A book earns its place on the craft shelf when you can picture yourself returning to it. Here, the mix of small accessories, home decorations and a larger afghan gives readers several possible starting points.

Before buying, browse the project previews and ask yourself which designs you would actually make. If several immediately catch your eye, that is a better reason to purchase than simply liking the cover. Although a pretty craft-book cover has persuaded plenty of us before.

You can view Granny Square Along by Lori Holt at Fat Quarter Shop, including the current price and availability.

For anyone who loves the comforting rhythm of granny squares, this looks like an inviting collection to explore. There is something satisfying about turning a small, familiar square into an object you can use, display or give to someone. And having a project in mind might finally help that basket of squares graduate from “lovely possibilities” to something finished.