Not as much as I thought

I've been organizing my stash by moving it to wire bins.

Here's what I've discovered:

1. I bought some yarn that I don't like when I first started to learn to knit. The yarn was on sale and I often bought all that was there. Deep discounts still thrill me (40% off or even 60% at my lys).
   
2. I find it easier to get rid of find new a new home for yarn that isn't wool, silk or another natural fiber.
   
3. I tend to buy enough yarn for a specific "type of" project (like sweater, vest, etc) when I discover a yarn that I really like. The Maggi Knits Linen is a good example. I bought ample to make a sweater vest.
   
4. I have enough projects to keep me knitting for at least 5 years if I complete one project a month. This does not include my sock stash.
   
5. I have a lot of nice sock yarn.
   
6. I am getting rid of sock yarn that I don't like.
   
7. I have a large number of unfinished projects that will take less than 15 hours each to complete. Good yarn that has been knitted up to the point that I need to concentrate on what I'm doing to finish. Some examples include my Tahoe handspun sweater vest that I only need to work the neck decreases, steek the sleeves and neck and pick up those edges to make the bands...the second sock that I started knitting while at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Fest in 2007....and the socks I'm knitting for NW using Yarmando's sock pattern. I just need to do the gusset increases.
   
8. Knitting books are multiplying in my house! I'm getting them all on LibraryThing so I know what I have.
   
9. Some of these knitting books are more interesting now than when I got them. (Purl Stitch)
   
10. Some are less interesting now than when I got them. (Loop-d-loop)
    
11. I have started to acquire some nice spinning fiber. Now I just need to sit down and spin, don't I?
    

I'm thinking though some of how to organize the yarn. I think the sock yarns need to be put together so enough yarn will be together and easy to find.

How do you organize your stash?

Sunday Update

I've been rather busy with work and have not posted. (duh)

I have been knitting. I figured out the scarf pattern that I was working on. Thanks for the comments! The pattern I created will be straightforward and won't need supplemental directions. What will be interesting is how to write up the "extra" stuff that I have learned when doing the sample. This includes color selection for example.

I've begun clearing out/organizing my yarn stash. I bought a lot of wire bins so I can display the yarn instead of using closed bins. What should I do with stash yarn that I no longer want? Will people be willing to buy the stuff from me? Pictures and updates later.

I've got friends in town and will enjoy movies and food with them tonight. I have the best friends. I might even take some photos.

knitSB and I have been watching Twin Peaks. I think he's hooked.

Stash Maintenance

Maintenance of one's stash can be a bit of a challenge.

I'm listening to a podcast for me called Stash and Burn. Have you heard it? These two ladies are trying to knit from their stash in 2007. Wendy also started to work on knitting from her stash in 2007. Her post got lots of people to think about knitting from their stash including rules that she and a friend decided on. Heck, even two ladies from my LYS tried to do this for a few months. Aunt Gerry won. Sock Princess lost.

I'm listening to the podcast and one of these ladies has put all of her stash into a spreadsheet so she knows exactly how much yarn she had in yards. Wow. I would imagine that she can also see how much she has of each yarn weight and color.

How do you monitor your stash?

• Have you created a great spreadsheet?
  
• Have a database set up?
  
• Throw everything into a bag and keep it in the closet?
  
• Do you even have a stash?
  

Do tell. Are you willing to share your document with me so I can put my own information in it? LOL