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Hidden Treasures

Writer's picture: Rebecca (a yarn enthusiast)Rebecca (a yarn enthusiast)

Earlier this year I made a commitment (to myself) to shop my stash FIRST when beginning a new project. As part of that initiative, I ALSO committed to finishing in-progress projects that I find tucked away, or rewinding the yarn into a ball/skein if it's one of those "I have NO idea what this is!"

crocheting, baby blanket, yarn
C2C stitch, Charisma yarn (Sapphire-multi & white)

I tend to put in-progress projects in a separate tote/bag and include the hook, if nothing else. This helps a LOT and I can usually pick up the pattern and continue - even if it's been a couple years (yay for muscle memory!).


As I jumped back into this latest project (baby blanket, photo above), I noticed that I felt the same way as I do when bringing home new yarn and beginning a new project. For example, I enjoyed the act/action of crocheting, took satisfaction in watching the piece grow (which was jump-started since I already had a good start to it) and felt an extra bit of gratification as I was clearing something out of a corner or storage area that could be put to better use.


I have written before about the healing power of simple tasks, like washing the dishes. I will point out that I really don't LIKE doing dishes; but the benefit of having a clean, clear, free and open kitchen sink is worth it! The pick-up of an in-progress project is similar, if not better!


While many (most?) of us would choose browsing in the yarn aisle at the local store (due to the excitement of new yarn and therefore the dopamine release in our brains), a more mindful approach can reproduce nearly the same levels of joy and excitement that shopping does. In addition, when we're picking up an "abandoned" project to complete, we feel the satisfaction of finishing something that was just hanging around, undone. The clearing out of half-finished projects provides a similar sense of satisfaction, PLUS - it's almost free since it's money we've already spent.


It has been fascinating to me (enlightening?) to learn, in real time, how much POWER there is in the simplest of actions. A cluttered and anxious brain can be calmed by methodical tasks like washing dishes, running the vacuum or folding a basket of laundry. A melancholy mood can be boosted with a fiber arts project, regardless of the difficulty of the pattern, origin of the yarn or intended recipient of the finished item!


PRO TIP: Self-care is important, so I make things for myself almost as much as I make them for others. When we are crocheting, knitting or sewing to self-soothe, making things for ourselves removes a layer of "worry" or concern around whether the yarn/fabric or pattern is something "acceptable" for another person. I compare this to taking a walk around the block to clear our head; not to arrive at some physical destination.


Committing to shop our stashes (yarn and/or fabric!) and to finishing partially-completed projects is a way to clear out our crafting corners, lessen the impact of "craft spending guilt", and free us mentally to be able to MINDFULLY choose new fabric or yarn when we are ready.



"Mindful Shopping is an extension of the practice of mindfulness (keeping your attention in the present moment). It includes maintaining your full awareness when you shop, so you avoid unhealthy spending habits like impulse buys, guilt-driven purchases, overspending, or supporting unethical brands."

The article goes on to outline what "mindful shopping" looks like. The focus of the article is on holiday shopping, so I've taken their general gift-shopping advice and edited it for those of us who are prone to excess when shopping for craft supplies.

:

  • Buying only what we need – even if we have a hard time saying ‘no’ to new colors of yarn, cute fabric patterns, etc..

  • Choose quality over quantity! Resisting the urge to buy multiple skeins of yarn because they're on sale, or because we love the color combos or texture.

    • As it relates to yarn, especially; this means researching the environmental impact of products before we buy.

    • I confess that if ALL of my yarn purchases had been environmentally considered, my current yarn stash would be less than 1/2 the size that it is today because the cost of natural fibers would have limited my acquisitions!

      • this means less work cleaning it out, and less guilt!


I'll close with this thought: as I work to bring more intention and mindfulness to my crocheting, knitting and sewing projects, I will consider these points (above) when shopping for new supplies. This does NOT mean that I will never over-buy; never purchase non-natural fibers or never shop emotionally. I am, after all, human. It DOES mean that I am working on being a more MINDFUL version of myself.


Why?


Because at the end of the day - these behaviors benefit ME most of all. Engaging in what some may deem radical self-care not only helps us, it's a great way to teach others how we want to be treated.


Living our lives as examples can be an important lesson for our inner circles as well as the world.


The title of this blog post is "Hidden Treasure", and when I started writing about my half-finished crochet project, I thought that this captured precisely the description of my discovery. In writing about it, I realized that the real treasure is in the lesson that a tote bag with partially-used skeins of yarn and a project-in-progress were able to share with me. The pearl of wisdom in this, for me, is the knowledge about the CHOICES I have, moving forward.


We are often told that knowledge is power. I believe that it is also contentment, peace and even a form of prosperity.


Here's to that sentiment, and in this spirit,... let's "Go Grab Some Yarn" from our stashes!!!

 

(C) 2024 Stitch 'n Dish

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