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WendyB
Permanent Resident
3262 Posts |
 Posted - 08/30/2006 : 8:03:11 PM
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My doctor told me matter-of-factly today that I probably have carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand (my dominant one) and I have to wear a brace and NOT KNIT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS!!!! After I came out of shock, I recorded the exact date and time I can start knitting again. Meanwhile, all I can do for fun is read and organize my yarn and needles and things while I wear my wrist brace.
Will anyone join me in this endeavor with their own stashes so I don't feel so lonely while I don't knit (aaaagh)? Go ahead. I challenge you to organize your own stash. 
I'm using space bags. Today I separated a bunch of full skeins from leftover skeins, and listed them in a spreadsheet. |
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Luann
Permanent Resident
USA
2155 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2006 : 07:00:06 AM
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I will join you Wendy - I organized my stash just one year ago and found a place for everything in our guestroom. In January, our guestroom will become a nursery, so I have got to make other arrangements for my knitting supplies! I know it won't harm the baby to share space with yarn for a while, but I figure if I don't get it all taken care of ahead of time, it will be an even bigger project to deal with. This weekend my husband and I are going to clean out my closet (fortunately, we each have our own) and see if we can make room for all my clothes in there, which would free up yarn storage space in other parts of the house. The big unknown right now is where the books will go - I have about 12 linear feet of knitting books and patterns to find a spot for. All of my other bookshelves are full, so I am going to need real inspiration for this one.
FWIW, I've been sidelined from knittng by the occasional tendonitis flare-up myself, and you are absolutely right to do what the doctor orders - nothing is better than rest. Be careful if you are lifting any bins or stacks of books while wearing the brace, you can still stress yourself even with it on (found that out the hard way!)
Luann
Knit and let knit!
This is not a blog:
http://www.luannocracy.blogspot.com |
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anderknit
Permanent Resident
USA
2201 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2006 : 07:07:33 AM
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I'm in. My stash is mostly organized by weight, but I have several bags of new yarn that hasn't made it in. Also, I have to move the whole thing out of one closet into another (smaller) space. What's the time frame, and what's the incentive???? I NEED incentives!
"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.' " |
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AuntyNin
Seriously Hooked
USA
758 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2006 : 07:35:50 AM
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Wendy, what a creative solution to not being allowed to knit! Good for you! With a long weekend coming up, I'd already planned time for sorting through the stash and getting (partially) organized. Which reminds me, time to pick up another supply of the huge ziploc bags...
AuntyNin
Everything happens for a reason, except possibly football. --- Terry Pratchett
http://home.earthlink.net/~lradiga1/ |
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beh2g
Chatty Knitter
USA
244 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2006 : 08:16:25 AM
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Wendy, I'm with you. :) I organized my stash last week, but I have a few new things that need to go home, as well as stray cords and needles that need to make it into their respective baggies. For those that have a lot of needles, here's what I do: get a key ring that's cute and pretty strong. Make ziploc baggies for each size of needle. I don't have a TON of each size, so I put all my needles of the same size in together (DPNs, circulars) and seal the bag shut. I then use a hole punch to punch a hole in the corner of each baggie, and put them all on the keyring in order of size. Works REALLY well if you knit a lot of sweaters; you've got your dpns for sleeves, your longer body needles, and smaller ones for details all in one bag. Whenever I go on vacation, I just take the whole baggie with me. (You could also theoretically put them into a three-ring-binder, to make a less messy space!)
2006 stats: 10 FO, 4 WIP, 1 UFO |
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WendyB
Permanent Resident
3262 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2006 : 08:38:11 AM
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It's great to have some company!
Luann, books are a tough one. We have way too many, it seems. I just don't have any ideas for you about that, except maybe storing in boxes the ones you know you won't look at for a long time and consolidating the rest.
I find it interesting that the doctor didn't say "don't work or use a mouse" (I write for a living). Instead, she said "don't knit." Anyway, I'm following orders.
anderknit, the incentive is that someday down the road you won't be lost among bags and boxes of yarn, wondering what you bought something for, and you'll know what you've got. I love having a spreadsheet now (Shelia here had headings for hers that I liked, so I adopted them). I love it, because I can tell at a glance what weights of yarn I have. My next goal will be to add a column for intended projects for the yarn. I don't know about timeframe. I just know I have two weeks in which I'm not supposed to knit, and I want to do something knitting-related in the meantime, and this qualifies.
So far I have about one huge space bag almost filled with future projects that need projects assigned (or reassigned) to them. I think I'll put all of my odds and ends in the smaller bags.
AuntyNin, thanks for joining in too!
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kdcrowley
Permanent Resident
USA
4772 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2006 : 08:46:00 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by AuntyNin
Wendy, what a creative solution to not being allowed to knit! Good for you! With a long weekend coming up, I'd already planned time for sorting through the stash and getting (partially) organized. Which reminds me, time to pick up another supply of the huge ziploc bags...
Yes, and then even more creative is to drag other away from their knitting too! [:00]
Kelley of the Hellacious Sockknitting
Going to He** for buying sock yarn during Lent, but at least my feet won't be cold.
www.ceallachdyes.com
http://ceallachknits.blogspot.com
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gwtreece
Permanent Resident
USA
7243 Posts |
Posted - 08/31/2006 : 09:15:28 AM
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Sorry to hear that you can't knit. Great idea to get organized.
Wanda
My Blog
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csutliff
Chatty Knitter
USA
281 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2006 : 12:54:07 AM
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that excell sheet is a great idea. I've been pushing that idea around in my head for my pocket pc so I don't buy duplicates and can note what I find I do actually NEED instead of buying blind. and I am in the middle of organizing. Bought the ten gallon ziplocs at sams club for big loads of like my felting wool and wool blends that aren't as special as my more expensive yarns which get smaller bag categories. I want to begin organizing my pattern sheets this weekend as I have the folders and sheet protectors for them now. I will join you and soryr you cant knit..I get tendonitis and I am so afraid it will flare up and block my knitting...I actually have felt twinges lately but have been living in denial. ugh..I should rest it...but I won't till its too late.argh, I make myself mad sometimes
Crystal
"Get your Knit On" http://www.freewebs.com/csutliff/
My Yahoo Knit Group!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michiganknitters/
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truly violet
Permanent Resident
6395 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2006 : 05:53:51 AM
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ok put shelves up around the room about a foot down from the ceiling
store stuff you don't need on a regular basis up there that will free up some lower space for knitting books etc.....
out of season clothes can be ziplocked and basketed to go up on those shelves...
holiday decorations the same....
I wouldn't say put the books up there cause if you use them alot then that's not a good idea
but you can put books up there that you only use once a year....
( I collect ghosts story books and halloween books........ so I could put them up like that )
vi
none of this will matter in 100 years.......
except I will finally be at my goal weight...vi
http://notashyviolet.blogspot.com/ ~now with chickens!
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kdcrowley
Permanent Resident
USA
4772 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2006 : 09:20:50 AM
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Vi, wish I could do that, but I live in Earthquake country.....high high shelves are pretty dangerous here.
Kelley of the Hellacious Sockknitting
Going to He** for buying sock yarn during Lent, but at least my feet won't be cold.
www.ceallachdyes.com
http://ceallachknits.blogspot.com
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Luann
Permanent Resident
USA
2155 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2006 : 09:33:21 AM
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Thanks for the idea, Vi - I do have a row of shelves going around my closet (the space is a weird shape, technically a walk-in, but about the size of a regular closet - the difference is that the door is on a short end rather than a long one) and that's where I plan to put my out-of-season clothes, in the bins freed up by moving much of my stash yarn into an antique dresser of my grandmother's. There's room in the closet for some of those "California Closet" drawers they sell at Target, so I'll use that for my socks, undies, etc. in order to free up the dresser.
Unfortunately, none of this solves my book/pattern problem. They need to be low enough to reach but out of the way. All of the shelves in my study are already full of other things (and I purged that area last week just to get it down to the bare bones) as are the bookshelves that line every single wall of my living room.
I'm hoping inspiration will strike once we get the project underway. In the meantime, the books can stay where they are for a bit - the real monster is the yarn stash!
Luann
Knit and let knit!
This is not a blog:
http://www.luannocracy.blogspot.com |
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WendyB
Permanent Resident
3262 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2006 : 12:40:46 PM
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I'm undergoing serious knitting withdrawal. I haven't knit since Wednesday at 3 p.m. Now I take my spreadsheet, knitting pattern notebooks, and Maggie Righetti's book, Sweater Design in Plain English, and Gathering of Lace everywhere I go. I still keep two projects in the car, even though I don't touch them. My stash is getting organized, slowly, but I don't know how much longer I can take this. I am constantly telling my hiusband "this is hard." I usually knit everywhere I go. Well, at least I'm really thinking hard about what I'm going to use my yarn for. The scribble ideas on the hard copy of the spreadsheet when I'm out somewhere.
As I unearth all the hidden skeins, I realize that I've got a lot more yarn than I remember getting. Rediscovering it is good.
It sounds like all of you are making progress, too. |
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Martheme
Sustaining Member
USA
1467 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2006 : 08:14:57 AM
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Hi Wendy
Sorry to hear you can't knit. I went through a few weeks of that with my wrist in a brace while I was pregnant . . . and I had so many baby things I wanted to work on!
Now it still flares up once in a while. . . I don't think lifting a 24lb toddler all day helps much!
I'm about to reorganize my stash and I'd love to do the spreadsheet thing but I think that part will have to wait. We are buying a house (sort of unplanned) and will be moving probably in February so I'll have to organize twice. Once to get it ready for the move and again when we get to the new house. I'm gaining a fiber room so that is a hugh plus . . . we're going for the home inspection later this week and one thing I will definately be doing is scoping out the storage possibilities in the new workspace . . . just so I can plan it out.
Good luck with you wrist.
Martheme
visit my sites:
http://www.inspirationsyarn.com
http://martheme.blogspot.com/ & the baby blog http://mimmot.blogspot.com |
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WendyB
Permanent Resident
3262 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2006 : 10:41:03 AM
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Thanks for the good wishes.
Martheme, that's exciting about your new house. That's a good opportunity to reorganize, especially since you're getting a fiber room! I wish you the best of neighbors, too.
Wendy |
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diamondgirl
Chatty Knitter
USA
194 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2006 : 07:46:19 AM
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Sympathy for your poor, abused carpal tunnel! I hope your organization goes well until you can knit again.
In the spirit of sisterly support, I pulled out my entire stash. Now it is all over my room, looking at me sarcastically.
I apparently have a little bit of every kind of yarn possible. I have no idea how I am going to organize this pile. I suppose by color works for now. No - I know what is going in one box; I was apparently a really, REALLY big fan of Bernat Boa at one point. I have enough to make a mock one of those giant, feathered capes that the Aztecs used to wear.
Third Generation Craft Ho |
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Luann
Permanent Resident
USA
2155 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2006 : 08:45:46 AM
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Wendy, I think I'm getting sympathetic carpal tunnel! Actually, it's probably pregnancy related. I usually get it on the right side but starting yesterday I'm gettting a tingling in my left hand whenever I reach or extend my arm. I've been sleeping on my left side a lot more than usual which is probably the cause. At any rate, I'm going to be off the needles for a couple of days myself. We've decided to completely overhaul my closet (it's a combination of about six different closet systems installed by various occupants over the years) so in the meantime, I'm going to start in on the stash-weeding out. Those of you coming to the KR Retreat should be forewarned, I'm going to be bringing a *lot* for the stash swap table! Knowing me, though, I'll probably bring home as much as I take... anyway, that's my stash organizationalong update.
Luann
Knit and let knit!
This is not a blog:
http://www.luannocracy.blogspot.com |
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sjanova
Seriously Hooked
USA
881 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2006 : 08:47:55 AM
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diamondgirl: Re that Bernat Boa -- I made a boa constrictor from the green/gold/bronze (called Mallard) -- from their little booklet of wild animals. Could be any color, I guess. Their other booklet of animals is cute too -- uses that same yarn. I made a black bunny (using another yarn, not Boa) and he turned out cute. If you know any kids (of any age) who need toys, that is. Otherwise, maybe that Boa stash could become a lot of scarves. Nice soft fuzzy scarves. 
sja |
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anderknit
Permanent Resident
USA
2201 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2006 : 06:36:57 AM
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Update: I've corralled all my yarn together into one room (my office), separated it into bins by weight, updated my Excel spreadsheet (OK, except for the mohair), and stored it in the closet. I have organized all my books and rearranged them on the shelves (technique, general pattern, specific pattern (hat, mitten, etc), and stitch-type compilations. Now, on to the files... I am thinking of putting all my leaflet patterns and stuff from the internet in binders, but I haven't gotten to that yet. And I have no idea what to do with my long single-point needles. Right now they are in one of those quilted rolls, but I hate that. It's not big enough to hold them all, and I have no idea where to keep it. But progress is progress, and I thank WendyB for getting me motivated. Hope your wrist/hand is feeling better and better every day.
"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.' " |
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AuntyNin
Seriously Hooked
USA
758 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2006 : 06:45:45 AM
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As Robbie Burns once wrote, "The best-laid plans o' mice an' men gang aft agley."
With the best intentions in the world, I began shifting yarn bins early Saturday morning. The first bin shifted easily; not so the second, which stuck and slipped, causing me to twist just wrong and pinch a nerve in my back.
Three days, major painkillers and heat packs later, I can just about manage to get around enough to get to w*rk.
Remind me not to listen to Wendy's bright ideas any more
AuntyNin
Everything happens for a reason, except possibly football. --- Terry Pratchett
http://home.earthlink.net/~lradiga1/ |
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Luann
Permanent Resident
USA
2155 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2006 : 06:59:53 AM
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AuntyNin - OUCH! Maybe we need to change the name of this thread to "the DL" or "stash-related mishaps" or something!
My current mystery is the two missing WIPs I had long expected to find in one particular "tub of doom." Finally got into that back corner yesterday, but they aren't there! Where could they be hiding? As if I needed any proof that this project was long overdue...
Luann
Knit and let knit!
This is not a blog:
http://www.luannocracy.blogspot.com |
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