Which came first: the project or the yarn?

Hi everyone,
I’m so often torn. Sometimes I have a specific project in mind and buy the yarn for it.

BUT, it’s often the case that I see some yarn and just order it or buy it in person. It’s beautiful—I really like it—but I have no idea what I’m going to make with it. Sometimes both approaches complement each other, but often really beautiful yarn sits in the closet for a long time. Even the rational urge to finally use up the yarn doesn’t really work that well.

Please be so kind as to make me feel like I’m not alone in this. Otherwise, I’d have to seriously rethink my yarn orders and purchases.

I’m curious to hear about your experiences.
Warm regards
Petra

Oh Petra,
that sounds so familiar.

Gorgeous yarn sits in the closet, waiting for a project.

On the other hand, projects swirl through my head, and I can’t find the right yarn.

It’s good to know I’m not the only one who feels this way 😉. 

For me, the yarn arrives first, and then I think about what I could make with it.

Recently, I emptied out my yarn drawer to see what I had.
Now I want to make a blanket for the sofa—assuming I have enough yarn for it.

You’re not alone.

Yesterday I rearranged a section of my closet—out with the yarn, in with the flower vases.

  That’s when I came across such a beautiful skein of yarn. I bought it many years ago simply because I liked it so much. Despite thinking about it intensely, I have no idea what I could make with it.

I just can’t walk past beautiful yarn without picking it up. Actually, I can’t walk past any shelf with yarn. Thank goodness there’s also plenty on those shelves that I don’t like and wouldn’t want to take home. 

For me, the idea usually comes first, whether it’s for knitting or sewing. I usually work through the whole thing in my head first, figuring out if it’ll actually work or if I need to rethink it.☺️ Once the idea is ready, I check if I have enough materials or if I need to go out and buy some.🤩😁

Love, Inge

As Roy Black sang back in the day: you are not alone... and you really aren’t, Petra.

It often happens to me that I’m looking for yarn for a specific project, but it doesn’t work out. Instead, other yarn jumps into my shopping cart before I can stop it. (I really do try!)
That’s the infamous “jumping yarn” that lies treacherously in wait on the shelves, waiting for a victim.

Most of the time, it sits at home for quite a while waiting to be used. Then, once I’ve found the right project for it, I spot a few more balls at the store and have to rethink my plans all over again.
We “yarn fanatics” don’t have it easy...

Best, Marlies     

😊😊😊😊😊😊
Welcome to the club.

I feel the same way.
I very often buy yarn that I like without having a project in mind for it yet.😐
Those clearance sales are especially dangerous.😲🤭🤭
And then I also have a bunch of patterns but no yarn for them yet.😐

Then I go through my yarn stash again—and then “the yarn tells me what it wants to become”—this works especially well with Bobbels. 😁😁

And just like that, I get started.😜

It’s similar with amigurumi projects. Especially when I use completely different colors than in the original pattern.

But I prefer having a larger stash at home.