So with Cartoonist Baby scheduled to arrive in just 4-8 weeks, Cartoonist Husband and I have ramped up our mad decluttering frenzy (last mentioned here in the context of ruthless knit and woven fabric executions).
Our 850-square foot 2-bedroom Brooklyn apartment is fabulous, and quite large by New York standards. But like many artistic types, we have a serious clutter problem. Which we've been denying over the years by cramming everything we couldn't fit elsewhere into the guest bedroom closets and drawers--off-season clothes, Masheka's guitar, my college photography and anthropology projects, Masheka's college film reels, holiday decorations, fabric, yarns, camping equipment and travel gear, freelance cartooning files we have to keep for tax purposes, every single diary or sketchbook I've ever kept, old letters and mementos from friends and family, photo albums, art supplies...
And now it ALL has to go somewhere else--or just GO. Once Cartoonist Baby outgrows her bedside bassinet, that's going to be her room -- and my mother's room, since my amazing mom is going to be watching our girl during the week when my 12-week maternity leave is up.
The process has been agonizing, to say the least. Sure, we've made big strides in the following areas:
- Clothing clutter: We've taken at least 10 bags worth to the local Goodwill in the last four months alone. This is made easier by my pregnancy--I can't try things on and go "well, MAYBE that could work if I just..." No, it couldn't. And if something was already too small BEFORE I was pregnant, keeping it is just self-flagellation. I've also sold about 7 pairs of shoes on eBay, and donated 3 or 4 more to Goodwill.
- Furniture clutter. We replaced the HUGE drafting table in our bedroom with a teensy folding one--we do most of our art digitally now anyway. My parents replaced the king-sized guest bed with a comfy folding couch bed. My bedside table has made way for our Arm's Reach Mini Bassinet.
- Random things we haven't used in years clutter: Goodbye, George Foreman grill--the broiler works better anyway.
- Stuff we won't be using for a long time clutter: We've loaned the camping stuff to my parents indefinitely.
- Book clutter: We've gotten rid of over 150 books via Amazon and Goodwill... leaving just 1,600 stacked 2 or 3 deep on a multitude of bookshelves. Progress, right?!
Other areas? Not so much. Art supplies are hard--I find it physically painful to throw away or donate a perfectly nice box of partly-used artist's pastels... even though I haven't drawn with pastels in over 10 years. Sentimental and creative stuff is even harder--some objects can be quickly photographed and then trashed (set lists from punk shows I saw in my teens, weird quilts I made from old T-shirts), but what to do with my boxes of letters and diaries and photos? As for all the paper-based business and other files, we HAVE to keep them for tax and other purposes. But the file cabinet is already full...
So, we're working on it.
Which brings me to the subject I've been avoiding: the yarn stash. As much as it pains me, it has just GOT to go. Cartoonist Husband and I have eight large storage drawers in the giant wall-to-wall bookshelves my father built in the livingroom, and I am currently hogging six: four with fabric, patterns and sewing notions, and two with yarn. Some of which can be seen on my Ravelry stash page...
It's not that I don't knit at all anymore--but since an intense bout with repetitive stress injury two years ago, I am a GLACIAL knitter. In order to preserve my hands and wrists for graphic design and cartooning, I knit maybe 1-2 hours a week, usually just during my weekly knitting group. At that pace, I'll still be working from my existing stash when Cartoonist Baby has gone off to college. (Luckily, machine sewing doesn't bother my hands at all--there are too many different varied movements involved).
So most of the yarn has to go (with the exception of the stuff I handdyed, and the Malabrigo, and the alpaca and...). And I don't really have any experience with yarn destashing--is it worth my time and trouble to try and sell the stuff on eBay or Etsy, or should I just donate it? And if I donate it--where to? I asked my knitting group but most of them are wrestling with stash problems of their own and have different tastes.
Please don't mourn for my knitting--I can always buy yarn for a specific project when I need it. At my pace, there is never a yarn emergency where I could possibly be stuck without something to knit.
Also, renting storage space? NOT an option. We tried that before and it was just a clutter-enabling money suck. If something isn't beautiful or useful enough to fit in the apartment as it is, well--it's just got to go.
If you don't want to tote it to Goodwill (and if you are willing to forgo the tax donation) you can Freecycle it (freecycle.org). Good luck with the de-stashing!
ReplyDeleteRose in SV
Oh, of course--not sure why I didn't think of that! Though I worry about having to coordinate a pickup... still, a great idea!
ReplyDeleteGoodwill takes yarn? We donate a lot of clothes, books and household goods there but didn't know if yarn would just get thrown out.
You are so smart to be decluttering before the baby arrives. You can't even imagine how much space those little monkies take up! Not till you're in the midst of it will you be grateful to have made room now.
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ReplyDeleteI'd list it on the destash group on Ravelry. Just change it to sell/trade in your stash, add prices (I always include US shipping, it's easier) and post a note in the group so people go look. It doesn't look like you have a lot of large amounts, but I have found people will buy lots of odd balls. Can't hurt to try! Donating is hard... Goodwill etc doesn't take yarn. Some charity groups use it, but I wouldn't know where to start!
ReplyDeleteI feel you on the decluttering thing. I am ruthless when it comes to throwing things away, but my husband is the opposite, so it's a struggle!
I'm feeling slightly better about the set of oils that are languishing in my garage as I sit here... I can ruthlessly toss many things, but I can't seem to give up the oldest of art supplies. As for yarn, I think freecycling is a great idea, but I'm also pretty sure that Goodwill (or the like) will take anything they can sell. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI'm new to reading your blog....and just wanted to chime in with another idea to give the yarn a new home! I would bet that there are numerous non-profit orgs in your area that help out low-income people with household needs and would love yarn to pass on. Additionally, any non-profit working with youth and the arts would probably love some extra craft supplies. Perhaps your local Boys and Girls Club would have a great use for the pastels and yarn.
ReplyDeleteI worry that listing stuff on Ravelry might take too long to sell, especially since I have so many odd balls of yarn--I do have some where I have seven or eight of one color, but mostly I was planning to do colorwork, so there are a lot of one and two ball lots...
ReplyDeleteIf you just want them out of the house, donation is the most efficient way to go.
ReplyDeleteIf you care about who receives your items, or if you are hoping to recoup some lost costs, then you'd need to sell it (ebay, etsy, ravelry) - but packing items to ship, shipping, and keeping track of correspondence is time-consuming and burdensome.
Such lovely stuff! I can see your reason for conflict. It seems like Freecycle would be a quick fix provided someone would be interested.
ReplyDeleteWell if you have any sock yarn you want to part with I'd be interested :)
ReplyDeleteBut I'd also suggest selling things in lots, like selling all the colors of Cascade 220 you have together, if you're looking to move things out quicker. I've destashed some stuff on Raverly's Selfish Knitters swap thread and things usually go quickly on that thread.
Are there any charity knitting groups nearby? I know some religious organizations and schools have groups that knit for various causes, e.g. hats for babies, scarves for the homeless, etc.
ReplyDeleteChurches will very often take yarn donations and love you for it. The ladies at my church spend all year knitting things to sell at the church's Christmas fair. If you call up a few church offices I promise you'll find someone who wants it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Materials for the Arts would be another possible place to donate? http://www.mfta.org/
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks for all the great ideas everyone! I'm tentatively thinking I'll sell the nicer stuff that I have larger amounts of in eBay lots, and will donate/give away the rest (I actually saw on Freecycle that a local group that knits baby hats for preemies needed yarn, though I don't know if mine is soft enough)... I'll let you all know how it goes.
ReplyDeleteI didn't have a lot of yarn when I stopped knitting (thanks to my pregnancy-induced hyperemesis); the yarn I had lots of (enough for a sweater) did really well on ebay and it was quick. Smaller amounts I just tossed because I couldn't find a place to take them. But you can donate yarn to the Kateri Sewing Group I've written about, I have a big box of notions and fabrics going out to them this week.
ReplyDeleteFor books, Powell's is awesome - just input all your isbns, they'll tell you what they want and what they'll pay, then GIVE YOU the mailing label, prepaid! All you have to do is get it all in a box (or five) and send them off. Cash or credit (I always take credit, lol).
I know that you were primarily posting about your yarn stash but I did notice you mention art supplies.
ReplyDeleteI recommend donating art supplies to schools and after school programs because so many art classes are tragically under-funded.
As for the yarn: maybe you could invite a bunch of friends over and have a swap.
(Here via SewRetro)
You are wise to be finding the space now. As the years progress, I'm amazed at what my preschool daughter collects. We've not bought her much -- people just give her things and we buy her small things and she's all wonderfully delighted at each one, savouring each. Now she turns all sorts of recyling items into new creations. Considering your child comes from the genes of two creative people, she'll likely also be making all sorts of wonderful things....that take up space...
ReplyDeleteA couple ideas: old folks' homes would LOVE your yarn. Schools too. My daughter's kindergarten teacher also loves getting all my little fabric scraps and trims.
ReplyDeleteFor paper- you can scan the documents and create a pdf file. I don't know if you have access to one, but my work has a copier that has scanning capability. I can have it email the scanned file of up to about 45 pages to myself, then I forward the email to my personal email address. From there, you can save it onto your computer and/or keep it in an email folder. Then I can shred the originals. HTH!
A couple ideas: old folks' homes would LOVE your yarn. Schools too. My daughter's kindergarten teacher also loves getting all my little fabric scraps and trims.
ReplyDeleteFor paper- you can scan the documents and create a pdf file. I don't know if you have access to one, but my work has a copier that has scanning capability. I can have it email the scanned file of up to about 45 pages to myself, then I forward the email to my personal email address. From there, you can save it onto your computer and/or keep it in an email folder. Then I can shred the originals. HTH!
Just have to add - on the document scanning, our accountant does NOT recommend this for the tax documents. As "creatives" we have a lot of odd deductions and receipts, which you probably do. Scans would be very easy to manipulate, originals the IRS will have to accept if you are audited. YMMV, ask your accountant before you think about this one.
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