No Guilt Stash

I've been thinking about stash lately, spurred on by various posts and comments throughout Blogland. There seemed to be a theme, of trying to knit down stash, or apologizing for stash, or judging other people's stash, and I kept feeling that one's yarn inventory shouldn't be the cause of so much angst. Bells and I put our heads together (in a virtual sort of way, that is) and came up with the concept of No Guilt Stash. Because truly, in this world of ours, there are bigger things to stress about and protest besides stash. I love yarn, in all its potential and for its own inherent beauty, too. Thus, we present the No Guilt Stash Manifesto. If you would also like to proclaim your release from stash-related guilt, we invite you to grab a button (just the image, not the bandwidth, please). Please link back to this post*. Knit on.

No Guilt Stash Manifesto

I will neither defend nor apologize for my stash. My yarn brings me joy, and therefore brings others in my life joy.

Through my hands I do good in the world. I knit with love for friends, family, and strangers. Yarn is my medium.

I promise not to let my stash acquisition interfere with personal relationships or financial health; yet neither will I give in to pressure from significant others to reduce my stash.

I will not judge others' stash. I can admire it, be inspired by it, even covet certain skeins, but it is not my place to pass judgment on quantity or quality.

I recognize that stash management is personal. I fully intend to knit my beautiful yarns, but I refuse to be guilted into doing so on anyone's schedule other than my own.

I understand that it may take many years for a yarn to reveal its destiny, and that yarns that have been in my stash for a seemingly long time just haven't met their correct pattern. I won't feel guilty about this.

I also recognize that yarn can have many destinies. It can be a reminder of a special trip, a friend, a time in one's life. It can be comfort or inspiration. It doesn't always need to be knitted to fulfill its destiny. I accept that some yarns in my possession may never be knit by me.

I believe in the karmic properties of stash. I willingly share with other knitters, and I realize the stash, like love, will grow when it is shared.

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*To grab the button, right click to save the image to your own computer, then upload it to your server. If you create your own button, please let us know so we can make it available to others. To link back, type in the following code, inserting the image code where it says to INSERT IMAGE CODE HERE. (You can click on the code to make it bigger.)