The Yarn Stash Dilemma

If you’ve been crocheting for more than five minutes, you already know about the stash. That ever-growing pile, bin, or closet that seems to multiply on its own. It starts innocently enough. A skein or two from the clearance aisle. A colorway you swore you needed for a project that never actually left Pinterest. A leftover ball from the blanket you almost finished. Next thing you know, you’ve got yarn spilling out of baskets, shoved under the bed, or crammed in tote bags you “forgot” about.

And here’s the truth: the stash isn’t just yarn. It’s a living scrapbook of your crochet journey.

That variegated skein you bought because it reminded you of a desert sunset? Still there. The neon pink you thought would make a killer summer tank top? Yeah, that one didn’t happen, but it’s a reminder that you were willing to take a risk. The giant pile of neutrals? That was the “everyone wants beige blankets” season of your life. And tucked in the corner, that single lonely skein you’ve been saving because no project feels good enough for it—it’s your white whale, and we all have one.

The yarn stash is comfort and chaos rolled into one. On good days, it’s possibility. At midnight, when inspiration strikes and you want to start something new, the stash has your back. You dig in, pull out a color that feels right, and off you go. But on bad days? It’s guilt stacked in rainbow order. Every half-finished project, every “someday” plan, staring at you from the corner like a pile of broken promises.

But here’s the thing—your yarn stash is not a burden. It’s proof that you’re a maker. It’s the receipts of your creativity, sitting there quietly, waiting for their turn. And honestly, it’s part of the fun. You don’t just “use up” a stash—you grow with it.

Organizers will tell you to sort it by weight, by color, by fiber content. And sure, if that makes your heart sing, do it. Color-coded shelves of yarn look like art installations on their own. But some of us live for the chaos. We like digging through bins like a treasure hunt, finding that perfect skein at the bottom we forgot existed. Sometimes, the mess sparks the project—it’s not a cardigan you planned, it’s a cardigan that chose you.

And if you’re worried about having “too much yarn,” let me stop you right there. There’s no such thing. Having a stash doesn’t mean you’re wasteful or hoarding. It means you’re prepared. It means you have inspiration sitting in physical form, ready to become whatever you need it to be when the moment hits. People collect books they might not read right away. Gardeners keep seeds in drawers for seasons to come. Makers collect yarn.

So the next time you feel guilty about that mountain of skeins in the corner, remember this: your stash isn’t clutter—it’s potential. It’s comfort. It’s a reminder that you’re someone who creates. And that’s never something to apologize for.

And if anyone tries to shame you for having “too much yarn,” just remind them: at least you’re stockpiling something useful. When the world falls apart, guess who’s going to be warm? The one with the stash.