A Bit Of History
2024 will be my third year into my project, and so far it has helped me and taught me a lot. Considering the comments on my YouTube videos, it appears this project also helps quite a few of you 🙂
You can find my first post and regulations here : https://knitnow491147447.wordpress.com/2022/01/04/my-yarn-no-buy-year-yarnnobuyyear/, and the second year adjustments here : https://knitnow491147447.wordpress.com/2023/01/07/my-yarn-no-buy-year-december-checkin-and-projects/
To make it short, I went overboard buying yarn at the end of 2021, was feeling really bad and uncomfortable about it, set up the project in 2022, using a set of self-drafter regulations, went overboard buying digital patterns during 2022, adjusted in 2023, went overboard again right at the end of 2023 with books and magazines, and am adjusting again !
2022
For the first year, 2022, I was allowing myself to buy yarn in person, a simple “rule” that I could fulfil. No buying yarn online, unless it is to finish a project or for a present and I do not have the proper yarn in stash. This went well as far as yarn was concerned. I relapsed on digital patterns, with the best reasons in the world : I want to support the creators, the patterns may disappear from the face of the internet, whatever other reason. And I relapsed hard. I bought so many patterns, most of them are still sitting on my computer and in my Ravelry library, using space and energy for not much other than my comfort, I know you are here little patterns .. Why ?
2023
For the second year, 2023, I adjusted my own regulations to buying digital patterns only when I was ready to cast them on, and made a special bundle on Ravelry to place all the ones I wanted to knit. I spent my year toying with this bundle, adding and removing patterns, and I only bought one (the Kallara Shawl by Ambah O’Brian), without feeling too much restriction. Perfect. I was doing really good, up to the very end of the year. And I bought a whole bunch of Pompom magazines and books after they announced they sadly were closing down, in addition to a Laine book that was in my wish-list, just because. I had been buying so much already, what was an additional 40€, right ?
No, not right, it was a relapse, may be because I was feeling my project was successful and what the heck. Or may be because it was not normal I almost did not spend anything on patterns and books this year. I’m not sure. What I know is all got loose and I spent a lot. I am happy with my purchases though, I love books and there is no such thing as too many books. I read them all, I browse through them, I love their smell, I love to have them by my side. Still, I bought all these ones for no real or practical reason. I was not ready to cast on.
Yes, Pompom prints won’t be available for long, I agree with that, but my so many other ones ? I have to reflect and ponder on this. Some of you have commented on my videos, and gave me input, your own guidelines and ideas. I am making some of these my own, thank you much for helping me out !
I also think that I had bought my “reward” in advance, when I had the opportunity to get a Chicagoo set at a discounted price. I won’t do that again and will wait to the very end of the year to, may be, get myself a “reward”. For now, I have no idea (first year I got a nice wooden swift and ball winder).
What Next : Updated Guidelines
- Yarn :
- I will continue allow myself to buy yarn in person only, and will limit to three sweater quantities during 2024 (if not practical, I may revise with an upper limit to five)
- I’ll buy yarn for presents if I do not have what I need in my stash
- I may also buy yarn to knit a project with stashed yarn
- I’ll also allow myself to buy replacement items, notions, needles etc. if any break or if I am in need of a special item for a special project
- Patterns, I will continue to buy digital patterns only when I am ready to cast-on
- Books and magazines, ie paper prints. I just said I love books and prints, the smell, the feel, and the reading process, over and over. So I’ll allow myself to buy five books or magasines this year. I’ll have to carefully reflect on these expenses
- I have no idea of a reward if everything goes well. I’ll see at the end of the year, may be some yarn I wanted to buy and did not ? A book ? Shortie needles ? DPNs ? I am not wanting anything for now
I dearly hope I’ll be able to address all the why’s during 2024 🙂
YouTube Videos : https://youtu.be/mpyeIpFneaA and https://youtu.be/qOOgkrU62iY
Audio Podcasts :
YouTube Podcast : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFG26xCx29MHHZc-D6hIWr4JOcH6xYETH
Apple Podcast : https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/my-knitting-world/id1712627511
Knit Now 