Is There Such a Thing as a Perfect Yarn Stash?

I have gathered a lot of yarn through the years of being a professional writer about knitting. Some of it is great, and some of it isn’t. Some of it just isn’t great for me, and would do better in someone else’s stash, or, even better, with someone who would knit with it.

I believe that having some stash is good. You don’t always want to have to run to the store when the mood hits to start a new project, and it’s nice to have all that potential just sitting in your house. But it can definitely get out of control.

So I found this article on Post Stitch’s blog really interesting. It’s about how to build the perfect yarn stash. It suggests that knitters should keep a variety of weights on hand, should stock up mostly on solid colors (because they’re easier to combine in projects) and should remember that, unless you only knit one skein projects, sometimes buying more than one of the same thing is a good idea.

They also suggest keeping your stash organized and documented using Ravelry or their printable yarn stash cards, which are really cute and maybe an easier way to keep track than loading it all into Ravelry. (Though I’d like a spot on the card where you could indicate where the yarn is stored, since I have yarn in a couple of different places in my house.)

Do you think it’s possible to have a perfect stash? What would that mean to you? (For me, a perfect stash would like in a TARDIS-like closet and all hanks would be self-winding!) I’d love to hear your thoughts.

[Photo via Post Stitch.]

There’s something wonderfully charming about a knitted crown. It’s playful, useful for the dress-up basket, and just the sort of small project that gives a leftover ball of yarn a proper purpose. Much better than letting it roll around the cupboard for another three years.

This free knitted crown pattern for kids and adults combines a simple garter-stitch band with shaped triangular points. The mustard-gold colour gives it that storybook crown look, although pink, purple or woodland green would be equally lovely.

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

The construction is the appealing part of this design. Everything is knitted flat, so you won’t need double-pointed needles or experience joining stitches in the round.

You knit the band first, then work each crown point separately over a group of 12 stitches. Paired decreases gradually narrow each triangle, giving you a small, repeatable section to concentrate on.

I’d describe this as a confident beginner knitting project. You’ll need to know how to knit, work two types of decreases, hold unused stitches and sew a simple seam. There are several yarn tails to weave in, so a little patience with finishing will help.

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

The pattern includes three sizes, with seven, eight or nine crown points. Choose by the wearer’s head measurement rather than age, and check your gauge carefully. Yarn stretch will make a noticeable difference to the fit.

For birthdays, an embroidered initial would be a sweet finishing touch. Contrasting yarn diamonds could suggest little jewels without adding hard embellishments.

What to Know Before Casting On

This is a soft knitted crown, so expect gentle points rather than a rigid costume accessory. A springy wool or wool-blend yarn should give the shaping more support than a very drapey yarn.

The stitch calculations have been checked, but the design has not yet been sample-knitted. The accompanying image is an illustrative mockup, so the finished texture and proportions may vary with your yarn and tension.

For a small handmade birthday accessory or a cheerful addition to the dress-up box, this is an appealing idea. And if an adult needs a matching crown for supervising the royal household, the larger size has that covered too.

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Have you read?

A Manageable Next Step for Beginner Knitters

Three Sizes With Room to Personalise

What to Know Before Casting On