Thread Stash Credits

At the beginning of each new year I have a tendency to look over my accumulated stash of fibers and think that I really ought to use some of those cool threads I have acquired. I have wools, silks, cottons and a variety of manmade fibers in the drawer. And don’t even get me started on colors. There are unique shades that caught my eye at moments in time lost to me now: brights and darks, solids and amazing overdyes. There are fine stranded threads and beautiful ribbons, fuzzy fibers and incredible textures. All of this and somehow I never seem to have the right thread for the temari I am getting ready to do right now.

Special threads stash drawer including marking threads

#5 perle cotton drawer

bags from my non-drawer storage

Every year I think I will reduce the stash by creating some fabulous designs and I never do … reduce the stash that is. I do occasionally create designs that I think are fabulous.

So, how about this for an idea? I keep track of Stash Credits to help me know how much I really am reducing or enlarging my stash. I could get +1 for using a fiber and another +1 if I actually use something up completely.  If I buy a fiber then that would be -2. That way if I buy a fiber, but use it all up the net count would be zero.  A negative total for my stash credits would mean that I am buying more than I am using up but a positive total would mean that I am making a dent in my stash.

There are two things I won’t count:  my cone thread for wrapping temari and my bulk collection of temari marking threads (mostly on the left of the first picture).  Those are things that I intentionally buy a lot of at one time to get better pricing.  I try to maintain an even collection of colors and don’t add to it unless I run out of a staple.  I will count the strange little wrap threads that I buy for fun or the marking threads I buy because I really needed that particular shade of orange.

I wonder what would be the most credits I could accumulate on one design?   Just imagine the credits I could get from an all-over design that uses many colors like an orts ball… +25?!  I wonder if counting in this way would change the way I design.  Would my designs get more colorful so I can use more fibers?  Or, would they use fewer colors but a lot of them so that I can get the extra credit for using something up?  Of course, there is always the chance that my usual whims will take over and counting the credits will have no design difference at all.

I am adding a Stash Credits counter in the left sidebar so that you will know whether I am making progress at all.  That might make me really make an effort to just clean out a little.  Since it is early enough in the year, I think I will go back and count credits for everything I’ve made since January 1st.