Did you all know I started a YouTube Channel? I’m pretty dang excited about it. I just published my very first video recently, but if video content isn’t your thing, I’ll still be posting on the blog and recapping some of my videos here.
If you want to watch the first video, I’ve linked it here, but if you’d rather read more about my Stashbusting summer, just keep scrolling along.
Stashbusting Summer
So I have a confession: my fabric and yarn stash is absolutely out of control.
If you’re a crafter, you probably know what this feels like. Buying things and planning projects are completely different hobbies than actually sitting down and working on the project.
I knit and I sew, so my stash consists of considerable amounts of both yarn and fabric.
I used to be so good at waiting until my next project to purchase materials, but somewhere along the way my brain got so excited about the next project and the next and the next… Now, I have so many projects I want to make and probably not enough time to realistically finish them all—at least, not unless I stop buying more supplies.
So this summer, I’m implementing a stash-buying ban.
How Did My Stash Get So Big?
I’ve been sewing since about 2024 and knitting since 2020, so I’ve had five to six years to grow my stash into what it is today.
During that time, I’ve lived in three different apartments and moved three separate times. Every time I’ve moved, I feel like the stash has somehow gotten bigger.
The thing is, I only live in a one-bedroom apartment, maybe about 700 square feet of space. My sewing station lives in my living room, right by my coffee table, office desk, and ironing board. So that means I don’t really have the space to waste in here.
I need to be more conscious about what I’m bringing into my space and make sure I’m curating a collection of things that I actually love: fabric I want to sew, yarn I want to knit, clothing I want to wear, and projects that fit who I am today.
My Goals for Stashbusting Summer
So this summer, I’ve committed to actually finishing some of these projects, and I’m calling it my Stashbusting Summer.
Of course, I’m an accountant by trade, so I’ve put a few rules in place. They’re intentionally a little flexible because I don’t want to be overly hard on myself for no reason, but I do want some level of accountability.
Rule #1: No New Fabric or Yarn
This is the obvious one.
I can’t buy more fabric, and I can’t buy more yarn.
I do have a pretty good stash of general notions and supplies—thread, interfacing, muslin, and things like that—but in general, my only exception to the no-buy rule is anything I need to actually finish a project.
So, if I need lining fabric, matching thread, buttons, elastic, or another small supply to complete a project, that’s okay in my book.
But I’ll repeat just for myself: no buying fabric or yarn for an entirely new project.
Rule #2: Prioritize the Patterns I Already Own
I also have a surprisingly large pattern stash. Most of those patterns are currently tucked behind my couch, rolled up like treasure maps. Honestly, I’d like to work through them just as much as I’d like to work through my fabric stash.
That being said, some of those patterns were purchased and printed pretty early in my sewing journey. Looking back, some aren’t the highest quality patterns, and some simply don’t fit my style anymore. So, I’ll make exceptions if I already have fabric for a project and discover that the pattern I own isn’t actually the best fit for what I want to make anymore.
If I do purchase a new pattern, I want to be intentional about it. So I’ll allow myself to buy one pattern at a time if it’s specifically for the next project I’m actively planning to sew.
Rule #3: Finish About One Project Per Week
My goal is to finish roughly one project each week. If I keep this pace, by the end of summer, I should make around twelve completed projects.
One of the perks of working in education is having summers off, which gives me more time to focus on creative projects. I also have a few other side projects I’d like to work on, so one project per week feels realistic.
Some weeks I may finish more than one project. I tend to get into sewing kicks where I just don’t stop. Other weeks, I might end up having a project that takes a little longer.
Although not a rule, I want to alternate between more complicated projects and simpler ones so I can still feel the sense of accomplishment by finishing something but also continue to make more challenging things. Still, the overall goal is simple: spend a little time sewing every day and consistently move projects toward the finish line.
Rule #4: Monthly Recaps Instead of Weekly Updates
I’m trying to be realistic with myself. I don’t think weekly videos, or even blog posts, are sustainable, but I do want to record monthly recaps at the end of June, July, and August.
The recaps will cover:
- What I finished
- What I’m currently working on
- What I learned
- What I hope to make next
Rule #5: Declutter Along the Way
This rule isn’t specifically sewing or knitting related, but it feels connected to the overall goal.
For every one item I add to my wardrobe, I want to remove two. Like I said, I live in a small space, and I want to be more intentional about what I bring into it and keep in it.
I’ve definitely accumulated an eclectic wardrobe over the years, but some of those pieces belong to previous versions of myself. As I’m sewing more clothing that feels like me today, I want to make room for it.
I hope that this challenge isn’t just about reducing my stash. It’s also about creating a wardrobe that better reflects who I am now.
What I Hope to Accomplish
By the end of summer, I want to see how much of my stash I can turn into finished projects.
Most of these goals are focused on sewing because sewing projects tend to move a little faster. Knitting takes more time, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have knitting projects in progress.
I’d love to finish some long-standing works in progress so I can eventually start knitting things that excite me a little more.
June Projects
We’ve already progressed through June, so (on schedule) I’ve already finished a couple of projects so far this month.
Finished Project #1: Lane Pants
The first project I finished this month is the Lane Pants. I made them in Merchant & Mills linen, and I’ve basically been wearing them nonstop. They’re comfortable, easy to wear, and exactly the kind of piece I reach for during the summer. I’ll definitely be sharing more about these soon.
Finished Project #2: Helene Shorts
The second project I finished is a pair of Helene Shorts. I’ve already made two pairs of Helene Jeans, and this is my first pair of shorts using the pattern. I made them from leftover denim in my stash, and I’m really happy with the fit. I’m currently working on both a blog post and video talking more about the Helene Jean Pattern as a whole as well as a project I’m currently working on now.
Pogonip Pullover
I cut out the beginnings of a Pogonip Pullover in a beautiful Indian cotton a few months ago and finally added it to my must-sew this this month. The color is so gorgeous and it’ll be my first time attempting welt pockets, so I think this will be a fun project.
Helene Jeans
One of my next projects that I am most excited for is another pair of Helene Jeans. I’m making them in a cream Merchant & Mills denim, and I have some fun summer details planned to make them a little more unique and funky. I’ll share more about this pair when I do my June recap and I will have an entire video dedicated to these pants alone – that’s how excited I am.
Festival Crop Top
I also want to make a crop top using leftover fabric from a pair of wrap pants I made for a music festival. The scraps are oddly shaped, which makes them difficult to use for most projects, but I think I’ve found a crop top pattern that will work.
I’ll need to make a muslin and do a full bust adjustment first, so this project may take a little more time upfront. If the pattern works well, I could see myself making multiple versions throughout the summer.
Ritual Raglan
Finally, I’d really like to finish my Ritual Raglan. This little sh*t has been on the needles forever and it’s so close to being done. The color is gorgeous. The fit is amazing. The only thing it’s missing is about 6 rows of the sleeve.
After that, I just need to weave in some ends. As always, I’m stuck on sleeve island, but the finish line is in sight.
Join Me for Stashbusting Summer
That’s the plan for June and for the rest of the summer.
If you’re participating in a stash-busting challenge, a fabric no-buy, a yarn no-buy, or simply trying to finish more projects before starting new ones, I’d love to hear about it.
What are you hoping to make this summer? What projects have been sitting in your stash waiting for their turn?
And if you have any rules or strategies that help you stay focused, I’d love to hear those too.
Here’s to making things, finishing projects, and seeing what we can create with what we already have!
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This is where I’ll be sharing everything that doesn’t make it on the blog (and all the things that do). You can expect monthly recaps of blog posts, projects I finished, books I enjoyed, shows I attended, and just the things I’m loving each month.
