What to Do with All that Yarn?

It's the age old question, "I've got all this yarn and what do I do with it?". You've got a ton of left over, odd ball yarn, and don't know what to do with it. Well I have a few ideas to help reduce the clutter in your closet and make room for those new yarns.

1. If you have knittter friends have a yarn swap. You all agree to meet with each other and bring yarns that you want to get rid of. My favorite thing to do is meet for lunch and dump all the yarn in the middle of the table. Then everyone takes home the yarns that they are interested in. Maybe you have a bit of luxury yarn that someone always wanted to try but they didn't want to spend the money on. That way they can try it to see if they like it or not, that way no money is wasted.

2. Give a yarn donation to your local school. Teachers always need supplies and new ideas for the children. Or give it to your local charity store or church. Someone is always on the look for yarn to make church bazaar items.

3. Knit for organizations such as Warm up America or the Linus Project or your local hospital or nursing home. There are other organizations you can check out on the internet if you google it.

4. If you or someone you know is having a yard sale. Donate a box of yarn. Believe me someone will always buy it.

5. Take all those swatches you've made from projects past and make a crazy afghan, sweater, rug, or use them as shabby decor coasters.

6. If you know someone who is into scrapbooking. Give some to them and they can use it in their projects.

7. Use left over yarn for decorating gifts. Instead of a bow purchase use coordinating yarn to decorate the gift.

8. Use left over yarn for bundling up old news papers or tie up a bunch of branches up for recycling day. I use left over acrylic yarn for this.

9. Use left over yarn to practice new techniques, instead of your project yarn.

10. My most favorite idea. Take a bunch of yarn of colors that look good together. Wind them up into a skien or ball and make your own yarn blends. Who knows what great combinations you'll come up with?

Now you'll have enough room to buy new yarn! Happy Knitting!