This week, I’ve finally gotten around to switching out my “winter clothes” for my “summer clothes” — with some bonus closet organization and “re-thinking” (culling, actually) while I’m at it. In the doing, I am faced with an absolute glut of . . . beautiful shawls and scarves. Most of them are hand knit, but there are also special gifts and souvenirs in the mix.
I mean, I’m talking . . . a full-to-bursting dresser drawer of shawls. And a bin in my closet that is also bursting with shawls. And a designated “hanging area” in my closet for more of my scarves and shawls. (And ohmygod, there are two more bins in my downstairs coat closet, housing my “outdoor collection” of hats-cowls-scarves-mittens ready for quick access as I head out the door.)
I love them all! I wear most of them (on a somewhat rotating basis), although I do have my special favorites that I tend to turn to on the regular.
I clearly have . . . enough. More than enough. But . . . ohmygod I seem to keep knitting more OF them.
I do . . . knit for others. I do . . . donate lovely-but-unused shawls to non-profit fundraising auctions (mostly the lace ones; I rarely wear lacy anything). I do drape lovely shawls over the backs of chairs — just to have one handy “in case,” or because I just like the look of it. I have been known to just take a shawl off and hand it over to a friend who gushes over how-much-they-love-it-but-could-never-make-one-for-themselves. My kids have flat out told me that they do not need more hats/scarves/shawls/mittens at this time. (They do not want their own closets to look like mine.) (I will note that they are always eager to accept futzy little holiday knits, though.)
Hi. It’s me. I’m the problem, it’s me.
So, I’m . . . asking for a . . . friend . . .
- Does this happen to you?
- Do you also house a glut of hand knits?
- What do you DO with all the things you knit?
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And, speaking of making . . . what are you working on this week? (Because – of course – I’m working on a shawl. LOL and all that.) (I’ll show it to you next week.)
I had a similar discussion with a knitting/quilting friend recently. She cannot let go of things. I am very good at letting go. Hats go to a group we support at church and every year, they take a bunch of handmade hats (new and gently used) to an event where people come to get holiday boxes and can choose a hat. I recently took some shawls and scarves and two sweaters that I were fun to knit but just not going to get worn, to the local thrift shop. And then I walk away because the joy was in the making. I do the same thing with fabric and craft supplies, even quilts. If it is lovely but not for me, I want to put it in a place where someone else might enjoy it. And then I have more space for that new pile of things I want to make. I opened the box where my winter sweaters have been stored and found one that is going into that give away pile. I have friends who love to shop at thrift and consignment stores so I like to think that someone will give it the love it deserves.
I am fortunate to have the Fetterman’s in my neck of the woods… and the Lovely Giselle has The Free Store (https://www.freestore15104.org/) and I have on a couple of occasions brought handknits there. They were so appreciated. Perhaps there is some place you can donate them in your community. I like the Free Store because they charge nothing for *anything* and they fill a huge need in my community. (and this post is an excellent reminder that this “change-over” season is good for culling the knitwear herd a bit!) Good luck!
You can tell your friend that yes, this has also happened to me. I store my Hitchhikers on a shelf in a big armoire that John and I share in the bedroom. I’ve given away quite a few of them, but the ones that I have are “special” (at least in my mind) and I can’t get rid of them. I wear a different one every day in the fall and winter, but I don’t know how many more Hitchhikers one person needs. Of course, I have another one on the needles, so I don’t have much useful advice. A long time ago I read an article by Perri Klass (I can’t find it now) and she said sometimes we knit for the life we imagine or wish we had. I know that I have imagined myself cozily wrapped up in the Woolly Waffle shawl while I’ve been knitting it, but in reality, it will probably spend more time on the back of my knitting chair. I hope my kids don’t have to spend too much time cleaning out my stuff when I’m gone, but they will have to take my Hitchhikers to Goodwill because I can’t!
I knit lace shawls because I love the challenge. I don’t wear them though but I can’t part with them either. So I have 2 drawers of shawls along with some hats, mittens and stuffed animals. One of the daughters in law suggested when the time comes, the grandkids pick one each as a keepsake. Sounded like a good plan to me!
OMG Kim, (LOL), I am over flowing in both knitting, quilting(finished quilts) and STASH. My husband cleaned out a closest yesterday to make room for MORE finished quilts, they are everywhere. I have a stack of both knitting and quilts ready for the charity I work with too. I guess I’m not much help to your friend. In my head, my husband and I have taken care of all our end of life details, including, our finale permanent address complete with “here lies.” I figure the least my children can do is deal with my obsession with fiber, overwhelming as it may be!
Oh yes…definitely me too. How many pairs of socks do you really need? Especially when you do laundry on a regular basis? And shawls, I do wear them and I also have them draped over chairs in case a sudden chill comes upon me, but I also have two shelves overflowing with them in my bedroom. And still, I have plans to knit more (Hitch on the Move and Botanic by S. West – I have the yarn for both, so I HAVE to!!). I do need to cull through several drawers full of winter hats, cowls and scarves – too many!
Kim,
Each year our local library holds a fundraising holiday sale of handknits throughout November-December. In years past, this has been a “Mitten/Mitt Tree” – a tree decorated with donated knit mittens and mitts. This year we are branching out with additional types of handknit items. Perhaps you could donate some of your extra knits to your local library for a similar fundraiser? The library appreciates the funds, and the local community loves the sale!
I knit for my grandchildren until they are big enough to refuse to wear them! So then I knit for me, and for various charities. And oddly I don’t have drawers full of hand knits. Crochet blankets..well that’s a different story.
I have a lot of socks. Probably most people would say too many. BUT, I wear all of them. Ones that didn’t fit the way I like were given to friends or my sister. I have no trouble parting with things that I am not using, even if that means going to the thrift shop. I’m not sentimental about most things.
I don’t have too too many, but yes, I hear you. I think this is an advantage of being a slow knitter. If I’ve made it, I’m attached. I don’t mind giving things away to people, but Goodwill (or St. Vincent’s) would be hard. No good solutions, just solidarity 😉
And today or tomorrow I do need to switch out my summer sun hats for warm ones along with mittens, gloves, and scarves.
Hi Kym! I’m not knitting much these days but I’ve donated a lot (for me) of shawls and scarves I’ve enjoyed making but don’t wear to support fundraisers for organizations that have silent auctions. I’ve also gifted a few pieces over the years. I think if you have an overwhelming number of hats, there are homeless shelters that would live to have them for their clients. Mittens and simple scarves too.
Oh yes. I very much have this problem. I have a big case of lace shawls that I knit years ago. I loved the challenged of knitting them and wore some of them, but they aren’t very practical for my current lifestyle. I’m much more likely to reach for something less fancy. So at some point I’ll have to do a cull and pass those lace shawls along to someone else.
I have knit a shawl or three, but seldom wear them. I gave one whose knitting gave me comfort during early days of the pandemic to my DIL when she lost her pregnancy. But mostly I resist shawls because I do not wear them. Now, hats are a different story. I have a bin full of hats ready to donate to Hats for Sailors, deadline November 11.
I also have a lot of hats, cowls, etc. The one item I love to have on hand is hand-knit socks. My feet are always cold even during the summer (wear socks in the house because of the air conditioning). Socks wear out so I can always knit another pair. I’ve also donated some knit items to the local cat shelter.
You are not alone. I have a drawer FULL of handknit shawls that I don’t wear but can’t seem to part with AND they are taking up valuable real estate in my bedroom. What’s a knitter of lace to do? I just.don’t.know.
I could have written this same post! Shawls I wear, but also I have ones in a gift box in one of my cupboards and often gift them when people visit…or any other reason.
And socks! When I wear the heels out, I frog the rest and knit musselburg hats with that yarn! And gift those randomly as well.
And let’s not talk about sweaters!😉
I’m also a slow knitter so not too much I can’t find a convenient place for. But the yarn that I hope will become all those sweaters and vests and tops…now that’s a different storage problem entirely – and is also known as my local LYS. Hmm… now that the holiday season is breathing down our necks perhaps there is a local Christmas/holiday, charity/church bazaar that could use a few gently/barely-used knitted items for a $5 or $10 dollar table (if such a thing doesn’t exist, maybe it should given the high cost of everything these days). Or you could just go on a cruise and swath yourself in your stylish, high-quality wraps for those chilly ocean nights (my personal-favorite option). Or a Mississippi River cruise if leaving the country at this point in time is not appealing. No I’m not a travel agent.
P.S. Taking a closer look at your beautiful shawls just now, I can see why you would hate to part with any of them!
Oh yeah. A few years ago there was someone on IG (I think) collecting handknits for… something. I don’t remember, exactly, but it was worthy & timely (for me), so I washed & blocked a BUNCH of shawls & things and sent them on their way. It felt so good. (I gotta get to my closet switch-/clean-out!)
I have a friend who can use more shawls! 😀
This used to be a problem of mine, too much of everything! But, now that my hands ache after knitting, I can only make socks and keep up with my attrition. I miss the act of knitting shawls (and sweaters), but I do have plenty of beauties (many knit by friends!).
Clearly you (and your friend) are in very good company here! I have way more shawls and sweaters than I wear … knitting is the thing I do for fun, like reading and walking except there’s something “made” at the end. I’ve given away/donated some pieces, stacked a few more in bins, and I don’t feel one bit of guilt about throwing away a piece that’s become “tatty” … I wish I loved knitting socks as much as some folks do because socks DO wear out! (and yes, I’m also still knitting shawls and sweaters!)
Like everyone else, I have plenty of shawls, hats, mittens, and socks. Late last Spring I got them all out and parted with a few things. I gave a few to the Goodwill. I also added some mitts and a scarf/shawl or two to my gift bag. Sometimes someone needs a little love present and the gift bag knits come in handy. I don’t feel guilty about keeping more than I can wear or use. I have pared down so much stuff over the last ten years but the handknits make me happy. Part of the difficulty is other than socks or knits for the grandchildren I rarely knit with superwash. Although I suppose if a person is cold, washability doesn’t matter so much.