An embarrassment of riches

Today the mailman delivered another box of heaven. Yarn. Actually, a kit. From Sweden. It's the knitting project of my dreams.

I'm going to knit the Wild Apple sweater, which is a replica of the original 1958 Bohus design. I love it!

But the inevitable guilt that comes with yarn acquisition has got me thinking. I really need to evaluate (and prioritize) my yarn stash.

Let's be frank. I'm not proud of my stash. Au contraire. I am quite ashamed. My stash is my secret shame. It's such an indulgence to acquire so much stash. It's an embarrassment of riches.

Still, though, I justify my stash in thinking that there are far worse habits to form. And, I know that while I have more stash than some, I definitely have less than others.

So, like many of my London knitting friends, I've created a stash inventory. And I've discovered, to my horror, that I have thirty projects in the queue, eleven of which are socks.

From today, I am officially on a Yarn Diet. No more acquisition. None. Really. I am going to be content knitting through my stash. Project by project, I will get through it. A journey of a million miles begins with one step.

I am going to track my progress with the following table, in hopes this exercise will shame me into action.

	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Solveig Gustafsson hand-dyed 50% angora, 50% merino One whole kit Wild Apple sweater 1958 Swedish Bohus design Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Trendsetter brand worsted weight 100% cashmere 300 grams A shrug? A tam/clap combo? This yarn is too precious to knit Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Anonymous laceweight 100% cashmere More than a kilo Lace lace and more lace Dad scored this for me in Mongolia Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	de Sauveterre laceweight 100% cashmere 800 meters Rectangular lace shawl Hand-dyed by me Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Anonymous laceweight 100% camel hair More than a kilo Lace lace and more lace Dad scored this for me in Mongolia Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Anonymous brand in fancy box 70% angora, 30% lambswool 10 skeins = 250 grams A shrug? a cardigan? This yarn is too precious to knit Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Mohair from Australia 100% mohair? maybe some silk? 300 grams Green + lace + leaves = heaven This was a gift! Thanks! Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Rowan brand KidSilk Haze 70% super kid mohair, 30% silk 8 skeins = 200 grams Lace cardigan This is my all-time fave yarn + color Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Kid Seta 70% super kid mohair, 30% silk 3 skeins = 75 grams Lace Purchased on a trip to Colorado Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Misti alpaca laceweight 100% alpaca 450 grams Lace This yarn is almost too lightweight Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Anonymous laceweight 100% alpaca 800 grams Clover lace wrap cardigan Purchased at an alpaca festival Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Anonymous laceweight 100% alpaca 800 grams+ Something lacey Purchased at WoolFest in England Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Drops brand laceweight 100% alpaca 4 skeins = 200 grams Rectangular lace scarf? Purchased in Michigan with my aunt Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Blue Sky Alpacas sport weight 100% alpaca 10 skeins = 500 grams Tam + clap? Or a cardigan? Shocking pumpkin color Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Wellground Alpaca DK weight 100% alpaca 6 skeins = 600 grams Top-down raglan cardigan A gray cardigan is urgently needed Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Plymouth brand baby alpaca DK 100% alpaca 500 grams Top-down sweater or cardigan tan color #208 Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Rowanspun 4 ply 100% wool 10 skeins = 250 grams Another clap? Or lace winter scarf? Nice purple variegated color Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	J&S 2-ply jumper weight 100% Shetland wool A million grams Top-down sweater, mittens, tams Many Fair Isle projects are planned Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	J&S 2-ply jumper weight 100% Shetland wool 200 grams? Fair Isle gloves/tam Hand-dyed by me Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Rubi + Lana laceweight 100% merino 120 grams Lace socks? Or stockings? This was a gift! Thanks! Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Jaeger baby merino 100% merino 100 grams Socks Hand-dyed by me Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Dale of Norway brand Baby Ull 100% merino 3 skeins = 150 grams Socks with a tri-color slip-stitch Machine washable Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Louet Gems on cone 100% merino 125 grams Socks Hand-dyed by me Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Louet Gems on cone 100% merino 125 grams Socks Hand-dyed by me Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Matchmaker brand 100% merino 140 grams Purple socks w/ pink toes Hand-dyed by me Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Mission Falls 1824 wool 100% merino 3 skeins = 150 grams Socks Machine washable Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Filatura di Crosa 501 100% new wool 3 skeins = 150 grams Purple socks w/ pumpkin toes Machine washable Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Rowan pure wool DK 100% wool 3 skeins = 150 grams Socks Machine washable Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Jaeger brand Baby Merino 4-ply 100% merino 3 skeins = 150 grams Socks Machine washable Still in the stash
	Yarn: Fiber: Quantity: Project: Notes: Status:	Mission Falls 1824 wool 100% merino 100 grams Socks Hand-dyed by me Still in the stash