Yarn guilt?
What’s this yarn guilt, or knitting guilt, or stash guilt people are talking about this week?
I’m with Claudia on the uselessness of guilt in general. But even if guilt does have its place (did you push an old lady in front of a bus today because you were running late and still had to hit the local Starbucks before work? Well, then, yes, go ahead and feel guilty.), certainly it’s pointless to feel guilty over the purchase of yarn, or books, or because you aren’t finishing projects fast enough or have too many on the needles at once.
You aren’t buying yarn with the rent money, right? Or deciding the kids will just have to get scholarships for college cause Mama wants some Noro? Probably not.
I’m taking a break from buying yarn right now because I have all the yarn I need and then some to make the projects I’d like to make, and because it’s not in the budget right now. But you know what? If some Koigu or something catches my eye as Em and I lead Rachael and Bethany on the magical yarn tour of New York next week, I just might pick up enough for a pair of socks. Or maybe I won’t. Either way, I won’t be feeling guilty about it.
My mom, who’s actually got quite a gift for making me feel guilty, said something to me a couple of years back that’s stuck with me. I was still getting used to the ups and downs of freelance income, and so was being very careful with money. Thing was, I also really wanted to buy oil paint, which ain’t cheap. (I wasn’t knitting yet. You think knitting is an expensive pursuit? Try painting, baby.) I called my mom (she’s a fantastic artist, by the way) and asked her if I was crazy to be spending money on paints at a time when I really shouldn’t have been allowing myself too many extras.
She said, “Oh no! Buy the paint. That’s like food!”
And she was right. My mother’s very frugal. So am I. She and my dad raised me that way. I don’t spend recklessly, not at all. I don’t take on debt I don’t need either. But it’s a matter of priorities. Creative expression is important. It’s not the same thing as blowing money on yet another pair of shoes, or an expensive meal, or whatever. Are your bills paid? Is there food on the table? Are all the mandatory expenses taken care of? Well, then, make sure you also allow for the tools that feed you–the paint, the books, the yarn. That matters too.
And if you want to feel guilty about it? Well…that’s on you.
YOU’RE like food, too. Necessary. Thanks for this, darlin’.
Posted by: Rachael
Absolutely true! When something makes you sane and happy it is a staple.
Posted by: Laurie
You’re so right. I still feel the guilt sometimes, though. (Not with yarn — yet — but with books.) Doesn’t everyone whose parents were kids during the Second World War? I’m getting better, though. I figure it’s Mental Health Spending.
Posted by: alison
I had to laugh….cuz you’ve got MY number! I have to buy good paint and the Gamblin is aptly named, dontcha think? if’n I try and cheap out on the lesser quality, not only do I break out in hives from the fumes, but SIX months spent on a typical oil painting is just NOT the same without Cobalt Blue or Alizarin crimson…must. have. Naples.YELLOW.
My Daddy always said you need the right tools to make Art,
and there isn’t a place on my pegboard to hang guilt anymore.
Fabulous post, as always.
Posted by: greta
That’s an awfully pretty stash you’ve got there, missy! I think the yarn/stash/project/guilt discussion is especially timely, hmmm?…right before the big sheeps-n’wool’s. 😉
Posted by: claudia
Absolutely perfect post…It can be so easy to forget the importance of creative expression in everyday life! I will be reminding myself of this when I begin to feel the guilt of a little fiber purchase…Thanks!
Posted by: Mandy
YOU’RE like food, too. Necessary. Thanks for this, darlin’.
Posted by: Rachael
Absolutely true! When something makes you sane and happy it is a staple.
Posted by: Laurie
You’re so right. I still feel the guilt sometimes, though. (Not with yarn — yet — but with books.) Doesn’t everyone whose parents were kids during the Second World War? I’m getting better, though. I figure it’s Mental Health Spending.
Posted by: alison
I had to laugh….cuz you’ve got MY number! I have to buy good paint and the Gamblin is aptly named, dontcha think? if’n I try and cheap out on the lesser quality, not only do I break out in hives from the fumes, but SIX months spent on a typical oil painting is just NOT the same without Cobalt Blue or Alizarin crimson…must. have. Naples.YELLOW.
My Daddy always said you need the right tools to make Art,
and there isn’t a place on my pegboard to hang guilt anymore.
Fabulous post, as always.
Posted by: greta
That’s an awfully pretty stash you’ve got there, missy! I think the yarn/stash/project/guilt discussion is especially timely, hmmm?…right before the big sheeps-n’wool’s. 😉
Posted by: claudia
Absolutely perfect post…It can be so easy to forget the importance of creative expression in everyday life! I will be reminding myself of this when I begin to feel the guilt of a little fiber purchase…Thanks!
Posted by: Mandy
Beautifully stated – – right now, my fiber-guilt is centered around taking up 80% of the closet space in the apartment with bags of yarn. Still, how much closet space does an 18 month-old need? And my husband never wears his suits anyway, so really, he won’t notice if they get a little squished.
You’re right, I have nothing to feel guilty about!
Funny, when I was in film school we would all bitch about how easy it was for art students to afford materials, compared to our costs for film (even super-8), processing, equipment rental…but yes, it was a NECESSITY, no question about it.
Nice lookin’ stash you got there, too.
Posted by: Mindy
An astute entry, to be sure. While I have not become completely hooked on knitting (I think part of me realizes the danger of becoming obsessed with yet another expensive hobby….)I do have a weakness for the printed word and gardening accoutrements. And even when I try to put my book-buying on hold by telling myself I have plenty of books I haven’t read yet (not to mention the very free library), I simply can’t help myself sometimes. So thank you for making it all alright!
Posted by: avril
It doesn’t take much to make me feel guilty, and I doubt that’s ever going to change. What has changed, however, is my ability to go ahead and do what I want–and I figure the more I do that, the less the guilt will really affect me. As for feeling guilty about yarn or having more than one project on the needles? Pshaw!
Posted by: Em/Michelle
I linked my way to your post and I’m so glad I did. I’m an on again off again knitter, so my yarn stash is pretty meager, but my fabric stash…THAT is huge. I’ve been beating myself up over my fabric purchases and I have to admit that your post and other people’s comments have helped me see the light. I am not guilty. Thanks!
Posted by: Lori
word.
got plenty yarn, but i’m in those buy-a-book-or-eat kinda times. i’m ’bout to buy the new danyel smith book (more like wrestling) and apply for food stamps.
jobs are on the horizon, but until they get here a girl’s gotta live.
oh yeah, and eat, too.
Posted by: nakachi
Great post. Creativity supplies I think are a triple pleasure. eg the pleasure of purchase, then the experience of creating and finally you get a product or a result.
Life when I deny myself of creative extravagace becomes gray dull and dare I say it depressing….
Posted by: m
Beautifully stated – – right now, my fiber-guilt is centered around taking up 80% of the closet space in the apartment with bags of yarn. Still, how much closet space does an 18 month-old need? And my husband never wears his suits anyway, so really, he won’t notice if they get a little squished.
You’re right, I have nothing to feel guilty about!
Funny, when I was in film school we would all bitch about how easy it was for art students to afford materials, compared to our costs for film (even super-8), processing, equipment rental…but yes, it was a NECESSITY, no question about it.
Nice lookin’ stash you got there, too.
Posted by: Mindy
An astute entry, to be sure. While I have not become completely hooked on knitting (I think part of me realizes the danger of becoming obsessed with yet another expensive hobby….)I do have a weakness for the printed word and gardening accoutrements. And even when I try to put my book-buying on hold by telling myself I have plenty of books I haven’t read yet (not to mention the very free library), I simply can’t help myself sometimes. So thank you for making it all alright!
Posted by: avril
It doesn’t take much to make me feel guilty, and I doubt that’s ever going to change. What has changed, however, is my ability to go ahead and do what I want–and I figure the more I do that, the less the guilt will really affect me. As for feeling guilty about yarn or having more than one project on the needles? Pshaw!
Posted by: Em/Michelle
I linked my way to your post and I’m so glad I did. I’m an on again off again knitter, so my yarn stash is pretty meager, but my fabric stash…THAT is huge. I’ve been beating myself up over my fabric purchases and I have to admit that your post and other people’s comments have helped me see the light. I am not guilty. Thanks!
Posted by: Lori
word.
got plenty yarn, but i’m in those buy-a-book-or-eat kinda times. i’m ’bout to buy the new danyel smith book (more like wrestling) and apply for food stamps.
jobs are on the horizon, but until they get here a girl’s gotta live.
oh yeah, and eat, too.
Posted by: nakachi
Great post. Creativity supplies I think are a triple pleasure. eg the pleasure of purchase, then the experience of creating and finally you get a product or a result.
Life when I deny myself of creative extravagace becomes gray dull and dare I say it depressing….
Posted by: m