The stimulus package

My lovely partner, who falls into the category of "understanding non-knitter" has been watching me pull out my single skeins and leftover balls with some interest.  Some of the colour combos get approval; some get dubious looks.  However, after a few days' activity, I got the question: "Is this just yarn you had lying about the house?" and then: "Do you have a knitting project in every room?"  These words, combined with a look of real concern, made me pull up and take stock.

I got spurred into having a good look at my yarn collection.  I have to call it a collection because it really is more than a stash.  There's something quick and casual about a "stash".  It's like something just recently dropped off that you'll be popping back for soon.  My collection has not recently been dropped off, nor will I be using it all up any time soon.  Let's be realistic.  I've amassed more than a few skeins of yarn over the years and some of the skeins I used, didn't get all used up.  

The (already considerable) extent of the collection is an inhibiting factor for the fair isle sweater.  If I'm honest, really, even on an extravagant day, it's hard to stand in a room with all the yarn I own and say "I need more".  I need more.  I have tried over and over to pull together the stuff I have and turn it into the fair isle of my dreams.  It isn't going to happen.  It's not right.  I can make other things out of the collection and indeed I have.  I have some blankets.  I have some baby/small child-sized articles.  I can also plan to make other things out of the collection: I have decided that I should put together a cotton cardigan and a cashmere cardigan and a plain blue pullover before the year is out.  A fair isle just isn't in the cards for the collection as it stands now.

Thinking about a large-scale new wool project, which is what this swatching exercise represents, at the same time as tidying up and trying to manage my yarn collection is not exactly what you'd call sensible.  Instead of being sensible, I think I'll be optimistic. I haven't knit up the old yarn because I am sort of in a knitting funk.  A big, elaborate project with lots of fun planning, dreaming, and possibility is just what I need to un-funk.  A fair isle sweater is not going to create a disastrous influx of bulk to an already bulky unused yarn collection.  No.  It is destined to stimulate me to knit up the extant yarn.  All yarn will be swept up in the frenzy of knitting activity.  The fair isle stimulus package will save us all.