Welcome, old friends and new subscribers!
This issue I’m focused on what to do with the things you’ve organized out of your storage situations. I don’t know if it’s turning 50 or having our oldest go off to college or just 18+ pandemic months, but I’ve started not just going through my things but deciding it’s time for some changes. One of those changes is to let a lot of stuff I’ve been storing go out into the world, so I’ve started putting some samples that I no longer need up in my ol’ Etsy shop. This will be an ongoing process, and it feels weird yet right. Storing things that I don’t use is a burden for me, when they could go out and make someone else happy. Can you tell I’ve absorbed a fair bit of Marie Kondo of late? Anyway, check out the shop via the button below. I’m afraid I can only handle shipping within the US right now - my apologies to my international friends.
Along with clearing lots of knits from storage bins that tower over my head (seriously, bulky hobbies and careers are extra-challenging in a New York City apartment), it’s also time to let go of old printed patterns. They’ve been professionally laid out and printed commercially, though some are in my old layout format. See the list below for what’s available. If you are interested, send me $5 for the first and $1 for each additional printed pattern via PayPal (kathleendames at gmail dot com) telling me which printed pattern(s) you would like, and I will mail them to you in a sturdy mailer. Domestic only (sorry again!) and first come first served. Links below will take you to each pattern’s Payhip listing for information. You will receive a printed copy (no digital access through this offer). Deadline for this is the end of October.
Printed patterns available:
I should mention that I had already cleared out a fair bit of stash before the pandemic, which was amazing. I had given a talk to a knitting guild and in their announcements they mentioned making donations to a women’s prison knitting program. My ears perked right up, I talked to the guild member who coordinated things, and I put together three big IKEA bags full of yarn and a bunch of knitting magazines that I wasn’t going to use any more. I hope that some of that helped those women during their incarceration. They really helped me
So, ask around about possible places to donate your knitted items and/or knitting supplies. Some churches do prayer shawl ministries, some schools accept craft supplies - there are lots of options. If you do sell your handknits (for whatever reason), be sure to price them thoughtfully. Each item is a work of craft - the product not only of your skill and taste but of those who created your materials. Don’t undervalue those things and do not allow others to try to cheapen your work.
Ok, enough of my Craft high horse. Will I see you this weekend at the New York Sheep & Wool Festival in Rhinebeck? I wasn’t sure if I was going to attend but now am excited that I will be there in a civilian capacity with my dear former roomie. We’ve agreed to do as much or as little as we feel comfortable doing, so it should be fun. Masked, hand-sanitized, fully vaxxed fun in the open air. If you see me, be sure to say hello, and we can bump elbows. Honestly, it’s going to be super hard for me not to hug lots of people, so wish me luck.
I’m off to figure out what to wear for a day in the 70s and another closer to proper sweater weather with rain in between. Oy.
Happy knitting (and cleaning out if you’ve got the Fall/midlife “cleanies” like me)!
xxoo, Kathleen