Inspiration
Is It Time for a Handknit Reckoning?
Dear Kay,
Boot season is coming! I’ve been spending a fair amount of time in my closet, polishing up my boots, trying to remember why I have a pair of kitten-heel metallic silver booties. Why are they here? Why am I not wearing them? They’re so Jetsons.
This imminent arrival of boot season is sending me into a possible reboot of my handknits.
Is it time?
I think I’m coming to a moment where I’m craving a clean slate, a fresh palette, the chance to knit without a lot of existing sweaters sighing in the background.
I’m thinking it might be fun to clear the decks a bit, to allow me headspace to knit anew. It’s not like I’m going to stop knitting anytime soon, you know.
Anybody else feeling like they’ve got an awful lot of handknits in the closet?
Love,
Ann
PS From the Wikipedia entry for pack rat:
Pack rats are nest builders. They use plant material such as twigs, sticks, and other available debris. They are particularly fond of shiny objects. A peculiar characteristic is that if they find something they want, they will drop what they are currently carrying—for example, a piece of cactus—and “trade” it for the new item. They can also be quite vocal and boisterous. They can easily become a nuisance by entering and inhabiting human spaces like attics or car engines, stealing their treasures from humans, damaging electrical wiring, and creating general noisy havoc.
My local knitting group is threatening to come over and shop in my closet. I have an embarrassing number of sweaters I have never worn and they feel that is JUST NOT RIGHT.
Have you tried donating sweaters to a consignment store? You would get money if they sell.
I am torn with – do I not wear this sweater because of fit/change in comfort/yarn-color/content/bulk… Do I frog the whole sweater and repurpose the yarn or try to find someone that will love and take care of the sweater? sigh… I have successfully frogged and reknit and am happy that I did it. I have also frogged and the balls of resulting yarn just stare at me accusingly from the bowels of the stash wondering if they will ever be reknit or will they live out their days in a plastic tub of shame….
Love this! I don’t have nearly the number of hand knit sweaters that you do, but i’m wondering what to do with a couple of them that no longer suit.
I would edit the packrat definition to read: “ They can easily become a nuisance by entering and inhabiting human spaces like hotel lobbies and meeting rooms…”
Haha I love the packrat definition, hilarious and so familiar!
When good friends came to visit who have always admired my knits, I offered 5 sweaters and 3 hats that I was ready (sort of) to part with. “No pressure, I understand if they’re not right, and I’m happy if you want any”. I was shocked when they took all of them and then modeled all for me as I photographed them in everything. They looked great and I was delighted.
I’ve also sold sweaters and scarves at markets which is very satisfying too. Its a good feeling to clear out the older knits and delve into new projects.
I especially love your decision to photograph them as they modeled their new sweaters and hats — a great way to say bon voyage to your work.
Confession, I am a pack rat. Of anything! However, I do not have a lot of handknits simply because I’m too slow. I did donate 2 sweaters that were too big (from when I was a beginner and didn’t know what I was doing) and didn’t swatch. I’m glad I donated, and that felt good to do.
I’m OK with all my kitting just hanging around, waiting to be pasted along after I have pasted on. Just hopefull that someone will see something special in my knits and will come to love the art of handmade
I’m with you!
NOOOO!
And with you too!
I have my own sighing pile but also have sweaters from my mother that I can’t part with now that she’s gone. I have put many into goodwill hoping beyond hope that someone with the right dimensions will grab it. Keep us posted on your journey.
When I was a teen (back in the 70s lol) I bought a hand knit sweater at our local Goodwill. It was orange and black and looked like a tiger skin. My Gram said it must have been someone’s attempt to knit a first sweater. Nevertheless, it did fit me, mostly…sleeves were a bit long…and I loved it so much.
One problem that I have is discarding some of the ugliest ones. These are my first sweaters. I wouldn’t wear them in public. A couple have evidence of having been a summer buffet! But, those early pieces have so many memories woven into the fabric that I can’t give then up. I taught myself to knit about 12 years ago while coping with my husband’s last illness. They were my companion in waiting rooms, They were my challenge and diversion. I look at them and see every mistake ( or learning opportunity) and see how far I’ve come since then! So, as much as I need more storage space, they’ll remain in my “museum” drawer and come on a really cold snowy day when nothing else can keep me as warm!
Yes. Me too lovely memories
I had same experience when my second husband was disabled and then became hooked to oxygen for the remainder of his life. Doctor’s and hostipal waiting rooms became almost second homes. Still have most of the shawls I knitted. They give comfort.
I don’t consider them “mistakes”, but a full fledged leaning opportunity.
We won’t discuss how many times I frogged the tubular cast on, and when it finally clicked I still didn’t think it was “right ” until I visited my LYS and said “Does this seem right?” Bless the owner’s heart, she didn’t laugh in my face, bnut simply said “It’s perfect!”
I’ll take that blue one off your hands.
If anyone lives in driving distance of Albany, NY there is Upstitch, 32 Essex St., near Honest Weight Coop.
They sell donated sewing,crosstitch, knitting/ crocheting supplies, yarn, kits, notions, etc. at great prices. For instance, l m knitting a red Christmas shawl- 3 skeins-50/50 silk/ alpaca- $15.00 each. Round needles- $3,00 each. Flannel $1/ yard. Heavy separating metal jacket zipper- $1.
Proceeds donated to charity.
GOOGLE Upstitch.
LOL- The green one for me please.
I suggest donating to a women’s shelter. Wrap that wounded sister in love and warmth.
Before donating, take photos of your finished items to savor and trigger memories of the where and when you made the treasures.
Oh now that is a good idea.
I love your idea! Thank you!!!
This is a very good idea.
I started teaching myself to knit just before my husband’s first cancer diagnosis. I spent many hours of chemo treatments slowly learning to knit and being crazy enough to try to tackle a sweater… it’s been 8 years since then, and I still love knitting all the warm snuggly items. A couple years ago I knit a pair of socks for each of women in my family for Christmas. Those gifts were very special to all the women and it was fun sneaking around finding out everyone’s shoe size, foot width and everything
Seriously. I give mine to appreciative non-knitters
As a newish garment knitter, my goal is to wear only my own hand-knit sweaters. So far, I have two with a third awaiting one sleeve. When I finished the first sweater, I told a friend that I could wear it every day for the rest of my life. What is that feeling about clothing oneself in what was once basically a ball of string?
Because my current sweater stash is limited, please feel free to send me one from your tidy up, Ann. I live in Ohio and two and three-quarter sweaters may not get me through the winter! I will take a pass on the silver, metallic booties. 🙂
I did that. I said goodbye to 80’s sweaters with padded shoulders and asymmetrical button fronts several years ago. Am I sorry, yeah, most of the time.
Maybe we could have a sweater swap…
I have to sit on my cedar chest in order to close it. It is filled with hand knits. I pretty much only wear the top layer, and am not even sure what is at the bottom!
wonder that all the time and I don’t even have that many….one of the reasons why I’m having trouble starting a new project – all the projects I have finished but haven’t bothered to wash/block.
This is why, in the face of my (knitting fiend) daughter’s indignant protests (re: the full responsibilities of a “true” knitter), I tend to hand mine over to my LYS to wash and block, and then I get to pick it up all shiny and perfect and new – almost like shopping – except I knit it myself! At these times, I eagerly drop my cactus, and run home with my new acquisition.
My LYS does a thing….annual handknit sale for our non-knitting friends. We select a local charity, bring all our unworn sweaters, scarves, mittens, hat, bags, tiny knitted nonsense to the store; sell them; and then donate the proceeds! All leftovers are donated to a local women’s shelter.
LYS ?
Local yarn shop
This is such a wonderful idea. I will suggest the same to my local shop.
This is a fantastic idea!
Very much so. Not only has my style changed, but moving across country to a colder climate really shifted what I want to wear, layer etc. Flowy cardigans aren’t it for me anymore, I want a variety of pullovers, and the extra warmth of color work is even better.
The cream canled sweater is a keeper and is very much in fashion this season
Cabled not canled
I just thinned out my closet, just in time for sweater weather! More than half of my knits are gone, some grabbed up by knitting friends, others to consignment stores, some to a church winter stash anyone who might need it. The only knits kept are those I actually wear, including my very first from 25 years ago (too long, very cozy). Feels liberating!
I absolutely love this discussion. I, too, have a cedar chest full of sweaters and shawls – and I, too, tend to wear the ones at the top of the pile. Periodically I try to rearrange the pile and move items to the top that haven’t been worn in a while – I try to do it seasonally so that the really heavy sweaters are at the top for winter and the lighter ones for spring/fall . I am a fairly prolific knitter – I love to play with pattern and color – and in trying new sweater patterns, sometimes my first take comes out too small or too large for me. Fortunately I have two good friends who don’t knit – one is smaller, one is a bit larger than I am – so I have willing recipients of my projects that don’t fit me. And, yes, this discussion has prompted me to take a new look at things to see what may be ready to move on. Thank you!!
but, but, but…I made them, every one! They are all my babies! They mark important times and places, memories of trips where I bought the yarn, classes and books full of inspiration. I challenged myself to learn something new with each one, some are my original designs. How can I part with them? And yes, I keep making things and yes, my spaces are crammed. Finally I figured out that knitting down my stash only means my drawers get more full. I have given away a few but still have rather a lot. Such a dilemma!
How about felting old sweaters and cutting them up to make a blanket ? I put my sweaters in plastic bins from target to keep the moths away..love to you !
Lori – Of course you have a great idea dear friend! Love trading handknits with you!
Giving to a woman’s shelter is a great idea. Take a picture of yourself wearing the item so you can still have the memory of it after it’s long gone. I don’t miss things once they are donated!
You could sell them at world HQ in Nashville and give the money to charity.
Ann! I feel like you read my mind. I have been struggling with this quite a bit of late. I am, ahem, a rather prolific knitter. Around 2020 I got into test knitting and ended the sad saga of UFOs I had previously struggled with. Turns out that my work ethic is strong, if I am accountable to a designer, I *will* finish by the deadline and take nicely modeled photos besides.
But now I must face the gigantic pile of sweaters, shawls, hats, cowls, you name it. Granted, unlike you, I live in a famously cold place but even so, it’s too much. I just can’t figure out what to do, though. I would struggle to put a price on these, and I am hesitant to give them away to people I wouldn’t consider “worthy.”
(Worthy= A maker and/or devoted to the painstaking care and feeding of handknits [handwash with Soak/Eucalan, dry flat, protect from moths etc. etc.])
Deepa, Yes! I feel exactly as you do! But I do wonder what will happens to my numerous containers of handknits when I am gone. Everyone else in my family will be too tall to wear my sweaters. Maybe the shawls and blankets will be used, and I am training my granddaughters accordingly.
My problem was shawls. So many. My solution was to mail them (I don’t live near by) to my sister with instructions to have a tea party with all my nieces and let them select what they liked and donate the rest. Might have to do it again!!
I sent a box to my sisters and they had a party with college-age nieces who took everything! If I had chosen something and mailed it as a gift, it wouldn’t have been the same. I did end up having to knit another pair of long fingerless mitts to keep everyone happy. “I almost bought a pair of these on etsy for $10.” No, dear, the yarn for these cost waaay more than that! Share the wealth!
Every once in a while I have the impulse to give away one of my sweaters or shawls to someone I think might enjoy it (or it might suit) more than me. Sometimes I feel good about it, sometimes I regret it. I almost never regret giving away the knits I’ve intended to make for someone else.
A few years ago I gave away the shawl I made (and never wore) for my daughter’s wedding. Every now and then I realize I wish I still had it. But not enough to make a substitute.
The bonds we form with our knits while making them are strong. I think part of my problem with purging my sweater stash is that I make sweaters and wear them for YEARS. Most people are calibrated to fast fashion. I can’t quite bear to think that something I worked on for so many hours will be worn a few times for a season and then discarded.
But is my attachment a virtue? Probably not.
I just downsized from a huge main bedroom closet to an apartment sized closet. I took a long hard look at all those hand knit fair isle, Norwegian, and elaborately cabled sweaters. They only got worn once a year out of mental necessity. To unload stuff we had a professional estate sale which included about 12 sweaters. I have no idea how they were priced and how quickly they sold. I do know that I feel unburdened and have the yarn to knit two new “modern” sweaters. I’d say go for it!
I have sweaters that are over 40 years old that I still wear. The quality you can buy in the stores is definitely not as good as those from years ago. My dress up sweater set still looks new.
Hear, hear.
I gave loads of my handknits to secretaries, staff and my law clerks. My major regret is that I didn’t photograph them first, which would have let me post them to my Ravelry library and kept my knitting memories alive.
Otherwise, I hope the recipients enjoyed them.
This is NOT a good reason for you not to clear out the sweater surplus, but I have to say that in my mind it is one of your core attributes to hold onto the good stuff, one that I admire yet cannot emulate. So I will have to rethink my whole THEORY OF ANN but go ahead, do what you need to do. Baby step it if you can! You might want to start wearing them daily and giving them away to the first sincere complimenter!
If you get rid of the Olive cardi that I made you (which is perfectly ok with me), I think my Carrie would look real cute in it.
If you’re needing to reduce the # of sweaters you have to store, but you’re not ready to frog or give up the memories, consider (as one commenter has already posited) using them as fabric from which to make a new, useful something. The other poster has suggested felting & then making a quilt, but felting first is not necessary.
You can make a pillow cover, a teddy bear, a tote or other small sewed something from a sweater body. The arms make lovely small bolster pillows or can be connected end-to-end, stuffed & coiled to make a floor pillow or pet bed. Without felting, you may want to pre-stitch the edges before cutting out, but felting can be an unnecessary step!
SO many ways to reuse a sweater that has outlived it’s sweater life, but still has memories & life to share!
Yes! I have used sweater arms as kindle cases (just sew closed on the wide end, the ribbed wrist holds it it nicely! You could probably make instant hot water bottle cozies out of them too! Sweater bodies can be made into laptop sleeves, etc.
It’s easy – think ‘thrift shop’ – someone can be staying warm instead of that sweater taking up space in your closet and in your psyche – alleviate your guilt and give a gift – donate!!
Maybe attach a note with care instructions . . .
Sure you don’t want those Jetson booties? Just saying . . . are they size 7.5?
Hey! I will duel you for them, Gretchen, if Ann decides to part with them.
I have about 30 pairs of Fluevogs, but nothing with a Jetsons vibe. Now I am suddenly aware of a lacuna in my shoe wardrobe.
Attn: Cardigan Knitters
KEEP THE BUTTONS!!!!!
I recently got a jumper back – it’s been worn by 4 early teens and looks well loved. I’ve given it to my old lady cat – makes her a very cosy bed. Plus I’m hoping to use it as a shroud as old lady cat is increasingly poorly. Like the idea of wrapping her in a much loved hand knit. Morbid but cosy.
Awwwww: so sweet!
I successfully frogged a couple of sweaters that I wasn’t wearing and I’m pleased with the result. I do end up giving a lot of things away because I want to try the yarn or I loved the different patterns. Then I say”hmmmmm. Didn’t I make this already and where did it go?” And then I make it again in a different iteration.
I’m knitting only what I need and will use during my life time- one Aran sweater, one vest, one balaclava, three hats. ♀️that’s all I need
My mother was a prolific sweater knitter. I have a lot of her handknits which I want to cut up make blankets or pillow covers to give to all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It’s just hard to get started!
Years ago I sponsored a sale of gently used handknits at the shop where I managed the yarn department. We raised over $800 for a local organization that supports victims of domestic violence. Items that didn’t sell were donated to the thrift shop that the organization runs. People who donated were given tags to fill out to tell each item’s “story”–when it was made, for who, memories of wearing it, fiber content, etc. Everyone had fun and it was really gratifying to see these knits find a new life.
I guess I am a pack rat not so much of knitted items, but of yarn!! So, recently I did a serious and somewhat painful review of all my yarn and made a decision to divest of a lot of it. Over several weeks, I took first fingering, then DK and Sport, and finally Worsted to my Friday afternoon knitting/weaving group. Not a sale, but a give away. It was great fun and I was very happy to see who got what. I look forward to seeing what all the yarn becomes. And, best of all, I can now see what yarn I have and it is sorted into projects to be made. I have promised that I won’t buy any more yarn. However, the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival is coming up on Oct. 4 – 5 and I am going. Only time will tell if I get anything or what I get!!!
It is much fun to gift well loved sweaters to friends. I just gifted 5 of my sweaters–so nice to have friends who are about the same sweater size and who appreciate hand knits! And now there’s more room on the sweater shelf….
For me it’s shawls. I have never made a sweater, although I have one in progress. But I’ve made dozens of shawls. Some for color, some for lace or texture, some I designed for fun, and always the Westknits MKAL. Many have become gifts. I’m considering bringing several to church to let the ladies each choose one. (We are a very small church, so it’s doable.)
Yes! Oh my gosh! And yet I love each one. Each one a lesson and a testament to my knitting journey. I have no plans to stop!
I donated six hand knit sweaters today and three hand knit vests. My new rule is that famous old one….for each thing I bring in/knit/buy I donate two. I should probably raise those odds considerably.
I have been retired for 7 years now and have not yet gotten rid of all of my “work” clothes. I have already sold a fair number to our local consignment shop, with more to come.
I have an enormous stash collection. Probably have more yarn (and patterns) to knit sweaters than I have hand-knitted sweaters themselves. Several years ago, I thought it would be fun to focus more on accessories that I could make with one or two skeins. That was a good decision, as they take up less space. Most of my clothing consists of neutrals and gorgeous hand-knitted accessories seems like a good decision.
I mentioned in the Bliss-Bloss class that I now have 6 Sophie Scarves and there will be more. So what I need to do now is also donate accessories that I have made but that I don’t like as much as I thought I would. Someone will love the scarves I’m not sure about, including that one made with banana fiber. It’s entertainment value comes from getting people to guess what it is made out of.
Don’t you have a son working in the vintage fashion space?! 😉 But seriously, the kids these days are all about the high quality vintage/thrift finds. If you no longer need them, someone else surely will!
My mom lives on the other side of the country. She is a knitter (my knitter?) and even in my warm winters I look forward to the mornings I finally get to pick out a sweater – even if I only wear it for an hour. I love that I could wear a different sweater every day for a month, and every one is a hug. Some I’ve had since college! (I’m glad they were oversized then…)
And then the fun part – I am finally learning and starting to reciprocate the gifts. I wish I’d seen her face when she opened the first sweater I crocheted for her!
I did a paring down a few years back, when we were moving cross country. I had lost a great deal of weight, and I didn’t need to save everything I have knitted. I donated quite a few sweaters to the homeless. If my LYS was still in existence, I would have given some to my dear knitting friends, but we were all housebound, and time was of the essence , as our house sold very fast. It was a bit liberating, but there are a few pieces I wish I had saved. I can make more, though, so I’ll get cracking.
It seems like I suddenly went from a few handknits to more than I can name off the top of my head. When I go to put on a handknit sweater it’s like going shopping/
I have done this twice. Once, I shared cowls and such with my rather large group of sisters-in-law. I explained that I was downsizing and was making them available to them first. I took way more items than gals, so there would be choices. Of course, each piece was clean and tidy and nice enough to gift.
The second time, I donated the items that no longer fi, were store models, or fell into the category of how many —- do I really need or what was I thinking? The sweaters, cowls, shawls, hats and scarves were cleaned and donated to various charities, including a women’s shelter. Thrifters deserve nice things, too.
I’m about to go for a 3rd round. This is a hard process, depending on my emotional attachment. But in the end, I was glad to let go.
Never can have enough handknits! I have one from 1976, another from 1989, 1991, etc.
Any idea what the pattern is on the lowest sweater on the image for this post!? I really like that! Having a hard time googling what it could be.
I laughed so hard reading that definition. GUILTY! ♀️ I wish there was an ebay/mercari/poshmark of sorts just for knitting & crocheting. Does anything like this exist?? I was in one for cloth diapering and it was a fabulous community but it was all based around a company that sold merino knits, not handknit items. It would be so great to be able to trade with other knitters! I think I’d end up with more knits for myself this way vs 99% of my knits going to my kids or other family/friends. One thing I can’t part with is the baby stuff, its just too special especially since I had my last after several losses, but thankfully baby stuff is so tiny and easy to store!! Hoping someday my kids will use it for the grandkids!
This post resonates. I am a bit haunted every time I finish a new wonderful project and then feel a desire to immediately start perusing new patterns, designs and yarn. The market is dependent on my accumulation and consumerism to survive and grow. Yes, this “overflow” as a result of the popular hobby that knitting and working with fiber is can be helped somewhat by intensive gifting and donating. But for me this is a serious dilemma in need of new thinking. Inspired by Eileen Fisher’s brilliant Renew business model perhaps. And concern for sustainability.
NOOOO!
I am now on my THIRD round of knitting sweaters for 3 nephews,1 neice, and sister. When l changed sizes( you can guess which direction) l sent the sweaters to my cousin in Pennsylvania. 25 years ago — but she’s still wearing them. Unfortunately most of the rest of the cousins live in DeSantistan. They get towels with hand crocheted lace or ,handknit cotton dish towels, etc. I’ve been knitting for 60 years, crocheting for 55, sewing for 69 !
I love hand knits and if something is too big now, frog and reknit into something new!!! Don’t waste that fiber!
YES!!! But, what do you do with them? Some I have taken apart and reused the yard(felted dog snuggle sack), but some are perfectly good garments I don’t want to just discard/donate, mostly because of fiber care issues. I’d hate to have some unsuspecting buyer/ recipient be disappointed after they threw it in the washing machine.
Swap table? Sample sale?
I don’t understand that phrase, “…too many sweaters.” It could only be possible if you lived in an unchanging climate and had a constant uniform. I only wear natural fibers. Even when I find a pattern I want it may take years to find a yarn that I want and can afford. There are always socks, gloves, hats, scarves, balaclavas vests, blankets and baby sweaters to be made.
My problem is with sweaters that I’ve worn quite a bit, and which have pilled due to the yarn, which is pure wool and quite expensive. I usually knit in 8-10 ply for speed.
This means they are not good enough for gifts, IMHO. If I frog them and re-use, with the pilling get frogged too, and reappear? The other thing is, that as others have said, most people want the convenience of machine wash and dry, especially for children’s wear.
I knit baby afghans to donate to an agency that deals with children in crisis situations. I have done more than a hundred. That is lots of knitting relaxation without creating a hoard
Yes, I have waaaaayyy too many handknits, and I definitely need to find needy girls – probably from our local high school. I have a 15′ shelf in my walk-in closet that has piles (at least organized neatly) of sweaters, vests, and jackets, some of which I’ve worn only 2 or 3 times. It’s time to clear that space!
I have 3 or 4 sweater patterns that have been put aside for the right time. I think this is it! I have yarn for each of them, and lots of hooks and needles in all sizes. So I’m definitely ready!
Thanks for giving me a chance to get my thoughts and plans a little more organized! I love your site!
Giving to your local high school is a great idea. If you don’t have contacts in the school, call the main number and ask to speak to the school nurse. She could also connect you with the school social worker, if there is one.
Last time I checked, half of America’s public school kids live in poverty.
My Mom was a pack rat and my Dad was a pack
Rat so I have no guilt about being a pack rat. My nest has LOTS of yarn.
I did this recently. I probably didn’t get rid of as many sweaters as I should’ve, but I figured that any is a start! My daughter’s friends and a couple of my friends gladly adopted pieces I don’t wear anymore/never wore. It’s good to have more space!
You’ll be sorry……in a few years you will be looking for ‘that’ sweater. Where is it?
Yes I have too many handknits. I do wear them through Winter but then I am tempted to buy some beautiful new wool and there you go I have another one.
I’m in the same boat. I’m embarking on Swedish Death Cleaning and want to make sure only the truly useful and loved remain in my closet. A few older, not quite right sweaters have a target on their back!
When I moved from Western New York to Florida, I donated a lot of my knitted items to friends and family. I really don’t wear my hand knits in 90° weather, but I did keep a few things for those chilly air conditioned stores and movie theaters! And of course, I still knit, but have switched from heavy wool to all season cotton, linen, and bamboo. When I donate to local charity stores, I always pin care instructions to the garment to guide the new owner in the right direction.
I have started culling sweaters I no longer wear. After washing and blocking them I brought two of them to our annual knitting retreat and one went home to a new owner. The other I donated complete with wool content and washing instructions. It felt good, and I plan on doing it again this winter. I have to make room for the newest one on my needles.
There is a wonderful organization in Nashville called combined brain. Is supports research for children with autism and epilepsy. We’d love to auction your sweaters and donate proceeds to them!
What a great idea!
Not yet but I look forward to the day when my sweater collection overwhelms me. Right now I cannot part with a beautiful blue mohair sweater, the first one I ever knit. It is so big that I look ridiculous wearing it but it still comes out at least once every winter. And my husband, smart man that he is, always compliments it. My takeaway: if you haven’t worn it in 2 seasons, it’s time to part with it.
I love to make shawls, scarves, hats… In between my sweater projects. I had A LOT. When my daughter-in-law and grandgirls (from Montana!) came for a visit I opened up the chest and let them at it. They left me with lots of room to make new things and I like to think I am wrapping them up in my love on those could Montana days.
Let those friends fly free to be loved by others!
I’m an avid knitter of ladies socks – mostly for gifts – but I also have about 36 pair I kept for myself. That’s not the problem. Also, there are decades of sweaters that my beloved MIL, with her advanced knitting talents knit for me almost every year. Some no longer fit; some have colors that no longer enchant. But I love them all because SHE knit them; they are a cozy memory of her ubiquitous projects. How do I cull some of these sweaters at the time of my life when I should be clearing our house of 40 years’ accumulation?
I almost never knit for myself—problem solved. But I do get sad when I realize the people I’ve gifted handknits to have treated them like something from Forever 21 and tossed them the following season.
I’m more of a process knitter than product knitter. I’ve made dozens of sweaters over the last 20+ years, and I LOVE quite a few of them, like many, and disliked many as well. I have no trouble at all giving away those that don’t make me happy (because of the specific fit on me, mainly, but also due to changing styles.) If I can’t find someone I know who might like a certain sweater, then I donate it to the local thrift shop (which supports our library, so win-win.) I just want to know someone is liking the sweater more than I did!
I had a bunch of handknit hats I took to a friend with cancer who had lost her hair and her head was cold! I told her to keep amy or all of them and if she knew others that needed some she didn’t want, to give them to others. She said there was a box at the chemo center for hat collections she could take them the remainders but she did keep 3 hats for herself. They were alpaca, wool, even a cashmere one. I was glad they were all needed
Wool-Aid is a wonderful charity that will distribute sweaters, hats, etc (wool only) worldwide to those that need warmth. If you are a process knitter (love the challenge of a new pattern or technique) and don’t need another sweater this is a perfect solution — you don’t need to worry about size: there will always be somebody to fit the sweater you knit for them! Donate the wool sweaters you aren’t wearing – they are needed and appreciated. If you can’t part with them, leave a little note in your sweater storage to help those who will need help when you are gone.
http://www.wool-aid.org
Last year I went through my handknits that I don’t wear and offered them up to my friends on Facebook. It felt lovely to clear out some space and send them on their way to folks who would actually wear them like they were meant to be!
What a brave thought! You can only wear so much and your tastes change. I don’t have that many sweaters, but I’ve often contemplated culling my shawls and cowls. I really enjoy knitting them, but just don’t wear that many of them. My problem is that I just don’t know that many people who would want them as evidenced by gifts I’ve given friends and family never to be seen again. I’m still waiting for a stranger to so admire my work that I feel inspired to whip it off from around my neck and give it to them.