Operation Mojo Recovery-Taking Stock

I've  taken a few moments over the last week to read The Minimalist Knitter's Handbook. (On my kindle no less 'cause I figured out the whole PDF on a kindle thing...but I digress.) I haven't finished it all, but I've completed the first step and really thought about my knitting.

Yarn
Robyn suggests you really think about the yarn you enjoy kitting with. What weights do you prefer? Is there a fiber you love...hate?

• I like worsted weight. I also find myself drawn to DK and lighter weights as well. I really don't have the physique for bulky or anything heavier.
• Bulky yarns are also heavy and the needles required usually hurt my hands and wrists more.

Fiber

• I live in the South. I don't need wool that often.
• I love Cotton Ease. It's easy-care and easily procured.
• I like Simply Soft, but I really need to learn to block it well. I've seen nice projects made of Simply Soft and I think it's all in the blocking.
• I've made two projects with Red Heart and I am pleased with them. But I feel like it really isn't my first choice yarn.
• I really, really want to avoid animal fiber. BUT, I really like lace...which is best done with a blockable fiber (more magic you know.) Silk is completely out of the question, but I can totally see myself rationalizing wool.

Projects
I also need to think about projects I like to do...and actually use.

• Socks. I'll always need socks. 
• Dishcloths. Someone can always use them even if I can't.
• Vests and tanks. I really don't have the patience to do a sweater with sleeves.
• I like crochet and knitting, but knitting does use less yarn.
• Scarves. I love them. I feel less goofy in them than shawls.
• Boy I sure with I didn't look goofy in shawls. 

Needles

• I am certainly not ready to get rid of many of them, but really I never use any straights longer than 9 inches. If a project is that big, I use circs.
• I know in my heart I have too many needles. An almost complete set of 14" Brittany's? WTH? A full set of looooong Pony's. Really, self? I think it's time to take them to knit nite and give them away.
• And the vintage plastic/resin/casein(!) needles I got for super cheap on e-bay 5 years ago? Truly they just take up space. *sigh* Check these out:
  
  
  Heck! Most of these are British and Australian and I can't figure out *what* size they are. Oh, and most of them had been taped together and  left to sit in the trunk of the car or somewhere. I never did get the tape residue off.
  
  
• You would not believe the collection of dpn's that I've accumulated since I started knitting in earnest again (six years ago)...despite only using Magic Loop to make socks. I keep telling myself that I'm going to improve my dpn technique, but I need to be honest. I'm probably never going to really use all the dpns. Unfortunately, I'm just not ready to get rid of them yet. Give me a few more months.

Patterns

Hooo boy. This is the worst. Of all my emotional knitting attachments, the one to all the patterns, leaflets and magazines I've acquired is the worst. This is just one bookcase:

I have chosen not to take pictures of the 8 magazine boxes...or the unorganized stack of magazines... or other nooks and crannies with books. If I did that, I would have to admit having a problem. And I don't have a problem.

Let's not discuss all the PDF's on my computer either. 

eek.

I think I'll hold off organizing patterns. Maybe next summer.

So, my big plans for Monday are to go through the stash and get rid of yarnI know for sure I won't use (I've already got some skeins in mind...) and update the ravelry stash to reflect the purge. I don't think I will ever be strong enough to purge to the point of having everything in one storage box/bag/whatever, but I can at least streamline. Stay tuned!