There have been many times in my life and when I had my store, when people would come to me because a loved one had passed and left behind yarn and supplies they didn’t know what to do with.
Often saying something like “You do yarn stuff. You can use this.”
Not always the case, but their hearts are in the right place.
Especially if they are struggling with the loss of a loved one, kindness on my part can make a difference in their lives. It can be difficult for people to let go of things that were so personal and important to the person who is now gone. I know that my personal yarn stash is important to me. I have offered on occasion to help people rehome yarn craft supplies, depending on the connection to me.
Sorting and cleaning the old yarn stash is a time consuming and sometimes messy project. Getting the precious crochet and knitting treasures donated to places that feel right for the family is another element. Most people don’t want to throw the yarn out, or just drop it off at Value Village or Goodwill. They want to know it is going to some place where it can be beneficial in a “closer-to-home” way.
A particular local senior center has been my preferred source in recent years, as that Center uses it for different craft activities for members; also members use the crochet and knitting supplies I bring in to make things that are sold in their gift shop, plus they have a secondhand store where the general community shops. All of these help raise much needed funds to run the Center and provide much needed services for seniors.
In these videos, I talk about an important part of that process!
Washing the yarn.
Please, if you are going to donate old yarn, don’t just take it, smelling like storage, or worse! Make sure it is usable, so that wherever you donate can help generate a little revenue for their organization instead of having to pay to dump it. If it needs to be thrown away, just do it! It’s hard, even for me sometimes, but it’s sometimes the right thing to do!
BUT, if the yarn is deemed serviceable, but maybe needs to be cleaned, you will want to learn to wash yarn properly so that it is not further damaged. Whether you choose to donate or it keep for yourself, this video is for you!
There are right ways and wrong ways, and I’m sharing my STEP BY STEP method for cleaning old or dirty yarn.
The video quality in this first one is not great as I live streamed it and our rural home’s internet connection is not always steady for that. But it will help you!
In this second video I really walk you through the steps to washing that yarn! This is also the technique you’ll use if you are recycling yarn that had previously been made into something, and you’ve frogged it out!
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