Confessions of a Stashaholic

It is a new year, and I actually have a resolution. I MUST deal with the massive amounts of UFO's (unfinished objects), yarn, fiber, and fleece in my studio. I am a fiberholic - now I must take steps toward rectifying my situation. Lucky for me, doing so only involves using up that mountain of yarn and fiber. I don't know if there are 12 steps, but here they are:

1. Admit I've got a problem. Boy, do I. I could knit enough to clothe a small nation, spin my way around the world, dye every color of the rainbow, felt a moderate-sized home, and still not use it all up.
2. Inventory. This may take a week or two, and it will be painful. But it must be done.
3. Commit. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can. I can. I CAN
4. Prioritize. Finish unfinished items? Decide on new starts? Which yarn to spin first? I feel a panic attack coming on.
5. Persevere. The mountain will seem insurmountable. Keep up the pace. I won't give up.
6. Solicit the help of others. Family, friends, electro-shock therapy. I am seriously considering joining the Stashalong at http://www.stashalong.blogspot.com/.
7. Avoid temptation. Don't make matters worse. Stay away from the LYS (sorry, you've been enabling me). Choose "no mail" or at least "digest" from the sales lists - if you're on digest, the really good stuff is usually gone before you can respond; the rest isn't worth it. Avoid the online sales. Etsy is not your friend.
8. Divest your assets. This is why I won't "unsubscribe" from the lists. They can be your friend. Sell that stuff. You can actually make money from the stash you will NEVER be able to use, even if you live to be 100.
9. Be creative. That is kinda the point, isn't it? Knit something you've never knit before. Felting uses TONS of yarn and goes quickly! Try some weaving - again, a sure-fired, stash burner.
10. Give it away! Share your talent and your stash. Make a beautiful shawl for your mother-in-law; give your long, lost aunt a memory; felt your niece an amazing teddy bear with a WARDROBE. They may never understand what it takes to make that gift, but you do and they'll appreciate the effort and thought. And for those that would understand the effort, skip a step - give them the good stuff and they'll love you for it.
11. Celebrate success. Give yourself a treat at the end of the month - no, not yarn. A pair of ebony needles perhaps. A photo album of all your now finished items. Set of blocking wires, or a second if need be. Or maybe a weekend off knitting? Doesn't sound like much fun to me, but who knows?
12. Keep a record. I know I always regret not having a picture of my finished projects. I'll want to remember the long difficult journey I'm just starting.

And off I go. . . Pics to follow.