Friday, October 25, 2013

A Messy Yarn

We decided to upgrade our satellite TV situation. It wasn’t my idea. I’m a dinosaur when it comes to TV. I don’t watch that much and it’s mostly just broadcast TV. Changing the set up meant changing the boxes for each TV, which meant that there had to be access to all the TVs, including the one I watch which is located in the room where I keep my yarn.

I’d be the first to admit that the yarn situation had gotten out of hand and that the mountains of plastic bags with yarns and projects really needed to be cleared out. But I found the mess easy to ignore and when I went in there, was more interested in crocheting or knitting than cleaning.

But the bell had tolled. I couldn’t take the chance that the poor unsuspecting satellite guy might end up sliding across the floor on a plastic grocery bag. Now with an actual deadline - he was coming Thursday afternoon - I dove in.

After a sliding a few times myself and getting my shoe hooked on the handle of one of the multitude of tote bags, I began to enjoy going through everything. A lot of yarn fell into the life’s too short category. It was too hard to work with, I didn’t really like it, and some of it made me wonder what I’d been thinking when I bought it. Now it all bagged up and going off to be donated.


There turned out to be more than yarn hiding in all those bags. I found countless projects that were finished except to have the ends woven in. Then there were those that weren’t exactly done like the sparkly head for a crocheted vampire and the elephant who is waiting for his face. There were mystery projects that had a few rows of crochet with no hint what they were going to be.

Then there were the finished projects like a soft organic cotton shawl I’d made before it got lost in all the yarn confusion. There were coin purses and scarves, shawls and baby blankets, too. Yarn sunflowers, purple posies and a big red rose like flower were scattered about. It kind of turned into shopping at a free store when I found a pair of earrings I bought in Santa Fe, strings of beads and jewelry findings, and lots of wonderful knitting needles and crochet hooks.

I got it so the satellite guy was able to update my TV and get out of the room unscathed. I still have a ways to go. I am determined to open the box on the sewing machine that has been sitting there for how many years? I so enjoyed going through all the stuff, I am looking forward to going all the way with the project. I absolutely now believe that less is more.

And thanks to the TV guy we can tape a bunch of shows at the same time and watch them all over the house, along with the option to watch shows on demand. To me, it's all just background while I crochet.

4 comments:

Planner said...

Congrats on your clean-up project that turned out to be enjoyable. I can relate to the how-did-my-stuff-get-so-out-of-control mystery issue. Your conclusion that less is more is so true.

I'm sure the satellite guy would thank you for your consideration of his well-being if he only knew.

Betty Hechtman said...

Planner, I still have a long way to go, but making a dent in the mess felt great. Now, to start finishing all those projects with the loose ends hanging.

Linda O. Johnston said...

How great that a dreaded task has become a fun organization project, Betty! And enjoy your new TV system... in the background.

Betty Hechtman said...

Linda, the great thing about crochetng while I watch TV is that even if the show was lousy, I didn't really waste my time.