The politics of stash
Warning: political rant ahead. If you have strong feelings about Middle East politics, you might want to beware.
My stash really isn't that bad. It all fits neatly into a corner. And stash acquistion, aside from a few giant leaps, doesn't happen -- too expensive to get yarn shipped here, and there's no local 100% wools.
So why do I need SoS?
Politics.
In my country's misguided attempt to make peace by bringing enemy rocket launchers closer and closer in to the centers of population and its questionable attempt to set borders by giving away everything that's up for negotiation before the negotiations even begin, I'm probably going to be forcibly resettled. Based on the experiences of those who were forcibly resettled last year, it means moving into a little hut in the middle of the desert with no plumbing and running sewage in the streets. My possesions will be packed up by the people who will be taking over my town; half of them won't even make it into the storage facility, and the rest will probably be ruined by sitting for months in metal containers under the desert sun. (Temperatures in the containers reached 200 degrees Farenheit. At what temperature does acrylic melt and does wool combust?) What does survive will have to be paid for dearly--over $200 a month storage fees for a 40 cubic foot container.
I have to start looking at my stash and saying "Is it worth it?" And really, as dedicated a knitter as I am--no. So not. But things I've crafted, sweated over, cursed at (yes, mohair lace, I'm talkin' to you) -- oh, yeah. Worth taking.
So, before I get my eviction notice (do you know they don't let you bring knitting to jail, even if you're in the political prisoners' wing for protesting your own imminent refugee status?) I've got to get some of this stash converted to FOs and decide what of the stash, if worst comes to worst, won't come with me.
My goals:
I've been doing well on destashing--as of later today, my stash will have slimmed down 2.5 kilo since January 1. I want to continue this trend by reducing it another 1.25 kilo (even counting exceptions in) by finishing all WIPs, knitting a huge lace shawl as my Amazing Lace team partner, and getting a good start in on The Oldest Teen's Skully sweater (see below, "My exceptions").
My exceptions:
1. A Knitpicks order I will be making in about two weeks. I promised my son a sweater for the fall and I have no manly colors of wool in quantities sufficient, and I need a new pair of knee socks, and have no sock yarn sufficient (but I will try to find another ball of a sock yarn I already have, so I need only buy one instead of three).
2. I will be hitting a few thrift stores in search of other things, and if a particularly good deal on quality yarn falls into my lap, I may let it follow me home.
My reward:
If, by the time SoS is over I'm not yet packing to start life as a refugee, I will buy myself something pretty and multi-functional in which to store the remainders of the stash.
My stash really isn't that bad. It all fits neatly into a corner. And stash acquistion, aside from a few giant leaps, doesn't happen -- too expensive to get yarn shipped here, and there's no local 100% wools.
So why do I need SoS?
Politics.
In my country's misguided attempt to make peace by bringing enemy rocket launchers closer and closer in to the centers of population and its questionable attempt to set borders by giving away everything that's up for negotiation before the negotiations even begin, I'm probably going to be forcibly resettled. Based on the experiences of those who were forcibly resettled last year, it means moving into a little hut in the middle of the desert with no plumbing and running sewage in the streets. My possesions will be packed up by the people who will be taking over my town; half of them won't even make it into the storage facility, and the rest will probably be ruined by sitting for months in metal containers under the desert sun. (Temperatures in the containers reached 200 degrees Farenheit. At what temperature does acrylic melt and does wool combust?) What does survive will have to be paid for dearly--over $200 a month storage fees for a 40 cubic foot container.
I have to start looking at my stash and saying "Is it worth it?" And really, as dedicated a knitter as I am--no. So not. But things I've crafted, sweated over, cursed at (yes, mohair lace, I'm talkin' to you) -- oh, yeah. Worth taking.
So, before I get my eviction notice (do you know they don't let you bring knitting to jail, even if you're in the political prisoners' wing for protesting your own imminent refugee status?) I've got to get some of this stash converted to FOs and decide what of the stash, if worst comes to worst, won't come with me.
My goals:
I've been doing well on destashing--as of later today, my stash will have slimmed down 2.5 kilo since January 1. I want to continue this trend by reducing it another 1.25 kilo (even counting exceptions in) by finishing all WIPs, knitting a huge lace shawl as my Amazing Lace team partner, and getting a good start in on The Oldest Teen's Skully sweater (see below, "My exceptions").
My exceptions:
1. A Knitpicks order I will be making in about two weeks. I promised my son a sweater for the fall and I have no manly colors of wool in quantities sufficient, and I need a new pair of knee socks, and have no sock yarn sufficient (but I will try to find another ball of a sock yarn I already have, so I need only buy one instead of three).
2. I will be hitting a few thrift stores in search of other things, and if a particularly good deal on quality yarn falls into my lap, I may let it follow me home.
My reward:
If, by the time SoS is over I'm not yet packing to start life as a refugee, I will buy myself something pretty and multi-functional in which to store the remainders of the stash.
posted by Moze at 12:25 AM
2 Comments:
Wow. I'm awe of your courage in face of such turmoil. I hope knitting can take your mind of the politics, even if just for bit.
Yes, it does. Who can think of anything else when counting yo, s1 k2tog psso, and k3togtbl?
Post a Comment
<< Home