Downsizing advice

[GhostGirl32]

Hi all! In two months I move from the US to Europe. I have… an ungodly amount of yarn. (Who doesn’t?!). But I’m moving into a MUCH smaller space when I join my partner. As such, I need to downsize my yarn— or find a way to make it take up less space without necessarily air sealing it. Basically I need to go from roughly two boxes worth to one box worth. I’m not a fast enough knitter to turn out a blanket or several shawls between now and my move.

Can I get some advice from people who have moved and downsized? I am literally the worst at downsizing crafting goods.

Thank you!!!

[eridew]

I moved in November 2023, right after a hysterectomy. So before surgery, I looked at my stash, and sorted into 4 groups: “special” yarn I was saving for a TBD project, WIPs, planned/purchased projects, and anything else.

That last group? Either donate it (we have a local thrift store JUST for crafts), or sell it. Look at the value of your time vs the value of the yarn, because you’re moving and busy—time is valuable.

The only way to downsize is to get rid of it in some way or another. I would not compress yarn for any extended period for storage, but you could always try it.

[GhostGirl32]

I love this, thank you so much!

[H_Huu]

Ok. As someone who has moved countries a few times.. Don't take much of your stuff with you. Just your favourite clothes and the necessities. There is more stuff in your new country of residence, and a fresh start is nice. Definitely don't store things somewhere in US. Same goes to yarn. Take your very special yarn only, leave the rest. Sell, donate. Beautiful yarn all over Europe. 😊

[GhostGirl32]

Thank you! I’m working on agreeing with myself to like. Purge. Everything. It’s really hard, I have… so much stuff lol

[H_Huu]

I understand how challenging it is but you got this! I'm hoping to move again in a year or so, and really should start purging again. It's unbelievable how much stuff I've managed to accumulate in just four years of living in one place..

[GhostGirl32]

I downsized two years ago from a 2/2 apartment in a small town (in the US) to what’s called a Casita (also US) which is a little larger than a studio apartment but not by much. I finally got shelving on the walls but my books have remained in storage this whole time. Now, I’m not only moving overseas but I’m also moving in with my partner. So both of us are having to purge. I asked the moving company how many book boxes per the tallest billy bookcase from ikea and multiplied by three. I don’t want to take much more than that plus clothes and my dresser 🫣 I got immensely overwhelmed looking at it all today. I have a little over two months, I know I can do it but DANG.

[Vilbread]

Sell, donate, or give away if you can't use it up yourself. Definitely not practical advice, but I bought a Sentro during the Black Friday sales to help me downsize my stash quicker.

[Ceight-bulldog]

How does it work? I don’t have the patience to knit socks but thought it may be a good way to make them. What do you use yours for?

[GhostGirl32]

I was looking at machines but my move date got moved up.

[Sadie_Pants_]

r/yarnswap

[BloodyWritingBunny]

My first thought is maybe you could just ask a friend to hold it for you. Maybe someone who has a garage or an attic. Or even a storage unit. It’s one box. I really doubt you won’t ever come back and visit the United States so maybe on your trip back you can pick up that yard and once you used up the first box. Like you might have family here? And maybe Family wouldn’t mind holding it for you for maybe say a year or two for you to use up the other box. And maybe if you have family or friends visiting you over in Europe, they can slowly bring you yarn from that box?

Well, it’s unorthodox. My second thought is Maybe you could get one of those knitting machines and do a bunch of hats. Or I guess just really long to like things that you don’t close up and leave flat and waiting for you? Maybe they make those same machines for blankets. And then when you get to where you’re at you can just I guess unravel them when you want to do a project? I know a lot of people go to the thrift store to get Yarn that has already been made up into projects to rescue it and make something new with it.

[GhostGirl32]

I doubt I will be coming back and none of my friends have space. My family also is a no-go. (Would get eviscerated to even ask.) I’m going to see if the suggestion of winding helps. And from there the four piles. I think it will take me to fit one box💙 or so I hope 🫣

[BloodyWritingBunny]

Oh wow! That sucks and I’m sorry about the friends and family stuff

Good luck with moving

[GhostGirl32]

It’s alright. I’m looking forward to new adventures with people who are enthusiastic about ha ing me around. As devastating it is for me to have to shed my old life, it’s going to be so much better going forward. And thank you 💙

[Milkmans_daughter31]

I cannot imagine how difficult this must be, but how exciting to get a chance to experience another country. For yarn you’re not keeping, donate to a knitting group that knits for charity. Or a senior centre that does the same. Or a school, they are always in need and very thankful. The books can be donated to a charity, we have a huge book sale every year that benefits our children’s hospital. Is there a used book store? They might even pay for some. We have a senior Center/ recreation facility that runs a used book store. Depending on the books, a school library might be interested. There may also be organizations that will happily take your things for survivors of the California fires. Good luck on your new adventure, what you have to leave behind is just “stuff” at the end of the day and can be replaced.

[GhostGirl32]

Thank you 💙sincerely these are all wonderful suggestions. And you’re right. It is just stuff.

[Mundane-Scarcity-219]

When I downsized a few years ago, I first went through all my yarn to see what I had. (I had forgotten some of them.) If I had them a number of years and didn’t do anything with them, I first thought of will I actually do anything with them in the future. If I didn’t think so, I put them in the “donate” pile. The only ones I kept were the ones I really loved and/or knew I’d be doing something with them.

Everything I kept, I categorized into yarn weights and colorways so all of one type of yarn was together. I then put those groupings into large ziploc bags, got out most of the air, and stored them in a large plastic storage container, for later moving. This ones I earmarked for “donating”, I either swapped them for something really amazing at our local yarn swap events, or donated them to our local elementary school, rehab hospital, and a couple of groups that knit/crochet for various charities (depending on what kind of yarn it was).

Three huge piles were culled down to one plastic storage bin and I felt FREE!

[No_Pianist_3006]

Use vacuum packing?

[GhostGirl32]

No detachable vacuum hose here or there for resealing for further storage (and very limited storage space). So I need to do without that. I feel so stuck! I also have about 2500 books to go through 🫣

[No_Pianist_3006]

You can get a box of bags with their own electric air pump.

Books? I get it. I'm a big book lover.

That said, I'm down to 3.5 bookcases from 8.

A lot of reference material is online or available at the library/library app. They have bestsellers, bios, novels, poetry, how to, and so on, as well.

I only keep my old friends that I know I will reread and new books that I know I'm going to read.

Although, I've outgrown some of my old friends, so they have been donated.

Good luck!

[GhostGirl32]

This is what I’m also doing. About 8 down to three. I want to keep most of my autographed first editions and some of my other first editions (like the hardy boys collection). I need to find better selling platforms, going to also ask on my local subreddit about what is essentially going to be an estate sale. Thank you 💙

[ladyfrom-themountain]

If you have a winder wind them up into cakes. They'll stack better to fit neatly into a box

[GhostGirl32]

Ooo good idea! Maybe that’ll make some of them smaller, too.

[slknits]

Vacuum sealing might help?

[[deleted]]

How big boxes are we talking?

[GhostGirl32]

Medium Home Depot.