Can I turn into a more minimalist crafter and go stashless in 2021? If you want to find out why I have set myself this goal you can either watch the video above or if you prefer keep on reading…
When 2020 came to its end my Instagram and Youtube feeds were flooded with pictures of people proudly standing next to a rack of clothes of what they made during lockdown. When I saw that I tried to remember what I made in 2020… 🤔 At first it felt like I hadn’t made a single thing, which isn’t true as you can see below!
What I made in 2020:
- I finished a cardigan that I started in 2019, but most of it was made in 2020 as I had to unravel most of it.
- I did finally sew a pair of tartan trousers that been on both my Make Nine for 2019 and 2020
- I made two aprons (one for me and one for my hubby)
- I made (reluctantly) two pillowcases
- Otherwise, I mainly mended a lot (check out my mending tutorials here) and altered some garments that I already have
For the past 2 years I had excitedly shared my Make Nine on Instagram, but this time I didn’t feel like evaluating or plan for future projects. Looking at my past Make Nines just felt like a reminder of all the projects I, yet again, didn’t get around to d. I also found that thinking too much of what I wanted to make felt just stressful when I know I have a massive backlog of projects I already have almost all the materials for.
In the past 2 years, I have also made sewing plan videos at the start of each year (you can check out my sewing goals for 2019 here and my sewing plans for 2020 here if you are interested). However, this year I just didn’t feel like doing it at all!
First of all: Why set goals and plan when we live in such uncertain times?
Secondly: I didn’t want to say yet again to use what I have in my stash and work through my UFOs! I felt like a broken record.
I spoke to one of my friends and shared everything with her that I just shared with you. She encouraged me to make this into a video because there are probably many others who, like me didn’t make a full rack of clothes during lockdown, that needs to know that they are not alone in this. So, if you barely made anything just know that’s it’s okay, and if you made a lot – that’s awesome too!
I have spoken about finishing UFOs and using what I have already in the sewing plan videos for 2019 and 2020 – but I feel I need to make a more serious effort in 2021 to make it a reality. I definitely have worked through my UFOs and used what I have the past 2 years. I even made a video about my best tips on how to finish UFOs which you can check out here. However, looking back I can see that I need to make a more serious effort to work through my stash & finish those unfinished projects.
Why do I want to go stashless?
Last year I got inspired by Anushka, who has a really good knitting podcast called The Crimson Stitchery on Youtube, and she did put herself on the challenge of going stashless in 2020. You can watch her video where she talks about why she aimed to go stashless here.
Inspired by her I was thinking of making 2021 my stashless year! It’s not that I aim to not have any stash at all – it is just that I have too many projects on the back burner, and too many materials laying around for my liking. I want to make more, clear out and make space for new things!
I do not necessarily want to be without a stash long-term. I think a stash of the right things can be important – yarns to darn with, buttons, thread, some ‘basic’ fabrics (whatever is ‘basic’ means to you) that you use often, and/or materials that you know you will need for a specified project in the near future.
The problem is when you just hold onto things because it’s wasteful to get rid of them, and/or it’s a reminder that you have yet not got around to make this thing… again…!
Also, I want to make more! This is something I realized from reading Lucy Sheridan’s book ‘The comparison cure’. In 2020 I noticed that I often had sour feelings when I opened Instagram and saw someone who yet again finished a project and here I am still working on the same one as I did 2 months ago…
I realized to deal with those emotions I had to make a serious change in my own life and get back into making more things again. My goal with this challenge is also to help to push me creatively by using and combining things that I already own.
Will I have a fabric buying ban?
I am allowed to buy any fabrics & yarns. For example, I am allowed to buy materials so that projects I already own most things for so that they can be finished. I am allowed to buy materials for some sewing & knit patterns that I am working on for you, and I am also allowed to buy fabrics for some garments I desperately need more of in my closet e.g. lounge/sleepwear, comfortable trousers, and socks. I have also had jumpsuits on my Make Nine for the past 2 years. I love jumpsuits but I do not own any! I created a list on my phone with all the materials I am allowed to buy and if it’s not on the list I am not allowed to buy it.
Before I buy too many materials for new projects I will make sure to spend the next 6 months tackling all the projects on the back burner and making as much as possible with the fabrics and yarns in my stash.
If you want to I can share my journey of finishing my UFOs, as well as decluttering & reorganizing my stash. Let me know in the comments down below if this is of interest to you! 👇🏻
Are we making intentionally or for the sake of making?
I think it’s so important to be honest with you when I do not have the time or energy to make things. I find this especially important when it can easily come across on social media that everyone is making things all the time. I just want to say to you all:
You are not any less of a sewist, knitter or crafter just because you do have a constant output of creations!
You are equally much those things, even if we do not make anything for a while.
Maybe around month ago now, With Wendy made a video in which she went back to old projects and finished them properly and/or improved them. I loved that she made this into a video because it highlights the importance of making things that we are happy with and that we will use, and sometimes that requires us to go back and improve our me-made garments as Wendy did!
Also, it can often seem like many creators are just making projects for Youtube or for the gram. I am not saying this is necessarily wrong – but what happens to these projects when they are done? Also if someone looks at your video and follows the instructions are they able to get something that they can love and wear too?
My friend Alex shared with me at the end of February that @_diydaisy on Instagram has created a challenge called #nomakemarch together with @natalie_ebaugh and even if I didn’t join at this time I love the initiative. You can check out below what Daisy wrote on her Instagram post on what the challenge involves and why she decided to do this:
Let me know in a comment below if anything of what I shared with you today resonates with you. Do you have a lot of UFOs and/or a stash that you want to reduce? Did you make a lot or nothing at all in 2020? I would love to hear from you!
