Let's begin....

I never wanted to start a blog. I had no desire for it. I've encouraged many of my friends to blog, knowing that it would help their businesses, and I've followed blogs that I've found interesting or helpful. But why would I blog? What would I say? Who would care?

Since adolescence, I've never kept a diary or a journal for more than a couple of weeks. Each time I'd try, in the back of my mind there was always one nagging thought: Anne Frank.

It's ridiculous, I know, but I couldn't help it. With each word I wrote, I could't stop thinking, "What happens if someone finds this? How will this sound?" And without fail, I'd find myself writing melodramatic silliness. Inevitably, I'd just quit. What's the use of keeping a journal if you're not going to be honest?

So why am I doing a blog?

Well, I'm telling myself, it's not a journal. It's not a diary. It's a log.

Isn't that the same thing?

No. This has nothing to do with my innermost thoughts and feelings. No drama-queen drivel allowed here. This is all about keeping a record. I like the sound of that.

Here's what's behind all this. I have set a challenge for myself.

Confession time: There is a great deal of yarn in my closet. A lot of yarn. Scads of yarn. How much is a scad? Let's put it this way: I have more yarn in my closet than I have clothes and shoes. Over the last 8 years, it has begun to infiltrate my husband's side. And - in my best Anthony LaPaglia voice - "He's not happy."

I have collected yarn for many years. Some of it has been purchased. Some of it has been spun (and that's another subject altogether). A great deal of it I have obtained at no cost at all. I seem to be the go-to girl when friends, relatives, and countrymen want to dump their yarn and needles and hooks. The rest of the free stuff was obtained by picking up ripped or stained sweaters made from beautiful fibers from a local church's Clothing Closet event and unraveling them. Yay! Free yarn! And it is beautiful stuff, but I never gave a thought for that yarn's future.

I love to knit and crochet. I just love it! No secret there for anyone who knows me. Strangely enough, though, every new project seemed to require new yarn.

The Challenge? To use up my entire stash of yarn by this time next year.

And that means no more yarn comes into this house until the stash is gone!

My progress so far: I've begun recording my stash on my Ravelry page, so that will help me keep my projects organized. I'm not sure how I'll list the unraveled-sweater yarns, yet, but I'll figure it out. Ravelry also offers a "Queue" page on which I can list any future projects I'd like to make and the yarn I'll use for it. This way, I'll be able to link each project with the stashed yarn. Hurrah for getting organized and setting goals!

(As for all the unspun fiber in plastic bins up on my closet shelves.... well, no need to overwhelm myself. One challenge at a time. Yikes.)

Let the knitting begin. First up: A pretty baby blanket to use up 6 skeins (3 yellow/3 white) of Bernat Cottontots worsted weight. Not sure where it will go when finished, but I'll be praying about that while I knit.