The Summer of Yarn Giveaway Begins!

I was serious yesterday when I said I needed to purge my yarn closet. When we built our two-story garage, we designed it with two cedar-lined 5-foot by 10-foot closets for storage, one of which was to be dedicated to yarn. Well, you knitters know how it goes. Little by little the yarn has "growed like Topsy," migrating to the other closet and taking over one shelf of a closet in the house.

I started working on the mess Friday. Each wall is lined with wire cube shelving, about six feet tall. Every cube is stuffed. There are were four three-drawer plastic drawer organizers, also stuffed, and two huge plastic tubs on the floor, one stuffed with sock yarn the other with various and sundry odds and ends of cotton yarn. (I'll never make that many dishcloths. I'll never need that many dishcloths!)

I pulled the tubs out so I could walk into the area and started looking for the acrylic first. I stockpiled washable yarns when I was knitting for the grandchildren who lived in Wisconsin and Ohio, but they've all moved south and would rather warm up with a sweatshirt than a nice handknit sweater. The beneficiaries of SIX TRASH BAGS (so far) will be the inmates at Alderson Federal Prison Camp, where I volunteer.

Alderson has a voluntary program where the inmates knit or crochet sweaters, scarves, caps and mittens for needy area schoolchildren. Since we're in Appalachia, there are always needy schoolchildren who need warm clothes. It's a win-win for all: I free up space in the closet, the inmates do something good for others, the kids get new made-just-for-them items.

If you'd like to donate some of your excess stash, you can box it up and mail it to:

Alderson Hospitality House
P.O. Box 579
Alderson, WV 24910

Then I started going through what was left, pulling things I don't have a use for at all to list on eBay. I came up with 15 lots (so far) and there will be much more to come. My eBay rule is to start the bidding at $1/ball or, if there's a huge amount, $1/50 grams.

One of my husband's cousins knits and just moved into her first house, so I'm going to send her some yarn, as well, so she can start filling up her closets.

And you? What about you? Well, I certainly have enough left to give some away. (And there will be more auctions, as well.) In fact, I'm going to give away yarn for oh, let's say once a week for the next four weeks.

Beginning NOW! If you have a young daughter or granddaughter who loves pink (and what little girl doesn't love pink?), then this is the kit for you. Would a cute little felted bag make her happy? I thought so! Included in the kit are four balls (375 yards total) of self-striping wool yarn in shades of cream-to-pink, along with both knit and crochet instructions, a circular knitting needle (size 10-1/2), a size J crochet hook, a yarn needle, sewing needle and thread, and sequins and beads for embellishing the bag.

How do you win? Leave me a comment. That's all, no liking me (or anyone else) on Facebook (although you can if you want to), no following me on Instagram or Pinterest (although you can do that as well). No hoops to jump through, unless you count the word verification. Just give me some comment love and you're a potential winner. I'll use a random number generator to announce the winner on Sunday, July 29. Spread the word! Tell your friends! I love comments! Heh.

And next Monday … more yarn to give away! It's the Summer of Love Yarn!

(I think I've just used up my annual quota of exclamation points. Maybe.)