How to shop the Stash Sale

by Meg Dedolph

Cover photo by @morelfiberarts

It’s nearly time for the Stash Sale! What, you ask? This is a yearly event where we ask our customers to bring in yarn they no longer want, priced to sell, and we sell it, keep a little bit, and give the rest back in store credit so you can buy some yarn you really want to work with.

But I’m here to talk about the other side  – how to shop the Stash Sale, or any big yarn sale. My mom used to joke about having champagne taste on a beer budget, and I think that a lot of us can relate to that. So here are my favorite tips for making the most of the Stash Sale. 
(Apologies to our out-of-town customers; this one is an in-person event only.)

First, go in with a plan. It’s like going to the grocery store when you’re hungry. It’s easy to fall into a daze and come home to find that you’ve bought three sweaters’ worth of bulky weight yarn in a color that makes you look seasick.

Start by going through your Ravelry queue. Look for things on your dream-to-do list, such as Stephen West shawls (with the skeins and skeins of fingering weight yarn) or sweaters. Write down yardages and weights, so you know you’re looking for 1,800 yards of worsted weight yarn, or five skeins of coordinating fingering weight yarn.


For example, last year, I really wanted to make a scrappy Benchmark sweater in Plied yarn. Did I have a bunch of scraps of Plied yarn? No. Did I have any full skeins? Also no. But a few other people did, and now I have a great sweater I love to wear.

Next, think about filling in the gaps. Do you want to make a two-color shawl, but you don’t have the perfect second color yet? You know where to look. Is your heart set on a scrappy project, (like a granny square sweater that combines crochet and knitting) but your DK weight scraps are lacking? The answer is in the stash sale where people routinely sell odds and ends. 

Then, think about yarns on your “want to try” list. Have you wanted to try socks with fingering weight yarn? Look for a skein at the stash sale. Do you want to try using bulky yarns? Pick up a skein to play with. Wondering what the fuss is about mohair? Experimenting with the fiber arts is fun, and sometimes getting a good deal makes it feel more possible to take a chance. 

Do you have a “do a little good” list? If you like making shawls and scarves for our winter Scarf Market, look for a deal on Rios or some other great superwash wool. (Remember, two skeins make a scarf.) Look for some easy-care yarns if the organizations you like to support need machine-washable goods. Do you have dreams of making some gifts for the holidays? Put those materials on your shopping list.

At the top of my to-knit list for the summer is a Hipster Shawl, by Joji Locatelli, but I’m not telling you all what yarn I hope to find for it. Some tips are meant to be kept to yourself.