The Sad Shelf

Moving has brought out several behaviours that are distinctly out of character for me. I've been putting things away right after I use them. I've been seeking out unused items and donating, selling or gifting them. I wipe the bathroom mirror every day before I go to work. And I've been doing small jobs every day so that I don't end up with a huge job to do later on. This means packing my things, a little bit at a time.

That means my glorious yarn shelf, with all of its skeiny goodness...

...now looks like this:

It's a sad-looking shelf, isn't it?

The yarn and spinning fibre is all loosely packed in boxes right now, unsealed so that it can "breathe" and not get damp or mouldy. I won't say how many boxes they filled, just that we are speaking in... ahem... plural.

The vintage traincase you see on the floor in that photo is now holding most of my circular knitting needles, my spindles, crochet hooks, stitch holders, and a jar full of buttons. It's actually quite amazing how much stuff fits in there.

I've also packed some of my other crafty supplies. Here is the box holding most of my sewing materials (apart from that random hole punch that needed a home).

Truthfully, we have several weeks before we really need to get serious about packing, and that means that I can't put everything into a box just yet. I just needed to feel like I was doing something about the packing situation. And yes, I've left out yarn for projects to keep me busy for now.

The basket is holding yellow Cascade 220 Sport for a cardigan from Twist Collective called Roheline. The dark blue is Elann's Lara, queued for a long-sleeved version of the Seaglass Shell from Interweave Knits. The light blue is Elann's Peruvian Baby Cashmere (a wool/alpaca/cashmere blend) which is going to become a shrug of some sort... not sure what yet. And the watermelon-coloured yarn is Cascade Ultra Pima which is currently destined to become a top called Bottoms Up. I'm thinking I should put a note up somewhere to remind myself to make sure those skeins are all wound into balls before I pack away my swift and ball winder. 

I am not without a project to keep my head and hands busy when I am not worrying about packing. I'm fashioning a cardigan out of Berroco Ultra Alpaca. It's sort of a variation on Knitty's Grande Plage Cardigan, except I'm just using the pictures as inspiration. It seems to be working out so far. If anything the soft, buttery feel of the alpaca yarn is wonderfully comforting, if somewhat annoying when it slips so easily off my bamboo needles.

In reality, this packing business is not much fun. This is certainly not the first time I'm moved house in my life, but it never gets easier. Each item that gets placed into a box or case or bag just seems to tug another root I've put down here out of the ground... and that never feels good. It's not easy to live in the moment when all you're doing is reliving the past.

At least I've got this little guy to keep me amused amidst all the packing. Don't worry, buddy. You're coming, too.