It must just be a character flaw that is very strong and requires more will power than I seem to have!
When I was younger, I had a shoe obsession. Without exaggerating, I probably had 100 plus pairs of shoes – colored high heel shoes. A neighbor was manager at a cute little shoe boutique in downtown Lake Charles and that didn’t help. Give me an old beat up pair of tennis shoes or some comfortable flip flops and that’s all I need these days. I took a pair of boots to Missouri (along with one slipper . . however that happened), and a pair of old tennis shoes. I wore the boots once, and kept the old tennis shoes on. There was a time when I would have had at least two different pairs of shoes were day with me . . I lost that shoe obsession and am so glad I did.
At one point, I was the same way with fabric. I would buy anything and everything . . there was a time when I even bought prints — flowers and geometrics! The quilt shop near me is going out of business and has been having a sale. I haven’t even gone . . don’t need any fabric and don’t have any interest in buying it. Yep, the fabric obsession has dwindled. If I went to the quilt shop with the sale, I would probably buy mega amounts of fabric but I haven’t had the desire to go.
Yarn . . that’s my current obsession. If you’re a knitter . . are you obsessed with buying it? Why do I do this? I have more than I will ever use, I will never “need” yarn unless I live to be close to 200 years old. This morning as I was waking up and thinking . . I convinced myself that my obsession is really with just getting hard to find yarns but I know that’s not even 100% true.
This past Saturday morning, Into the Whirled was having a “yarn release” at 9:00 a.m. my time. I planned to be online at 9 a.m. and try to get more of the sock yarn I love but then talked myself out of that.
Today at 11:00 a.m., Shalimar was going to have some of their DK yarn online. It’s hard to find and I need some for a couple of projects. I mostly have just sock yarn so any pattern I want that requires DK or worsted or anything other than fingering weight . . I do “need” the yarn. See . . I just convinced YOU that I “need” yarn! 
In order to get in on the Shalimar yarn release, I was having to plan what time I left the hotel so I could be near at McDonald’s at 11:00 a.m. so I could go in and use their wifi. No! My priority for today was getting home . . not buying yarn. Besides, if I buy from The Loopy Ewe, I get points. Those customer appreciation plans work, don’t they!
I have hope that soon, the yarn obsession will be a past thing but it scares me to think what my next obsession will be.
Do you have or have you ever had an obsession like this? I really don’t consider it a bad thing. I’m not using grocery money to buy yarn. Vince plays like he’s giving me a hard time about the yarn coming in but he really doesn’t mind. It’s a little game we play with each other. Really . . seriously . . (I’m convincing myself here) . . it is crazy to buy more than I can use in a lifetime because I know what will happen to it all when I’m gone.
Just when I think I’m going to be strong and order no more yarn, I earned another $25 gift certificate from The Loopy Ewe and if you don’t spend at least $75, you have to pay shipping! What’s a girl to do?
Oh I have this same character trait! When I was younger it was shoes and purses that matched and lots of clothes. And then it transitioned into fabric and yarn and cross stitch stuff. I believe the crafty stuff is a way better use of my cash and it certainly helps my mental outlook. As for the Loopy Ewe there is only one solution — put together an $75 order! LOL – have fun!
My husband started asking me( about 10 years ago) ” what do you need that for, and where are you going to put it ?” in between we have retired, moved south and downsized ( not really- this house is a little bigger), but nevertheless I try to ask myself these questions before buying and it has slowed me down a lot . Because I really don’t need much, and esp. fabric!!!! Does yarn take up less room?LOL. Micki
Thank you, Judy, I feel better.
Same as you, I used to have a shoe obsession. My Dad and I started an annual Christmas tradition when I was in high school. We would go Christmas shopping for my Mom a few days before Christmas. He always told me to pick something out that I wanted, wrap it and put it under the tree. I always picked shoes! One year he told to pick what I wanted, but not shoes. Now I am trying to cut back on fabric purchases, only getting what I need to finish a project. But, I also am having to talk myself out of buying yarn just because I like it.
I used to do shoe things, but that stemmed from my childhood in poverty. I, too, don’t buy much fabric any longer. It seems to multiply at my house anyway. Now … I guess I’m obsessed with food storage, but once I reach my year’s goal, that will fade away. I think living in the 5th wheel probably cured me of collecting most things. My friends call me a minimalist because my walls at home aren’t covered with stuff. Really? I just don’t want clutter! Well, except for books and the threads on the sofa that are for the current cq project, and the fabric on the floor that I’m trying to decide what pattern, and … Okay, I just don’t want cluttered walls. =)
Whew! I feel better! I also am obsessed with food storage (and fabrics, books, unusual garden vegetable seeds, um – probably a bunch of things!) At least now I know I’m not alone!
Yes, I too have obsessions. I still have a little shoe one, but only because it is so very hard to find shoes that fit my feet. Fabric, if I never purchased fabric again, I could not possibly use it all. Vintage sewing machines, still have it. Yarn is a new one, and it is sort of your fault Judy. I have become obsessed with knitting socks. Since the first of the year I have finished 2 pair and have the first sock of two more pair done. I am happy to be learning to knit though, I am never bored and all these obsessions give me so much pleasure. Keep up the good work and buy more yarn!
My fabric obsession began to dwindle after I decided to organize my stash…after washing, drying, folding, putting away yards and yards of fabric…when I finally got it all put neatly into shelves…I realized I have far more beautiful fabric then I will ever be able to use in my remaining lifetime. When I look at new fabrics…I immediately ask myself do I love it enough to wash it, dry it, fold it and figure out where on earth it’s going to fit into my space and will it dampen the guilt about not using what I already have…the new fabrics quickly lose their appeal….now vintage sewing machines…that is becoming a new obsession…though finding a spot to put them is becoming a challenge too….laugh
oh yes I can certainly relate! I have always had a live affair with all types of fibers, including yarn and textiles! If they make you happy, you are finishing some of projects(notice I said “some” and not “all”) and you are not spending the mortgagemoney
I used to have an obsession with books. Now I use the library. I think my obsessions have been completely limited by money. I was dirt poor the first 26 years or so of my life (I’m only 30). Now my husband and I have money but I don’t want to buy stuff. Don’t get me wrong; I love shopping. But I rarely buy things just because. It requires a purpose. You can probably thank Dave Ramsey’s financial principles for that. His principles got us out of credit card and car debt and started our savings account.
I too had an obsession with shoes before I retired. I still love them but do not need them. Currently I am obsessed with certain reproduction cross stitch designers but I have what I need now. I learned from Judy that I need more fabric that reads as solid as i was obsessed with certain prints that moda has. But I am over that. ( the prints). So I guess I am finally situated for enough materials to work with for awhile!
I never was that crazy about shoes (more for you), just chocolate, but I look at my fabric and limited yarn stash this way: I have something to show for the money I spent, not on a tray full of butts and a can full of bottles. And I haven’t found an “all night yarn/quilt shop” (i’net doesn’t count). Have any of you???
My quilting buddy friend gave me a Troll bead with a bracelet for my birthday. These are also called “Italian Charm bracelets”. They’re large, colorful glass beads with a large hole to accommodate a silver bracelet. You can collect all sorts of colors, patterns and styles of beads with silver ‘spacers’ and charms between. Well, just ONE bead wouldn’t do so I started looking on eBay and was buying three or four a week! I now have 2 bracelets full of these highly addictive beads! I have to force myself to stay off eBay!
I’m buying too much yarn too … Not hard to find stuff but I’m spending a lot of time on Ravelry and I don’t knit nearly as fast as I Queue projects!
Just be glad you didn’t take up spinning yet. Then the fiber that creates the yarn becomes yet another obsession. :>)
my latest downfall was jelly rolls! I think someone at Moda must have been watching my shopping habits when they created jelly rolls. I really loved the idea of collecting all the fabrics in a line –that’s how i began my quilt fabric shopping, by finding out that every fabric that i loved was created by one designer! The light bulb over my head went off like a Broadway spotlight, and i was hooked. i counted my jelly rolls by the dozen, found quilt patterns that used jelly rolls, etc. even today those are my go-to quilt patterns, although i have branched out since then. and yep, i STILL have more than a dozen jelly rolls in my fabric stash with plans for every last one of them.
I generally have some kind of obsessive acquistion habit going on… then I tame that one and something else takes it’s place. If only I could obsessively save $$!
If you came to my house, you would immediately say that I was obsessed with fabric…and books. We have a lot of books. I don’t think I am obsessed, but then again that may be a sign of denial. I’ve been pretty good so far this year, but I just won a $50 gift certificate from the FQS so I’m in the same boat as you are with your yarn. If you look hard enough, you will find a couple boxes of yarn around here too and I don’t know how to knit anything other than the simplest scarf.
I am DEFINITELY obsessed with books. To the point that they became a major disaster. When I moved into this apartment, I didn’t have enough shelf space for all my books – so at my son’s suggestion, I put them in tubs and stored them in the basement – the DRYEST part of the basement.
Unfortunately – it was right beneath the drain pipe that goes to my bathtub and I ended with literally THOUSANDS of books having to be dumped because they were soggy and would mold. I literally cried buckets of tears! You see, most of these were homeschool books – US and world history books, science books, GOOD literature – living books – the kinds that libraries drool over. At one time I had well over 10 thousand books – and now? I have 6 LARGE tubs – 5 of which were upstairs still and one that didn’t seem to be damaged that was downstairs, plus 5 large bookcases chock full (double stacked) left – and I seriously miss the books that had to be tossed. I had hoped to homeschool additional kids that I might adopt plus tutor other kids needing assistance and eventually give the books to the public library.
Yup – I was/am obsessed with books. Even now.
I’m glad to know there are others out there like me. I’ve never had an obsession for shoes, but mine started with Precious Moments and Cherished Teddies. I wanted them all! Then I started quilting and loaded up on fabric, and now it’s yarn. Yesterday I was thinking I really can’t buy more yarn because I almost can’t walk into the walk-in closet. Today I’m wondering what The Loopy Ewe will post tonight. I am hopeless.