Shannon Talks Yarn

  Labor Day is often seen as the end of summer, and for yarn lovers, it’s also the perfect time to check in on your stash before the busy fall season begins. Cooler weather usually means bigger projects, cozier fibers, and longer stretches of crochet time, so why not give your yarn collection a little refresh before diving in? Step 1: Sort Through Your Summer-Friendly Yarns Cotton, linen, bamboo, and lightweight blends are perfect for warm weather projects, but as the seasons shift, you may not reach for them as often. Take a look at your stash and set these yarns aside. Then ask yourself: Do I want to use them now? Should I store them for next year? Could I donate or gift them to someone who will use them sooner? Step 2: Revisit Your WIPs (Works in Progress) Do you have a summer top that’s still only half done? Or a bag project that got left in a project basket? Decide whether it’s worth finishing now or whether it’s time to frog and reclaim the yarn for something ...

  Labor Day weekend is often thought of as the unofficial end of summer. It's a time for barbecues, sales, and maybe a little relaxation. But if you’re like me, it’s also the perfect opportunity to reclaim your yarn space before fall projects kick into high gear. You don’t need a full makeover to feel more organized! (click HERE if you're interested in my latest yarn room makeover!) Even a few hours of tidying can make your yarn room (or yarn corner!) feel fresh, inviting, and ready for your next WIP. Here are some quick and doable ways to organize your yarn room this holiday weekend: 1. Do a 10-Minute Surface Sweep Clear off any flat surfaces: desks, tables, or cube tops that have become landing zones for skeins, hooks, or half-finished projects. Even stacking things into a basket temporarily will make the space feel calmer and give you room to breathe. 2. Gather Your WIPs in One Spot If your yarn room is anything like mine, projects in progress can end up scattered eve...

Have you ever stood in front of your yarn stash for half an hour, only to walk away without starting anything? Or maybe you’ve got six tabs of patterns open but none of them feel right? If so, you might be dealing with decision fatigue . Decision fatigue happens when the sheer number of choices in front of us wears down our ability to actually make a decision. For knitters, crocheters, and fiber artists, this shows up in some very familiar ways: Stash freeze – staring at yarn but not using it. Pattern overload – downloading every free pattern but never starting. WIP avoidance – avoiding projects so you don’t have to decide what to do with them. Planning more than making – endless prep with no progress. The good news? It doesn’t mean you’re unmotivated or bad at your craft. It simply means your brain is tired from making decisions all day long. Here are a few ways to lighten the load: Limit your menu. Pick 3–5 yarns and patterns you know you love and keep those...

  Weekends are the perfect time to reconnect with your yarn projects. After a busy week of work, errands, and responsibilities, it can be easy to feel too drained to dive into something creative. But crochet and knitting aren’t just hobbies, they’re ways to recharge, relax, and remind yourself that you deserve that time for joy. Here are a few little sparks of motivation to help you pick up your hook or needles this weekend: Think small, start small- You don’t need to tackle a huge blanket or sweater. Even making a granny square, a swatch, or a few rows is progress. Every stitch adds up. Here's a blog post featuring 5 other t hings I wish I knew when I started crocheting . Create a cozy atmosphere- Brew a cup of tea or coffee, light a candle, and set up your favorite spot with your yarn nearby. The ritual of preparing your space makes picking up your project feel like a treat. Check out my COZY CROCHET SPACE HERE . Pair it with something you love- Queue up a podcast, audioboo...

We’ve all been there-sitting down with good intentions to start a new project, only to “quickly” browse Pinterest , Ravelry, or Instagram for inspiration… and suddenly, it’s midnight. The yarn is still in the basket. The hook hasn’t moved. And somehow, instead of feeling inspired, we’re drained. This cycle of endless searching-whether for the “perfect” pattern or the “perfect” yarn-isn’t harmless. It’s the creative version of doomscrolling: we’re consuming, collecting ideas, and reading… but not creating. Why It Feels Productive (But Isn’t) That initial rush we get while searching can trick us into feeling productive. But deep down, our minds know the truth: nothing has been made. And it has a cost-time lost, energy drained, and a creativity block that leaves us joyless. For me, it often happens after work. I don’t have much energy, so I scroll crochet reels, check yarn websites for sales, or refresh the same online stores even though I know nothing new has been added. It’s like...

  I am so excited to finally share my new yarn room with you! A couple of videos ago, I called it my “official studio,” and today you’ll get the full tour. This transformation started when my husband and I realized that our guest room was mostly sitting unused. We only have guests a couple of times a year, but I film in here a lot . So, we decided to take out the bed and turn the space into a dedicated creative studio for Shannon Talks Yarn . And by “we,” I mean my husband did about 99% of the work while I stood around saying things like, “Yeah, that should go there.” He’s such a good sport! Starting Fresh Before setting up my lighting and filming equipment, I walked through the room to admire the changes. We kept most of the furniture thrifted or “shopped from home,” but I added a few special new pieces that I’ll link in my Amazon storefront for anyone interested. One of the first things I brought in was a thick tufted wool rug my daughter didn’t want anymore. It adds war...

  I have a confession: I’m usually so bad about weaving in my ends. Seriously, I have an entire tub full of projects that are practically finished, but the ends aren’t woven in. I sometimes joke that it’s a character flaw of mine. But the truth is, it keeps me from wearing and enjoying the things I worked hard to make! So today, I decided to finish a project I absolutely love. And I brought you along to be my accountability buddy. 😊 A Shawl That Sparked Something This shawl was made with YarnArt Flowers Moonlight , a gorgeous gradient yarn with a subtle gold thread running through it. I first showed it a couple videos ago when I talked about starting a boho shawl (it was only about halfway done back then). Now? It’s finished. Ends woven in. And I’m completely in love with how it turned out. I’ll link the video tutorial for the pattern , and if you’re interested, I got the yarn on Amazon, it’ll be linked , too. Why It Worked for Me This project was simple but powerful. He...