Crafters & Their Pattern Collection Addiction

Anyone who crochets, knits, embroiders, sews, does needlepoint or works on plastic canvas, knows both the evils and the pleasures of collecting patterns. I was thinking about that today when I saw a graphic on Pinterest that said something like: Stop Pinning & Make Things!

I can totally relate to that thought.

I do not even want to estimate how many patterns I personally have accumulated over my 73 years. Most of them are crochet. And still I gather more.

I see something on Pinterest, and bookmark (pin) it. Or, I see something on Crochet Pattern Central, and save it on my hard drive. Or, one of my friends has a cute pattern and gives me a copy which I quickly save with all my other hard copy patterns.

Let me explain something. It is physically impossible for me to ever make even one version of every pattern I now have stashed in here, both hard copy and in computer files.

I had a dear friend back in the 70s. She often said that her idea of heaven would be if she had all the yarn and thread she needed to work every pattern she had, just once, and enough time in her life to do it.

I don't know why we do this. I'm am definitely not alone.

I am slowly de-stashing my patterns. This is a very slow process. See, any crocheter ( or knitter, or whatever) worthy of the name, will never, ever just throw away (or give away) a pattern booklet without going through every page "just in case there is something in there that I still want to make some day."

I think it's hopeless. Once we are addicted, nothing can help us.

And, to be honest, I don't think we really want any help - we love our addiction!