You Are Allowed to Get the Yarn You Want (Full Stop)

I hear this all the time in the shop.

“I probably shouldn’t… my husband / kids / dogsitter will be mad.”
“I already have way too much…”
“I don’t need more in this color.”

And every time, I’m standing there thinking… you are absolutely allowed to buy the yarn you want.

Full stop.

Let’s just be honest

Photo by DESIGNECOLOGIST on Unsplash

Hobbies cost money. All hobbies.

My husband loves fireworks—loves them. Every year, he quite literally sets over $1000 on fire in about 15 minutes. Gone. Into the sky. Beautiful? Yes. Long-lasting? Not exactly.

And that’s just one example.

Think about sports, or cars, or fishing, or hunting—tickets, gear, equipment, storage, upgrades, repeat forever. People spend money on the things they enjoy. That’s completely normal.

So when someone feels like they have to justify buying yarn for their main hobby—for something they love that brings them joy—it just doesn’t add up.

“But I have so much yarn…”

Oh yes. I hear this one daily.

“I have so much yarn—I don’t need more!”

And yet… somehow… we’re still in business. 😄

Here’s what I’ve noticed: having yarn is not the same as having something you’re excited to make. If you come across a color you love, or a yarn that makes you want to cast on immediately, that’s not the same as the random skein sitting in your stash that you feel vaguely guilty about.

When you actually love what you picked, you’re so much more likely to start the project, stick with it, and finish it—and even better, to wear it.

So yes—if you love the color, buy it. Even if you already have a lot of that color. You’re far more likely to use it if you enjoy looking at it while you make it.

(Fun fact: Jan claims she’s allergic to yellow yarn. We all have our limits.)

Also… we need to talk about guilt yarn

Some of you are holding onto yarn that you don’t really like anymore, don’t have a plan for, and don’t actually want to use. And you’re keeping it because… guilt?

Nooooooooo!!! Stop that business.

If a yarn doesn’t make you happy, let it go. Pass it along, gift it, donate it, trade it—let someone else love it. Your stash should feel like possibility, not obligation.

Guilt yarn is not allowed. Free yourself.

This is your hobby

Photo by rocknwool on Unsplash

For most of you, this is your thing.

You’re not out buying boats or building a garage full of tools or lighting $1000 on fire in the driveway. You’re buying yarn. You’re making things. You’re creating something with your hands.

And when you’re done, you have something real. Something you can wear, use, or give to someone you love. That’s not nothing—that’s actually pretty amazing.

And yet I hear women judge themselves for it all the time.

“I shouldn’t…”
“I don’t need to…”
“I already have…”

Meanwhile, I’m not convinced the same level of internal debate is happening in every other hobby out there. (cough fireworks.)

I’m not saying go wild

This is not a “spend money recklessly” speech. (Though you’re welcome to do that at my store anytime!)

We all have budgets and priorities. That part is real.

But there’s a big difference between being thoughtful about your spending and constantly talking yourself out of something you genuinely enjoy. You don’t need to apologize for liking nice yarn.

You are allowed to enjoy your hobby. You are allowed to choose yarn that makes you excited. You are allowed to spend money on something that brings you joy and gives you something real at the end of it.

The bottom line

You’re not doing anything wrong.

You’re not being irresponsible because you bought yarn. You’re not required to apologize for liking nice things.

You’re allowed to buy the yarn you love, make something just because you want to, and enjoy the process while you do it.

And if that yarn happens to be especially soft, squishy, or amazing?

Even better.