What's a yarn stash? It's the collection of yarn that a knitter amasses when she can't resist buying more. Some is earmarked for specific projects, but much is bought on impulse -- i.e., you're sure you'll work it into an FO (finished object) one day, but right now you simply, desperately, need to see it, feel it, own it. That makes you happy. So the stash builds.

You know you have a problem when you run out of places to hide your stash. You've used up most of your available closet space and have run up a bill at The Container Store on plastic bins that look nice when stacked. Some of the bins are semi-transparent, so you load these with your brightest yarn. Out of desperation, you've raided your basement and reposessed several large baskets that, years ago, held silk flowers. Now they're filled with yarn. What's next?

Apothecary jars. Put one in a prominent place, like a bedstand, a coffee table, or the corner of a desk, and fill it with some of your favorite yarn -- and voila! A decorative accessory! Your S.O. may not even see this as an extension of your stash. There is absolutely no need to tell him that by filling a large apothecary jar with yarn, you've freed up space in the closet for your next purchase (which he won't know about, since it will be out of sight).

People often ask how much of me is in my books. Remember the opening scenes of Family Tree, when Dana is going into labor, and her husband opens the closet for her hospital bag and encounters ... yarn? That's me.

I can't take credit for the apothecary jar idea. My knitting teacher first mentioned it, and my LYS (local yarn store) uses these jars to display yarn. It's a cool idea, don't you think?

Got any others? I'd love to hear them.