This listing is for a FREE printable that will expire 24 hours after the first download. There are some photos from last year but the download WILL say #Stashbusterchallenge22. Please make sure you can print from the device you download it to. If you are more inclined to keep your copy digital it can be fun to paint in your hats in procreate or photoshop. Just make sure you can take a photo of your tracker ‘sheet’ if you want to earn free patterns.

You can use the printable to track your progress whether you are stashbusting or not. I know there are those rare people who don’t have a large stash of yarn and only buy what you need for a project. You are welcome to participate too. It is so satisfying to SEE the progress and it’s a great way to track how many hats you make. I’ve shown 3 different ways you can keep track.

If you run out yarn or break down and buy new yarn mark your sheet to show how far you made it and CELEBRATE! Stashbusting is a CHALLENGE. Celebrate whatever you are able to accomplish. No judgment here!

Three ways to use your #StashBusterChallenge22 tracker:

1) Color each hat in as you finish it. Date the row when you complete the last hat.

2) Mark each pattern you use on the left side of the paper and write the date you finish a hat. (This will be harder to track the 10 required hats per free pattern so I suggest printing multiple copies so you can keep track of an overall total.

3) Use a hybrid of methods 1 & 2 by writing the name of the pattern and the date as you go one by one. Personally this is the method I plan to use.

HERE ARE THE RULES FOR EARNING A FREE PATTERN:

(Repeat every 10 hats to earn more free patterns!)

Starting today Jan. 1st, 2022:

At least once every ten hats you complete write a post about the project using the hashtag #StashbusterChallenge22 and mention @4MamaBearMade on Instagram and in Facebook knitting groups. Specifics on what to include is stated below, but I greatly appreciate any other sharing you can do on social media to spread the word about the project.

This is my Instagram page.

DO NOT MISS THIS STEP: Post a photo of your tracking sheet on Instagram every time you reach a new batch of 10 hats. Be creative! I don’t expect you to hang onto all ten hats just to take a picture of them all at once. I know hats can sell immediately upon posting, but it will be a great way to share new patterns with participants if we share photos of our knits too - just make sure your tracking sheet makes it in the photo to earn a free pattern. This post also needs to include my IG handle and the hashtag #stashbusterChallenge22 in the post itself - not in a comment used solely for hashtags.

DM me to claim your free @4MamaBearMade pattern. (Most patterns are listed in my shop here and all are on Ravelry and https://www.etsy.com/shop/4MamaBearMade)

This will be the second year I’ve done the challenge and I can attest to how helpful it was to burn through my stash. I found myself USING my favorite colors and not hoarding it because as my stash dwindled I could see the light at the end of the tunnel and when it finally came time to buy more yarn you can be sure I knew just what colors I wanted to use after seven months of having to use what was in my stash.

That’s all there is to it! I look forward to taking this journey with you all in 2022! Happy New Year and Happy Knitting!!