After my slump, I came back to my work only to notice something absolutely horrifying: insect larvae and shed carapace.
Kill me now, I thought, but, the rational, non-wasteful part of me was reminded of the proper way to deal with such a problem, and decided to share it with my readers.
First, gather several plastic trash bags.
Second, place the yarn inside, along with any other fibers that have touched it and may have eggs on them. (This includes but is not limited to blankets, pillows, clothing, and stuffed animals.)
Third, seal it off. Instead of using the ties at the top to seal it, tie a knot in the bag itself--this prevents air from getting into the bag.
Fourth, store the bags for a while. Depending on the life cycle of the insect in question, this can be anywhere from a week to a few months. Luckily, the variety my stash has been infected with should be dealt with by Thanksgiving.
Fifth, thoroughly clean yarn stash. If yarn stash is made with plant or animal fibers, do not store yarn here again after it has been sealed in the bags. (Many people disapprove of plastic tubs as yarn storage in the crochet and knitting community, but they happen to be the best for keeping yarn in good condition and out of reach of insects.)
Sixth, remove the yarn and crochet, carefully eying the yarn for dead insects and shed carapace. You will need to pick these out by hand. (Rather gross, I know!)
Seventh, thoroughly wash the finished product.
If infestation returns, repeat process, storing yarn for a longer period of time, and making certain to do so with all fibers that may be harboring eggs.
Depending on the type of infestation, you may wish to consult with a professional exterminator, as infestations such as carpet beetles and specific species of moth can be damaging to furniture and carpeting, and such infestations will return to your yarn stash unless properly taken care of at the source.
Kill me now, I thought, but, the rational, non-wasteful part of me was reminded of the proper way to deal with such a problem, and decided to share it with my readers.
First, gather several plastic trash bags.
Second, place the yarn inside, along with any other fibers that have touched it and may have eggs on them. (This includes but is not limited to blankets, pillows, clothing, and stuffed animals.)
Third, seal it off. Instead of using the ties at the top to seal it, tie a knot in the bag itself--this prevents air from getting into the bag.
Fourth, store the bags for a while. Depending on the life cycle of the insect in question, this can be anywhere from a week to a few months. Luckily, the variety my stash has been infected with should be dealt with by Thanksgiving.
Fifth, thoroughly clean yarn stash. If yarn stash is made with plant or animal fibers, do not store yarn here again after it has been sealed in the bags. (Many people disapprove of plastic tubs as yarn storage in the crochet and knitting community, but they happen to be the best for keeping yarn in good condition and out of reach of insects.)
Sixth, remove the yarn and crochet, carefully eying the yarn for dead insects and shed carapace. You will need to pick these out by hand. (Rather gross, I know!)
Seventh, thoroughly wash the finished product.
If infestation returns, repeat process, storing yarn for a longer period of time, and making certain to do so with all fibers that may be harboring eggs.
Depending on the type of infestation, you may wish to consult with a professional exterminator, as infestations such as carpet beetles and specific species of moth can be damaging to furniture and carpeting, and such infestations will return to your yarn stash unless properly taken care of at the source.
