It's a long story, but I'm in the middle of reorganizing my stash. I have way too much yarn. I have decided to donate some that I've had for years and I'm obviously never going to get around to using. That's not my major concern right now, though. In addition to way to many large lots of yarn there are all the smaller left over bits. These are all different colors, fiber contents, and weights and amounts ranging from a few yards to partial balls and a left over balls from some previous projects. What on earth am I going to do with them? I need ideas for scrap, hit and miss, mixtures, afghans, pillow tops, embelishments...Who has some good ideas for left over bits and pieces. It would be such a help.

Donate some to charity. Project Linus is a nationwide organization and they're always looking for yarn.

Check with the activity director at any nursing home or assisted living facilities. They're also looking for yarn.

We have an organization called RSVP here in southeastern NY. It's for senior citizens. You might want to check with the senior citizens groups.

You can turn some of them into scrap afghans or pillows. I've seen a few books in the needlework catalogs such as Mary Maxim and Herrschnerr's for scrap yarn projects. They tell you how much yarn you need and tell you what they used.

Shari

I have a wonderful knitted/pieced block that takes scraps PM me and I will send a pic of the baby quilt if you like it I will send the pattern.
Dances

I organized my stash into boxes and decided not to feel guilty about any of it I think the guilt (or whatever it is) keeps us from enjoying the hilarity of it, you know? what's to feel guilty for if we are making things for others or ourselves and it makes us happy?
I am working on actually using up what I have and the rest I think will go to GoodWill if they will take it. I have several boxes of "scraps" that i keep for making mouse clothes (yes, i need help) and other little things, so i would say to keep the small bits you have left. you just never know when a mouse might need a coat speaking of mice..we just had some in the house!!! it's EEEEKKYY
I've been stalling on a new project by making lots of dishcloths, mostly for gifts. I made several big items and just got burned out..but now I found a box of Reynolds Lite-Lopi in two colors--kind of earthy browns--and i am wondering what to make with them? it's a bit scratchy, but all wool, at 17/22 to 4".
I got inspired several weeks ago to organize my books and patterns so you would think! i could be searching through them, but NO i am here asking for ideas.
i haven't posted for a while, i hope someone remembers me..
Mice

I'm still at it. I've given away a couple of good-sized boxes and I think I've found all the bags stuffed in corners that have little bits of yarn in them. Maybe I'm even making progress. Now on a related topic, does anyone have any good ideas for swatches? Again various sizes, gauges, fibers and colors. I'm thinking perhaps a crazy quilt or pillow tops. I did find a bag with already felted worn out socks that I will chop up and sew together for pillow tops. How many throw pillows does one really need anyway?

You sound as though you're making good progress.
But you sound anxious about the bits and pieces. If you think you'd really enjoy chopping and sewing worn out felted socks into throw pillows you don't need, go for it. Thrift is good unless it makes you its slave. There is a beautiful lightness and freedom in getting rid of things that are obsolete and no longer relevant to your life, and starting a fresh new project.

If you can't bear to throw away the oddments, donate them as others have suggested, or give them away via Freecycle, or just bag them and consign them to the garbage gods.

Swatches, though -- they're something else. Once you have knitted up a swatch it's no longer yarn; it's acquired significance and become a meaningful part of memory. I, for one, can't throw them away. Maybe you can keep all the swatches together in one shoebox and decide what, if anything to do with them later.

Baa Baa one shoebox would be seriously inadequate!

The items I make never need to be swatched so I do not own any. But, In my opinion, if I had any, it would be a wonderful memory 'quilt' like our Grandmothers would make of all our 'baby-growing up' dresses that they fashioned for us. I wish that I had a swatch of every afghan or scarf or baby sweater, bootie, hat and toy that I have made. I often wonder 'how many??' This weekend I just gifted my Granddaughter, the first of the 14 to show an interest in knitting, with a bag of odd balls and a 'knitting bag' to keep her tools in. WOW am I thrilled. As Baa-Baa knows I make toys from some of my scraps. Grace, Love and Prayers. God Bless.