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5 Clever Yarn Storage Ideas
Five clever yarn storage ideas, one for each kind of stash from project yarn and single skeins to scraps, plus a tip for protecting wool.
In the past we talked about how to declutter your yarn stash.
Now that we have only the yarn that, as Marie Kondo says, “Spark’s Joy,” we can start getting everything organized.
We’re not going to create some crazy labeling system (although having a label maker is really useful) or divvy things up into a ton of categories.
In fact we’re going to split things up into only 5 categories, and one clever storage solution for each.
So let’s jump in!
Category: Projects
Why are we starting by organizing by project instead of by yarn weight or color?
Because chances are you mainly buy yarn for specific projects.
Even if you don’t have something specific in mind, if you bought more than 2 skeins you plan to use them all in the same project.
Storage Solution - Vacuum Storage Bags
Sure you could buy bins for every project, but those can take up a lot of space.
Compression bags allow you to store all of the yarn for your project together and then use a vacuum (or these roll up ones) to remove the air. Very useful for traveling as well.
They’re a lot cheaper than bins and extremely compact!
Category: Unassigned Yarn
Ok so maybe you don’t have a project in mind for ALL the yarn in your stash. Perhaps you found a great deal or even inherited some from a knitting friend.
In that case organizing yarn by weight (and maybe color) makes a lot of sense.
You’re going to want a solution that will keep the yarn safe from the elements, and make it easy to see what you’ve got.
We’ve got just the thing…
Storage Solution - Stackable Plastic Bins
This might seem obvious, but there are a few characteristics you’ll want from good storage bins.
First, they should be clear, so you can easily see what’s inside.
Second, they should be stackable, especially if you have a lot of yarn. This will make it a lot easier to store.
Third, they should have lids that seal tight so moisture and bugs have no chance to get in.
Category: Single Skeins
We’ve all done it.
Picked up a beautiful skein of yarn at the store and fallen in love with the color and softness.
We don’t know what we’ll do with just one skein of Madeline Tosh Twist Light in Pinata Pop, we just know it had to come home with us!
You may also have some left over skeins from a project that used less yarn than expected.
When that happens we need a place to put them where they are easy to see and get to.
Storage Solution - Hangable Shoe Organizer
A hanging shoe organizer is a great way to house those one or two skeins of orphaned yarn.
They’re usually mesh or clear, so you can display all of those beautiful colors with pride.
And they hold the perfect amount of yarn until you find the right one-skein project.
Category: Yarn Scraps
It almost never happens that we have the exact right amount of yarn for a project.
Usually we’re left over with a few yards that we just don’t know what to do with.
These bits of yarn are great for intarsia, or filling in toys, and a even making pom-poms.
So how do we store them?
Storage Solution - Glass Cookie Jars
Sure you could just put mini yarn balls and scraps in zip-loc bags, but what’s the fun in that?
Storing everything by color is a great idea here, and putting it all on display using glass jars makes it pretty too!
Category: Current Project
I like to have a nice big project next to where I sit while watching TV.
Having it stored in a large tote like this one, where I can also store extra needles and notions makes life a lot easier.
Keeps everything nice and tidy!
And I can grab everything and go to my local knit night at moments notice.
BONUS TIP
Making your yarn last
Pests and moisture are the enemy of a lot of yarn, especially wool.
To ensure you don’t end up with a skein of Swiss cheese merino, invest in some cedar planks, sachets, or balls (like these). Bugs hate the smell of cedar oil so they will stay away from your precious babies. They also don’t like lavender.
And it’s a good idea to throw in some silica gel packets (like these) to soak up any excess moisture. Yarn is great at absorbing moisture, which means it can mildew and mold if it can’t get rid of it.
Conclusion
So there you have it.
There’s a lot of ways to store yarn, but these are some of our favorites.
What clever solutions do you have for storing and organizing your stash?
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