I get these wonderful shoe bag hangers for cheap at thrift shops. When I wanted to organize all the bigger skeins of yarn in my craft room, I began to save 2 liter bottles.
I then cut the bottom off, just above the fluting. You stick the skein in, feeding the tail through the soda top, and place the bottle bottom back on. If the skein is a bit too long, a bit of tape helps to keep the bottom on. Then, you simply place the soda bottles in the shoe part. You can keep them there till you need them, or work from the lower ones in the middle, moving the colors up and down that you need.
This is a simple and almost free project that will help you keep your yarn clean, organized, and handy. N-JOY!
Source: My own need to stay organized.
By Sandi/Poor But Proud from Salem OR
This page contains the following solutions.
I have very little storage space and lots of yarn. So, I have to go almost all the way up to the ceiling. When you do that, you lose the ability to know what's in that box or basket.
When using yarn from a skein, you mostly use it from the center of the skein. That is the "norm". When you are winding yarn into a ball, use any button and tie it to the end of the yarn that becomes the middle of the ball.
When making a ball of yarn, secure a button (with a shank) or some other similar item to the end of yarn at the beginning and hold on to it while continuing to wrap the yarn.
I like to store yarn of the same color together. I use those skinny plastic newspaper bags to store yarn that is the same together. I squeeze out all the air and knot the bag.
I went to a local bar and asked for three empty liquor boxes all the same size which have dividers right in them. Then I decorated them with contact paper, and placed them on their sides on a top shelf in my craft room.
I learned this tip from my mother many years ago. Store your skeins of yarn in 2 liter soda bottles. Cut the bottom off, thread the yarn through the top, and tape the bottle back together.
I tried to keep my yarn organized and finally after trying umpteen different methods, decided "forget it!" I donated 5 large leaf bags full and still had lots of yarn left. Now the only time I buy yarn is if I have something specific in mind to make.
I store my yarn in 2 litter soda bottles. Take an empty, clean bottle and remove the lid. Take a knife or large scissors and cut it in half, near the center of the label.
I previously submitted an idea about using oversized shoe bags from thrift shops to store yarn. You can get the kind that are for shoes that are upright and usually clear plastic.
Since I am so thrifty that I purchase all my yarn at thrift stores, I don't usually get full skeins. After being disappointed by running out of yarn during a project, I finally pulled out my food scale and now I weigh my yarn to make sure I have enough for my project.
I like to ball my yarn when I get it. I always save the wrappers to go back for size of skeins, color, or washing instructions. I found though that sometimes I couldn't match up the label with the yarn I was working on until I came up with the idea of how to solve that problem.
I find the best way to keep wool skeins together, tidy, and undamaged is to store them in "under the bed" plastic containers. I lay a small length of each yarn in a zip-lock bag, which I tape to the side of the container to show what is inside.
I keep my supplies of knitting and crochet yarn in the large click zip bags usually used for food storage. I write the ply and date on the white label, and because they are see through I do not have any trouble seeing what is inside, making it easy to select what I need.
I found a box of Easter decorations, and there were some egg wraps left inside. I used them to hold my yarn remnants and taped the wrap tightly around the yarn.
For people who knit, crochet, or just need a lot of smaller storage spaces, go to a store that sells liquor and ask if you can have their empty liquor boxes.
I use the wrappers from rice cakes to store a skein of yarn. It keeps the cats from making a nest out of it, and stuff from spilling on it, while you're working with it, or storing it.
I use the plastic bags that my newspaper is delivered in when knitting or crocheting. I place a skein or ball of yarn inside to keep it clean and free from snarling.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Help. My yarn stash is out of control and I need some ideas on how to store it all. I have tried the clear plastic containers, they are not working for me. We have very limited space in our house so any suggestions would be great.
By amy from Brazil, IN
Hi Amy,
If you have some extra closet space, you can buy those inexpensive closet organizers (the ones for shoes that hang on a closet rod) and hang one up. The individual shoe compartments are great for storing yarn, and you can usually fit more than one skein in each compartment. If you don't have the closet space but have space even in your basement (if the humidity levels are okay) you can probably find a spot to put a rod up there.
Good luck!
I have also tried plastic containers but preferred storing my yarn in large drawers which seemed more organized. Luckily I had a spare bedroom where I could do this. But I also had yarn stacked in vertical wire storage baskets in the closet of the spare bedroom. Much as it pained me to do so, I ended up resorting to downsizing my yarn stash. I go through phases where I enjoy doing a lot of knitting and then have periods where I don't. I still have a way to go but realistically sorted out batches of wool that I'd least likely use and sold them on ebay. I've condensed what's left into a drawer unit in the hall closet and the rest into plastic tubs in a sideboard in the living area. I still have a way to go but it starts with getting it under control and then organizing. Good luck :)
Coming from a lifelong pack rat, have you used up the space under the beds yet? There are inexpensive large, flat rectangular plastic storage bins with lids that fit perfectly underneath a bed.
I received 4 large leaf garbage bags of yarn from friends and since I live in a small apartment, I was running out of space. I got the Spacesaver bags (Ziploc bags which you draw out all air and it shrinks the yarn into smaller proportions) and store them in canvas storage totes which all these come in a set. But before I put them in a Spacesaver bag, I organized the yarns into projects and than place them in grocery plastic bags and tie them shut. Now they are in two canvas toes which fit on my closet shelf.
Also when I am working on a project, I use ZIPLOC gallon sized bags and place a skein of yarn in separate bags. When not working on project, they zip shut to keep yarn clean, and than I just grab a tote bag and place the zipped yarn in it and grab scissors, needles, hooks and tape measure and take the project on the go while on the road with family, while doing laundry, while talking to friends downstairs or at Drs.' office, dentist. I open one bag and grab hook I open the bag, grab the yarn end and then pull it out. Then rezip only enough to keep ball or skein from falling out.
It keeps yarn clean and most likely from cats and dogs chewing or playing with the yarn. There is enough space for the skein or ball to unravel. Great when doing blocks, granny squares or small projects. It will also store the project (blocks or squares) when you have to quit, protecting that from dust and other destroyers.
I found that using the Ziplock tote bags works the best for my stash of yarn. I crochet for Project Linus and get donated yarn to use. I like the zippered totes and break down the yarn in types of yarn such as all the baby yarn in one or certain colors in some, etc. Keeps the yarn clean and doesn't take as much space as the hard plastic containers.
