How to Organize Your Yarn Stash

If you have an addiction to all things yarn related, you know how tough it is to keep finding ways to stash your soft, silky, scrumptious drug of choice around the house! Today, I'd like to show you an easy and effective method for organizing your yarn stash.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Oodles of yarn
• Storage containers
• Place to store storage containers

1. 

   The first step really is admitting that you have a problem. A storage problem. While it is nigh on impossible to pass up those delicious strands of wooly and alpacian goodness that call to you from the shelves, there are ways to contain the stash once it has reached your home!

2. 

   Before you begin, you'll first need to assess just what kind of storage space and containment is needed. Look around. Got an empty room abandoned by a child who has escaped the stringy madness by going to college? Got some drawer or cupboard space in your laundry room that begs to be caressed by colorful, fluffy fibers? How about underneath your bed? Why let the dust bunnies have all the fun?

3. 

   Once you have determined the optimum location for stash storage, you are ready to select containers in which to lovingly place your yarns of many colors. Here are just a few ideas for containment:
   
   -Go green. Recycle those giganourmous clear plastic bedding bags with the zippers. This not only keeps your fibers clean and moth free, but you can also SEE what you've got!
   -Inexpensive plastic tubs. Available at your local dollar store, the Sterlite and Tupperware and offbrand storage tubs matching lids are ideal, and come in a variety of sizes and depths to accomadate whatever location you have chosen.
   -Empty drawers. Perfect for those who fear plastics, utilizing drawer space in a closet or laundry room makes for easy access and organization up the wazoo!

4. 

   Having gathered containment vessels, a place for storage and your wits, now it's time to gather up all the yarn. Look in all the normal hiding spots. Don't leave anything out. Now is the time to confront just how serious your addiction has become. As Dr. Phil likes to say "Ya can't change whatcha don't acknowledge"....yeah. So.....Get your stash and lay it out on the floor (preferrably on a clean sheet to avoid comingling with any wayward animal hairs that may be down there!)

5. 

   There can be several methods to your sorting madness, depending on your level of control-freakiness, such sorting by:
   
   
   
   -color
   -brand
   -type (fluffy, sport, bulky, wool)
   -date purchased
   -by project
   
   It's all up to you. Personally, I sort by color and type, just because I'm a color-driven artist. You have to decide what motivates you to get in touch with your stash, and then it will fall into place. Once you've sorted and categorized your special skeins of yarny goodness, put them in the storage container of your choice, and then transport them to their dedicated storage area.

Tips & Warnings

• Seek counseling if you no longer have a place to sit in your home.
• Storing yarns in closed or covered containers helps prevent moths and other insidious creatures from residing within your stash.
• Store unused yarns seperately from projects, unless you have the strength of mind to resist starting yet another project.
• If you're a yarn freak like me, visit my blog, Stitch Witch, for a daily peek into the addictive world of fiber arts!
• Avoid eBay, JoAnn Fabrics, Michaels, and any local vendor of this decidedly irresistable drug, until such a time when you have organized, and know for certain that you will have room for more yarn!

Resources

• Stitch Witch
• Stash Storage at JoAnn

[lilangel58]

on 11/7/2008 Very good tips, maybe I can get my oodles and boodles of yarn straight with your advice. Thank you.

[staysik]

on 10/30/2008 These are great ideas, and I might add that as you're finding homes for your stash, you can use this time to catalog your stash and record it on Ravelry. If you are a knitter or crocheter and don't have an account w/ Ravelry, check it out- you'll be glad you did. It is very addictive. You can use it to keep track of projects, needles and hooks, yarn stash, and more!

[Angelgirlpj]

on 10/22/2008 I'm not that bad, yet. I don't crochet much anymore. But I still like to look at yarn and have the colors I want in case I decide to do something. I have taken over the kids room up stairs.

[Miragi]

on 10/21/2008 I have yet to venture in to the world of sock making! I wish I did. I'm actually just getting ready to write about another charity: the Knit One Save One program which makes hats for preemies. Should be on my blog later this morning. www.stitchwitch.today.com. :)

My cats have been rather creative with certain yarnifacts as well :) Kids and Cats...and the occasional dog, too!!

Thanks for reading, Judy!

[HardworkinJudy]

on 10/21/2008 I love knitting and crocheting, especially crocheting, and did you know there are kinds of other wonderful things to do with yarn - just ask my kids who have hacked into it a time or two. lol.
Your article was great fun. And for those who are tired of a particular skein - the VA gives yarn to knitters to make our soldiers socks.