Spring Cleaning For Knitters and Crocheters!


Ahhh, spring! Can you feel it coming? After the whirlwind of cold weather stitching, my yarny area always looks like it exploded. Here are some helpful tips to bring order and stitchy harmony back to your space.

You may want to do everything or just a few things, but I promise, even just a few will make you feel like an organization superstar!

First, you’ll want to get your yarn into some kind of container…depending on the size of your stash (is it safe to assume here that your stash is massive?) you’ll want to get get everything in bins, baskets, etc. I like to divide mine by yarn weight-sock yarn in one, chunky in another, worsted in another and so on. Of course you could always organize by color, project, etc too.

Label your bins…. I have a handy labeler to help me but you could make some on your computer, hand stamp with alphabet stamps, etc…

Always save your yarn bands/tags. I like to snip a bit of yarn and attach…think of this as the “reference” area of your library.

As warmer weather is upon us, it’s good to be aware of all of the tiny critters that can invade your yarn stash and ruin it…particularly moths. They like to chomp through it and lay their eggs in it like nobody’s business. So, it is always a good idea to keep your wool sealed. I like using gallon sized freezer bags because they are cheap and reusable.

Work In Progress Bin–I use this bin to stick finished projects in (charity, gift giving, etc) I put completely finished things in here as well as things that need finish work too (ends to be woven in, buttons to be added, etc) Of course if you have lots of space in your area, you could have a bin for each (“finished” and “needs finish work”)

Every crocheter and knitter needs a great tool box. I found this one at a craft store, but you could always use a fishing tackle box, a series of shoe boxes, a sewing basket or anything else that has lots of storage and compartments. Another thing I’ve seen that is especially good for knitting and crocheting on the go is a bunch of small, medium, and large zipped pouches placed in a large tote bag…very functional for travel, knitting and crochet groups, etc.

Here are a few of the compartments…

To store your hooks and needles, you could use a roll (lots of neat patterns are out there if you want to make one yourself), I like to keep mine in a vase, so they are within reach.

How about all of the millions of patterns you’ve printed out over time? I made this binder a few years ago to keep everything handy…I was tired of loose paper all over the place. I have one for both crocheting and knitting, but you could incorporate both into one binder.

I made tabs for it with inexpensive manila folders with holes punched in each one and labeled them by hand. You could be fancier than this, but I like how the divider is also a folder.

Which brings me to patterns, when I am working on a pattern, I slip it into one of these plastic sleeves to protect it.

Buttons! I like to keep buttons in one of these divided plastic boxes…they can be found at the craft store, I believe they are for organizing embroidery floss, but they are awesome for button storage. I like all my buttons where I can see them and within easy reach. Great for beads too! Buttons also look great in a jar, but I like mine laid out like this.

As for projects I am currently working on, I like to keep everything in a basket, I love the homey-ness of it and the large handle for toting around the house. As a side note, I usually have each project in its own freezer bag to keep it clean, together, and tangle free, but this looked prettier it all its yarny glory instead of a pile of plastic bags!

Call me a pack rat, but I never throw away yarn…not even the tiniest scrap. Instead I keep every scrap in a bag to be used for stuffing things. When it gets too full, just start another bag, or start a project that requires you to stuff something.

If you have yarn scraps that are longer, try using them for charity…I keep another bin just for charity yarn. This includes larger yarn scraps (even if just for a stripe or two in a hat), if I’ve overbought yarn for a project, or yarn I’ve found on sale. All of goes in here. Sometimes I just see yarn that would be perfect for a charity project, and that goes in here too!

So there you have it…hopefully your yarn stash and crochet/knitting area will benefit from some springtime sprucing up. Mine sure did! How do you organize your yarn, projects and tools? Please share any tips in the comments area, I’d love to hear them!



Related Posts

23 thoughts on “Spring Cleaning For Knitters and Crocheters!

    1. I always have a take along project in a bag in the car, that way if I have to wait for one of the kids, etc. I have something to work on. I have found that a kids pencil pouch with the rings to go in a 3 ring binder works great when taking dbl. pointed needles, crochet hooks, etc. out of the house. They can go in the binder with your pattern or tossed in your bag but don't poke holes and get lost.

  1. I've also made a binder for my patterns, but each is enclosed in it's own page protector – I just have to take it out and then return it when I'm finished with the project. I don't have section dividers yet – on my to do list! thanks for the great ideas.

  2. this is a great DIY.. i've recently started knitting and have a knitting bag and box where i keep my needles and other accessories. Have a plastic bin with a lid for my yarns.. As for the patterns, most of my stuff is saved on my laptop but the one's i've made already, i've written them down in my knitting book! In cases where i needed to add my own comments for future reference, i've done so in the side bar! Your accessory stash reminds me of a couple more that i need to purchase soon. Thanks for the great ideas!

  3. Thanks! Some good tips here too. For larger projects, such as blankets, sweaters, etc.. I like to use those plastic zip-up bags that sheet sets and blankets come in.

    1. A wonderful idea…I love to repurpose things instead of throwing them out too! Those bags you are talking about are excellent!

  4. As soon as my college age daughter moves out….her room will be converted into my knitting studio! Whoo hoo! For now, I use many of the same ideas you shared, however, my bedroom is jammed!

    I have some FREE Project Cards for you and your lovely followers. They can be downloaded from my Craftsy store here
    http://sheilazachariae.blogspot.com/2013/01/amiguriumi-garden-pal.html

    I created these cards for myself as I have many "PIGS" (projects in grocery sacks)!

    Scarves started, but forgotten.

    A baby blanket that needs to be completed for a shower.

    A shawl put away for a rainy day.

    I was constantly saying….what needle went with this project? I wish I wrote down what hook I was using for this! What pattern does this project belong to? What pattern book was this in? How many skeins do I need for this?

    Print these cards off on your printer, punch a hole in one corner and attach it to you project! Easy way to keep track of your PIGS!

    There are 10 cards on a page with all the information you need on one side, and plenty of room on the back to write down additional notes.

  5. I too have a binder with patterns in the plastic protectors. I carry dry erase markers with me in my bag and use that to check off the rows/sections as I go and then when I'm done they just wipe write off the plastic and it's ready for the next time I make the same project.

  6. as a new crocheter I need all the tips I can get. I think the yarn tags are a great idea. I didn't even think about doing that. thanks.

    1. Thanks I find it be very helpful…my yarn labels always seem to fall off or get lost, so I keep all of these in a box…much easier!

  7. Great post! I like to keep my smaller yarn scraps (less then 18 inches) in a jar. When the jar is a full I do a "guess-the number" contest on my FB page for people to try to win coupon codes to my Etsy shop, etc. Once the contest is over, I still keep them. I am planning to get a small container where the scraps won't get too wet that birds can go in and out of so that they can use the scraps for nest-building

  8. your short yarn scraps — could be put out in spring — I have seen someone use a bird 'suet' basket — stuffed full of yarn bits — then birds can us it for nests!! Particularly nice if your yarn is not synthetic — wool, cotton — eventually decomposises, so more environmentally friendly.

  9. As a teacher I learned to use a projector and Expo Vis-A-Vis Wet Erase felt pens. A little water & paper towels and your ready to teach another class. When I started crocheting I found that the Wet Erase markers work great on Sheet Protectors. You mark what you did or what you changed in the pattern. At the end of the project write down the major changes and simply wipe away all your marks and reuse the pattern again. It also saves on needing to print more copies of the project because it was all marked up.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *