Whether you crochet or knit, at some point, you have had skeins of yarn in multiple rooms of your home. Some are still in the box, some are stacked on an end table, and some are overflowing from a recliner chair. When you're a yarnie, all of them spark joy, so you just can't bear to part with any, sorry Marie Kondo. So how can you keep the yarn from overrunning your house? Let's discuss a few options.
Tip #1 - Vacuum Seal Bags
Have you seen those infomercials with clothes falling out of the closet or overfilled drawers unable to close? The solution 9 out of 10 times is to improve how you're storing your items. My favorite infomercial was the vacuum seal bags. I found it amazing that you could take a set of bed sheets that came in a big boxy plastic bag, and shrink their overall size to be under a couple of inches in thickness!
I use these vacuum seal bags from Amazon to store my yarn. They come in various solo sizes and a combination pack. You also get a manual pump which comes in quite handy because my vacuum's hose doesn't make a good seal. I've also taken to storing one-off projects I've made. After pumping all the air out, you now have a nice compact sheet of yarn. Now what to do with the bag?
Tip #2 - Storage Totes
So we have our yarn all flattened, what now? Well, you can leave those bags in your house, or closet, or garage as is. Or, you can gather these all together in a plastic tote. The amount of free yarn that would usually fill one tote, can now be reduced to two or three vacuum bags, allowing you more space in the tote. That space is now filled with more vacuum-sealed bags of yarn. Especially helpful if you have a stash large enough to fill a wall but no available wall in your home.
I am a Target girlie so I get my storage totes there. The brand is Room Essentials, one of their brands. In recent years, they have really stepped up the game with organization units, and they are at a decent price for anyone's budget. Where do the totes go?
Tip #3 - Placement
So now that your yarn is all packed away, where in the house will you keep it? If you have a couple of extra shelves in a linen closet, that's a good start. If you are blessed to have a garage, even better. Now your yarns will be protected against weather and bugs!
Tip #4 - Reevaluate Your Stash
There may be some yarns in your stash that you no longer love, or even like. You may wonder "Why did I even buy this?" Here are a few options for those weird yarns:
Scrap projects like baskets, beanies, or blankets.
Stuffing amigurumis.
Sell them or give them away.
Moving Forward
Now that you've decluttered some, how can you keep things organized? Develop a routine of storing any new yarn you purchase as soon as you get it home. If you maintained a decently sized stash, instead of buying more, shop your own stash! You'd be surprised at what you may find. Once you've chosen one of your stashed yarns to work with, find a pattern that complements it.
*stock photos from Unsplash
Comments