How Do You Organise a Yarn Collection?

Do you need more yarn? Probably not. Do you want more yarn? Of course. Are you going to buy more yarn? Yes, obviously. But, where are you going to put it? One of the biggest “problems” knitters face is organising and keeping on top of all the yarn they’ve bought. In this blog, we discuss several handy ways to organise your yarn collection to help you manage your stash. So, let’s jump in - what are the best ways to organise yarn?

When organising your yarn stash, we recommend the following :

Keep reading to learn more about the different ways to store, arrange and organise your yarn collection with Northern Willow.

How to Organise Your Yarn Collection - Our Top 5 Tips

If you’re a serious yarn addict, you’ll no doubt have a ton of yarn all over your house. Keep reading to learn some of our top ways to organise and store your yarn (and maybe free up a bit of space in your house!).

Take Stock and Categorise

When it comes to organising your yarn, the first essential step is to pull it all out from wherever you have it stashed. From here, you have a few organisation options to help you keep on top of your collection. 

We recommend sorting through your yarn and categorising it all by type (e.g. DK, aran, chunky, mohair/lace etc.). This will make the following tips that much easier. 

If you come across anything you no longer want, consider putting it aside and donating it to your local charity shop or school or arts program.

Organise Your WIPs

Put aside anything that you're currently using in a project into a separate category. You’ll want easy access to these yarns, therefore it makes sense to have a designated place for it. 

A lot of knitters use project bags for their WIPs as it keeps everything for a project easy to find and in one place. This could be as cheap as a Tesco bag for life or as bougie as one of PetiteKnit’s covetable project bags. 

Use a System Such as Trello

Now you know what you have, it’s a good idea to make a note of it. We love Trello for this but a lot of knitters also use Ravelry to catalogue their stash. This way, when you start planning new projects you know exactly what you already have and if any of it is suitable - rather than blindly buying more yarn.

We recommend logging the following information:

• An image of the yarn
• Yarn brand and type
• Yarn weight
• Yarn fibre
• Total metres

Invest in a Suitable Storage System

Now you know what you have and it’s all catalogued, it’s time to put everything back. But this time, you’re going to put it back in a neat, tidy and easy-to-use way. Here’s a few great options for doing this:

• Plastic storage boxes. Is it aesthetically pleasing? No. But it does the job very well. With plastic storage boxes or towers you can put your yarn away neatly and keep everything in the categories you worked on earlier. Another added bonus of using plastic storage boxes is that there’s minimal risk of moth and insect damage since they won’t be able to get in. 
• Baskets. If you’re more bothered about design and aesthetics, baskets and wicker storage is another great way to store your yarn and keep them in their designated categories. We love these from Northern Willow:

Square Lined Wicker Log / Storage Basket

Whilst made for storing logs, the shape, size and lining make these baskets perfect for storing yarn. They come in two sizes and are also available as a pack of two.

Oval Rattan Log Basket with Cordura Lining

Available in small, medium and large - perfect for whether you have a small collection or something considerably bigger!

24" Double Steamed Rope Handled Trunk

If you want to keep your stash hidden away, a trunk is a super-stylish, yet practical way of doing so. The lining is perfect for yarn, ensuring that the wicker doesn’t snag your precious skeins.

• IKEA Kallax System. A lot of knitters (and yarn shops!) use IKEA’s Kallax units and accessories to store their yarn. You can get a decent amount of yarn into each hole, plus you can get some really handy accessories to help separate your yarn.

• Underbed or Undersofa Storage. If your bed or sofa has an in-build storage system, this is a great way to store your yarn. Easy to access but neatly organised and out of the way!

Protect Your Yarn

Now you’ve organised and neatly stored your yarn, it’s important that you protect it. There’s a number of things in a home that can damage yarn, but the main ones can be avoided:

• Sunlight
• Damp
• Moths and insects

When storing your yarn, try to find a place that is away from direct sunlight as this can cause your yarn to fade in colour.  

You’ll also want to find somewhere free of mould and damp, especially if you’re using natural fibres like wool. The moisture and bacteria from the mould could damage your yarn.

Finally, moths in particular love natural fibres like wool. But, luckily, there’s a couple of quick and easy ways to repel them:

• Lavender bags. Other dried herbs like rosemary and thyme may also work but they will need to be replaced once the fragrance has worn off. 
• Cedar wood blocks. The fragrance of cedar wood repels moths, but this fades over time and will need to be replaced. 

To read more, take a look at our article, 'Do Wicker Baskets Attract Moths?'

BONUS! Now Plan Your Projects

Now you have a good idea of what yarn you have in your stash, it could be a good time to plan out your next projects with your stash yarn. Have a think about what patterns you own (you can also use Trello and Ravelry to organise these!), and what suitable yarn you have that matches the pattern requirements. Then make note of these matches in a notebook or spreadsheet for later reference. 

Yarn Storage at Northern Willow

At Northern Willow, we think wicker baskets are the perfect storage solution for a wide range of things, but they’re particularly great for yarn! Take a look at our range today. Whether you want a simple, square basket, a round, lined basket or something as extravagant as a trunk, we have something for everyone!

Browse Wicker Baskets