How To Organize and Control Your StashHome

Is your yarn stash out of control? Do you have yarn sitting in bags waiting to be put away or your stash looks like a tangled mess? Organizing yarn is more than putting all of the blue yarn in one pile and the pink yarn in another. It’s about creating a space that lets you create without spending your day looking for the yarn you know you bought and now can’t find. Whether you have built up a large stash or you prefer to keep just enough for your current project, we’ll cover some ways to get things under control and return the joy to creating.

 

 

When I first started crocheting, I bought all the yarn I could every week. Saturday mornings were spent at A.C Moore ( I still miss that store). I felt great satisfaction in bringing bags of yarn home and adding them to my collection. I wanted to be prepared in case inspiration hit. Before long I had built a large stash of beautiful colors and random weights. That is when I first realized that collecting yarn and crocheting are two separate hobbies. It was also when I found out that yarn selections change with the latest trend or season. I had balls of discontinued yarn that I had no idea what to do with. 

 

Nowadays, I only buy yarn I need for specific projects. This lets me work through my large stash and still have what I need to finish my current project. This has also helped me with project planning which in turn helps cut back on my pile of wips (works in progress). My stash of wips is a conversation for another day.

 

Today, we will cover some ways to help you get your yarn stash organized and under control.

 

Organizing Your Yarn 

 

While emptying your shelves and making a big pile of yarn might seem like a good place to start, it is not a good idea. It is easy to get overwhelmed really fast if you have a lot of yarn. 

 

I store mine on a big bookcase and in a couple baskets  so I start with one shelf and work my way through each shelf and then through each basket. Breaking it down into smaller chunks makes it easier to see what you have as well as starting separate piles depending on how you want to organize your yarn. 

 

This is also the time I make a pile for the yarn I want to get rid of because I don’t like the color or I find it hard to work with. I also look for small bits of leftover yarn and set it aside to be wound into cakes. The cakes get stored separately to use in smaller projects like granny squares or scrapghans. 

 

When I first started crocheting, I organized my yarn by color. It was satisfying to see all my blues in one pile and reds in another. Over time, I started organizing by weight. I find it makes things easier to have my bulky yarns together for the winter months and my lighter yarns sorted by weight for warmer months. I also store my Mandala yarn and Caron Cakes together in their own section since I rarely use them together with my solid acrylic yarns. 

 

Recently, I started organizing by weight and color. My kids tell me it's my OCD at work but I find it less chaotic to see all of my bulky greens together instead of random colors side by side. 

Choosing How to Store Your Stash

How you store your yarn depends on how much space you have and if you want to be able to see your 

yarn without looking through totes and bins. I tend to draw creative inspiration from looking at the colors

side by side on the shelves. 

 

When it comes to storage, there are several options to choose from:

 

           Shelves- if you have a dedicated space to store yarn, this is a great option. I repurposed an old bookcase for storage. You can also use cubbies. There is just something about seeing all the yarns together but separate to get the creative juices flowing. 

 

           Clear bins - these are great for smaller spaces because the bins can be stacked while still allowing you to see your collection without having to dig through opaque bins or boxes.

 

            Hanging organizers- If you have a smaller stash, hanging shoe organizers may work for you. It can also work to store smaller balls of leftover yarn. 

   

            When I have my yarn sorted and I am ready to start putting it back on the shelves, I start my inventory list. I’ve been using a spreadsheet to keep track of my stash. But, I recently found I can store my inventory on Ravelry. If you go to “my notebook” and click on “stash” you  can add your yarn to create an inventory list. This makes it easier when you are buying yarn and need to see how much of a color or size you have. 

 

Regular Reviews of Your Yarn Stash

 

Setting aside time every few months to review your yarn stash has its benefits. Not only does it help you stay organized, it helps keep your stash in line with your  latest styles and preferences. It also helps to identify discontinued yarn. And, who knows, going through your yarn, just might provide that spark of inspiration you’ve been looking for. 

Organizing and inventorying yarn doesn’t have to be a dreaded chore. With some sorting and creative storage, you can create a stash that helps you plan your projects and saves you time on finding the right yarn at the right time.