“ Getting organized means supporting your future self — this is self-care.” - Marie Kondo

1- Use clear, plastic, lidded container/boxes to store you stash. Using a clear container means that you can see what is inside the box without having to open every box to find what you care looking for each time. Having the lid not only makes it easier to store and stack but the lid protects your yarn from dust and moths that just love to eat it!

I love the Really Useful boxes for storing everything. They are sturdy, well constructed boxes made with a rigid plastic and have closures that clip over the lid so they are less likely to open accidently. You can buy cheaper boxes but, in my experience, they are often made of a brittle plastic that can shatter quite easily. If you are on a budget, I would suggest buying one or two at a time and getting more when your budget allows. The other bonus is that they have been selling the same design for years. If you buy containers from shops like Home Bargains or B&M they often have them for a season and then change the size or shape slightly for the next season which means that they won't stack as easily.

Worth the investment over time and better for the environment as they don't often need replacing.

See more information on Amazon - https://amzn.to/3UidWs9

2 - Group yarn by weight and then colour. This way you will know

which yarns will work together for a project because they are the same weight and then select your colour choices.

3 - Label your yarn boxes/containers, especially if you don't have clear boxes to see through. This can save you hours of trawling through each box to find the correct yarn. On your label, write the weight, material and colours.

4 - If you don't want to have to keep going into the loft (or whenever you store your yarn boxes) make a notebook of your yarns. Much

like the label idea above, you can write down the weight, manufacturer, material and colours. You could also add a small sample piece of yarn and a yarn label, if you have an old one.

5 - Whilst we are on the subject of yarn labels, if you like to cake your yarn before using it, pop the label in the centre of the cake so you still have all the information to hand, should you need it.

6 - Store smaller quantities and part skeins in zip lock bags to stock them unraveling and getting tangled. These Ziplock bags are really useful as they expand at the bottom, meaning you can get more yarn in them. https://amzn.to/3SuxUOT . If you want to put more than one part skein in a bag, roll the yarn into a ball or cake (if there is enough) and use a hair pin (bobby pin) to keep the yarn in place.

7 - Create a yarn basket for your WIPs (work in progress). Include all the yarn you'll need for the project and all the notions and tools.

Because I crochet in the croffice and in the lounge, I have a set in each place which includes: crochet hooks, stitch markers, scissors, yarn needle, tape measure, row counter and a little notebook and pencil, incase I need to amend a pattern.

I also have a Frixion highlighter pen which I can use to show where I've got to in a pattern or highlight a repeated section so I don't forget. The Frixion pens can be erased, so no damage is made to the pattern if I wish to use it again another time. https://amzn.to/3HtVBQW

8 - Declutter your stash on a regular basis and remove any yarn you know you won't use (you know, the one someones Auntie gave to you but it's too scratch to use!). Nursing homes will often take part used skeins of yarn for their residents to use (phone before visiting to check this is the case with your local home). Residents often don't have the money to buy lots of yarn, so this can be a real treat for those who still like to knit and crochet plus it helps to keep their minds active.

I hope you've found some useful tips in this blog. If you have any other suggestions about how you store your stash, please left me know in the DMs of Instagram or Facebook, @conquercrochet

Happy hooking

Love

Karen x

PS This blog post contain affiliate links to my Amazon storefront. by clicking these link you will be taken directly to the product. Should you make a purchase via one of my link, I receive a very small commision from Amazon but the product will not cost you any more than it would if you searched for it separately. Just a small way to support my small business if you were going to purchase anyway. Thank you for reading.