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If you’ve been crocheting for more than five minutes, chances are your stash has started to multiply like gremlins in a rainstorm. Yarn here, hooks there, half-finished projects stuffed in tote bags you forgot you owned. Sound familiar? Whether you’re a casual hobbyist or a full-on fiber artist, keeping your crochet life organized can feel like herding cats made of wool. But don’t worry—I’ve got you. Let’s talk practical, realistic, and (mostly) painless ways to get your crochet world in order.
Do you want to hear the best part? I can help you organize your stash on a budget!
Let’s dive in!
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Decide your Organizational Backbone
The first step in organization is to choose your backbone. You need to decide how you wish to store your yarn. A couple great options include clear Rubbermaids or cube shelves, possibly with bins inside. Many people utilize these options. A couple lesser known options include repurposing an old bookshelf that you no longer use or putting a shelf on the length of the wall in a craft room. You could also use old Rubbermaids you already have even if they aren’t clear. The secret is to label them.
Let’s explore these options! Clear Rubbermaids are a great option because you can easily identify what is in the Rubbermaid. They can be easily stacked and stored out of the way, such as in a closet.
Cube shelves are quite trendy and look stylish. Many people put bins inside each cube, which can be a great option for many people. If you don’t wish to use the bins inside the cubes, you could stack your yarn directly in the cubes and forego the bins. This is a nice option depending on how big your yarn stash is and where you want to store your yarn. If you want to store it out in the open, this is a visually appealing way to store it.
If you already have Rubbermaids on hand but they aren’t clear, that’s okay! The reason clear is nice is because you can easily see what is inside. We can quickly remedy this issue with labeling the Rubbermaids. This is a total game changer! A very simple way that I have used to make my own labels is to use duct tape and put a strip on each side of the Rubbermaid. Then take a Sharpie marker and write on top of the duct tape what yarn is in Rubbermaid for an easy visual reminder. Also if you want to use the Rubbermaid for something else in the future, it is easy to remove your label using this method.
A bookshelf is a great option for a lot of people. If you have a bookshelf collecting dust, time to clean it up and give your yarn a new home!
If you’re short on space, a shelf around the perimeter of the room is very efficient. You can do a wide shelf or do a couple rows if you’d like!
Bonus: Get creative! This is a fun storage idea. My husband and I love snowboarding (although we haven’t gone for a long time). We have talked about finding an old thrift store snow board, remove the gear where your feet would go and put it up as a shelf. Wouldn’t that be a cool craft storage idea?
What ideas do you have? Please share your ideas!
Gather Items
Okay let’s get started!
Have you chosen your storage material of choice (i.e. Rubbermaids, cube shelves, book shelves etc.)? Great! Get it. We’re going to need it.
Next get some Scotch tape. Scotch tape? You may ask. YES! I’ll go into more detail below, but this is actually a very cheap, easy way to keep your yarn from getting tangled.
If you need anything that goes with your organizational item above, such as duct tape and sharpies to make homemade labels or bins to go in your cube shelves, grab those as well.
Get Creative Organizing Your Notions
We are going to need somewhere to put your crochet hooks, yarn needles, stitch markers etc. There are many options. If you wish to invest money, you can get a caddy with different compartments to hold your crochet essentials. Another idea is to repurpose old items that you’re no longer using such as pencil cases or old make up bags. You can also use mason jars or mugs.
Start with your crochet hooks. Those can go in one thing such as an old pencil case, make up bag or in a mug you like.
Next decide what to do with your stitch markers. A small container such as a little Tupperware dish works great! Next find a small bag not being used such as another make up bag or something similar. Put the small container of stitch markers in it along with other needed notions such as yarn needles and scissors.
Now that you have chosen where you are going to put your crochet hooks and other essentials, grab those organizational items as well.
Be Honest with Your Stash
We all love our yarn. But let’s be real—not every skein is a masterpiece. Start by pulling everything out into one massive pile. Every. Single. Thing. From the deep drawer skeins to the ones hiding in old project bags. Now, ask yourself:
- Do I like the feel of this yarn?
- Do I like the look of this yarn?
If the answers to the above questions are no, chances are you probably aren’t going to use it. If you don’t like how it feels or looks, why hold onto it? Put it into a separate pile.
Keep in mind that if you like the yarn, but don’t have a lot of it, there are a lot of stash busting projects where you could perhaps incorporate that yarn. If you truly feel that the yarn cannot be used, then throw that into the separate pile too.
If there is any yarn you feel you’re not going use, throw that into the pile also.
That pile is your give away pile. You could give the yarn to a crafty friend that would love it. You could take it to a thrift store to donate etc. There are many places to take the yarn you won’t use and make someone else’s day! Your future self will thank you when you aren’t digging through the yarn you don’t like in order to get to the yarn you do like.
Amazing Yarn Hack!
Have you found any tangled messes of yarn yet? Or if you’re like the majority of us, the question is more, how bad is your tangled mess? Well I have good news and bad news. Let’s just rip the bandaid off first. The bad news is that we still have to start by untangling the mess. The good news is, I can help you and also help prevent this in the future.
With the tangles you already have, here are some tips. Find a yarn end and slowly start rolling the yarn into a ball. You can gently pull in areas that are tangled when you need to in order to get the ball of yarn through. If you cannot find the end, you can cut the yarn at the skein and start untangling by winding your ball from there.
If you feel overwhelmed by the tangled mess, you can also cut the yarn and throw it away. There is no rule saying you absolutely have to keep it. This is totally up to you.
Now to decide how to store your yarn, by skein or ball. I find that if I use the yarn on the outside of the skein, it flip flops all over. If I use the yarn from the middle of the skein, I have to go digging around to find the end. Many times, I end up with a yarn baby, a whole bunch pops out at once! Also when it does go according to plan, as the skein gets closer to the end, it starts to become a tangled mess. For these reasons, I typically just roll my skeins into balls right from the start to avoid the tangles and flip flopping all together. This is completely your choice how you handle your yarn. Do what works for you!
Now the amazing trick! When I am finished with a ball of yarn, I simply put a piece of Scotch tape on the end of it to keep the yarn secure! This keeps the yarn from unraveling and becoming a tangled mess through time.
My current storage is Rubbermaids and I used to get tangles galore. I would get so frustrated. I have an awesome husband who sat for hours upon hours untangling my yarn mess for me. And oh boy was it a tangled mess! A few minutes into untangling, he said we needed to do something to prevent the yarn from unraveling and making this happen again. He smiled a goofy smile at me and said “I have an idea.” He came back with Scotch tape and I was completely and utterly confused. He just smiled, but didn’t say a word. He came over, put a piece of tape on the end of the yarn and tugged slightly. “There, now it won’t come undone and get tangled!” He announced happily. I thought it was genius! Since I have started doing this, I have kept some tape with my yarn and haven’t had any issues since.
Decide How You Want Your Yarn Organized
This is a good time to decide how you want to organize your yarn. There are so many options! The most important thing is to do what works for you.
A few options include organizing by:
- Weight (such as worsted, super bulky etc.)
- Color
- Project (for example, you plan to make a blanket with this specific yarn, therefore you keep these skeins/balls together).
- Yarn type (i.e. acrylic, cotton etc.)
One thing to keep in mind when organizing your yarn is if the yarn is the same brand. Some people will tell you that your whole project HAS to be made with the same brand of yarn. Personally, I do not agree with that. However, if you are going to use yarn from more than one brand on one project, be sure to check the washing instructions and make sure they are the same. Also, check the size by holding the yarn side by side. I have used Bernat Blanket Yarn, size 6, super bulky, a lot, but I have seen other brands that are size 6, super bulky and the yarn is visibly a different size. Keep these things in mind. Ultimately, do what works for you.
Sometimes a bit of a combination approach is best. I have my yarn sorted by what I could use together to make a project. For example, my worsted weight yarn is split between cotton and acrylic since I typically wouldn’t use both for the same project. I also will sort by project though. For example, if I buy yarn specifically for a blanket, I keep that yarn separate and put a tag on it, noting my plan for it if I don’t plan to start on it right away. I generally will put it in its own bag and then put that inside the Rubbermaid with the other yarn of the same type to keep it together but also keeps the planned project contained and organized.
Wrangle Your WIPs
We all have them: Works In Progress. Many of us have several at a time. I know I’m definitely guilty there! The key is to store them in a way that keeps them from turning into UFOs (Un-Finished Objects).
Try these tips:
- Dedicate a basket, box or bag for each WIP.
- A great way to stay organized and save space is to put each WIP in your choice of bag, box etc. then put those bags, boxes etc. inside a Rubbermaid or box to keep all WIPs in one place.
- Label each WIP with a simple tag that includes project name, pattern name, hook size, yarn brand and color and what row you are on.
- Keep a notebook or use a digital app such as Trello to track what’s what and where you left off. (I use Trello and like the app. Also, it’s free).
There is nothing more frustrating than coming back to a project only to realize you don’t know what hook you used, what row you were on or the name of the pattern so you can pull it back up. To make that tag mentioned above, a simple budget friendly way to do this is to write the information on a piece of paper and put it in the container that you put your WIP in or pin it to your project with a stitch marker.
Digital Patterns, Meet Organized Life
If you buy or download digital crochet patterns, they can quickly turn into a black hole of forgotten potential. Set up a folder system on your device or cloud storage:
- Main Folder: Crochet Patterns
- Subfolders: Hats, Blankets, Amigurumi, Wearables, Seasonal, etc.
Use file names that make sense (e.g., “Easy Chunky Beanie – CozyLoops.pdf” instead of “pattern2_final_v3.pdf”). You’ll be amazed how much faster you can find that perfect pattern when you’re in the mood to start something new. This is also helpful if you have a WIP and write down the pattern name as suggested above because you will be easily able to locate your pattern again when you return to it.
Most Important: Make the Organizational System Work for YOU
Organization isn’t one-size-fits-all. Maybe you’re chaotic-neutral with yarn, or maybe you live for color-coded systems. The goal isn’t to follow every rule—it’s to create a space where you can actually enjoy your craft.
When your tools are easy to find, your patterns are at your fingertips, and you’re not overwhelmed by clutter, crochet becomes the relaxing, joyful thing it’s supposed to be.
Summary
Getting organized as a crocheter isn’t about perfection—it’s about clarity. Knowing what you have, where it is, and how to access it makes the creative process smoother and more fun. Whether you’re just starting out or have enough yarn to insulate a small cabin, these tips will help you take control of the chaos—one skein at a time.
Now go finish that blanket you started three months ago. You know the one.
Now that we have everything organized, it’s time to start your next project! You might be interested to learn crochet amigurumi basics and essential tips or a beginner friendly mini granny square bookmark.
Happy crocheting!
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