Absolute Best Way to Store Your Yarn Stash

Let’s talk about the first reason, protecting your stash. Some months ago, Toni Lipsey uploaded a Youtube video about ways to store your stash. And she raised a point I had never considered, which was that bugs can get into your stash. Think moths. Among other creepy crawlies. Insects can eat your stash, lay eggs in it and that’s gross and wasteful.

I had recently moved into a mid-century home, and had seen spiders and a few other bugs. So right away, I decided to get all my yarn into large ziplock bags. I made sure my natural fibres went into bags first, and then my acrylic yarn. I store the yarn in baskets on a shelf, and found this was the cheapest option for me at that point in time. My yarn was protected from bugs–and water damage as most of my stash did not get wet in the flood. There was very little yarn that got wet and the stuff that did get wet was either in a manufactor’s plastic bag, or not in a bag for some reason.

Unfortunately, I had several completed pieces down in the basement, which for some inexplicable reason, I didn’t save in ziplocks, some of which I got partially wet and which now may have to be discarded as they could be contaminated with bacteria from the water. I do not know if there is any way to safely clean these items.

Now, let’s talk about the second reason: accessing your yarn stash. I specifically chose ziplocks bags because I could see into them. So I think that however you arrange your stash, you should be able to see what you have so know what you have, and you can get to it easily without digging through bags and bins.

Best Ways to Store Your Yarn

Now let’s talk about some different ways you can store your stash. Here are some ideas, but again, make sure you protect yarn first and foremost:

• Baskets–there are a variety of baskets out there and you can get all sorts of shapes and sizes and materials. I primarily use baskets for my WIPs.
• Cube Shelves–I use these myself. My yarn in the bags goes into a basket onto a cube shelf. Of course, you could also just place the yarn on the shelf and get creative and make it look cute.
• Hutch or Wall Unit–why not put vintage pieces to good use? You can stylize these in so many ways with yarn and yarn related things.
• Hanging Closet Storage–keep your yarn out of sight but accessible and organized with hanging closet storage in a spare closet.
• Storage Drawers: Like clear plastic bins, which are great to store yarn in, storage drawers are often clear so you can see your stash.
• Dresser–if you can use a hutch, why not a dresser? It can do double duty as a sideboard for decorative pieces.
• Under Bed Bags–I got some of these at Ikea, and used them for a while when we were in the condo. You don’t have to put them under your bed but they are a good idea if you have a smaller stash or limited space.