Are you drowning in yarn? If you are like most knitters and crocheters (and those that live with them), I bet you are.  

It’s a real organizing problem, so here are 16 clever yarn storage ideas that are easy to make, take up little space, and help you keep your yarn neatly organized!

Now, I must admit, I have crocheted a few potholders and knitted a scarf or two in my time, but that is the extent of my talents.

See?  Here is my poor son enveloped in a scarf I made for him for Christmas.  He did love it, though!

My husband, on the other hand, is a wonderful knitter and makes gorgeous sweaters with intricate patterns and warm woolly socks for our whole family. I am very envious! 😉  Look at this sweater he made.

He, as well as other enthusiastic knitters and crocheters, has tried to show me how to knit several times over the last 20 years, but I really think the problem is that I am left-handed and all those who try to teach me have been right-handed.

I don’t think my brain works that way! At least, that’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it!  🙂  I just get to enjoy the fruits of others’ labors instead.  And I am perfectly happy with that.

Having said that, though, even though I’m not a knitter or crocheter, I do live with one! (He also does very elaborate cross stitches, too, but that’s for another post.) So, I do understand the need for ways to store yarn.  Lots of yarn…

So, here are 16 clever yarn storage ideas that are easy to make, take up little space, and help you keep your yarn neatly organized!

By the way, are your craft supplies a jumbled mess? Get a FREE copy of my top ways to organize them below. 👇

*This post includes some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to see my full disclosure policy.

These first yarn storage ideas are perfect if you have the floor space.

Yarn storage idea #1

Get an inexpensive cube shelving unit and stack the skeins in.

You can see all the colors at a glance.  If you have smaller balls of left-over yarn, get one basket or box that fits in one of the cubbies and store all of those little balls in there.

Yarn storage idea #2

Another way to store those little balls of yarn? Use an egg carton.

It’s easy to store all of the smaller balls and the cartons can just be stacked with the rest of your yarn.

If you prefer winding your yarn into balls instead of using skeins, I highly recommend investing in a yarn winder. They wind evenly and neatly (and they are pretty fun and relaxing to use, too! 😉

Here is the one we have.

Yarn storage idea #3

Clothes pins.

If you have small pieces left that you want to save for future projects you can wrap them around clothes pins.

Yarn storage idea #4

Purchase a dresser new or from a garage sale with deep enough drawers for skeins to stand upright.

This is also a great way to store all your needles and other supplies, too.

Ready to get organized? Get your free guide of 10 fast and easy ways to get organized for under $10 below, created by a professional organizer (me 😊).

Yarn storage idea #5

Along the same lines, you can get very inexpensive plastic drawers.

This drawer tower can be tucked into a closet, and they can be stacked, so they add a lot of storage in a small space.

And as a pro organizer, I always recommend investing in clear storage items. It makes it so much easier to see what is in each drawer when you can see inside! Not only does it help you when searching, but it also saves you money by not buying duplicates.

Yarn storage idea #6

If even that takes up too much space, use CLEAR plastic storage bins.

They come in sizes from shoebox to quite large. So use what works for your space.

These take up even less space in the corner of a closet, and can be stacked neatly, so they don’t topple. I recommend storing your yarn by color so it’s easy to see what you have at a glance.

Yarn storage idea #7

Re-purpose an old hutch.

A hutch like this is multifunctional. Not only is it good for storing your yarn items, but it can also be easily used to store many types of craft items.

Check out garage or estate sales or your local fleamarket to grab one!

Yarn storage idea #8

Re-purpose an old desk.

Awesome that they also included lights, too! You can also purchase a desk like this.

Or get a Murphy-style crafting desk with plenty of storage for all your crafts! The desktop folds down when not in use for better use of your space!

Yarn storage idea #9

Use an Ikea rolling cart to create moveable storage!

I just love these RASKOG carts!  They are useful in so many ways, but this is so simple to park right next to your knitting chair and it really doesn’t take up much room.  But it is easily moved when you need to.

Yarn storage idea #10

If you don’t have a lot of floor space, use the walls for yarn storage!

Not only does using wall storage make it easy to see all the colors you have, it makes a gorgeous display!

Use a wine rack.

They come in all kinds of styles, are easy to hang, and pretty inexpensive. Here’s the link to a wooden one you can purchase through Amazon.

Yarn storage idea #11

Mount boxes on the wall.

Look at how gorgeous this is!  And they are simply square boxes mounted to the wall.  You could also use wooden crates for a more rustic feel.

Overwhelmed? Tired of the clutter but don’t know where to start? Get the FREE list of 50 items to declutter RIGHT NOW!

Yarn storage idea #12

You can also use pretty woven baskets.

These add texture and detail to liven up your decor. Use Command strips for easy mounting and without having to hammer lots of holes in your walls.

Yarn storage idea #13

Another fun idea is to use an expanding wooden rack.

A fun look and easy to hang.  And depending on how large of a rack you get, you can hold a lot of yarn this way.

Other ideas for yarn storage.

Yarn storage idea #14

Use a shoe bag.

There are ones that fit over a door and others that fit over the closet rod, like the one pictured below.

Or purchase an over-the-door yarn holder.

An over-the-door yarn holder is inexpensive and so functional. Because the pockets are clear, you can see exactly what you have, and it makes it very easy to store both full and partially used skeins of yarn.

One of my favorite pro organizer tips is to use the back of doors whenever you can for storage!

Here are more great ways to use over-the-door shoebags all over your house!

Yarn storage idea #15

Another great idea is to use a hanging closet cubby.

Yarn can easily be stacked in the cubbies. This is also a great storage idea if you have lots of fabric.

Yarn storage idea #16

Under bed storage bags are also a great way to store yarn out of sight.

And usually, it’s just wasted space under the bed.  I really like using the zippered, clear plastic storage bags to help keep dust and other things that lurk under the bed away. And they hold a lot of yarn!

Bonus tips:

Okay, I couldn’t help myself. There are so many great ways to store yarn that I’ve included 2 extras! 🙂

Carrier for skeins needed for a single project.

Plastic rectangular storage box with high sides and empty disinfectant wipes canisters.  An inexpensive and easy way to keep all of your yarn together yet separate and untangled.

Working with different colors in a single project?

Get a plastic storage bin with a tight-fitting lid. Drill holes in the lid to thread the yarn through as another inexpensive way to keep your yarn together yet untangled!

And just for fun…

Have you ever seen a yarn bowl?

They are designed to hold a single ball of yarn and come in some beautifully elegant designs, like this gorgeous ceramic one:

But just for laughs, they also come in this silly designs, like this poor T-Rex with his too-short arms. 🙂

And this one is certainly a conversation starter!

Finally, besides your yarn, get the rest of your craft room organized and functional!

Get your craft room organized with these great ideas. Whether you have a full craft room, a closet, or just a bit of floor space, here’s how to get your craft supplies organized!