Stitch and Unwind

  • About
    • Find Us Online
  • Knitting
  • Crochet
    • Afghans
  • Full Patterns
  • Videos
  • Newsletters
  • Giveaways

How To Organize Your Knitting and Crochet Tools in Unexpected Ways

March 18, 2015 by Ann Koeman 27 Comments

Save some money by using what you would otherwise just toss into the recycling bin or trash into FREE organization tools, and you’ll have more money to spend on yarn!

I have always loved creating and crafting, but I have not always had the disposable income needed to pursue my hobbies.  However, where there is a need there is a way!  Or as some may say “necessity is the mother of invention.”  In my case, it was “I want, I want, I want!” situation.

organize your knitting and crochet tools in unexpected ways

It started innocently one day after doing some chores: I was about to toss the empty cleaning and disinfecting wipes container into the recycling bin when it dawned on me that I had a pretty sturdy holder in my hands, almost the same size as that skein of yarn I was fighting my cat for the previous evening.   So I removed the label, cleaned it up a bit and popped in my skein of yarn. Bingo! It was a perfect fit.  Plus, the slit in the top was perfect for keeping my yarn from tangling.  I was so pleased with my discovery, and immediately put my new yarn holder into my knitting bag.

1guest 2guest

Later on, when I was taking my knitting bag with me on a road trip I was fussing over the clunkiness of my large bag.  It was holding my new yarn holder and working project, and it was just too much.  Eventually, I started to just carry around my ongoing project with the yarn holder.  I felt like looked a little silly, and the cylindrical container was getting cumbersome as well.  I needed a way to organize my knitting. Again the light went on in my brain, and I decided to make a carrier for my new yarn holder.  I recycled the sleeve of an old long-sleeved t-shirt that had been relegated to the rag bag into a nifty holder.  I cut the sleeve to length and cut a corresponding circle for the base.  I stitched the circle to the bottom of the tube on my sewing machine.  I attached a piece of cording long enough to hang the holder from my shoulder.  And viola! I now had a travelling yarn holder with room to tuck in my hook or needles.

3guest

The recycling did not end there.  I found that the tall chip cans make great knitting needle holders.  All it took was a bit of cleaning and some sticky back shelf liner that coordinated with the decor in my room.

4guest

My last recycling tip for today is using empty pill containers to store all those little and important tools we need when doing needle work.  I use them to hold stitch counters, yarn bobbin holders, row counters, and other small items. 5guest

For more of my thrifty ideas please stop by my blog: AnnMakes .

Do you have any thrifty tool organization tips?  Share with us!

 

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Ann Koeman
Blogger at Ann Makes
Ann is a Mixed Media artist who lives near Ottawa, Ontario Canada, mom of two terrific teens, wife of a very busy businessman, and servant to one fluffy cat.From sewing and most needle crafts, stamping, scrapbooking and a lot of paper crafts, to drawing, painting and working with inks.She loves to scour the internet, magazines, and flea markets for ideas which she collects in her various notebooks and takes lots of pictures with her iPhone.Her favorite place to be is in her home studio with her beloved family nearby.Her family motto is : Live well, laugh often, and love much.
Latest posts by Ann Koeman (see all)
  • Scrapbuster: Yarn Wrapped Wires - August 7, 2020
  • Scrapbuster:Yarn Wrapped Wires - August 29, 2019
  • Scrapbuster:Yarn Wrapped Wires - August 21, 2015

Share and Enjoy !

0Shares
0 14

Filed Under: Organization Tagged With: organization, organize, recycled, thrifty

Comments

  1. Char55 says

    March 22, 2015 at 12:36 pm

    I use a tall Pink glass vase (that came with flowers from my daughter) for my rulers and long afghan hooks. I purchased 2 plastic picnic napkin/utensil holders at a thrift store for $1.19 each. I use one to hold bottles of glue in the long napkin compartment with scissors and paper punchers in the small compartments. The other one has aluminum, plastic and steel crochet hooks in the 3 small compartments and my long flexible afghan hooks in the long napkin compartment. I use foam hair rollers (with the foam removed) for yarn bobbins.

    Reply
    • Debra says

      February 20, 2016 at 9:14 am

      These are some good ideas Char55.

      Reply
  2. Lisa says

    March 26, 2015 at 11:09 am

    I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the idea to use foam rollers for bobbins which I have lusted over for awhile now. Thank you for this tip

    Reply
    • Char55 says

      March 27, 2015 at 9:58 am

      Lisa, You’re welcome!
      I have some newer foam rollers as well as some REALLY old foam rollers (where the center rod has holes and spins freely so the yarn can unwind as you need). If you buy the newer ones where the center rod doesn’t spin, buy a box of drinking straws (make sure they’re the straight ones a little wider than the bendy straws) and cut a length to go over the center rod so your yarn can unwind freely (the straws are around a dollar for a pack of 100. Foam rollers come in packs of 36 or 48 for under $10 and are usually in assorted sizes…a LOT cheaper than those “yarn bobbins” in the craft aisle.

      Reply
  3. Olga Caddock says

    January 23, 2016 at 5:19 pm

    I use empty TicTac containers to store things like bodkins, safety pins and press fasteners.

    Reply
    • TL Morgan says

      February 20, 2016 at 4:36 pm

      And needles! Leave a bit of a thread in the needle eye, leave tail sticking out of the lid, easy to retrieve next time you have a quick mend.

      Reply
  4. Sheryl says

    January 31, 2016 at 12:02 pm

    I keep most of my crochet hooks in a soft eyeglass zippered case that I got a dollar store.

    Some I keep (along with knitting needles that I collect but don’t know how to use) on a bookcase as decoration in a glass jar that has glass pebbles in it.

    I also have some pastel colors of Caron Simply soft that I rolled into balls. I keep those as decoration in a giant plastic bear shaped container that had animal crackers in it once upon a time. It’s really cute on the bookcase in my office.

    Reply
  5. Melody says

    February 19, 2016 at 8:51 pm

    I used a traveling toothbrush case for my crochet hooks. I just put a dab of glue from my hot glue gun to plug up the hole on each end and it holds quite a few hooks. I also use one of those small cheap, clear cosmetic bags to hold things like small scissors, hooks, buttons and anything else I may use/need.

    Reply
  6. Kaye says

    February 19, 2016 at 10:41 pm

    I like to recycle metal mint tins & free advertising magnets. Cut the magnet to fit inside tin & tada!!! a neat embroidery/ stitching needle keeper! It’s great to repurpose items : )

    Reply
    • Jody R says

      February 24, 2016 at 11:42 am

      You too! wasn’t that a great idea to use up some of those magnets.

      I love altoids, but really those containers start to really stack up.

      Reply
  7. Marcia says

    February 20, 2016 at 7:25 am

    I store my crochet hooks in Crystal Light Containers. Thanks for all the other great storage tips.

    Reply
  8. reshmalohia says

    February 20, 2016 at 8:28 am

    I save and use the advertising flyers to write down the pattern I am working on from my iPad or book. I collect old invitation cards too

    Reply
  9. SueC. says

    February 20, 2016 at 9:13 am

    I have long used a large round oatmeal box for my crochet thread/yarn. Recently, I brought home from a hospital stay the plastic tubing for oxygen (unused, but because it was in my room, it couldn’t be left for next patient). I actually used one end that had a connector thing on it. I cut it off with some of the regular tubing to about 4 inches. I then punched a hole in the plastic lid of the oatmeal box and put the tubing through the hole. The thread feeds so nicely through the connector and doesn’t fray the thread like the plain punched hole in the plastic does. Even if you don’t have the connector, the tubing makes a nice transition through the plastic and would probably be better for yarn anyway.

    Reply
  10. Sandy says

    February 20, 2016 at 12:04 pm

    When traveling with a project or two I use an old hardback eyeglass case to carry crochet hooks and other small items I need. Doesn’t take up much room and it’s easy to find

    Reply
  11. TL Morgan says

    February 20, 2016 at 4:38 pm

    Crochet hooks fit perfectly in a toothbrush travel tube. A small nail clipper will also fit so you don’t have to carry scissors. Eliminates constantly looking for the hook in the bottom of my project bag.

    Reply
  12. Sharon` says

    February 20, 2016 at 5:18 pm

    Ann already has my idea about using pill bottles for small items. If you get a tall bottle, the yarn needles fit too. A friend made me a zipped ‘cosmetic case’ with my name on it; I decided to put my hooks & the pill bottle in instead. Thanks for the tips. I like the pop-up container idea for yarn. We have a cat too.

    Reply
  13. Mandi says

    February 21, 2016 at 9:22 am

    I use cat treat containers. The tall square ones. Hooks in one, bells and other odds and ends in another, another for leftover scrap balls. They also hold my assortment of 4″ granny squares. But my favorite use is for single wound balls I’m working on. The top has a small triangle opening for the yarn to pull out. There is enough room for the needle, scissors and tape measure. Also I bought a shoe hanger and the boxes fit in perfectly.

    Reply
  14. susan says

    February 21, 2016 at 6:13 pm

    I put a small basket on my craft table and filled it with toilet paper tubes. I then put all my scissors, wire cutters, knives etc. into the tubes. Saves space and they are always handy. Also, I use a plastic silverware holder from a dish drainer to hold all my paint brushes, handle side down.

    Reply
  15. Country Liv says

    February 22, 2016 at 2:09 pm

    I use an old Tupperware beverage holder for my large skeins of yarn. Pop the skein in and put the end through the closable spout; the spout doesn’t snag the yarn either. The container will hold my skein, counter, snips, ruler, current hook, and even most of my (soft knit) project when I travel from den to bedroom and back. If I ever run into a Tupperware party again, I plan on buying more if they are still available so I can have more than one project protected and available at a time! I have a cat too so y’all know what that means! LOL

    Reply
  16. Leslie says

    February 23, 2016 at 11:05 pm

    I use a round toothbrush holder (like one you would carry your toothbrush in your suitcase) to put crochet hooks in when going on a trip

    Reply
  17. Cheryl says

    February 24, 2016 at 8:51 am

    My husband had some plastic fishing tackle boxes that he didn’t want so I use them for my smaller items and crochet hooks. They have separators so you can change the size of the compartments. They come in different sizes and are very cheap.

    Reply
  18. Jody R says

    February 24, 2016 at 11:40 am

    i use the plastic wrappers that come with various bedding items. the large ones work great for completed afghans and the smaller ones that had pillow cases and in them for my circular needles, still in their original cases.

    i put all my small stuff (stitch markers, tape measure, notebook, etc. in a zippered organizer that a student would put in their 3 ring binder for a pencil holder.

    Reply
  19. Marilyn Kowalis says

    January 2, 2017 at 4:25 pm

    Love these ideas! I have 7 cats, and I discovered when I lost #8, that eating yarn is not good, and even can be fatal for a cat. I have been having a constant battle with them over my yarn (my stash is a but out of control, but it’s just me and the cats), and will be using a lot of these ideas instead of tossing stuff in the recycling. Thank you everyone!

    Reply
  20. Evangeline says

    January 16, 2017 at 5:00 am

    I, too, use a round, plastic toothbrush holder for crochet hooks, and a wine bottle carrier for my knitting needles.

    I store all my hand-wound balls of yarn in see-thru plastic Costco Cookie bins. They are large and hold a lot of yarn balls. I store all my yarn by color families, or yarn types (I keep variegated yarns together), and because they are square and stackable, they make a lovely rainbow display, as well as make colors easy to find when you need them.

    I also use the clear vinyl zippered comforter protectors to store large quantities of a color (like white or black) that won’t fit in the cookie containers.

    Reply
  21. Jeannette Mendoza says

    November 14, 2017 at 8:58 pm

    I use dollar store toothbrush holders to put my crochet hooks for when I am in the car and want to take various size hooks. I label the outside of the toothbrush holder with the size and letter of the hook. Easy to find and keeps the hooks protected.

    Reply
  22. Lori says

    January 1, 2018 at 6:58 pm

    I have recycled coffee cans for yarn keepers. And the best way to keep all my yarn from tangling each color or project colors in their own gallon size ziploc bag.

    Reply
  23. Carol says

    January 4, 2018 at 11:12 am

    I have allergies and must carry Epi Pens; I save the cases they come in when the pens expire and have to be dicarded, they are similar to a toothbrush holder and work great to hold crochet hooks. I also can drop a few stitch markers and a yarn needle into a zippered pill pouch and tuck it in the Epi Pen case turned crochet hook case and drop it into my current project bag. As mentioned above, nail clippers will cut yarn and I always have clippers in my purse so I’m all set when I take a project to appointments or when traveling.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Email Email Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube RSS

Subscribe to the Stitch and Unwind Newsletter.

Categories

Knit & Crochet Magazines

I Like Crochet: Five Glam Projects that Dazzle

How to Crochet a Bavarian Rectangle from I Like Crochet

Free eBook Download

Homemade Mother's Day Gifts eBook

Homemade Mother’s Day Gifts: Free eBook!

The weather is starting to get consistently warmer, the birds are chirping more and more, and the flowers are starting to bloom - spring has sprung, … [Read More...]

Tutorials

What I Wish I Knew When I First Started Knitting (Part I)

Today's guest post is brought to you by Hannah from Rain Mountain Crafts! She'll be sharing some tips that would have made knitting a lot easier when … [Read More...]

Archives

Afghan Tutorials

Your Perfect Plaid: 8 Crochet Afghan Patterns

Crochet Tutorials

One-Skein Wonders: 12 Free Crochet Patterns

Knitting Tutorials

What’s Your Style? 4 Knitted Cup Cozies

Holiday Projects

Seriously Sweet Valentine’s Knitting Patterns

Yarn Stash Organization

Get Organized: Tips to Sort Your Stash

Free Full Patterns

Crochet Pattern of the Day: Butterfly Wings Scarf

Prime Publishing Craft Group
Copyright © 2021 · Stitch & Unwind - A Prime Publishing LLC property. All rights reserved.

About Us Advertise Contact Us FAQs Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Personal Information Subscribe Terms of Service Unsubscribe

Copyright © 2021 · Tidy Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in