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.
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.
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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.
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.
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. 
For more of my thrifty ideas please stop by my blog: AnnMakes .
Do you have any thrifty tool organization tips? Share with us!
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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.
These are some good ideas Char55.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the idea to use foam rollers for bobbins which I have lusted over for awhile now. Thank you for this tip
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.
I use empty TicTac containers to store things like bodkins, safety pins and press fasteners.
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.
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.
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.
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 : )
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.
I store my crochet hooks in Crystal Light Containers. Thanks for all the other great storage tips.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.