Storing Your Yarn

If you’re like me, you have yarn that needs to be stored.  I tend to get more yarn than I can knit or crochet within a timely manner and I end up with tons of yarn that I must store.  So, what’s the best way to store it all?  Well, it depends on the type of yarn really.  If you have your basic, store-bought acrylic yarn, you can store it many ways- in a drawer, in a closet, in bins, etc.  However, if you’re dealing with animal fibers (wool, silk, alpaca), you’re going to have to take certain measures to protect your yarn while it’s in storage.  Here are some tips on what you should do:

1. Store yarn in a dry place. This seems obvious really.  No one should store any type of fabric or yarn in damp areas.  No one wants moldy items.
2. Keep yarn off the floor, mainly carpets. Little carpet buggies will eat your yarn.
3. Store yarn out of the sunlight. Don’t leave your yarn in a room that gets a lot of sun light.  Sun exposure will fade your yarn.
4. Don’t leave your yarn out in the open. I know we love to put our yarn on display and marvel at all the beautiful colors but leaving your yarn out for long periods of time unused in not good.  Only leave out in cubby bins or on pegs if you plan to use the yarn in the very near future.
5. No plastic bags. This is a recipe for disaster. Closing your natural fiber yarn up into a plastic bag may cause it to retain too much moisture, especially in humid weather.  This will cause mold.
6. If storing the yarn in a drawer, throw in some cedar or lavender pouches to help keep insects away, mainly moths. If I must store my own personal yarn this way, I make sure to check the drawer a couple times a week and rotate the yarn. Just do a little inspection to make sure you're moth free.
7. Use plastic storage bins, not bags, bins. Using airtight bins will help keep your yarn clean, dust free, and protect it from insects.  I throw in a few silica gel packs for extra moisture protection.

How do you store your yarn?  Do you have any special techniques you’d like to share?  Leave a comment down below.  Let’s share ideas.

Carla A Jackson

Owner/World of Inspiration Yarns