Do you have a plan for all your unfinished objects and works in progress? I hope so! If you do, it's time to move on to phase 2!

There's 4 parts to this phase:

1) Yarn storage

2) Yarn Destash/Planning

3) WIP storage

4) Needle storage

 

Perhaps you have a yarn storage solution that work for you, or maybe you're like I was for a long time: you find that no matter what you try your yarn always ends up disheveled or remains lonely and unused in the back of some bin. 

 

I think I've found a permanent solution to the yarn storage problem! For the past 6 years or so, I've used a pegboard on the wall to store my yarn and it's been my favorite thing in my home. I'm not a carpenter, but this was very easy to set up!

 

 

It requires tidying from time to time (as it does in this picture) but overall my yarn remains where I can easily see and use it. 

 

But first, if you don't need a new yarn storage solution, there's still work to be done for you during phase 2! 

 

It's time to sort your yarn. If there's something you've had for a long time, it may be best to either destash it or decide on the perfect project for it. I have some yarn that I don't want to get rid of, but it's just so nice that I need the PERFECT project for it and fear wasting it on something inferior. Does that ever happen to you? 

 

On the other side of the coin, there's yarn that I couldn't really see myself ever working with, and some leftovers that I was just DONE with. I'm sure you could find a willing knitting friend to take it off your hands, or if you're looking to make a little extra yarn-shopping money, post it to a destash site on Facebook. You'd be amazed how quickly folks will snap up just about anything!

 

I also rid myself of almost 4 lbs of odds and ends, and even left plenty for myself. Within minutes of posting I had 15 people fighting and arguing over the scraps like a flock of seagulls on a french fry. 

 

Another great find: maybe you've seen floating around the internet the claim that you can pack up donations to charities in your online shopping boxes and send them off for free. Having always assumed it was some sort of hoax, my pile of cardboard drove me to research and it's actually true! You can get a label from www.givebackbox.com. (update 2019 - it now costs money in shipping) 

 

I'm filling a box with finished objects I don't love (but someone will) along with some other things.

 

So this week I'll be continuing to work on my WIPs, going through my yarn, tidying up yarn wall, and asking for advice with finding that 'perfect' project for some special yarn. Please continue sharing on social media as well, I love it! 

 

Next I've got a needle storage solution in the works, as well as a unique but visible way to store works in progress...stay tuned!

 

 

(Yarn wall below before my kids got tall enough to reach it, photo credit to Aura Moore Photography!)

 

 

Pegboard Instructions:

A pegboard at your local hardware store is not expensive (I think it was 5 or 6 dollars when I got mine). You can paint it if you wish, or preferably buy enough yarn to cover the entire thing so you don't have to mess with painting it. Some people get fancy and frame it out too, but I just put balls of yarn close to the edge. 

 

To affix it to the wall, I simply got some long screws, made sure at least four of them were in studs, leveled it out and screwed it to the wall. If you make sure you've hit the studs it's not going anywhere. 

 

MAKE SURE that you leave a little bit of space between the board and the wall so you have room to hang the pegboard hooks. You should test this with the actual hooks as you're screwing it in. The ones I used recommend an inch, but we didn't need quite that much.

 

You can also turn the board lengthwise for a floor-to-ceiling stack of yarn.

 

You'll need some pegboard hooks. You can pay a lot of money for these, but DON'T! I got these, 50 for 10 dollars and they are sturdy and work great. You won't need a hook for every ball as smaller ones can be wedged between bigger balls.

 

Link to hooks

 

 

Now, if you don't have a ball winder, you should get one! I have been through a lot of yarn winders and broken them all, - cheap or expensive - until I got this one. It even came with a free swift!

 

Link to Ball Winder

 

 

Balling up your yarn will be the most tedious part of this process, but once it's done you'll only need to do it as you get more yarn. I roll up the label and stick it in the middle as I'm taking it off the ball winder. 

 

 

Folks often bring up their worries about yarn wall, such as dust or moths or sunlight.

Hang your board out of direct sunlight.

I've never had a problem with dust settling on the yarn though I live in a pretty wet climate.

As far as moths, I've found the number 1 thing to keep them away is to be vigilant about what natural fibers you allow in your house and to never store dirty fleece: always wash it first! 

 

I originally found this tutorial on Pinterest. The link I used no longer works, but if you search on pinterest you can find even more information about this set-up!

 

Bonus: Here is a collection of finished WIPs this week!