tips tricks and techniques

Let’s face it: at some point in your knitting/crocheting adventures, you’re going to need to find storage for all those needles, tools and projects you’ll collect on your way. Ziploc baggies, plastic-woven grocery bags, and shoe boxes just won’t cut it after awhile (altho, in a pinch, I still use all these)

Here are some of my latest solutions to the storage issue:

1. Fabric needle roll cases. I used to keep my circulars (of which I have a TON) in a plastic container, like a big pencil box. This kept them together … but in a heap which I had to sort through whenever I needed a specific circ – and since most circs DON’T have the size on them (or it’s so tiny I can read it), this slowed down my knitting. Or worse, I’d buy a new circ in a size I already had since I didn’t have time to search! Yuck. My straights weren’t much better off: they were in a plastic shoe box; again, I had to paw through the collection to find all the right size dpns or the matching straight. A hassle to say the least. Bu then I saw the perfect solution at a fiber festival: her needle roll cases. I now have all my straights in one and my circs in another.

Circs in size order and neatly stowed

All my circs in size order and neatly stowed


All my straights in sizes and lengths

All my straights in sizes and lengths


An added benefit is that they roll up so nice and compact, that I can keep them in my Nantucket Bagg and bring them with me “on the road”!
… and all rolled up and ready to travel!

… and all rolled up and ready to travel!

You can make these yourself (check for fabric roll-up carriers … there are tons of tutorials online) or check Etsy for small-homebusinesses who make these and sell them for a great price. I got these two from Lawre’s Laine, but she has since retired.

2. And speaking of my Nantucket Bagg … this is the best knitting bag I’ve found and I’m now the proud owner of two: a lime green with bright pink accents and a bright pink with lime green accents! Designed by a carpenter to hold all his tools when traveling from site to site, this bag is now being marketed to knitters and crafters. My lime-green with pink trim one goes with me everywhere and is filled with my latest project (or two), all my needles, a project bag with various tools/accessories like sewing needles and stitch markers, and whatever else I might need for “knitting on the road”. The bag is sturdy and reversible (so I can put the tools in the pockets, zip it inside-out and keep in the car at my feet so I can knit while dh drives. These really are wonderful bags and well-worth the cost.

Fabric project bag in the front with my Nantucket Bagg peeking from behind

Fabric project bag in the front with my Nantucket Bagg peeking from behind

3. For those who want to go beyond ziplocs to contain projects, fabric project bags are wonderful. A few years ago, I found a tutorial online that I have since made a few times. My bag I show below is completely reversible and uber-useful! Not only can I make different size bags for different size projects, I can also use a smaller one to hold all my little accessories – cable needles, stitch markers, stitch holders, etc — and toss it in my Nantucket Bagg so I always have what I need close to hand. Altho I made these, there are lots of lovely ones available online (check Etsy or Ravelry-member shops) or at your local LYS.

Wrist band loop for walking and knitting, ribbon drawstring, and pretty fabric on the outside.

Wrist band loop for walking and knitting, ribbon drawstring, and pretty fabric on the outside.


Inside is now outside with a large pocket and pretty coordinating fabric.

Inside is now outside with a large pocket and pretty coordinating fabric.


Because the bags are fabric … they can be laundered when they begin to look a little … well … USED.

4. My final amazing storage accessory is a lap caddy made by friends of mine. Originally made for spinners to hold the roving in one pocket and other spinning bits’n’pieces in another, I find that this “caddy” is perfect for two- or more-colorwork knitting. I can keep the main color in one pocket and the others in the other … they won’t tangle and they don’t roll all over the floor. An added benefit is that the fabric is soft (and reversible!) so that I can fold one pocket into the other and the project is completely contained and protected.

Lap Caddy for two-color knitting or just cuz ...

Lap Caddy for two-color knitting or just cuz …

What storage solutions have you bought, made or re-purposed recently? Any suggestions for my constantly growing collection of knitting paraphernalia? Please let me know in the comments … sig block

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