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How to Organize and Store Knitting Needles

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I feel like I have my yarn stash pretty well organized (I was going to say under control but we all know that’s a lie) but where I really struggle is keeping my knitting needles organized. It’s something I want to work on this year so let’s explore some options!

Currently I have a big mug (if you must know it’s a novelty beer stein with the names of everyone who graduated from my high school that year on it, because the 1990s were weird) that holds most of my straight needles, and my DPNs and circulars are a jumble along with crochet hooks in a couple of different bags. 

Once I made some storage pouches that fit a little box I had to store needles of different sizes, but I made the first 3 in 2014 and never finished. I still think this is a solid plan and intend to finish them…sometime this year. 

I like this idea because theoretically it’s easy to slip the needles back into the pouch for their size instead of just leaving them on my desk for six months. They also could hold both DPNs and circulars, which I need. If I had to go to two different places I’m not sure I’d keep up with it. 

A needle roll is another popular option, which you can buy (for example this pretty linen one from Knitting Bag and Case) or make your own, say with a pattern from Pretty Patterns Design. I like this one because it has some big sections for circulars, but I have a much bigger needle collection that would fit in a single roll.

There are also storage solutions like these wooden organizers from Kainor Design and Embrcraft to name a couple, which have holes made to fit needles of different sizes. This looks pretty cluttered to me so I don’t know that I would enjoy it, but if you’d like to be able to see what you have all the time maybe it’s for you. 

If you have pro-level numbers of knitting needles you might want to use a photo storage option like Nimble Needles shares in their post about needle organization options. I like that each section can be labeled and you can easily pull out all the needles of the same size and mix DPNs and circulars or keep them in individual cases. 

Do you have a great method for keeping knitting needles organized? I need to hear it!

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Knits for the Table for Thanksgiving and Beyond

As we get into the part of the year with a lot of food-forward holidays, it might be time to start thinking about knitting some new things for your table. While a few of these are more fall/Thanksgiving focused, just changing up the colors would make others work for Christmas, or keep it neutral and use them all year long. 

What got me started thinking about this was the lovely and simple Fresh Bread Dishtowel, a free pattern from Purl Soho. Worked in a lovely cotton and linen blend, the towel is mostly stockinette stitch with a bit of texture on the borders. 

You could use this same kind of pattern to make anything from placemats to a table runner, but let’s look at some specific patterns for those kinds of projects as well. 

The easy moss stitch table runner from Glass Bird Knits is beginner friendly can can easily be modified to fit your table (or, again, to make placemats instead of or in addition to a runner). This version is worked in macrame cord, but you could also use bulky yarn. 

Emielle Design has a garter stitch runner pattern that’s made with braided cotton cord for a lot of texture without a lot of work. But be sure to take a lot of breaks when knitting with cord because it can be rough on your hands!

I also love the diamond pattern on the Hamilton Table Runner from Wyndlestraw Designs. It calls for a DK weight cotton and linen blend yarn and comes in three sizes with different widths and lengths. The pattern has both written and charted instructions. 

Amy Marie’s Table Pumpkins (on Ravelry) is a fun mosaic knitting pattern that would be great to use as a table runner through the fall and for Thanksgiving. It uses a worsted weight cotton yarn in two colors, and you can make it as long as you like for your table. 

The no cable knit placemats from Yarn Culture Studio have a fun faux cable look that would be great for the table through the fall and winter. 

Or here’s another pattern from Wyndlestraw Designs, this time for an easy knit and purl stitch placemat pattern that looks different but still good on both sides. It calls for worsted weight cotton and comes in two sizes for placemats, but also has instructions for coasters, a hot pad and a table pad all using the same stitch.