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Keeping Your Yarn Safe While You Knit

March 20, 2013 by Sarah White

CD spindle yarn holderI’m working on a little lace scarf this week, and it’s made with a linen and viscose blend that came in a cake (that’s a fancy word for a short, fat ball) that kind of wants to fall apart when I knit with it.

Which has me thinking about things you can use to hold your yarn while you’re knitting, to keep it safe from animals and children and to help hold fragile balls together while you work.

Of course you can buy gorgeous yarn bowls to hold your yarn, but I’m all about using what you have.

I have seen people use CD spindles and old soda bottles to hold yarn. Martha Stewart uses old cookie tins with holes punched in the top (add a metal grommet so the yarn doesn’t rub of the cut edges). You could do the same thing with a Mason jar, though I’m thinking I would cover the top with a circle of scrapbook paper with a hole punched in it to avoid the whole metal grommet drama.

A bowl with a binder clip attached to the side will work in a pinch, too. I’ve seen pictures online of people using stand-up toilet paper roll holders, which is totally brilliant. Or stick your yarn in a teapot and strand it through the spout.

Or you can just use a zip-top bag closed up except for the little space your yarn needs to get out.

How do you handle balls of yarn that need containment while you work? I’d love to hear your ideas.

[Photo via Geek Ware.]

Next Pattern:

  • A Shawl to Wear While You're Reading and Knitting
  • A Great Cowl to Wear While Riding Your Broom
  • How Do You Put Yarn in a Yarn Holder?
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Comments

  1. Miranda and Pocket says

    March 20, 2013 at 9:27 am

    Thanks for the link back! I love all these ideas. 🙂

  2. Anastasia says

    March 21, 2013 at 4:44 am

    Clever idea! I may have to steal this!

  3. Carrie says

    March 21, 2013 at 5:44 am

    I use empty lysol or clorox or cleaning wipes containers.

  4. Patricia says

    March 21, 2013 at 6:06 am

    I usually use a zip-top bag with a hole in it. Why does it not surprise me that Martha Stewart goes for “metal grommet drama”?

  5. Jennifer says

    March 21, 2013 at 6:25 am

    I have used a ziploc baggie with one of the corners snipped off to hold my yarn.

  6. Susan says

    March 21, 2013 at 6:39 am

    I just started using a coffee can. It will hold a large ball too.

  7. Kitt says

    March 21, 2013 at 7:12 am

    I use a cloth drawstring bag to hold my project, and the yarn feeds out the top of the bag quite smoothly. If I need to knit while standing, the drawstrings loop over my wrist easily or attach to my belt.

  8. BARB says

    March 21, 2013 at 7:16 am

    I use coffee cans ,wipes containers . On a different note, I use popcorn cans for waste baskets.

  9. Chris says

    March 21, 2013 at 8:46 am

    I couldn’t resist a hand made yarn bowl that a friend made me. She got a hand knit scarf on return.

  10. Jeanne says

    March 21, 2013 at 9:10 am

    I use the old bottom-wipe containers ( the kind with a big removable lid and a starred hole in the center. I cut the star out of the hole and sand it smooth. One thing I don’t like about my system is the kinds of yarn that need containing frequently like to tie themselves in knots and still get pretty messy inside the container. I look forward to seeing other peoples ideas.

  11. Karey says

    March 21, 2013 at 9:57 am

    I’ve used big old plastic snack containers, like the kind that cheese balls come in. Cut a hole in the plastic lid (make sure it’s a thin plastic) and install a grommet. Smooth edge but you don’t have to mess with drilling holes and adding grommets to metal.

  12. betty says

    March 21, 2013 at 10:08 am

    i use the stretchy bags from produce, red netted type that cherry tomatoes come in, best thing i have found

  13. Cpack says

    March 21, 2013 at 10:27 am

    These ideas are so cool love the CD holder. for bigger job. get an old wine box from the ABC store it already has the dividers in it. holds up to 6 big skeins. Neat ideas Ladies

  14. Evelyn says

    March 21, 2013 at 2:22 pm

    I use large plastic yogurt containers – just punch a hole in the lid.

  15. Catherine says

    March 28, 2013 at 8:44 am

    Great Idea and I will use this one. I just pinned it.

  16. Melanie says

    July 7, 2014 at 9:27 am

    I made my own ” Stash Bags” .

Have you read?

Knit a Spiky Balaclava

Not too long ago my daughter and I had a discussion about what a chestnut really looks like. The nut itself is small and brown, of course, but on the tree they’re covered with this weird kind of spiky, kind of fuzzy shell. It’s a wonder anyone ever figured out they were edible.

If you didn’t know that, you might wonder why this project is call Chestnut balaclava, but now you know.

This fun design from Yevheniia Pyroh is covered with spikes just like a chestnut shell, and is even the same color, though of course you can make yours whatever color you like. It uses two strands of fingering weight yarn held together (which it says is fingering weight but you could try a light/DK yarn and see if you get gauge with it if you’d rather).

There are two different design options in the pattern. One is a more fitted balaclava style hat (it doesn’t cover the face but does go around the neck) and a looser fit hood.

It’s worked primarily in garter stitch, with shaping done by knitting and purling in the same stitch and through various decreases (including a knit 3 together).

The pattern is charted but also explained in words. It’s worked flat to the size you want, and then joined into a hood shape with ribbing at the neck. The opening for the face is finished with I-cord.

This hood/balaclava would definitely be a conversation starter and in different colors it might read more dinosaur than chestnut, which could also be fun. The sizing is totally custom so you can make it fit whatever head you’re stitching for.

If you want to try it for yourself (and I’d love to hear about it if you do!) you can download the free pattern from Ravelry.

[Photo: Yevheniia Pyroh]

Balaclava Knitting Patterns

Colorwork Balaclava Knitting Pattern [Knitting]

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