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(Warning: photo-heavy post)

I have been disgruntled with my yarn storage for a while now. When we moved into our current apartment, we found these cubes at Target and hung them on the wall:

Wall cubes

There are several things to note in this photo. First, although the idea of having the yarn as decoration on the wall is a good one, everything ends up piled haphazardly in there. Second, the unattractive pieces of plastic stuck in the sides… which we found out pretty quickly were necessary to keep curious cats from jumping on the dresser and futzing with bits of yarn. And third… the top of the cubes pretty much serve as a clutter repository catch-all for random things.

And the rest of my yarny storage wasn’t much better. Here’s what my books/magazines/WIPs/needles/notions area looked like:

Junk

No, we don't live in a dorm room, but I don't blame you for thinking it.

My workspace, where I do the majority of my designing:

Junky desk

If you’re getting depressed by all this clutter, don’t worry! This post will have a happy ending, I promise.

A table covered with WIP patterns, swatches, etc:

Swatch table

So obviously I needed a new storage solution. Enter… (cue dramatic music)… IKEA!

IKEA boxes

The husband assembled it for me, assisted by the cats:

Kitty helpers

Esme's hammer

What? This is my hammer.

And here’s what my yarn storage looks like now!

new yarn cabinet

open cabinet

All my yarn fits in the cabinet with room to spare (okay, not much room–but some). WIPs (including swatches and designs-in-progress) are in the middle bin, partial balls leftover from projects in the second bin, and yarn I’m hoping to trade or sell in the bottom bin. The cubes hold all my needles, notions, and books. Magazines have been moved to the bookcase in the living room, where they stand up better anyway.

The cabinet is a Billy bookcase from IKEA, with a Billy Olsbo half-glass door. All together (including the bins), it was just under $100. A steal, if you ask me.

Although… after sorting my yarn, I’m starting to think I need more sweater-quantities. So it may not end up being quite so cheap, heh.

close-up of yarn

6 Comments

  1. Allison
    Allison02-23-2012

    That storage closet is really beautiful! I have those cheap wire containers to store all my exercise equipment- I may have to looking into getting something like this!

  2. Pumpkin
    Pumpkin02-23-2012

    Kitties certainly help the job get done. Love the yarn storage solution!

  3. Libby
    Libby02-24-2012

    I just love useful husbands, although I have been waiting forever to get a shelf painted and on the wall above my sewing table!
    I love that your yarn shelves have a glass front door – mine are stuffed into cubes but open to the dust – lots of dust!!!

  4. Erin
    Erin02-24-2012

    I love it! The fact that you can keep all the yarn in there, and still see it (and keep the cats, dust, etc off it) is wonderful. Go IKEA!

  5. Michele
    Michele02-24-2012

    Love that the storage closet displays your yarn while keeping it closed off from “environmental” additives.

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