This morning, this is how the stash looked:
The plastic bags. The heaping. The horror! Shame on me, I'm not sure if I am qualified to have a stash after this.
In addition to saving large quantities of yarn, I have also been quietly amassing shoe boxes. I've always felt badly about throwing them away because they are such a great shape and made of a fairly sturdy material. So, they usually end up hibernating under my bed for a couple of years.
In a burst of inspiration, I pulled out these shoe boxes and some old fabric bound for Goodwill. Then I decided to cover the boxes in fabric and use them to help organize my stash!
I assembled all of the necessary crafty materials (not pictured here: awesome moving 3D dinosaur ruler):
A couple of hours of diligent work (and $0) later and look what I came up with:
I happily arranged my handspun in this box, and the rest of the stash in the rest of the boxes.
Are you ready for the before and after comparison? Here we go!
Overall I'm very happy with this project. I have a little bit of a situation going on up there still, but that just means I need to cast on some exciting new projects very soon. At the very least, I've removed the need for Stop and Shop bags for the time being.
Also, to those of you who have commented on how small my stash is, remember that I have two stored in different states.
Any ideas on how to attractively and neatly organize the stash? I'd love to hear them!
Love the boxes! I'll save shoeboxes next time instead of putting them in the recycling. My stash is ashamedly in several different boxes - the nicest stuff in a basket in the living room so I can look and feel inspired, and then some older stuff is under the bed. I've also got a massive bag of tiny skeins that I have no idea what to do with - it barely fits in the wardrobe!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the ideas :)
You are sooo clever! I love how you covered those shoe boxes and I agree -- it's so hard to throw out these perfectly good and sturdy boxes. I think your solution is an excellent one. I have a spare chest of drawers where I keep my stash. It's a lovely piece of furniture and you never have to look at my massive stash!
ReplyDeleteFabulous idea! What a great idea. I just rid of some shoe boxes a while ago, put them in the recycle bin...next time; might give this a try. Very clever of you!
ReplyDeleteWell, this makes my plastic storage drawers filled with ziplock bagged yarn look like a dump now haha. I love how you put your creativity into it and didn't spend a dime. Maybe when I move into my new place I will look into the same type ideas for mine.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to use shoe boxes and make storage much prettier.
ReplyDeletePls watch out for my Thursday post; Sunshine is coming your way ;O).
I did a little squee at your genius! Shoe boxes! Perfect! My stash is either in a big plastic bin, or piled in baskets/bags around the house. :/ I need to do something about it this summer.
ReplyDeleteOooh, productive and pretty. I was keeping my stash in a couple of storage cubes (leather-covered ones that I have in lieu of a coffee table), but it has overflowed into a couple of plastic bags and I have myself convinced that I will used it up soon so I don't really need to consider more storage yet. Maybe I should start stockpiling shoeboxes just in case though.
ReplyDeleteI am completely impressed and you are absolutely stash worthy. In fact we should all aspire to this kind of stashiness. As I continue to accumulate yarn and other goodies I've been trying to figure out a way I can keep everything out in public, but organized and protected. Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteI love your boxes, and how you have covered them. I also covet your Australian uggs :)
ReplyDeleteI love your covered boxes. What a great way to personalize them and recycle, two things that I love! I store my yarn in tubs, probably not the best method. But for the skeins that are just so pretty to look at I like to put the yarn cakes into the big mason jars. They stay protected but I can look at them :]
ReplyDeleteWhat a great and pretty way to organise your stash!
ReplyDeleteI adore the idea of the fabric on the shoe boxes. Makes me wanna buy shoes now so I can have the boxes...he he
You have done fab here (but I want to see the dino-ruler....)
Would you please come visit me and organize my stash? Maybe bring some of your homespun too :)
ReplyDeleteVery pretty :)
ReplyDeleteIt looks great! Well done organising your stash in an aesthetically pleasing way :)
ReplyDeleteI always keep shoe boxes too - they always come in useful eventually :) I love how they look covered. My stash is overflowing a couple of plastic boxes that will go under the bed when I get round to doing some organising, lol. Yours looks really nice and neat!
ReplyDeleteThat. is. awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteI too feel bad about throwing out shoe boxes. I tend to get over it when they take over my closet but they are so useful. Love the fabric covering!
ReplyDeletestash in two states? do you ever feel separation anxiety?
ReplyDeleteThat box of handspun is gorgeous :)
what a brilliant idea. Looks like you need to buy more shoes for the rest of your stash
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous idea - I could really do with creating something like that.
ReplyDeleteNina xx
pretty pretty - I love this idea and might just nick it! I too have numerous shoe boxes (six feet to shoe here) and a messy stash. Rather fancy your UGG's.... :)
ReplyDeleteLooks awesome. What a fantastic idea. My stash is a hot mess all over a corner of the living room.
ReplyDeleteLove your boxes - they turned out so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI just keep my stash in plastic containers ;)
And your Tadpole socks turned out beautiful!
That is a great idea! Your stash looks fantastic and the boxes are so cute!
ReplyDeleteI am getting ready to begin a stash (and crafting supplies) reorganization soon, and you've inspired me. I'm going to buy some shelving at Lowes, and maybe I'll cover some boxes to put my stash in on the shelves.
ReplyDeleteI also, have a shoe box stash! But, mine is because the kids are always needing to do some project or another and they need the boxes in some capacity for that. Your idea for their use is great! i use 20 qt. storage bins stacked about 5 high alongside my dressers.
ReplyDeleteAwesome idea!! Love how neat and tidy everything looks now. You're so crafty! :) I keep my stash in an antique coffee crate that I turned into a chest: it also doubles as a coffee table (no pun intended!), which I love. Now, if I could only find a way to wrangle The Fleece Closet... :/
ReplyDeleteClear plastic bins is what many people use for yarn/fiber storage, since they are bug proof and you can see the content. But I sure love your new cloth covered shoe boxes! I save those shoe boxes too, and every once in a while one of my friends would need a few for school projects. Once I gave 18 to my son's preschool, and found my wedding shoes in one of them!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous boxes, what a simple but clever idea. I must admit I can never throw shoe boxes away and as my son has pretty large feet e end up with some good size boxes! :)
ReplyDeletethat is a fantastic idea and looks wonderful! I too need to organise my stash in a pretty way, I'm not sure how that is going to happen as it has exploded into about 9 big boxes now, time to stop buying yarn for a while I think!
ReplyDeletei love how organized your stash is. Well done you. Mine just dwells in clear plastic bins. Yours looks more attractive.
ReplyDeleteThe boxes look so good! What a great idea. I have all of my stash jammed in one great big plastic storage bin. It's not attractive, but at least I can find what I am looking for.
ReplyDeleteI often feel a tug of guilt when I toss a shoe box, but I'm trying my best to keep my place clutter-free.
So adorable!
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely one of the sunniest bloggers I know! I nominated you for a "Sunshine Award" too. Posted about it today.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great storage idea! I usually have a few shoeboxes lying around...
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! You've totally inspired me to do that. I have tons of shoe boxes around, because I am a serious pack rat!
ReplyDelete