It was love at first sight. The colour, the texture and the fibre content are exactly what you were looking for to use in that project of your dreams. You make that investment and take the yarn back home. But then life happens and usually the prettiest yarn tends to be stored away even longer than any other yarn as it seems too precious to be used (obviously second guessing now the initial project idea). I have been at that point more than once already.

Storing yarn will have to be done the right way to make sure that dreamy skein will just be the same like it was the day you bought it. Always keep in mind that yarn is spun from animal hair and you have to treat it more or less like you would treat your hair. Below are useful tips to how to store your yarn and finished projects properly.

Yarn

1. Use an airtight container!

You want to make sure that you store your yarn in a dry and preferably closed place to lock out any uninvited guests. Using an airtight container will keep out any moist too, however make sure before storing your yarn in the container that it is definitely dry. You want to prevent any moisture to cause mold growth and damaging your precious yarn.

Furthermore a clear container will help to keep track of the content. But despite that, labeling the container is always a good idea. You can find a good example for an airtight container here.

A great way to ensure the container remains moist-free is to add silica gel bags to it. The next time you find one of these little bags in a box from a different purchase you can add it straight to your yarn stash and easily reuse an otherwise disposable part of a packaging. It's a win-win!

2. Sunlight and heat

Sunlight can cause wool to fade and weaken, especially plant-based dyed yarn. When storing your yarn, make sure it is kept away from direct sunlight or other strong light sources. Also heat is not a yarns friend. Make sure you store it away from radiators, vents, and other sources of heat.

3. Moths

What is true for your clothes also applies to your yarn. Moths LOVE fibres. And moth larvas are sneaky and can wiggle their way through the tiniest little open spot and crevice. The most effective method to make your stash as unattractive for them as possible is by adding lavender sachets or cedar chips to your airtight container. Especially if you are a passionate yarn thrifter, you might want to consider to place your newly bargain into a zip lock bag and into the freezer for a couple of days to eliminate any blind passengers you may acquired on top.

4. Show your yarn some love

Check in on your yarn stash from time to time for any signs of damage or discolouration. There are worse jobs than being on yarn stash quality duty! And while you are already diving into your stash, you can use that time to set up a system of organizing your stash. Unless you are one of the rare humans who can pull up the exact number of alpaca fingering weight skeins of your stash from top of mind.

Think about how your pattern will ask for a specific yarn and structure your system around that. Typically patterns don't ask for pink yarn.

Put all your sheep yarn in one container, all alpaca yarn in another. If your stash of one fibre type does not fill one container, use a divider to keep two different type of fibre content separated within the box. Now that you have done that, you can have a look at the different yarn weights. Cluster all your finger weights, DK and bulky yarns within each fibre box. And finally, once this is all sorted and you are still up for it, sort it by colour within the weight category.

Knitwear

1. Clean and dry

To prepare knitwear for storage I wash them and ensure it is completely dried before putting it away. I recommend to hand wash your knitwear in cold water and use a gentle detergent. Don’t wring out your wool for drying, this can stretch and damage the fibre. Better gently press out the water, and repeat that step with a towel wrapped around to catch any hidden moisture. Lay your garment on a flat surface and let it dry. A towel as a base will support the drying process.

2. Drawers over hangers

Never store your knitwear hanging in your closet. It will loose it’s shape. Always store it laying in a shelf or even more space saving in a drawer (thinking about the Marie Kondo folding method). And similar to your yarn storage, add lavender sachets or cedar chips to prevent moths from having a fiesta.

Treat your finished projects like you treat your yarn. After all the hours of love and labour you put into them, they should bring you joy for as long as possible. And taking good care will also limit the demand of replacing an item earlier than necessary. I am curious to hear how you store your yarn and knitwear and if you have any additional tips!