2KCBWDAY3: Tidy Mind, Tidy Stitches

Oh, Lordy.

Today's KCBW assignment is to reveal my organizational process, and/or lack thereof. In some ways, I think I am pretty organized, but in some ways I exhibit total chaos! I'll show you some peeks at how I store my yarn stash and other tools for being in the business of yarn play. Yes, this is my business, so I should be more organized, but it's definitely a WIP.

Let's start with the most untidy and then we'll clean it up from there.

Here are my two book cases almost completely devoted to knitting and crochet books and other references (shade card notebooks, pattern notebooks, etc.) You will also see a self-made needle case hung as a keeping place for lots of circular needles. Please do not look at the mountainous pile of papers waiting to be filed into the file cabinet on the left. And the errant receipt I now see on the floor in front of the left bookcase. I am usually more careful with my paperwork...really I am.

This is really scary--letting you into my planning room. You see my beloved swift and yarn baller table underneath which are various baskets holding yarn and WIP's. Indeed, every table has some of these stored underneath. I set up three tables in this room to try to divide up tasks. One is for nothing but glove and mitt projects, one is for freelance projects and the swatching yarns involved, and one is for having a place to sit and actually think and draw and plan. I'm trying to use this room, I really am. Most of the time it just sits here waiting for me to get back to it.

Boy, it looks even messier in these pictures. (Groan.) This is one organizational tool that is working for me...hook and needle cases. I made all of these out of various fabrics and I love how they keep my straight needles in one, dpn's in another, and crochet hooks in another, all neat and tidy. I can always find what I need in these.

And it was a very good day when I finally realized how great these sweater keepers are for keeping my yarn organized. I also have some in my clothes closet for actually keeping sweaters, but they are wonderful for yarn cubbies. Most of what you see in this one is Cascade. Yes, I use a lot of Cascade. They are our neighbors. Shop in your village. Not only that, but it's great quality yarn for the money and I like to design with it because you can find it almost everywhere...except big box stores, and I like that part, too. The boxes underneath the cubbies hold trunk show samples.

What you see above is what used to be a bathroom. I won't go into that long story, but we eradicated our pesky upstairs bathroom and had it turned into the most beautiful storage closet ever. I am still not using it to its full potential, which would involve putting in some shelves, but I'm doing pretty good with these cubbies. These all used to be sitting in the three-tabled room of mangledness seen in the pics above. Moving them into this closet allowed me to put that third table in the other room. One can never have enough surface space. Just ask my husband. It's a lucky day for him when he can actually find a place to sit, much less a place on any table or countertop to put his own stuff.

I have tried to organize the cubbies by yarn brand. What you see in front is some Schaefer, and next to it various farm yarns, then some Claudia, then some Pagewood Farm. On the top for the best viewing is part of my sock yarn stash. I like being able to see these the most easily. So pretty! There are other yarns in bins elsewhere, but I find that I can keep better track of what's there when I have it out where I can see it. If it's in a bin or box somewhere, it's practically invisible.

Well, now ya know. I'm a messy one! Maybe this will inspire me to clean up this stuff. Maybe.