Crochet Podcast EP 9 : My Craft Room Transformation

Crochet Room Organization Update: My New Shelves, Yarn Stacks, and a Real-Life Reset

If you've ever stood in front of a pile of yarn and thought, "I know I have that color somewhere," this update is for you. I finally made a big change in my yarn room, and it gave me that rare feeling of instant relief. New shelves went in, the old shelf moved out, and for the first time in ages I can actually see what I own.

New yarn storage shelves, made from my old toy shelves

The first thing you notice in my room now is what isn't there. My old shelf is gone.

In its place, I have new yarn storage shelves, and the story behind them makes me so happy. Years ago, I built a whole set of toy shelves with my dad. I made a ton of them, literally a ton. Back then, they were deep and they held a mountain of storage containers for kids' toys (I had something like 24 containers in rotation). The setup ran floor-to-ceiling, and it held everything.

But deep shelves are not always your friend when you're storing yarn.

So I had a bunch of those old shelves cut in half. Instead of being two feet deep, they're now about 12 inches deep, and that one change made them feel like they were built for yarn from the start. Even better, they're stackable, and they're all the same size.

My dad had a big part in that. He knows how to plan it out (he calls it a "cut sheet"), so everything comes out consistent. That means I can build the wall the way I want, and I can keep adding as I go.

If you like seeing yarn out in the open instead of buried in bins, this kind of setup fits right in with how I organize in my own space. I talk more about that style of visible storage in my post on the best way to organize crochet yarn on shelves.

Here are the biggest wins I noticed right away:

• Everything matches because every shelf is the same size.
• The depth makes sense for yarn, so nothing gets lost in the back.
• The whole system is modular, so it can work in almost any room layout later.

The best part of new shelves isn't how they look. It's how much calmer the room feels when I can see my yarn.

Repurposing the old shelf in my sewing room (and why that matters)

The shelf I removed didn't go to waste. I moved my old wooden shelf back into my sewing room, where it belongs.

That shelf has history. About 10 years ago, around the time my firstborn was born, I had a sewing shelf with cubbies that didn't match each other. Since I didn't know who made it and every space was a slightly different size, I made custom inserts out of grocery store boxes. I cut them down, taped them, glued them, and made each one fit its cubby.

Then I painted them all white with three or four coats of glossy oil-based paint (that was basically the paint available to me at the time). Those box inserts are still strong, still useful, and still fit perfectly.

Now that the shelf is back in my sewing room, I need to do the less fun part: pull my sewing notions out of storage and put them back where they belong.

My sewing room setup: two desks and one shared workspace

My sewing room is also where I film tutorials, so I rely on it working like a real workspace, not a dumping zone. Right now, it's a dumping zone.

I have two big desks in there:

One desk is the "normal" desk. It holds drawers, patterns, and the things I need because I make my own sewing patterns.

The other desk is bigger, and it's split in half. One side is for my quilting machine, and the other side is for filming tutorials. In other words, it's supposed to be my clear work surface.

Instead, it is jam-packed with what I keep calling debris. It feels like debris, even though it's really just "stuff I haven't put away yet." Sewing notions, packaging materials, and all the bits that pile up when I'm reorganizing one room and accidentally explode into another.

If you also sew, you know the spiral. One organized shelf turns into four bins on the floor. Then the desk disappears.

For a wider view of how I think about setting up a functional creative space (especially when multiple hobbies share one room), I wrote a guide on zoned, step-by-step craft space organization. That "zones" idea is exactly why I want my sewing desk to stay a sewing desk, not a storage table.

The notion boxes I have to rebuild (yes, it is that much)

This is where I really laughed at myself, because I forgot how specific my storage gets. I have entire boxes dedicated to one type of notion, like:

A whole box of gold and silver trim, a whole box of blue and green trim, a whole box of bias tape, a whole box of Velcro, a whole box of zippers.

It's insane, but it also works, as long as everything is actually put away.

When I need some extra motivation for sewing room setup, I like reading how other makers think about their space, like Seamwork's sewing space setup guide. It helps me remember that "functional" beats "perfect."

The yarn organization day that finally made the room make sense

Today was the turning point, and it happened because two of my fabulous crochet ladies showed up and helped me get my acrylic yarn in order.

I told them not to come. They came anyway.

They both brought me double lattes, which made it even harder to argue. Then they got right to work and did the thing I couldn't seem to do on my own: they dragged all the yarn out from under the cupboards and stacked it vertically all the way around the bottom of the room.

Now I have five stacks of yarn for each color, circling the room.

It's hard to describe how different that feels. Before, I had yarn tucked away where I couldn't see it. I would stand there thinking I probably had enough of a shade, but I wasn't sure. Now I can look across the room and instantly know if I'm heavy on a color or running low.

Why stacking by color helped my brain so much

The system is simple, but the effect is huge.

When the yarn is stacked and visible:

I don't have to guess while ordering yarn. I don't have to dig through cupboards to confirm whether I already have it. I can see it, which means I can make decisions faster, and I stop buying duplicates by accident.

It also looks like a rainbow, which makes me happy, but it isn't a perfect rainbow because real stashes have reality mixed in. Grays and neutrals need to live somewhere, so I have to weave them into the color flow.

If you're into browsing storage setups (because it's weirdly soothing), I also like looking at collections like Lion Brand's craft spaces and storage ideas. I don't copy them exactly, but they always spark an idea.

Even with the new stacks, I still want to change it a bit. Right now, when you look into the room, you see everything. I want to move the yarn so my favorite, most inspiring colors are what you see first. The colors I'm not as crazy about can sit more toward the corner. They're still useful, but they don't need to be the first thing I notice.

That part can wait. I'm just thrilled I can walk into the room.

Painting plans, modular shelves, and the pressure of Biz Bash

I built ten shelves so far, and I have the same amount, or more, at my house waiting to be painted. Since it's rainy season, I'm waiting until the weather gets hotter (and until I don't have a craft fair coming up soon). Then I'll paint everything super glossy white.

The plan is to swap out the shelves I'm using now with the new white ones. After that, I'll paint the current shelves too. I want the whole room to feel bright and clean, and glossy white does that for me.

Part of why I'm doing it this way is long-term planning. I want enough modular shelving to fill any space, because eventually I'll move (I'm not getting into that right now). Still, I love the idea that the shelves can move with me and rebuild into whatever shape the next room needs.

If you like DIY shelf ideas, especially the kind you can reconfigure, I've seen cute approaches like DIY yarn storage shelves using wooden crates. I didn't build mine that way, but I appreciate anything that lets storage adapt as the stash grows.

And then there's the looming event in my head: Biz Bash is in two weeks. I'm not thinking about it during the day, but I think about it when I'm trying to fall asleep. Organizing today helped my mood more than I expected. A weight really did lift off my shoulders.

My dream cozy corner (because the room should feel good, not just work)

Once the shelves are done and the sewing room is back to normal, I want this place to feel like paradise.

Right now, the room is wonderful, but only up to a point. It kind of stops being wonderful at the door because there's still not enough floor space. Getting the yarn stacked vertically helped a lot, though, and now I can imagine the next step.

I want a chaise lounge in this room. Not for decorating, but for sitting down and not moving. A tiny coffee table beside it would be perfect. Just a spot where I can pause, look at the yarn, and breathe for a second.

When I'm thinking about comfort, I keep coming back to the basics: good seating, good flow, tools within reach. That's why I like having a plan for a cozy work area, like what I wrote about in my crochet workspace organization tips. I'm not there yet in this room, but I can see it.

A real-life reset: family time and a simpler filming setup

Part of why I've been quiet lately is that this whole reorganization has been a sweat-fest. I've also been spending time with my kids, and that matters just as much.

We bought big beach balls, and we played ball in the house. One of my sons said, "Oh mom, it's so fun, we never get to do this."

That hit me.

I'm home, so you would think we do those things all the time. The truth is, I'm home but I'm busy. That comment was a reality check, and it's been sitting in my head since. My kids are my whole point, so I need to think about what "busy" looks like and whether it matches what I want our days to feel like.

Being home isn't the same as being available, and I needed that reminder.

The small fix that will help tutorials come back faster

There is good news on the tutorial front. One reason filming felt hard was my tripod situation.

I have a tripod set up on my workstation, but I also have a smaller one that I had to drag out, perch up, and move around every time. It was always in the way.

Now I have an actual spot on my shelves for that small tripod. It gets to live there. That means I can pop in and film without pulling half the room apart first. It sounds small, but it makes a big difference when time is tight.

If you're curious about some of the tools I keep around to make filming and crocheting smoother, I also keep practical items nearby, like yarn ball storage bags and a ball winder for tidying yarn. When the room is organized, those basics are easier to grab, use, and put away.

What I'm excited to make next (and where I'm hanging out)

Even with all the shelf chaos, I love hearing what you're making and what you want to make next. I'm excited about scrubbies, a washcloth, and that poncho, don't even start me, because I'm already imagining colors.

Thanks for all the comments, ideas, and encouragement. I'm also really glad the tutorials help you. That part makes me feel like the work in the background is worth it.

If you're looking for written patterns and projects, my patterns live over on Secret Yarnery at secretyarnery.com. I'm also around in our community spaces, especially the Facebook group. Instagram is still there too, even if I'm a bit lame at it these days.

Conclusion

Today was one of those days where organizing wasn't just about shelves, it was about getting my head back on straight. The new modular shelves, the five-stacks-per-color yarn wall, and a dedicated tripod spot all make the room feel usable again. Next up is tackling the sewing room mess, then painting everything glossy white when the weather cooperates. Most of all, I'm holding onto that reality check about time, because the yarn can wait, but my kids can't. Stay hooked.