There is something about a clean and organized weaving studio that just makes you want to create! I am not sure if it is because you feel the need to mess it up a bit with creating, or if it is because you suddenly have some room for your creativity to breathe.
Perhaps it is both.
Either way, organization is important because it helps you to know where stuff is when you need it! I can not tell you how many times I have needed something and been unable to find it easily which disturbs my creative flow.
Organization is a learning process.
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Yarn organization
My yarn organization may be different from yours but as long as you have some organization you are on a good path.
If you have many different types of yarn you can organize them by type first. Group all of your linen yarn together, all of your cotton yarn, synthetics, and more.
You can also color-code your yarns if color is a large part of your weaving practice. Especially if they are all the same type of yarn. Not to mention, if you have a lot of yarn then a color-coded yarn wall is amazing to look at.
Since I like to look at my yarn I like to keep it out and on a shelf. This also makes it really easy to see all the yarn I have in one glance to help inspire new work.
I personally love the look of yarns lining shelves in a studio. All of the possibilities just sitting there waiting to be woven in.
All yarns except the wool yarn live there.
I recommend keeping your wool and other protein yarns in a closed space. This will keep them safe from the threat of moths. This could mean either keeping them in a cabinet or closed storage containers.
If you decide to use a cabinet then cones and tubes sit well on a shelf, but I recommend keeping loose yarn balls and skeins in a bin.
You can also group by yarn sizes, amounts, or really anything you can think of that works with your weaving style!
Learn more about weaving yarn sizes here.
As far as keeping track of yarn sizes and types I know that a lot of people will label their yarns on the inside of the cones or tubes. This can be a really great option for fast identification. Unfortunately, this isn’t always an option, though. Sometimes you have a tube that is too small to write in or you have wound a skein into a ball or cake (learn how to do that here.)
For this reason, I always keep track of my yarns in a yarn notebook! I did an entire post on setting up a yarn notebook and why you might want to implement this in your studio as well, so make sure to check that out! This is my favorite yarn organization tip.
Use all of your space for effective weaving storage
Miscellaneous storage is probably the most common storage needed in a studio. There are always small things that just do not have a good place to live!
For larger spaces, you can use plastic drawers that stack on top of each other like the ones seen under my desk. One of the best organization tips I can give you is to make use of vertical space whenever you can!
That means making use of that space underneath a desk or table and having tall shelves.
Small baskets that go under cabinets can hold weaving tools you do not need all the time but still want easily accessible.
That being said, make sure to leave some space for your studio to breathe. If you fill up every available section of the wall then your studio could start to feel small.
The bunny basket above can be found here. (Good for storing frame looms plus it comes in other designs!)
The small black baskets above can be found here.
Weaving Cart
Before I started to really get organized in my weaving studio I would tend to just stash the current yarns I was using underneath or to the side of my studio chair.
I never wanted to have to put them away every day so I would just keep them nearby. The issue with this is that they would get knocked over by my dogs or myself constantly. They would also roll around on the floor when not in use.
Two words: Dog. Hair.
One of my favorite studio organization additions is this rolling cart. I use it to store my current yarns, my current frame weaving project (if it fits), general storage, and I also use it as a table. It is definitely a multi-use piece of furniture.
With the wheels on the bottom, I can also move it between different parts of my studio as needed. If I need more space for my current project’s yarn on my floor loom then I have a spot for it!
This cart is sturdy, easy to put together, and honestly, I love the color (it does come in other colors too!) It is also completely metal and not plastic. This was a big plus for me.
You can also find other carts with pegboards on their sides, caddies, and more. These can also be great options for a studio.
The mint rolling cart above can be found here.
Tools (tall basket)
When you have a weaving studio there tends to be a lot of storage needs for tall items.
Whether you have long flat shuttles, leash sticks, or reeds/ heddles there needs to be a place to put them. You can use a tall box that you have laying around or an old (clean!) trash bin. These will work just fine!
If you want something that looks nicer then you can get a tall basket instead. I love the look of this tall rope basket that is really meant to be a hamper. It is tall enough to hold my tools and sturdy enough to stay up. It also has handles to easily be moved around if need be.
The tall rope basket above can be found here.
This keeps me from trying to store these tall tools just in the corner of my studio – ready to fall at any time.
Attractive vs practical storage
Storage and organization options for your studio do not have to be good-looking. They can purely be practical and you can use what you have laying around. If you already have storage bins you can use, then use those!
This is not only the least expensive option but also the most sustainable.
I like to save sturdy boxes from things that I have purchased for this reason. It helps me to keep small things together and organized. You can use them open or closed. When open they can function like drawer organizers to keep things from rolling around.
I have a few of these on my rolling cart to hold my bobbins, yarn snips, and pencils.
If you do not have these (or you want something nicer) you can also use dedicated organizers.
I had been using the teal bins on my shelf for extra storage, but when I decided to add some bins to further organize my cabinet, I switched them out for some baskets that I thought would look nicer on my shelf. The teal bins were moved to the cabinet where they still function exactly the same, but they are not clashing with anything.
Re-use what you have when you can.
If you do not have anything already laying around that you can use for organization then I recommend not just purchasing options that will get the job done, but also those that look good in your space.
The baskets above can be found here.
My weaving studio is a mix between reused and new organization that creates an eclectic and creative space for weaving.
Having a space that is inspiring can really help your creative practice.
Great article. One item I didn’t see mentioned is how to label the cones that come on a narrow cylinder with no space to write what the fiber is. I’ve been using mailing labels but they don’t stick and now I have labels on the floor and unlabeled partially used cones of fiber. Any suggestions?
Sometimes I can write on the bottom of the tube with a pen or thin sharpie. Mostly, though, I use a yarn notebook to keep track of all my yarn in my studio. It doesn’t leave a label on the yarn itself, but I still have a record of everything! I did a post on creating a yarn notebook that you can read here.
I just sat down to take a break from organizing my space and what was in my email..but a link to this post! Thanks for great tips, I will be employing some of them as I continue to organize my space.
Yay! So glad it could help. Spring cleaning and organizing your studio always feels so great. 🙂