We’ve had lots of questions about needle storage in the first 3 days of 2015.
Everyone seems to be wondering how best to keep track of needles.
I am no exception.
Here is how I do it:)
Needle Mess
Yep, that’s how I do it alright. That mess of needles in front of the very smart organizing system is because I rarely put the needles back into their proper place.
I have gallon sized Zip Lock baggies that are sorted by size. Each baggie holds a needle size and all lengths of needles go in that one bag. And because I ran out of baggies…some baggies house 2 sizes;)
Anyone found a great way to sort their needles? Great bags you love that we should carry?
Or maybe we just start carrying Zip Lock Baggies!
The Container Store has great reclosable bags….4 different sizes that are perfect for needles, cables, yarn. patterns etc.
I keep my different projects in them so they are sorted and ready to go.
Since they are heavier than regular baggies they last longer.
There is only one Contianer Store in MN so, would bet if you had them they would sell.
I also use zip lock bags and think they work well, as long as you put the needles back where you got them when you’re done…but sometimes the double points poke through.
I have 2 binders – one for DPNs and one for circulars. They each have zippered plastic pockets that hold sizes.
However, I fall into the same trap – usually mine end up near, but not back in, the binders!
I keep my DPNs in a plastic shoe box in their original containers and my straight needles in what I think is a wine bottle container that I got at JoAnn’s, but I’d sure like to hear a good way to keep circular needles. Right now they are in a drawer in their original conatainers. Love your store; even though it’s far away, we try to get there when we’re in MN.
i keep mine in the Namaste circular storage case. Love it and it keeps my circulars in place. I also have the Namaste needle holder for long straight needles.
I use a binder with document holder. I used my label maker and printed out the size and length of each needle in the holder. Then I use a big clip to close the pages.
The cases that come with bonus products for Clinique and Estee Lauder are terrific for circular needles. Pringles cans (mine must be one of the first ever made) work well for crochet hooks. Oatmeal boxes and similar boxes used for Scotch whiskey (my hubby’s favorite) work well for straight needles.
I keep mine in two zippered cases from Patternworks that sit next to my chair (thus increasing the chances that the needles will actually make it back to their proper place). Each bag has square heavy gauge plastic bags with gromets along the bottom. There are 2 rings that open that go through the bottom of the case and the plastic bags to hold them in the case. Each bag contains one size of needle or one length of cable. I need to label the bags better, but so far it works pretty well.
I am, however, really bad about leaving needles in my project bags!
Get a clear shoe storage thing for back of the door. I keep mine on the back of the closet door where I keep my yarn. Easy to see all needles, and can use extra slots for other motions..buttons, etc.
I store my circular needles in the old fashion tin lunch boxes by length. I like them because I can pick the theme. I chose Marvel super heros for fun and they are decrative.
I store my circulars in one of those plastic expandable cases, that have tab slots for labels on each fold.
I number the tabs for needle size. Got mine at Menards of all places. Similar to the idea of the Namaste circular case, which I also have and put my favorite needles in. I have a few extras of most sizes. Whoops!
I use an olive jar for crochet hooks, and an expanding file for my circulars (except it doesn’t really expand. What are those called, then? It’s cloth covered and has a magnetic flap closure) with each size in it’s own labeled compartment. I tend to keep the original baggies they came in that have the length written on them so I can tell if I’m missing something. So I put the needles in the baggies and the baggies in the document folder. My dpns are in a pretty silk roll-up carrier made for that purpose.
I use a pair of 3-ring binders and each contain several clear, zippered pencil pouches for various needle sizes. It’s nice and neat when I remember to put the needles away, but usually I have a several stray circs here and there.
Wooo hooo to the gallon zip lock bag users. It is a struggle to get the needles back in the bags, but when I do use them they are sooooo much better than the tangled mess in the box.
I use the circular solutions found at Patternworks. You put it on a hanger and it has slots for all sizes. I like it because of easy access and much easier to put circular needles away when done with them. I keep a needle gauge safety pinned to it so I can always check for proper size. Also, no kinks in the cord to deal with.
Since it hangs in my walk in closet, I have one cat that likes to brush up next to it and I hear the needles making a chandelier noise.
I bought a zippered three ring binder at Office Max and put vinyl pencil pouches in it. One for each size needle. It has a small zip pouch on the inside where I store my needle gauge. This fits all of my circulars, and double points and it is very portable!
I use the semi expandable files that Target sells in their $1 section. I use the ones that are coupon sized and have 3 so that I can separate by length as well as size.
I also have 2 sets of interchangeables which “should” solve the storage problem, but you never know when you need another needle.
In the end, no matter how you store them, isn’t that why DKA sells the gauge rulers with the little holes to measure your needles?
My girlfriend gave me a beautiful handmade rollup bag which unfortunately I quickly outgrew. I like to use a large stand-up box that looks like a book and has a magnetic closure. All sizes fit easily in there and I leave the interchangeable cable systems in their original bag. I keep a needle gauge in there too.
I store the circular needles in the original packages. I have the packages stored in a Darn Knit Anyway zippered pouch that the store gave out for free some time ago with orders over a certain amount. The pouch is just slightly longer than the packages that needles are sold in. I have 24 needles in the pouch so far, with room for more, and they are organized by length and size. It is very easy to sort through the pouch to find a needle and it takes almost no room. The filled pouch with 24 needles is only 9″ long x 3″ deep, x 6″ high. Very slick. I’d like to say that it was my idea, but CARLY suggested it – ha!
My mother-in-law sewed for me a lovely knitting bag that has straight needle storage under an outside flap and the other/longer straight needles are stored in a roll up case that slips inside the bag. I purchased a quilted circular needle case from Mary Maxim. It would be perfect if it had more pages/pockets and expanded a bit more. I might get around to sewing a new one with more pockets.