As the seasons shift (at least on the calendar), I like to pause and give my yarn and fiber stash a little extra attention. Just as I care for my tools in the winter months, I believe our materials deserve the same respect. Some seasons it’s a full sort-and-organize, other times it’s just opening a bin or two. Either way, it’s a way to reconnect with what’s been quietly waiting for me.

The Three Pillars of Stash Health

A well-maintained stash stays bug-free, tangle-free, and documented. I’ve refined my approach over the years, but there are a few key aspects that have remained unchanged.

Protection from pe(s)ts remains my top priority. I love my cats and it makes me happy that they love yarn too, but it’s not good for anyone to have unsupervised play time in my stash. My yarn lives in clear plastic zip-top bags with cedar pieces or lavender sachets tucked inside. This keeps them safe from any curious felines and also ensures that pests shouldn’t be able to cause harm; or if they do, it’s limited in scope. The yarn is in a combination of quart to 2.5 gallon bags and are grouped by project, or by type/color. And then they go into hard plastic bins in my expedit units. Ok, there’s some overflow in plastic tubs and tote bags. I’ve been wrangling yarn for various tzedekah projects so there’s more with me than I’d like.

Yes, I know plastic isn’t ideal environmentally, but I use these bags until they literally fall apart. When they do, I’m exploring turning them into plarn for crocheting outdoor sitting mats or weed control barriers; giving them a second useful life.

Organization evolves with our needs. As my stash has expanded to fill available space (there must be a Parkinson’s law corollary about this), I’ve shifted what goes where to a degree; it depends what’s in my stash. There’s a bin for handspun, for unspun fiber, 100% non-superwash fingering weight wool. Minis and 50g fingering sock yarns have one bin, 100g skeins another. There’s a bin for superwash dk merino. I try to keep each skein with its ball band; when it goes on walkabout I add a handwritten index card with as much information as I can recall. This system saves countless hours when inspiration strikes. I wish my database was accurate but I’ve not made the time to conform it. All the bins are labeled with the general topic of what’s inside.

Regular reviews keep everything fresh and relevant. Rather than overwhelming myself with a complete stash overhaul, I tackle one section at a time throughout the season, and do it again in the spring. This gentle approach lets me appreciate what I have, identify gaps, and rehome yarns that no longer spark joy.

Why Seasonal Storage Matters

Yarn and fiber are natural materials, and they respond to their environment. Autumn’s fluctuating temperatures and humidity can affect natural fibers, and unfortunately, pests such as moths also notice. A seasonal review helps me:

• Check for bugs: Even if I’ve never seen one, I assume they’re trying to sneak in. As I go through everything I check to make sure there are no guests hiding in the skeins, no cookie crumbs if I was snacking. A quick inspection of each skein or braid gives me peace of mind.
• Refresh storage: Lavender sachets or cedar blocks tucked into bins provide a natural deterrent. I replace or recharge them at least twice a year or when I can no longer smell them. I also try to air out everything that’s kept closed up even if only for a few minutes.
• Reorganize: My tastes and projects evolve. What felt essential last year may no longer inspire me. This is the perfect time to rehome yarns I won’t use. If the skein has become loose I often loosely wind it at this point; I’ve found for me it reduces the potential for tangles.

A Healthy Stash

For me, a healthy stash is more than just bug and tangle free. It’s yarn that’s ready to be used, organized in a way that makes sense, and reflective of the projects I want to make. Sometimes that means untangling a skein, sometimes it means letting go of yarn that no longer fits my plans.

This season especially, I find myself pausing to take stock. It’s a kind of quiet inventory: what do I have, what do I want to carry forward, and what can I release? The process feels both practical and symbolic, a way of clearing space for what’s next.

As I go through the yarns I often review my WIPs at the same time. It’s gotten a bit out of control; there are FOUR bins with WIPs. They’re not all full but it’s a lot. Last week I pulled out a shawl that had hibernated for two years and decided it is still worth finishing, eventually. It’s being knit in a lace yarn held doubled. Another project sat for only a year until I admitted it wasn’t working, and I ripped it. Both decisions feel good. The shawl is a good car knitting project.

It’s a reminder that stash care isn’t just about yarn, but also about our relationship with our making. Some projects are ready to move forward, some are ready to be released. Forgiving myself for what didn’t work out is just as important as celebrating what’s ready to continue. There are always projects I’ve neglected or fibers I’ve tucked away and forgotten. Looking at them now, I try to approach with gentleness: forgiving myself for what I didn’t finish, and remembering that each day is another chance to return to the joy of making. Just as yarn can be wound and rewound, I can begin again.

Moving Gently into the New Season

Tending yarn and fiber feels like a rhythm of small acts that keep things in good shape and make space for renewal. Whether it’s winding a messy skein, checking a project bag, or noticing a forgotten WIP, these small steps matter.

And no, it doesn’t all have to happen at once. Yarn is patient. Sometimes it waits years. What matters most is how we return to it, and the care we bring when we do. Taking time to review and refresh your yarn and fiber is a small act of care that pays off in smoother projects and fewer frustrations. As I sort through skeins and fibers, I’m reminded that this season invites both care and reflection; a chance to set things in order, to release what no longer serves, and to make space for what’s yet to come.

This is a 2025 update of a post first written in 2018.