Know your stash
How to organize your yarn stash so you can actually use it
The quick answer
Give each distinct yarn and color a record, save the label details, measure what is left, and record where it lives. Then separate available yarn from yarn already assigned to a project. A useful stash inventory should answer two questions: can I make this with what I own, and where is that yarn?
On this page
Start with one shelf or project bag
Choose a small batch you can finish recording in one sitting. Keep the yarn, labels, a scale, and your phone together. A complete record for ten yarns is easier to trust than a photo-only record of every box in the house.
Group matching yarns before counting them. Keep different colors separate. If dye lots differ, record that distinction even when the color name matches; you may want to keep those batches apart when planning a garment.
What to record in a yarn inventory
Photograph the label as well as the yarn. The Craft Yarn Council distinguishes the physical mass of a skein from its yarn weight category: grams and ounces describe mass; names such as DK describe thickness. Keep both in your record.
| Record | Example | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Brand and yarn name | The name printed on the band | Find the same yarn again. |
| Color and dye lot | Color 12, lot A | Keep batches identifiable. |
| Fiber and yarn weight category | Wool blend, DK | Shortlist suitable patterns. |
| Label length and mass | 220 m per 100 g | Estimate the length of leftovers. |
| Quantity actually remaining | 2 full skeins + 35 g | Avoid counting a partial ball as full. |
| Storage location | Closet, box B | Find it without opening every bag. |
| Project allocation | Reserved for blue cardigan | Avoid promising one yarn to two projects. |
Sources: Craft Yarn Council: reading a yarn label · Craft Yarn Council: standard yarn weight system
Measure partial skeins instead of guessing
Weigh only the yarn: remove the band and subtract any container or cone. Use the mass and length on that exact yarn’s label to estimate what remains. Do not borrow the ratio from another yarn just because both are described as DK.
Worked example: a label says 220 meters per 100 grams. A 35-gram leftover contains approximately 35 × 220 ÷ 100 = 77 meters. Two full skeins plus that leftover give about 517 meters in total. These are illustrative numbers, not a universal DK conversion.
Make the digital record match the physical storage
Choose a simple location system you will keep using: a box letter, shelf number, or project bag name. Put the same identifier on the container and in the yarn record. Organizing by color can look lovely, but a location code is what makes a mixed collection easy to retrieve.
Keep the label with the remaining yarn after winding. When you split yarn between a project bag and storage, note both locations. If you combine leftovers in one container, retain a way to identify each yarn and color.
Update at three moments
Stashora keeps photos, colors, yarn weights, and quantities together. Organize locally or bring in your Ravelry stash with reviewed sync. If you already catalog on Ravelry, review an import before manually recreating the same records.
- When yarn arrives: record it before putting it away, including the amount on hand and its location.
- When a project starts: note the intended yarn allocation so you do not plan another make with the same supply.
- When a project ends or pauses: weigh what remains, update the quantity, and return the yarn to a recorded location.
Sources: Stashora on the App Store
Frequently asked questions
Should I organize yarn by weight or by color?
Use whichever physical grouping helps you find your yarn, then record both weight and color digitally. A precise storage location makes the inventory useful even if you later rearrange the boxes.
How do I calculate how much leftover yarn I have?
Weigh the remaining yarn without packaging, then multiply that mass by the label length divided by the label mass. For 35 g of a yarn labeled 220 m per 100 g, the estimate is 77 m.
Do I need an app to organize my yarn stash?
No. A notebook or spreadsheet can use the same fields. An app is useful if you want photos, yarn quantities, and projects together on your phone. Stashora can be used locally without a Ravelry account.
Sources and review
Written by Stashora. Product details checked on September 13, 2026. Worked examples and checklists are illustrative; they are not performance tests. Read our editorial policy.
