I’m not sure about the rest of you but I have a tendency to walk around the house while I’m knitting or crocheting. After being inspired by many folk photos in my moms Norwegian and Estonian knitting books I decided that I needed someway to conveniently carry my yarn while I walked and my yarn projects when I was traveling.

In the old days the ladies used a sort of metal hook that was attached to their belt. I tried a make shift one, but the hook part was way too short. I’m still working on one of those. My family is full of welders and metal workers (a skill I am going to learn this winter) so I’m sure we can come up with something functional that’s easy to make. Perhaps a nice carved wood one….Oooo….that sounds good.:) The gears are turning!

I was inspired in one of my magazine (probably something from Interweave) by a triangular knit purse. My first thought was “I can use to that hold my yarn while I walk around the house!”. Since instructions baffle me to the point of making me feel like a complete dunce, which is followed by massive frustration resulting in nothing useful, I made up my own bag.

I did this triangular bag the long tedious way since I was experimenting at the same time. I really love how it turned out though, and it will be pretty quick to make a second one now that I know what I’m doing.  I crocheted various, small triangles out of different colored soft yarn. I then crocheted them all together with contrasting colors to give a nice appearance. The bottom of the bag is one large square.

I left one side open, made some button loops and attached some toggles for easy opening and closing when switching yarn skeins. The strap was made by finger knitting a cord which was then attached to both sides of the top. I now hang the bag off of my wrist so that I can walk and work at the same time.

The finished triangular bag with my work in progress: a Tunisian crochet shawl.

I was in a thrift store last year (big surprise) when I found this little beauty for some minuscule amount of like $0.75 or something. The wood handle and retro material was so awesome that I couldn’t pass it by! Also my mom has a knitting bag similar to it in a wood handled purse she inherited from her grandma. I was envious, but now I don’t have to be.:) It fits more yarn than I had thought it would and works great when I’m traveling!

If you don’t want to make your own yarn bag or can’t find one at a thrift store that you like, there are other options. I save the cloth bags that my fitted sheet sets come in. I tie the strings together in a knot so I can hang it on my wrist, pull the drawstrings tight and I have an instant yarn bag. Twin sheet set bags work the best for small projects in my opinion.

These are just a few options for yarn bags and holders. The possibilities are endless.  If anyone has any other good ideas feel free to pass them along!!