I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - you only really need a crochet hook and some yarn to crochet. There are a lot of crochet tools out there to tempt you but they aren’t necessary. However, one thing you’ll always need is something to put your yarn in - a yarn bowl, but you don’t have to buy one! There are many yarn bowl alternatives right under your nose, already on-hand in your home. 

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Reasons You’ll Want a Yarn Bowl

A yarn bowl, bag, or alternative – whatever you choose to use, you’ll definitely want something to put your yarn in as you work. While it might be tempting to just sit your yarn next to you, here are a few reasons you’ll want to keep your yarn contained.

Tangle Free Crochet:

First, yarn bowls are designed to keep your yarn untangled and neatly organized while you work on your project. A bowl’s smooth, curved surface allows the yarn to glide smoothly, preventing it from becoming a tangled-up mess. But you already have bowls at home. There are some beautiful yarn bowls for purchase, but later in this post, I’ll share some fun yarn bowl alternatives.

Lent and Particle-free Yarn

Another reason you’ll want to provide a clean and protected environment for your yarn, it’s a magnet for picking up hair, pet hair, dust, and lent

Alternatives to Yarn Bowls:

Bottle Yarn Bowls

• First, my favorite swap for a yarn bowl is this DIY Yarn Bowl that I shared previously on my blog. All it takes is a 2-liter bottle, but really, you could use any type of bottle or jug. This option is near and dear to my heart because growing up, my mawmaw had all sorts of bottles full of yarn around her home – it was her go-to preference for keeping her yarn neat and tidy while she worked

Ziplock Bag Yarn Bowl:

• Throw your balled-up yarn into a gallon-sized ziplock bag. Thread the yarn out of the top and toss it next to you or in your purse for the road. Seriously the easiest, most inexpensive and definitely attainable yarn bowl option. Even if you don’t have a giant freezer bag like the one shown, you likely have a ziplock bag of some sort in your kitchen stash. A grocery bag works just as well.

Plastic Tea Pitcher:

• Maybe the most genius of all, is tossing your yarn in a clean plastic yarn pitcher. Put the lid on and thread the yarn through the spout. Many people commented on a recent video that this was their favorite idea — from sun tea to yarn bowl, who would have thought a kitchen pitcher would be so versatile?

Bowl and Binder Clip Yarn Bowl:

• How many binder clips does one person need? You have plenty, attach it to any bowl, thread the yarn through, and enjoy tangle-free crochet. This one made the internet mad – they like the idea but they questioned being able to get their projected out if the yarn was threaded through the clip — you can always cut your yarn or remove the metal prong from the clip. It humored me how concerned folks were about that.

Kitchen Colander:

• Round and Smooth like a yarn bowl but with built-in holes to thread your yarn through! You probably have more than one of these taking up space in your cabinets, too!

Yarn Bowl Alternatives to Purchase

Yarn Project Bags

Project bags come in a range of sizes, styles, and prices and can be found at most craft stores like Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Joanne and online at Amazon and Etsy.

This yarn bag is functional, and actually pretty cute and comes at a steal at under $15.00 – there are two sizes and a few different colors to choose from. Remember, Zippers can be tricky with yarn so keep that in mind when choosing a bag.

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This is a slightly more expensive project bag. Not only is it drawstring so there’s no snagging and gobbling of your yarn, it’s also handmade. This means your purchase supports a small business.

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Yarn Tenders

I love a good yarn tender. While you can make it at home with rivets or eyelets, they’re fairly inexpensive and you can turn any bag into a yarn tote by attaching one of these to it. Click here to shop

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Yarn Pendulums

Next up – Yarn Pendulums – the Wool Jeanie magnetic pendulum suspends yarn for ease in turning and smooth work.

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This is a prettier alternative to a paper towel holder to and would look lovely in all of your photos if you intend to share your work.

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This large Skein Holder is unique, holds skeins instead of cakes or balls, and mounts anywhere with command strips.

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I love these yarn pendalums for their soft fabric strap and the fabric is cute, making it feel more custom to what you like.

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Whether you choose a traditional yarn bowl or an alternative, the key is to find a solution that suits your style, preferences and budget.

Finally, if you have another idea for a yarn bowl or if you used one of the above suggestions, Let me know in the comments!