best way to store knitting needles?

[redbedhead]

Hi I taught myself to knit back in February by watching youtube videos. Mostly because my grandma died and I inherited her knitting supplies.

i have a HUGE cardboard box full of knitting Needles, crochet hooks, stitch markers, cabel needles, circular needles, interchangable needles, etc. BUT I can never find what I need. Everything is so jumbled up. I literaly spent 2 hours today trying to find a set of #6 needles that were the same length and same color ( I like to be color coordinated its an OCD thing).

Also the circular needles are so twisted they are almost impossible to work with.

How do you store your needles so that they can be found? And how do you get the extra twists out of circular needles so they are not such a pain?

[Jan in CA]

If you don't have interchangeable circular needles needles that come with a case this is a good idea. You may be able to make one yourself, too.
http://www.patternworks.com/productdetail/900021.htm

I don't use straight needles, but I think maybe putting them in a vase or something would be neater.

[kittykins]

I have a dear friend that loves to sew/quilt and she has made some lovely things for me. (Gorgeous quilted knitting bag!) Since I love to knit I'm always gifting her with something hand knit. Works out great for both of us!

At the present time I have my straight needles in a plastic cylinder that was made just for knitting needles, but it drives me crazy because I still have to dump them all out to find the right size and two that match. Anyway my friend is going to make me something like the link I'm posting. You can buy these in stores or online too. Lucky me, my friend is going to custom design my case!
http://tipnut.com/free-patterns-for-...es-organizers/ Jeanie

[suzeeq]

I have all my needles that aren't in something thrown into a plastic storage box a bit larger than a shoebox. They're all circulars though, so when I want a needle I just scoop up the cords and look at the ends to find the one I want. No, I'm not the most organized person - why do you ask....?

[fatoldladyinpjs]

I have the Knitpicks interchangeable Harmony Wood circulars so they don't take up much room. I keep the cables and keys in the plastic pouch that came with the set. I didn't like the bag for the tips, so I keep them in a Boye crochet hook zippered bag. You might want one for your crochet hooks. A couple of bucks. Keep straights and double point pairs together with rubber bands. You can keep the double points and circulars in Ziplock bags and write the size on the outside. I keep my stuff I use all the time, needle tips, interchangeable components, tape measure, knitting gauge, scissors, and tapestry needles together in one of the Cumberland zippered bags. That way I can always find them because they're together in one place. I got mine in the office supply section at Walmart. They're nice because if you're knitting away from home you can grab and go.

http://www.cumberlandconcepts.com/zipperbag.htm

[Jan in CA]

I use this type of case for my interchangeables, but it seems you may have single sets of different circulars.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/southernwoo...ion_id=7036358

[redbedhead]

to clarify, I have apparently more straight needles than you can shake a stick at.

Think of a box that a case of paper comes in, now fill it full of straight needles, all differnt sizes and lengths (I have found needles from size 1 to size 50). Now add another box HALF That size full of circular needles (at least 2 different sets of interchagables and the rest are individuals), Double pointed needles, and cable needles (I guess that is what they are they look like saftey pins of various sizes, widths, and lengths) Finally add a pencil box full of stitch markers, measuring tapes, sicssors, and Sewing needles. NOW Add another half paper case box of Crochet hooks!

Orginization is a big Problem, Plus I only have a 2 foot space in my bedroom to store it all in.

I inherited all of this from my Grandma when she passed on, and she had inherited some of them from her friend who passed on 2 years before her.

[Danisty]

to clarify, I have apparently more straight needles than you can shake a stick at.

Think of a box that a case of paper comes in, now fill it full of straight needles, all differnt sizes and lengths (I have found needles from size 1 to size 50). Now add another box HALF That size full of circular needles (at least 2 different sets of interchagables and the rest are individuals), Double pointed needles, and cable needles (I guess that is what they are they look like saftey pins of various sizes, widths, and lengths) Finally add a pencil box full of stitch markers, measuring tapes, sicssors, and Sewing needles. NOW Add another half paper case box of Crochet hooks!

Orginization is a big Problem, Plus I only have a 2 foot space in my bedroom to store it all in.

I inherited all of this from my Grandma when she passed on, and she had inherited some of them from her friend who passed on 2 years before her.

I got about that much from my Grandma too. It's insane what a person can collect over a lifetime. I also inherited her stash of extremely hideous yarn that I use for practicing new things.

Even though I have all of that, I never use any of it. I have the Knit Picks nickel-plated interchangeable set and use it almost exclusively. I really like Anise's idea though. I might try that just to organize everything I got from Grandma. I'm only holding onto it because I might run into someone who wants to learn to knit.

[cftwo]

to clarify, I have apparently more straight needles than you can shake a stick at.

Think of a box that a case of paper comes in, now fill it full of straight needles, all differnt sizes and lengths (I have found needles from size 1 to size 50). Now add another box HALF That size full of circular needles (at least 2 different sets of interchagables and the rest are individuals), Double pointed needles, and cable needles (I guess that is what they are they look like saftey pins of various sizes, widths, and lengths) Finally add a pencil box full of stitch markers, measuring tapes, sicssors, and Sewing needles. NOW Add another half paper case box of Crochet hooks!

Orginization is a big Problem, Plus I only have a 2 foot space in my bedroom to store it all in.

I inherited all of this from my Grandma when she passed on, and she had inherited some of them from her friend who passed on 2 years before her.

I'm a bit late to this thread, but having a similar need to organize (and a very small craft room), perhaps I can help.

For straights: I've always used a roll-up case like this: http://www.patternworks.com/productd...TICKS-CASE.htm You probably only need (maximum) 2 pairs of each size. Keep in mind that straights come in short and long lengths.

For double-pointed needles: I have a second roll-up case like this: http://www.patternworks.com/productd...EEDLE-CASE.htm This helps keep them organized. I've also seen pages like this, which would work, too: http://www.patternworks.com/productd...LE-POCKETS.htm I have a similar roll for my crochet hooks.

For circular needles: I keep them in individual sandwich bags and file them (in size order, of course) in a make-up case. I have, though, been drooling over these http://www.patternworks.com/productd...LE-POCKETS.htm because keeping them in a 3-ring binder would be even more organized. I don't have any interchangeables.

The safety-pin things are stitch holders. I keep stitch holders, markers, sewing stuff, and so on in stackable drawers like these: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-...White/15940600 You can also buy them 1 at a time. I have each drawer labeled with it's contents. You could also get an organizer with lots of little drawers - you'll usually find these in a hardware section (something like model 88206 at Lowes - the link wouldn't post) so you can keep all the little doo-dads separate.

Good luck! I know how irksome it can be not to have your stuff organized. (My mom calls it nuts. I call it peaceful.)

[stitchabit]

I use this type of case for my interchangeables, but it seems you may have single sets of different circulars.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/southernwoo...ion_id=7036358

Those are so pretty. I have been trying to decide whether to splurge on an interchangeable set or purchase the Namaste small bag for the circulars I have now .