Zip, Drawstring or Snap? Choosing a Yarn Storage Bag

A beautiful print might catch your eye first, but the opening of a yarn storage bag is something you use every time you sit down to crochet. It affects how easily you lift out your work, where the working strand runs, and how you pack everything away when it is time to leave.

For regular sofa sessions, an open tote with a snap can make access simple. A drawstring gathers a flexible opening around your supplies. A zipped lid is worth considering when you want the main compartment closed for carrying. The best choice depends on your routine, so start there when browsing our yarn storage bags.

Choose the closure around how you pause your project

Think about your last crochet session: did you leave the bag beside your chair, carry it upstairs, or take it to a craft group? That everyday moment is more useful than choosing the bag with the most features.

• You reach in often: an open tote or snap closure lets you see and retrieve your project with little unpacking.
• You want a soft opening that gathers: a drawstring suits a flexible project bag, provided you leave room for the top to close.
• You carry the bag through a busy day: a zipped main compartment can help keep larger contents inside if the bag leans over. Small tools still need their own secure storage.

None of these closure types, by itself, proves that a bag is waterproof, airtight or suitable for long-term yarn storage. Look at the whole construction, including any feed holes and uncovered pockets.

A snap tote suits projects you want within easy reach

A snap is a useful middle ground when you like the access of an open tote but want to bring the top edges together between sessions. It is particularly convenient for working at a table or beside the sofa, where the bag can stay upright.

Woolique's Large Quilted Yarn Storage Tote Bag, the 012 style, has a snap closure, front pockets and yarn feed grommets. Its listed dimensions are 16 x 9.5 x 11.5 inches, approximately 40.6 cm wide, 24.1 cm deep and 29.2 cm high.

Those dimensions are a starting point, not a promise that every blanket will fit. Allow space for the growing crochet fabric as well as the yarn. The snap should meet without pulling the sides hard together. Because the opening is not sealed along its full length, place loose stitch markers in a small closed container.

A drawstring works best when you leave the top room to gather

Choose a drawstring if you prefer a soft bag opening and a simple gather-and-carry routine. The useful question is whether the bag still closes with your actual project inside, rather than how much you can pile above the rim.

The Large Drawstring Yarn Project Bag combines a drawstring closure with a shoulder carry design, storage pockets and yarn feed holes. It is an option to consider when you move a project between rooms or take it along to a workshop.

Before gathering the top, move the working loop and loose ends away from the closure. Keep the hook in a case or suitable pocket instead of leaving its tip against the fabric. A drawstring can leave a small opening when gathered, so do not rely on it alone to contain individual needles or tiny notions.

A zipped lid suits carrying, with a clear path for the yarn

A zipped main compartment is useful when you want to close the bag around the project before heading out. When crocheting, keep the working strand away from the zip teeth and slider so it does not become trapped as you open or close the lid.

Woolique's Large Yarn Storage Bag with Grommets has a zip-around top shown in its product photos, alongside yarn feed openings and storage pockets. Check the selected colour's photos to see how the opening and handles are arranged.

Pack the project below the zip line and close the lid gently. If it needs force, remove an extra skein or refold the work. The zip should not be doing the job of compressing an overfilled bag. Feed openings also mean a zipped lid does not make the bag completely sealed.

Plan the yarn route before using a feed hole

A feed hole guides a strand; it does not untangle yarn inside the bag. Give the working ball space to unwind and check that the strand runs freely before starting the next row.

There is also a packing detail worth considering. Once the yarn runs through a closed grommet between the ball and an attached project, moving everything to another bag can be awkward. If neither end fits back through, keep that project with the bag or choose an open-top route from the start. Avoid cutting yarn simply to change bags.

If you switch colours or move projects often, our guide to keeping yarn from tangling in your project bag offers more ways to organise the working strands.

Try a pack-away check with the supplies you actually use

You can learn a lot about a bag by rehearsing the end of a session. Use your current work in progress, rather than filling it only with unused yarn.

1. Secure the live loop with a locking stitch marker, then put the hook away.
2. Fold the project loosely and place it beside the working yarn.
3. Put needles, markers and protected scissors in a closed pouch or case.
4. Close the bag without catching yarn, stretching fabric or forcing the fastener.
5. Lift it by its handles, set it down, and check that you can reach the project again easily.

For a simple packing list, see what to keep in your yarn storage bag. When packing one of our crochet kits, leave room for the part-made piece too, not just the supplies at the beginning.

Questions to settle before choosing your bag

Can I crochet with a zipped bag closed?

Only if there is a suitable, unobstructed yarn feed opening. Do not pinch the working yarn into a closed zip. If the yarn does not move freely, open the bag and rearrange it.

Will a snap or drawstring keep dust out?

It can cover part of the opening, but gaps may remain. For storage between projects, consider a separate clean container suited to the yarn and its care requirements. Pack yarn only when it is dry.

Does a yarn storage bag include yarn and hooks?

A storage bag and a crochet kit serve different purposes. Check the specific product option for included items; yarn, tools and crochet pieces in styled images should not be assumed to come with the bag.

Choose the bag that makes your usual session easier to start and easier to put away. A comfortable opening, enough space for growing work, and a secure home for small tools are a practical place to begin.