Whoever came up with the design for taming yarn’s tendency to roll all over the place is a genius! End your frustrations with balls of yarn rolling around and onto the floor. Keep it in one spot by using a yarn bowl.
Knitters can relax and knit away when their yarn ball stays in place. Plus, a yarn bowl is super stylish!
Here are some functional, beautiful (sometimes outrageous and funny) Yarn Bowls.
- What Is A Yarn Bowl?
- Why You Should Use One
- Why Are There Holes?
- How To Choose A Yarn Bowl
- Wooden Yarn Bowl: Lightweight and Functional
- Ceramic Yarn Bowl Beautifully Crafted
- Sculpted Pottery Yarn Bowl
- Plastic Yarn Bowl: Great for Traveling
- Super Strong Metal Yarn Bowl
- How About a Cat Yarn Bowl?
- Need A Laugh? Yarn Bowl With Faces
What Is A Yarn Bowl?
The design of most yarn bowls is fairly similar. They’re sometimes referred to as a yarn holder bowl.
Most yarn bowls have a bowl shape with a swirled section cut out on one side. You thread the string of yarn through there.
When you pull the yarn ball, it acts as a guide and feeds the length of yarn gently without snagging.
The weight of the yarn bowl allows the ball of yarn to roll around inside without getting tangled. The high sides keep it in place. A perfect yarn holder. No need to keep yarn ball in your lap.
They often have circular cutouts for storing straight needles or using more than one yarn in your colorwork project.
Why You Should Use One
- To keep your sanity! Knitting is meant to be pleasurable. Chasing yarn under tables, chairs, and your sofa isn’t fun. Nor is knotted, tangled yarn, which often happens knitting from a skein or ball. Too many times, I’ve tried to undo a massive tangle. Very frustrating! Prevent tangling with one of these.
- Yarn bowls keep your yarn clean, preventing it from collecting fluff or dust. (Knitting is more important than housework, we can have dust and fluff on our floors!)
- They’re not easy for a cat or dog to move around. There are many cute pictures of cats playing with yarn. Sure they’re adorable, as long as it’s NOT YOUR YARN!
- You can move your yarn bowl wherever you feel like knitting. Glorious sunny day outside? Take it outdoors and know the yarn isn’t going to get all dirty.
- Their whole purpose of yarn bowls is to be a yarn holder and look beautiful on your coffee table. More attractive than a yarn bag.
Why Are There Holes?
There are holes in yarn bowls for the following reasons:
- You can rest your knitting needles when not in use.
- If working with multiple yarns, thread each yarn through a hole. Great for stranded knitting, Intarsia, or Fair Isle patterns. (Remember, you’ll need to cut the working yarn that’s been threaded through a hole so you can remove it from the top.)
- The holes help prevent you from yanking the yarn out of the yarn bowl when it gets smaller.
How To Choose a Yarn Bowl
- The pottery (wood, plastic, or metal) needs to be very smooth where the yarn comes out. Even the smallest rough edge catches and frays the yarn. You don’t want your knitting project falling apart!
- Yarn bowls need a wide, flat base, so it won’t tip over when a dense ball of yarn is rolling around.
- A wooden knitting bowl of lightweight wood is great when traveling.
- It needs an opening where the yarn can slip through from the top. A hole on the side is no good. It’s more challenging to take the yarn out of the yarn bowl.
- High walls are best, or the ball will spin right out!
- Another consideration is a yarn bowl with two slots if you are an avid color-work knitter. This allows two different colored yarns to remain untangled when working on your knitting project.
- If you knit with a large unwound skein, an oblong yarn bowl is good.
So after reading all this, the question you are asking is where to buy yarn bowls? You can buy yarn bowls online.
I’ve researched for you, and my list has products based on the material they are made from. Take a look at the tools you will fall in love with below. I wonder which will be your favorites?
Wood
Dalea Home Products Premium Wooden Yarn Bowl
About: Woodcarved, unbreakable and heavy enough for various yarn sizes. It’s large with a luster finish. Great way to display your beautiful yarn.
- Dimensions: 7 inches wide, 4 inches high
- Materials: Wood
- Manufacturer: Dalea Home Products
- Made in: USA
Classic Rosewood Hagestad Yarn Bowl
About: The surface is smooth with a high-gloss finish. A curled slot captures the yarn as you knit, allowing it to steadily feed through preventing tangles.
Comes with a velvet travel pouch. A better alternative than the Nagina International version.
- Dimensions: 7 inches wide, 4 inches high
- Materials: Rosewood
- Manufacturer: Hagestad
- Made in: India
KnitPicks Rosewood Yarn Bowl
About: A lovely Rosewood Bowl, with a spiral cutout helping you hold your yarn. A rich wood grain texture. A lovely choice to show off your yarn. A good option if you have limited table space. Good value for money.
KnitPicks offers free shipping for US orders over $65. Customers in Canada can also receive free shipping for orders over $75, and in Australia, it’s for orders over $100.
- Dimensions: 5 inches wide, 3.5 inches in height
- Materials: Rosewood Wood
- Manufacturer: KnitPicks
- Made in: USA
Click To Learn More / Buy from KnitPicks
Two-Tone Rosewood MangoWood Yarn Bowl
About: A lovely two-toned tapered rosewood bowl. The mangowood texture is a pleasing contrast with the other tone. You can store other things in it too.
A gorgoues addition to any yarn bowl collection.
(If you’re buying the yarn bowl as a gift and unsure what style to get, getting them gift cards so they can choose for themselves might be a good idea.)
- Dimensions: 5 inches wide, 3.5 inches high
- Materials: Rosewood Wood
- Manufacturer: KnitPicks
- Made in: USA
Click To Learn More / Buy from KnitPicks
Ideas in Wood Wooden Yarn Box
About: If you’re looking for something unique, take a look at this handmade cherry wood yarn box with a built-in needle sizer. It also comes with a 6” ruler. A unique Etsy Yarn Bowl. Price is more than other wooden versions.
- Dimensions: 7.75 inches wide, 5 inches high
- Materials: Cherry Wood
- Manufacturer: Ideas in Wood
- Made in: Pennsylvania, USA
Craftamma Indian Wood Yarn Bowl
About: This handcrafted Indian Wood Yarn Bowl has a glossy finish. It’s sturdy and durable. Nothing to do but pop your yarn in this beauty, let it keep the yarn in place and start knitting.
- Dimensions: 6 inches wide, 3.5 inches high
- Materials: Wood
- Manufacturer: Craftamma
- Made in: India
KnitPicks Maplewood Yarn Bowl
About: A tapered yarn bowl made of Maplewood. A glossy finish brings out the rich detail of the wood. Any yarn ball would look gorgeous placed here. Can hold lace to DK weight yarns. Feels lovely in your hands.
Crocheters would appreciate the holes as a place for their hooks.
Possible to keep other notions at the bottom like stitch markers.
- Dimensions: 6 inches wide, 4 inches high
- Materials: Maplewood
- Manufacturer: KnitPicks
- Made in: Vancouver, USA
Click To Learn More / Buy from KnitPicks
Furls Yarn Bowl
About: Comfortably fits a 5oz/100g ball of yarn. Lifetime warranty. A Knitter or crocheter would love this.
- Dimensions: 6 inches wide, 6 inches high
- Materials: Sheesham Rosewood
- Manufacturer: Furls Crochet
Carbonized Bamboo Yarn Bowl
About: A beautiful yarn bowl with a lid for that added prevention of yarn slipping out acciendatly. Made of a sustainable resource with a smooth finish.
- Dimensions: 5.5″ diameter x 3.5” heigh
- Materials: Bamboo
- Manufacturer: BambooMN
Ceramic
Banshee Fiber Art
About: Copper and Gold with streaks of Pearl make up this fun and extremely shiny yarn bowl. The interior and top rim are painted a solid glossy black.
When not in use, would make a lovely decoration for your living room.
- Dimensions: 3 inches high and 5.5 inches at its widest
- Materials: Ceramic
- Manufacturer: Banshee Fiber Art
- Made in: USA
Wildflower Yarn Bowl
About: Hand turned and glazed with beautiful Each of these yarn bowls are handcrafted, so every one is unique. Great for Fair Isle knitting.
Yarn bowls will stay secure and making knitting a breeze.
- Dimensions: 3 inches high and 5.5 inches at its widest
- Materials: Ceramic
- Manufacturer: Banshee Fiber Art
- Made in: USA
Need A Laugh? Yarn Bowl With Faces
The Art of Lucky Stradley Sculpted Yarn Bowl Face
About: A wheel thrown, hand altered, and sculpted yarn bowl. Perfect for holding a ball of yarn. The large one in the range can handle big bulky balls. Such unique designs.
An interesting part of the face for the yarn to come from! 🙂
Of course, I had to include these. They’re lots of fun. They’d be sure to bring a smile to your face. Check out all the options and explore the collection.
- Dimensions: 6 inches in diameter, 3.5 inches high
- Materials: Stoneware, Porcelain
- Manufacturer: The Art of Lucky Stradley
- Made in: Nebraska, USA
Cat Yarn Bowl by Misunrie
About: A gorgeous cat stoneware clay bowl. Lead-free, food safe-glaze used.
- Dimensions: 6 inches wide, 3 3/4 inches tall without ear, 4 inches tall with ear
- Materials: Stoneware, Porcelain
- Manufacturer: MSR Pottery by Misunrie
- Made in: Kernersville, NC, USA
Little Bird Yarn Bowl
About: Thrown in stoneware on the wheel and then altered and topped with the little chickadee, this yarn bowl is fun and functional with a deep ‘j’ hook to keep your yarn from slipping.
An adequate size to accommodate various yarn ball sizes.
- Dimensions: 6 inches wide, 3.5 inches high
- Materials: Stoneware
- Manufacturer: A Harrison
- Made in: USA
Leslie Nieto The Mudplace Personalised Yarn Bowl
About: A custom yarn bowl, perfect for those who enjoy knitting. Available in several different colors and text for personalization. A great gift idea, and they function beautifully.
- Dimensions: 6.25 inches wide, 3.5 inches high
- Materials: Stoneware
- Manufacturer: The Mudplace
- Made in: Florida, USA
Knit Picks Black Mango Yarn Bowl
About: This unique yarn bowl has a spiral cutout with three holes. Can store your needles or crochet hooks. Made of mango wood, it has a striking appearance.
Perfect for your chosen craft hobby and the kinds of projects you do.
- Dimensions: 6 inches wide, 4 inches high
- Materials: MangoWood
- Manufacturer: Knit Picks
- Made in: Vancouver, USA
Click To Learn More / Buy from KnitPicks
Blue Pottery Yarn Ball Bowl
About: Glazed ceramic able to hold a regular skein of yarn. Comes in a variety of different patterns on the glaze. Items are made to order.
- Dimensions: 5.5 inches wide, 3 inches high
- Materials: Ceramic
- Manufacturer: Annette Lowder Pottery
- Made in: USA
Emerald Green Ceramic Yarn Bowl
About: Featuring a beautiful leaves design. Odorless and clean. Product availability varies as this is usually made to order. An alternative to your knitting bag to store yarn.
- Dimensions: 5.5 inches wide, 3.75 inches high
- Materials: Ceramic
- Manufacturer: Blue Room Pottery
- Made in: USA
Plastic
Yarn Valet
About: The Yarn Valet is an unbreakable lightweight ABS plastic. A rubber, non-slip base to keep the yarn bowl from slipping as your yarn flows through the scalloped yarn guide made of ABS plastic.
- Dimensions: 6 inches wide, 3 inches high
- Materials: Rubber
- Manufacturer: Prym USA
- Made in: USA
Metal
Furls Metal Yarn Bowl
About: Handcast and hand polished, these smooth aluminum bowls come in two choices, normal silver aluminum or aluminum with a copper finish.
- Dimensions: 6″ in diameter and 3″ tall.
- Materials: Aluminum
- Manufacturer: Furls Crochet
Sandpipers Art Studio
About: Handcrafted polished stainless steel. Heavy enough to support a variety of yarn ball sizes.
- Dimensions: 4.5 inches wide, 5.5 inches high
- Materials: Stainless Steel
- Manufacturer: SandpiperArtStudios
- Made in: USA
Such wonderful inventions, making knitting so much easier, with less mess and more enjoyable! Worth the investment.
Do you use a yarn bowl? Have any recommendations?
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There are so many great ones to choose from. I love the cat yarn bowls 🙂
Hope you find one that suits you Cameron 🙂
Ooooh!! I have a friend who would adore the funny faces sculptured yarn bowl! What a fabulous find. Thank you.
Those Yarn bowls with faces are so unique! Glad my post has helped you find something for your friend. Let me know what she thought of your gift. Cheers Jodie 🙂
Gone are those days for me chasing my yarn around. I love my wooden yarn bowl. 🙂
Great to hear Amanda! Thanks for sharing 🙂
My daughter has been knitting for about 2 years now. I had no idea there were such things as “knitting bowls”. I’d like to surprise her with one for Christmas. I’m wondering if the rectangular wooden box would be a good idea as it looks to be versatile for a beginning knitter. Any suggestions?
I found the information here very useful. Thank you!
Hi Judith. That’s wonderful that your daughter is knitting. Glad my post has helped you know more about Yarn Bowls. The rectangular box that features a knitting needle gauge would make a lovely gift. As you say it is versatile and many customers have given it rave reviews. https://knitlikegranny.com/recommends/wooden-yarn-box-yarn-bowl/ Cheers Jodie
Ok, so I checked out your site for ideas/recommendations for my first yarn bowl. (I’m a half step above newbie in the knitting world.)
Only now I seriously want to start a knitting bowl collection!
These are adorable!
I think I will start with rosewood and work my way through them.
Thank you for such great advice!
Hi Betsy. Welcome to our wonderful knitting community and for your kind words. I hope you find lots of fabulous projects to try and I’m so please you’ve enjoyed finding out about Yarn Bowls. Sounds like a plan working your way through your favorites. Cheers Jodie