What constitutes a great yarn studio? After a few years of rummaging through haphazardly stuffed bins, and many hours of Pinterest browsing, I’ve finally pulled myself together and turned my messy craft room into a true studio. My (very novice) interior decor aesthetics are many- I wanted a space that was elegant and modern, yet classy and cozy… while of course being specifically functional for the types of crafting I regularly take part in. I am a knitter. A crocheter. And a handspinner. Oh, and a quilter. Sometimes a painter. And soon to be weaver.

So. I needed a space with natural light. Check! Plenty of storage space and shelving. Check! Coziness factor, for many late nights and winters’ days knitting or spinning away. Check, check, and check!

And perhaps the biggest check of all- I needed to do it on a budget. A tight budget. You know, cause of Covid…and stuff.

Keep in mind, this transformation did NOT happen overnight. It took months of planning, doubting, offsetting, and agonizing. Then, that whole “stared at it until I hate it” phase. Now I think I’m quite settled on it and can safely share it here- though I may still change stuff around depending on how the wild wind blows. But I digress. Here is the new and improved Fiberculture Farm fiber studio in all it’s glory.

On one side, I created a clean, bright, and generous work surface, perfect for piecing together quilted creations. On the other is my long awaited yarn wall- a custom pieced-together shelving unit which I mounted up off of the floor. (Yes, with my limited height, I do need a step stool to reach the top) These are four of the tallest (and most economical that I could find) Amazon bookcases stacked beside each other. I love this type of yarn display, as it has adjustable sections, and everything from yarn skeins to natural dye jars can be easily displayed in plain sight. Many fiberistas refrain from storing their yarn or fiber in anything other than closed plastic bins for fear of moth invasions, but a regular spritzing of the room and fibers using my Stash Protector spray keeps my space safe, beautiful and smelling lovely!

Down at the far end of the room, I have the “cozy spinning (or knitting) space”. This is where most of my previously acquired trinkets and sentimental items get their own place to shine and be admired. I am especially smitten with the ceramic blue and white rooster lamp which was recently gifted to me by my aunt. This gives me extra light while spinning at night on my latest wheel addition- the giant 30” Ashford Elizabeth (she still needs a name). I also added the little sitting bench as comfortable extra seating in the event I have some fellow knitter or spinner visitors!

The inexpensive hanging cage pendant piece was found at a hardware store, and then spray painted a “sunlit bronze” to match some of the other sunlit bronze accents in the room (like the old garbage can, step stool, desk trays, dollar store lamp, and picture frames that I may have gone a little spray-crazy on). It is amazing how far one can of spray paint can take you! Some of these other accents and decor pieces were found at a local thrift shop or the dollar store!

The vision boards were cork boards I found on sale and wrapped in linen fabric. I also reupholstered the ottoman style bin (which I almost threw away!) under my work desk with floral fabric that matched my decor. The huge work desks were also nearly thrown away, but I decided to paint them with a high quality enamel paint instead- now they’re bright, sturdy, and gorgeous!

Above my sewing station, I am most excited about the addition of the cedar wood shelving. This was certainly a labor of love, in which I luckily acquired some old rough cut wood planks from a local saw mill. Cut from trees grown right here in Garrard county, I was more than happy to save them from their fate of being tossed or burned. After some cutting, sanding, and polishing with a natural stain and Tung oil, they now have new life! I was careful to preserve the raw edges and “worm hole” marks, as they add so much character to the naturally red veined wood. I especially love having pieces of local Kentucky grown lumber gracing my workspace.

Lastly, i’d like to share the fun little “accent wall”, which features many of my special favorite trinkets and paintings. The owl and crow prints were an incredibly beautiful gift from my most recent Fibreshare partner, the super talented Sophie Healey. The wood-burned bird sketch was created by my late aunt Jeanette, who was the first person to teach me to sew, and always encouraged me to pursue my creative endeavors. The other little pieces on the wall were either gifted to me or found at local flea markets. It definitely warms my heart and inspires my soul to see them there while I work.

The white cat painting in the corner has always been there, and always will be. I painted that portrait of my beloved late fur-baby Marshmellow when he was still alive, and nearly sold it on my Etsy, but I am so incredibly thankful I kept it, as it is now one of my most treasured pieces. I am so happy that I have him to continue to keep me company as I work.

Overall, what I have learned from this project is this: use what you already have. Consider repainting or re-purposing items to save money, and to make them work for your vision. Use a lot of white and light colors to add brightness and space to the room. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to include your favorite pieces! I was so worried my collection of trinkets and paintings would be too random and misplaced in the room- but instead I found I was able to build the room around them! And it means so much to have them around me as I work for added comfort and inspiration. This project took quite a while to complete, however the most time I wasted was spent gazing around the empty room, paralyzed by indecision. Finally, I became frustrated with myself and just starting putting things up until the room came together! I wondered how I would know when the room would be “complete”…. I think it is complete when my heart feels calm and content when I look around my space. True, I will probably still move things around here and there (as you can see in the photos), but, hey, I have to remind myself that nothing is set in stone!

I hope this digital tour can give some of my fiber friends and followers some inspiration for their own crafting spaces, so that they can reach their true crafting potential and feel calm and happy as they create. As always, thank you so much for following along, and I look forward to sharing the newest fiber creations and adventures which will take place in this little studio. ♥

I’d like to dedicate my studio space to my late aunt Jeanette. The grandmother I never had, she was the first to teach me how to sew and quilt, and passed on to me her love of crafting, cats, tea, and the Little House on the Prairie. She was an incredible woman of grace, compassion, acceptance, and true unconditional love. In all of my farming and crafting aspirations, she was a complete supporter and cheerleader. I know she would be thrilled to see that her crafting legacy lives on in myself and in this beautiful space.