Krissy Mahendran is a fiber artist who specializes in macrame. Near the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, she discovered her love for macrame and all of the amazing things that can be made with knots and yarn. Since then, she's been crafting macrame decor and accessories through both comissions and original pieces as the maker behind A Knot Story. She sells her work but also hosts workshops for those wanting to learn the skill of macrame and find joy in creating their own orignial pieces. Krissy finds in her work a celebration of four things: creativity, functionality, sustainability, and inspiration!
What system do you use to organize your yarn?
By available space and project needs.
What furniture/storage systems do you use to organize your yarn?
Rolling garment rack and rolling 3-tier cart.
How do you like to de-stash?
This isn't actually something I've done yet! I tend to save all my scraps for future projects and haven't had a chance to do any swaps with other makers yet.
More often than not, what colors are always in your office/yarn corner?
I tend towards neutrals, so I have a lot of those, but I'm building my colour palette so I now have two racks of warm tones and cool tones in my cart and they give me so much joy with their beautiful shades!
Do you like to work in the same space where your yarn is stored? Why or why not?
Yes. I love being around all my cord because the colours inspire me as I'm working on a new piece. It also makes me feel very professional, like I'm a full-time artist!
When you are working on a project, do you have a specific spot you put it when you aren't working on it, or does it follow you around beyond your space?
Everything I'm working on can be found on my garment rack. That rack is my saviour and favourite piece of equipment! I love being able to hang my projects and see them as I walk by because it gives me inspiration on how to finish or changes to make.
Was the majority of your yarn bought with a project idea in mind?
I'd say it's a solid 50/50 split of being bought for a specific project and everything else being bought just because I fell in love with the shade!
Do you or have you ever found it difficult to manage/organize your yarn?
Yes! I'd love to organize them by colour but because of my limited space, I usually have to make do with the space I have.
How did you find an organization system that works for you?
Being in a small apartment and moving frequently, I knew having an immovable setup wouldn't work for me so I started with the garment rack and found that a great way to keep my cord and projects organized. As my cord collection increased though, my garment rack was being heavily weighed down so I found a 3-tier rolling cart that allows me to store my cord there when not needed and keep only what I need on my garment rack. Both being portable also means I can work anywhere in my apartment as needed!
How important is a well-organized yarn corner/office to your mental wellbeing?
So important! When I'm working, things can devolve into a disaster zone but I always clean up afterwards, giving me back that clean state of mind. And it helps me be more efficient because I always know where everything is versus spending time searching for something.
Where did you purchase everything shown in your photos?
Do you have any tips or advice you have for someone who is trying to reorganize their stash? I
When figuring out how to store my stash, I usually try to answer these questions:
1) How do I like to work with this item? (Can determine what kind of storage situation you need)
2) What do I need in order to use this item? (Can help you determine what features your storage system needs to have)
3) How often will I need to access this item? (Can help you figure out where to put this item)
Are there any current projects or promotions you'd like to share?
Use the code "CYC06" when you place an order and get a free wristlet with your purchase!
Photos courtesy of Krissy of A Knot Story.