From time to time I’ll be featuring objects that I find useful for knitting and spinning in the category Cool Tools. Sometimes these are tools that you can find in knitting catalogs, but more often, they are simple things I have purchased cheaply and repurposed.
First up, my rice–er Yarn Bowl, from World Market. I like to use this inexpensive bamboo bowl with a notch in the side to hold my yarn while I am knitting so that it doesn’t fall on the floor and get tangled or become an object of dog attention. This also saves the yarn from becoming a magnet for errant dog hairs which seem to be on the floor no matter how often we break out the Dyson. The notch on the side helps keep the yarn in the bowl. This works just as well as much more expensive ceramic models that can be found on Etsy (although those tend to be prettier).
I am not finding these bowls on the World Market website today, but I regularly see them in the store. I got this particular one on the clearance shelf at our local store where it was marked down to $2.99 (woot!) because it was missing something, either a lid or a spoon, that I didn’t really need anyway. I think they are less than $10 regular price. You may also be able to find something similar at Pier One or in your local Asian supermarket.
Free or almost free DIY alternatives could include a plastic or styrofoam bowl with a notch cut in it. Those clamshell takeout food containers might be worth a try, too. Anyone tried this?.
