Marceline (Marce) Smith of Hey Brown Berry is a BIPOC fiber enthusiast who knits, crochets, spins AND dyes yarn. She has a podcast and YouTube channel, where she shares about her travels and life and, of course, all things yarn.
Without further ado, we are happy to share with you Hey Brown Berry’s Happy Place!
What system do you use to organize your yarn?
Fiber content then colors.
What furniture/storage systems do you use to organize your yarn?
Rollaway drawers, shelves, baskets and handmade bags.
Was the majority of your yarn bought with a project idea in mind?
Not at first, but in the last few years, yes. A project or a design idea.
How do you like to de-stash?
Mostly completing projects, gift knitting, and swaps.
More often than not, what colors are always in your office/yarn corner?
Natural and neutral shades and some version of red.
Do you like to work in the same space where your yarn is stored? Why or why not?
Yes. I’m inspired by seeing the colors and touching the fibers, then I find a pattern to match my cast on itch.
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?
I store my totes all over the house - I love my totes. A lot.
How important is a well-organized yarn corner/office to your mental wellbeing?
Critical. I don’t mind abundance, but I get antsy with clutter.
Where did you purchase everything shown in the photos you submitted?
Many project bags and needle cases are from makers on Etsy, my futon with rollaway drawers is from a chain furniture store, and my shelving is from Walmart.
Share any tips or advice you have for someone who is trying to reorganize their stash.
Put the skeins you love most in your eye line or near your making space. The colors or breeds that make your heart sing! Every few months, reach out to someone online or in real life and arrange a swap for skeins you don’t connect to anymore. Go through your stash at least twice per year and put a few projects with patterns and needles into project bags for when you’re ready to cast on.
Share any current projects or promotions.
I love connecting with Makers through my YouTube channel at www.youtube/c/heybrownberry. I have designs on Ravelry that are great for sock weight yarn and above.
Photos courtesy of Marceline Smith.