What's a Yarn Owl, you ask?? Well, it's an interesting yarn container from Diana Couture (DianaCouture.etsy.com) that will contain and keep your yarn clean, tangle-free, and away from your pets as you knit OR crochet.
Sounds like a great idea! But do they work well?
Diana sent me her Yarn Owls (skein size and sock project size shown here) to give them a try and here is my review.
First off - they are pretty cute!
They have an adorable Owl pattern on them, as you can see in the photo. And the bright red wrist straps are a pretty accent. Aesthetically, I'm a fan! Much cooler than the plastic kind that are available (tupperware doesn't cut it if I'm in a yarn snob mood!).
They are also very nicely made.
I can tell that real care and thought were put into the sewing of each one. Each Yarn Owl is fully lined in a natural colored cotton, which is ideal for keeping your yarn clean and unsnagged (there are NO exposed seams inside). Plus, the weight of the cotton fabric and the double thickness (the Owl fabric + lining) give these Yarn Owls just enough structure that they hold their own shape, yet could be collapsed to fit into a tight knitting or crochet bag.
I tried a Yarn Owl as I walked around the house knitting!
Works great! It's like what a headset does for someone who is always on the phone. It just makes so much sense and is such a nice convenience for someone who knits or crochets a lot to be able to carry around and protect their ball of yarn. The red strap can be snapped onto your belt loop, held around your wrist, even looped around the arm of your chair (depending on your chair, of course). Much better than having a ball of yarn rolling loosely around on the floor attracting and creating lint and furballs.
The top snaps easily and nicely, allowing the yarn to pull through a hole at the top very smoothly. Works just as designed (what we used to call a "WAD" when I was a computer programmer!).
Plastic "yarntainers" and unstructured bags with holes at the top just aren't as well-suited to all the uses that these Yarn Owls are perfect for! And because of the snap-top design, you can just remove the yarn and change out your ball vs. having to cut it, which is what some of the other yarn holders require you to do.
The taller skein version is nice too, and Diana notes on her site that even the fatter skeins will work. The larger Yarn Owls can also be used to store your smaller project in with the yarn. Great portability!
Overall, a really well-designed product that would be an really nice gift!
Yarn Owls are available at Diana's etsy shop at: DianaCouture.etsy.com. They come in other designs as well.
[Now, if they could only make these big enough to contain my 9-month old. Ha ha!]
Diana also sent me samples of her Skeini-T products (T-shirts for skeins!). my review of those coming soon!
DO YOU HAVE A PRODUCT FOR SWEATERBABE TO REVIEW? If you do, please email me at: reviews@sweaterbabe.com. Read the submission details.
*** LASTLY, I will be giving away a Small Yarn Owl. Just leave a comment about this topic on this blog post by midnight, August 30, 2009, to enter the drawing. One commenter will be chosen randomly as the wiinner! One entry per person. ***
*** 8/31/09: AND THE RANDOMLY CHOSEN WINNER IS. . . Denise Park! Congratulations, Denise! Enjoy your Yarn Owl and come share you thoughts on it when you get a chance to try it out! ***
This is an awesome idea! I love that you can remove the yarn without cutting it. That's the one thing that's kept me from so many other yarn-tainers. I have project ADD and am always changing what I want to work on.
Posted by: Tracie Barrett | August 18, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Those are really, really cute. Good to hear (read) they are functional as well. Perhaps I should get one to use when I (finally) start my Talia... :)
Posted by: MonkeyGurl | August 18, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Okay, these are fascinating! And considering I live with 5 cats, something like this would be a boon for my poor yarn!
Posted by: ariestess | August 18, 2009 at 12:22 PM
These are really cool. Great review too.
Posted by: Wendy Marple | August 18, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Nice! I have been making small ones from a crochet pattern as gifts, but I think this is more practical.
Posted by: Margo Lynn | August 18, 2009 at 12:26 PM
The yarn owl looks like a pretty neat thing to have! And the fabric is really cute. Love it!
Posted by: Jane Vdoviak | August 18, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Wow that yarn bag looks like a wonderfull idea! Hope this enters me in the running!
Posted by: Marion Naylor | August 18, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Thanks for the info! I am going to get me one!
Thanks!
Posted by: Terry | August 18, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Those sounds wonderful! Thank you for the review.
Posted by: Kristine M Murphy | August 18, 2009 at 12:37 PM
What a good idea
Posted by: Ramlynrose | August 18, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Better than those old plastic yarn barns and a lot prettier
Posted by: Mary Lou Pearce | August 18, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Thanks for sharing the Yarn Owls! They are too cute and I think I need one!
Posted by: J.P. | August 18, 2009 at 12:42 PM
The Yarn Owl is very cute and looks like it would work well.
I plan on buying them for my knitting buddies.
Posted by: Janice Van Arsdol | August 18, 2009 at 12:45 PM
These look like such a great idea! I've tried all sorts of things to try and stop my cat from attacking my yarn as I knit.
I'll have to stop by her etsy shop and take a gander.
Posted by: Samantha | August 18, 2009 at 12:45 PM
omg these are SO adorable!!!!! I've never seen anything like them. And of course, I want one! Please pick me!!!! :D
Posted by: Claudia | August 18, 2009 at 12:46 PM
The Yarn Owls are very cute and practical, too. Looks like a well-thought-out design, and I WANT one, LOL.
Smiles, Heather
Posted by: Heather K | August 18, 2009 at 12:49 PM
Wow, what a great product, thank you for the review (and also for the joke with "wishing one for the baby"). ;o)
The Yarn Owls look so cute and sure are great helpers, I have just frogged almost ready socks (always knit at the same time, were too loose, should have been a gift) and started with fewer stitches, now the balls roll through the house as soon as I start to knit - I can´t tell you, if I spend more time on knitting or running after the yarn-balls... ;o)
The link to Diana´s shop is bookmarked and I will soon take time to walk through the shop and fill my basket. BTW, I also love the Yarn-T´s (especially the one with the almost naked sheep), looking forward to your review.
Should I really mention that I´d be very happy to win such a Yarn-Owl (ok, I don´t expect to win, I never had luck in drawings etc.)?! ;o)
Have a great day, Bea
Posted by: Bea | August 18, 2009 at 12:50 PM
It looks very interesting, but a picture with you wearing it would be even better.
Hugs
Katherine
Posted by: crochetnutt | August 18, 2009 at 12:54 PM
I've been wanting a yarn holder that works like this one. I do a lot of knitting in the car while my husband is driving, and this is perfect for snapping onto a belt loop. It solves the yarn-falling-onto-the-floor-in-a-hard-place-to-retrieve-it-problem. The owls are really cute, too!
Posted by: Cyndi Swank | August 18, 2009 at 12:56 PM
wow, great idea. we have two dogs and I hate chasing my yarn across the floor and pulling of all the dog hair.
Barbara
Posted by: Barb Moore | August 18, 2009 at 01:06 PM
Looks like it would be very good to take with you while you knit.I always find it hard to knit away,the balls roll all over the place and get tangled.Very nice idea.
Posted by: kathy Kinrade | August 18, 2009 at 01:07 PM
These are adorable!
Posted by: Danielle | August 18, 2009 at 01:07 PM
these yarn owls looks if they could work well. especially the smaller one. I always take small items
with me where ever I go.
Posted by: liana olivier | August 18, 2009 at 01:08 PM
I recently began to ride and drive in my husband's 18 wheel rig. I love to knit to help pass the time on our runs. Unfortunately, the floor is not always the cleanest. A Yarn Owl would keep my yarn from rolling off my lap and onto the truck floor board. It would keep the yarn clean and would fold up nicely when I am done. I have a very compact space for my yarn stash and clothes! I would love to have such a cute yarn holder!
Posted by: Lue Hamrick | August 18, 2009 at 01:12 PM
I don't like the mesh yarn bras but the Yarn Owl is really pretty ... I think I'd give it a try. Thanks for the review.
Posted by: Agnes | August 18, 2009 at 01:13 PM
Those look very nifty!!!
Posted by: Michelle | August 18, 2009 at 01:15 PM
The owls are adorable!
Posted by: Ulrika | August 18, 2009 at 01:19 PM
What luck!! I love doing tapestry crochet and was think'n maybe a container type thing would help with the tangling of the yarns...I never thought I would be able to find something so CUTE!!
Posted by: De'Anna | August 18, 2009 at 01:24 PM
Great review of a great product! Socks are my go-to commuting projects and I often knit while walking to/from the bus stop, on the bus and out "in the world" and a Yarn Owl would be perfect for me. And for at-home projects, they'd be a great way to keep the dog hair out of my work. Love it!
Posted by: TrishKnits | August 18, 2009 at 01:27 PM
What a clever, creative lady! Wish I would have thought of the Yarn Owl. It sure beats using zip lock bags!
I didn't see if she had designed a holder for circular knitting needles. I'm using a wall file rack to hold mine for now. Not attractive but it works.
Posted by: Diana Britton | August 18, 2009 at 01:28 PM
Great review and looks like a great product. I love owls so this will be perfect.
Posted by: Cherie K. Fischer | August 18, 2009 at 01:32 PM
That look like a wonderful idea especially for sock knitting, I would love to win one. Debbie
Posted by: Debbie Hallamek | August 18, 2009 at 01:52 PM
What a great idea. And so cute! I love the print on the fabric.
Posted by: Taylor | August 18, 2009 at 02:08 PM
Owls and knitting - two of my favorite things! This is so cute AND just what I need to keep my toddler from unraveling my yarn (she has her own fun stash for that)!
Posted by: Amy Williams | August 18, 2009 at 02:29 PM
A SWEET & NIFTY DESIGN HELPS WITH THE FRUSTRATION LEVEL WITH THOS RUNAWAYS~~
NO SNAGS TO TURN U INTO A HAG!
I WOULD DEFINETLY GIVE IT 2 SNAPS UP! ;]
Posted by: JULIE | August 18, 2009 at 02:36 PM
The Yarn Owl bag is really nice-would keep my yarn handy when traveling as I take my crochet wherever I go! Really nice, Thanks!
Posted by: Carma | August 18, 2009 at 02:39 PM
What an excellent idea. Please pass along the kudos.
Posted by: Jenn | August 18, 2009 at 02:52 PM
These Yarn Owls are abrilliant design. Great idea and very unique!!!
Posted by: Richelle | August 18, 2009 at 03:01 PM
They are absolutely adorable and I gather from what you say, well-made too.
Posted by: Debbie B | August 18, 2009 at 03:10 PM
This is such a wonderful idea, am ging to put it on my b-day list.
Thanks for the review
Posted by: LC Carr | August 18, 2009 at 03:14 PM
The yarn owl was a fantastic idea.We're planning to get a cat and that way my "yarn-babies" could stay safe from the claws :-)
Posted by: ann-kristin | August 18, 2009 at 03:33 PM
This seems to be just what I've been hunting ! Over the years I don't know how many bags,etc., that's I've tried and discarded; as not-work-able ....the main thing I've found that designers can't seem to GET RID OF; is the VELCRO. Velcro and yarn DO NOT MIX ! This doesn't have any !! YEA !!! Where can I get some ???
Posted by: Connie C Smith | August 18, 2009 at 03:38 PM
Cool! This was my first newsletter, loved the information and patterns!
Julie
Posted by: Julie | August 18, 2009 at 03:38 PM
Those yarn owls look amazing! I've been wanting something like this for a while -- if I don't win the giveaway, I might need to go buy one! :-)
Posted by: Alexandra | August 18, 2009 at 03:41 PM
such a great idea! I could really use one for waiting during my kids activities. Beautiful, calming colors, too.
Posted by: Kelly Giguere | August 18, 2009 at 03:45 PM
I love the idea of the yarn owls. It is a great way to keep your yarn clean and easily accessible. Thank you for the drawing!!
Posted by: sandra | August 18, 2009 at 03:59 PM
The Yarn Owl is a simple product, probably fairly easy to sew up, so why is it only now being invented! It is almost the "paperclip" of yarn savers. I love this idea and will be ordering some. It will be the perfect gift for knitting & crocheting friends, too.
Posted by: Pat | August 18, 2009 at 04:05 PM
oh I want one..
I love this idea, they look great.
Posted by: Mary Blake | August 18, 2009 at 04:11 PM
I hadn't seen these before.....but like the style and design.....nice when sitting because it has a flat bottom. Think I will run over to her Etsy show and see what follows me home..
always alice
Posted by: Alice | August 18, 2009 at 04:36 PM
I do like my yarn sphere, but this is more portable, and attractive!
Posted by: Melissa Bruner | August 18, 2009 at 04:38 PM
Great idea - wonder if this one will defeat my cat!
Posted by: Carol Campbell | August 18, 2009 at 05:08 PM
Amazing! It would be so great to knit and crochet without my cat having a seizure in my yarn from all the excitement! Ha Ha!
Posted by: Kristina Stagg | August 18, 2009 at 05:14 PM
Not having to cut the yarn to remove it from the Yarn Owl is a great feature.
Posted by: Karin | August 18, 2009 at 06:29 PM
I like that the containers have a little bit of structure without being plastic, and the fabric is cute too.
Posted by: Ichun | August 18, 2009 at 06:48 PM
They sound great! That is just what I need!
Posted by: Mary Helgesen | August 18, 2009 at 07:03 PM
so cute! I think i need one!
Posted by: kris | August 18, 2009 at 07:38 PM
What a great product - I'll have to check this out for holiday gifts for my knitting and crocheting friends!
Posted by: Tanya | August 18, 2009 at 09:17 PM
Oooo, now that's cute! I've wanted something I could take to work with me so I can bring my knitting to lunch or break (can't knit while on the phones, more's the pity) without risking the yarn getting dirty. I know what's going on my wish list next!
Posted by: Monique Leigh | August 18, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Great idea and just what we need when playing with yarn....keeping it neat and tidy, pet free, kid free and clean....also you can pick up and go with ease. I could use this travelling on the train ofr in the car. I can keep my project in my bag ready for action anytime.
Posted by: Pam Hicks | August 19, 2009 at 02:35 AM
I think the small Yarn Owl would be perfect for my Peaches n Creme dishcloth cotton! I'll definitely add one to my Christmas Wish List!
Posted by: Sherray Shipley | August 19, 2009 at 03:27 AM
Love that this has snaps so you can remove the yarn without cutting it! I tried another similar product but once the yarn was threaded through the hole and placed in the container, you couldn't remove it without cutting. This one's a lot prettier, too!!
Posted by: Margie | August 19, 2009 at 04:12 AM
What a great little item to add to my bag! Great review and recommendation! I've been known to stick a skein of thread in my pocket or purse and walk around craft shows crocheting on Christmas garland and I would think a Yarn Owl would make things even easier.
Posted by: Janie | August 19, 2009 at 04:21 AM
That´s clever. i have seen something like this before, but never seen the point really. All my yarn and Fos has cat hairs on it, so maybe i should try a yarn owl.
Posted by: ingrid | August 19, 2009 at 04:48 AM
What a wonderful idea and soooo cute.
Posted by: Heidi | August 19, 2009 at 05:07 AM
The yarn owl is super cute and functional too--Wow! I would love to have one of these!
Posted by: Jerrie | August 19, 2009 at 05:30 AM
This is a great idea and I would love to have one as my daughter has a short-haired dog who sheds and I am always having to pick his fine hairs off my yarn. Cool idea.
Posted by: Lisa Paulk | August 19, 2009 at 05:31 AM
What a cute idea! Those owls are adorable too!
Posted by: Sara Spalding | August 19, 2009 at 06:09 AM
Looks like it could actually work.. :p really cute!
Posted by: boki | August 19, 2009 at 06:24 AM
I don't have one yet, but I've seen them up close and personal, and I think they are a great idea! Will have to get one soon!
Posted by: MK | August 19, 2009 at 07:09 AM
This looks pretty nice. I've tried the plastic bottle type and they work fine but they're ugly. This looks cute and should work well. I'm going to check my LYS to see if they carry them.
Posted by: jena goshia | August 19, 2009 at 07:37 AM
I love the idea of this, especially that it has a handle that can hang from my wrist or to hang on anything as I knit or crochet. I would not have to walk around my home knitting or crochetig out of a plastic bag haning from my wrst or lying on the floor at my feet. LOL Love it.
Posted by: Elizabeth Saylon | August 19, 2009 at 07:41 AM
Great idea...will save me from picking cat hair out of the yarn as I knit.
Posted by: Lee Willits | August 19, 2009 at 08:00 AM
CUTE! I'm going to go mark her shop as a favorite (just in case I don't win).
Posted by: Stockannette | August 19, 2009 at 09:04 AM
Thanks for the review!! These are perfect for knitting at playdates (with small children running around) and around the house since I have a dog who sheds like mad!! I think I am going to have to get a few.
Posted by: Jeaneane Renz | August 19, 2009 at 09:41 AM
These do sound like a great idea. Thx for the review!
Posted by: brenda castiel | August 19, 2009 at 10:00 AM
The Yarn Owl sounds perfect for me! I love to take along my projects & really nice totes that are attractive & actually practical are hard to find. I'd love to win one, but I think I'm going to the site & order one, too, just to make sure I get one! Thanks for the "heads up"
Posted by: Connie Fish | August 19, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Tally WHOOOo! How cute are these little yarn holders. I appreciate your review. I'm going to pop over to Etsy and get one.
Thank YOU!
Posted by: Cheri | August 19, 2009 at 01:11 PM
I love my plastic yarn-tainer, but it has an exposed seam inside. Bought the bigger one, too, but don't use it because the handle broke, and you can't change yarn w/o cutting it. Yarn Owls look like they have several advantages, including greater squishiness for putting in my tote!
Posted by: Renee | August 19, 2009 at 04:40 PM
We live in a rural area, not too well provided with craft outlets. I discovered one of the old-fashioned plastic yarn barns, which of course came home with me. It's forever separating while in use-annoying, and as others have noted, changing colours before the ball is done means cutting it to free it from the barn. I am quite excited to see this idea and cannot wait to try one myself. Sounds like a lot of mail orders coming.
Posted by: Diane | August 19, 2009 at 06:19 PM
These do look great! I love the top snap idea. I love the fact you can change out your yarns but if you do get a big knot in your yarn you can easily get to it and untangle the yarn. Nice work!
Posted by: MJ Humphrey | August 19, 2009 at 08:40 PM
How lovely! Purrrfect for protecting the laceweight yarn (lace shawl in progress) from kitty claws (already had to Russian Splice cat slashed yarn several times)
Posted by: Tina Rose | August 19, 2009 at 09:05 PM
OHHHH,please count me in on a chance to win this giveaway and to try out the yarn owl.
Thank you
Cheryl
Posted by: Cheryl | August 19, 2009 at 11:09 PM
This really looks like a solution (and an attractive one at that!) to working with yarn whilst living with cats! Maybe I won't be quite the cat magnet with one of these around ... cat(s) on lap is not always conducive to effective knitting/crocheting! Many thanks for the review.
Posted by: Eadie | August 20, 2009 at 04:51 AM
This is really cute and useful! Thanks for the info!
Posted by: Ita Benjamin | August 20, 2009 at 08:22 AM
You can tell that this product was designed "by" a yarnie "for" us yarnies! And it looks "lhasa-proof" (I have 3)... something that many of the other yarn holders I have used WERE NOT....
Congrats to the eventual winner of this great container! Judy
Posted by: Judy Summers-Gates | August 20, 2009 at 09:16 AM
Great idea, I'll just have to mosey over to her shop and maybe buy myself one, just in case I don't win one here!
Posted by: Fiadhnat McGrath | August 20, 2009 at 09:42 AM
Oh my goodness! I saw the owls, and instantly I knew I had to have one. My grandmother got me into owls, as well as yarn, so this is a really nice combination! And I agree, you need an action shot of you walking about the house knitting with it in your belt loops!
Posted by: Lea | August 20, 2009 at 06:06 PM
What a totally FABULOUS idea! This is exactly what I have been needing!!!
Marlys <><
Posted by: Marlys Leder | August 20, 2009 at 06:10 PM
I really like the sound of these. Much better than the knitting bag I use which also has tape measure, scissors, talcum powder, stitch markers etc in it and keeps getting snagged. Thank you for the review.
Posted by: larki | August 20, 2009 at 11:32 PM
Thanks for the product review. It does sound like a good idea!
Posted by: Robin | August 21, 2009 at 09:17 AM
This is an absolutely adorable solution to a major problem for knitters and crocheters.....a bag that stay open, yet closed. Nothing is worse than fighting a project bag to get the yarn to feed smoothly!
I really like how it looks and how it should function.
Thanks for the review and I will be looking for this product.
Posted by: hobobird | August 21, 2009 at 01:11 PM
I knit in the car on trips & my yarn always ends up on the floorboard. This would be a great help. Thanks.
Posted by: Vicki Morgan-Bogart | August 21, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Finally, a practical and attractive solution to an age old problem! I have been crocheting and knitting for 20 + years and have never been able to tame the wandering yarn ball problem. This is the way to go. compact, portable, a strap so that you dont have to stay in one place,clean tangle free yarn! sign me up! I would love to have one.
Posted by: Ann Hawkins | August 23, 2009 at 12:40 AM
Those look really cool-and the owl fabric is a hoot!
Posted by: Lisa Payne | August 24, 2009 at 04:55 AM
I love owls. This is really cute and functional too. What a nice way to keep your yarn tidy.
Posted by: Zoya Fuller | August 24, 2009 at 10:32 PM
I saw these once before but didn't really get how they worked so I thank you for the review. I've had problems with the other skein holders and would love to try this!
Posted by: Francisca | August 25, 2009 at 01:57 PM
Those are so cute!
my cats would be disappointed, though, they wouldn't be able to find the yarn.
Posted by: tami | August 27, 2009 at 10:38 AM
I love that you don't have to cut the yarn to remove it.. great idea!
Posted by: Erlyn | August 27, 2009 at 10:42 AM
That is a great idea! Love the style & the fabric is too cute!
Posted by: Bethany C. | August 27, 2009 at 10:43 AM
What an awesome idea! I love that you can walk around while you knit or crochet :) And I can envision using this in my car (at stop lights, of course!). No more yarn rolling under the seat! Thanks for a great review.
Posted by: Carla Siu | August 27, 2009 at 10:45 AM