Yarn Bowl Guide: Best Yarn Bowls for Knitting & Crochet
-
Daniela Kretchmer
- Updated: Aug 27, 2026
- Craft Supplies, Knitting, Yarn
Use this guide to find the right yarn bowl for your projects. Learn about the advantages of using a yarn bowl, the key differences between plastic, ceramic, and wooden options, and how to choose the best size for your yarn.
I was gifted my own ceramic yarn bowl years ago and I cannot recommend them enough. I also recommend them in my posts on the best craft gifts and best gifts for crocheters and knitters.
Watch: Check out my favorite yarn bowl in action in this Instagram Reel! I don’t sell this bowl, but it’s a great example of how intricate ceramic designs can be while still keeping your yarn contained.
Note: Some links in this post may contain affiliate links, which means at no cost to you, I may earn a commission.
Quick Comparison: Top Yarn Bowls
| Category | Yarn Bowl | Material | Dimensions | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Best Overall Wooden Bowl |
Mango Wood |
6.0″ W x 3.5″ H |
Deep spiral + multi-strand holes |
|
|
Best Ceramic Yarn Bowl |
Ceramic |
5.5″ W x 3.5″ H |
Custom name lettering forms yarn swirl |
|
|
Best Portable Yarn Holder |
Wood |
Compact / Portable |
Straps to wrist for hands-free crafting |
|
|
Best Extra Large Bowl |
Wood |
9.0″ W x 6.0″ H |
Fitted lid + 9 bonus crochet hooks |
|
|
Best Funny Yarn Bowl |
Ceramic |
5.5″ W x 3.5″ H |
Funny Quote |
Table of Contents
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Wooden Yarn Bowls
Wooden yarn bowls are durable, lightweight, and warm. They won’t shatter if dropped, making them a safe choice around pets and kids.
Knit Picks Two-Toned Wooden Yarn Bowl
This one from Knit Picks has a gorgeous two-toned design made of rosewood and mango wood. The opening measures 6″, and it’s about 3.5″ tall, making it perfect for holding a single ball of yarn. The only drawback is that it doesn’t have a hole, in case that’s something you’re looking for.
Knit Picks Dark Brown Mango Wooden Yarn Bowl
If you want a classic look with the option of holes for multiple strands, this one from Knit Picks is a great choice. It’s made of mango wood and is 6″ at the widest point (4.5″ at it’s smallest) and is 3.5″ tall.
Lichtenberg Bowl
While mostly wooden, this bowl has a resin inlay. It’s handmade from rosewood and you get to choose the color of the Lichtenberg design. It’s 7″x4″.
Laborwood Yarn Bowl
This is a beautiful, simple wooden bowl. The main advantage to this one is the holes and spiral opening is larger than most so it can fit thicker yarns. Therefore if you tend to use thick yarns, this is the one I definitely recommend. It has a 7″ diameter and is 4″ tall.
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Ceramic Yarn Bowls
Ceramic yarn bowls are the heaviest options available. Their extra weight keeps your yarn completely stationary on your table. Just make sure you don’t drop them!
Personalized Name Ceramic Yarn Bowl
This bowl by MaidofClay is just too cool! You have the option to turn your name into a bowl, with one of the letters forming a swirl to hold the yarn. It’s a fun and creative way to personalize your bowl.
The only down side is it’s limited to 9 letters so if you have a longer name, you might need to get creative. It also doesn’t have to be a name at all and you can have it say something such as “Knitter” or “Dog Mom” or “Ew, David” if you’re a Schitt’s Creek fan!
It’s 5.5″ in diameter and ~3.5″ tall and the letters become the holes for the yarn.
Milltown Merchants Bowl
This adorable bowl is made by Milltown Merchants and has a fun whimsical vibe with the offset spiral opening. It’s 4.1″ tall, 6.1″ wide, with a 5″ opening. It also has the 3 holes for additional options and comes in this cute blue, purple, white, or black.
NewMoonStudio Wheel Thrown Yarn Bowls
These bowls from NewMoonStudio are simply stunning. They remind me of the one my mother in law gave me. The downside is they’re shorter at 3″ tall, but they have a standard diameter of 6″. However, as they’re made to order you can request a different size.
SarahWelchPottery Personalized Flower Bowl
This one is also handmade and is by SarahWelchPottery. She sells them in both this larger size and the smaller size. The larger one is 8 3/4″ wide at the opening and 7″ tall. You can also get it personalized with a name or saying.
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Portable Yarn Holders
If you knit or crochet on the go, you’ll want a yarn holder built for portability. These options keep your yarn clean and contained while traveling or working on outdoor patios.
Wrist Yarn Holder
This one also isn’t a bowl, but it does hold a ball of yarn nicely. It’s more lightweight than the other portable options and you can simply hook it to your wrist.
The Yarn It by Prym
The Yarn It is a great option if you’re looking for a portable yarn holder. It’s 6″ in diameter and has two yarn holding options.
This knitting ball is amazing! It’s designed to open up in the middle, so you can easily retrieve your yarn. Plus, it comes with a stand that fits perfectly in a standard cup holder. Perfect for all you car knitters out there! And guess what? It even comes with a strap, so you can wear it like a purse and knit on the go. How cool is that?
Clear Two-Piece Sphere Yarn Holder
This one is another good portable option. It’s roughly 8″x6.” What makes it special is it can be one portable fully enclosed sphere, or it can be separated into two bowls and used on a surface with the non-slip base. The bases even pop off, allowing you to store small items such as stitch counters and tapestry needles.
Large Yarn Bowls
If you use large balls of yarn or need a bowl that has room for multiple balls of yarn, I definitely recommend one of these large yarn bowls.
Large Round Bowl with Lid
If you want something more rounded, but still has a top, this one could be for you. It’s a whopping 9″ wide and 6″ tall! And as an added bonus it comes with 9 crochet hooks (sizes 2-6).
KnitPicks Bulky Yarn Bowl
This one provides both size and design. It’s similar in appearance to the other bowls from KnitPicks, but this one is much larger at 7″ wide and 5″ tall.
Bamboo Yarn Box
I love this one because it’s so unique so it fits into both categories. But this one is not just any ordinary bowl, it’s actually a box! And the best part is, it comes with a lid to keep those balls of yarn from escaping.
It’s made of bamboo and is bigger than most at 6.5″ for the length, width, and height on the inside.
Oval Narrow Large Yarn Bowl
If you want something large, but narrow that won’t take up too much table space against a wall, consider this one. It’s 11″ wide, 6″ tall, and 4.7″ deep. So you can fit either multiple balls of yarn or one huge skein.
Unique and Funny Yarn Bowls
These are not your standard bowls so if you’re looking for something more unique, I definitely suggest one of these.
There are actually plenty of funny yarn bowls out there, but most seem to not have a spiral opening. So, I wouldn’t recommend those because your yarn would have to stay in the bowl.
Counting Stitches Ceramic Yarn Bowl
I’m all about fancy looking items with ridiculous sayings on them so of course I just love this one. This funny yarn bowl says “A question asked while I’m counting stitches will be answered with louder counting.” The inside is painted red for a fun pop of color.
It doesn’t have a hole, but it’s made of ceramic so it’s heavier. It’s an average sized bowl at 5.5″ in diameter and 3.5″ tall.
Sassy Face Bowl
This bowl is simply delightful! It’s from LaMudPottery on Etsy. You can use the mouth as a hole for the yarn, or there is also the classic spiral on the back. The best part about this one is the yarn inside adds to the whole look and gives the bowl hair. It’s roughly 6″x4.”
Unicorn Yarn Bowl
For the kids at heart, this is an absolutely adorable bowl for you. You can get it on Amazon, but keep in mind it’s on the smaller side at only 4.5″ in diameter and 4″ tall. However, it gives you the option of a spiral opening and two holes.
It even comes with a top to completely secure the yarn inside.
Funny Face Yarn Bowl
You can get these from Dirt on Your Skirt on Etsy. They’re definitely not your run of the mill bowls and they come in all sorts of expressions.
The side of the mouth is used as the opening so it looks like it’s eating the yarn. It’s an average size with the outside dimensions of 6.5″ in diameter and 4″ tall.
3D Printed Yarn Bowl
If you have a 3D printer, you can actually print your own yarn bowl! I had my husband print me this one in purple glitter (here’s the link) and it came out adorable (it’s the image on the right).
One downside of using a 3D printed bowl is that they’re incredibly lightweight. If you’re not careful, the yarn can easily push the bowl around. Luckily, the one I have has a removable base so you can add some weight to keep it steady. Another thing to keep in mind is that it’s important to sand down the edges to prevent the yarn from getting caught.
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How to Choose a Yarn Bowl
While it may seem as though all yarn bowls are the same, there are actually a few factors you’ll still want to consider:
- Size
- Weight
- Shape & Rim Taper
- Open Swirl vs.
- Closed Holes
- Portability
1. Size & Diameter
Yarn bowls come in all sorts of sizes, so the first thing to consider is how big of a bowl you actually need. The larger ones can hold more yarn, but they also take up more space. On the flip side, small knitting bowls don’t require as much room, but they won’t hold as much yarn either. It’s all about finding the right balance for your knitting needs.
Consider the yarn you’re using for a project – is it a very large skein or are you using multiple balls of yarn at once like I did while making the reversible beanie?
However, if you’re using a single average-sized ball of yarn at a time for your projects, you can get away with having a smaller yarn bowl (like I did with my loom knit hat and while making pom poms).
Mini Bowls: Ideal for tiny scrap yarn balls or quick pom-pom making. Watch how I made a tiny yarn bowl in this Instagram Reel.
5″ to 6″ Bowls: Perfect for standard 100g yarn cakes or medium balls.
7″+ Bowls: Best for jumbo skeins, bulky weight yarns, or working with multiple strands at once.
2. Weight & Stability
The weight of a yarn holder is important for two reasons: portability and keeping your yarn in place while you work. The lighter the bowl, the easier it is to carry around. However, this also means the bowl is more likely to move while you’re working. If you’re an average knitter or crocheter, this might not be a big concern since the yarn won’t bounce around as much.
However, if you’re knitting with a knitting machine, for example, then your yarn will bounce around a lot and actually push your bowl with it. Therefore if you’re going to use a machine to knit, then you’ll want a heavier bowl (such as a ceramic yarn bowl).
3. Shape & Rim Taper
You’ll also want to pay close attention to the shape of the bowl itself. Ideally, you want a bowl that tapers inward at the top so your yarn doesn’t bounce right out while you work. If a bowl is completely wide open at the top, it kind of defeats the purpose because the ball can easily pop over the edge when you pull tension.
If you do prefer a wide-rimmed bowl or want extra insurance against mischievous pets, that’s where bowls with a lid come in super handy!
4. Open Swirl vs. Closed Holes
When it comes to features, you’ll need to decide if you want a hole in the bowl and maybe even multiple holes if you plan on using multiple yarns at once. Some knitting bowls even come with lids for that extra bit of security.
Always look for an open spiral slot. You’ll notice none of the bowls I recommend lack a spiral opening. Closed circular holes force you to cut your yarn if you want to swap projects mid-way. Open swirls let you remove or change your project anytime.
5. Portability
When choosing a yarn bowl, it’s important to consider how portable you need it to be. Are you someone who knits on the go, or do you mostly knit at home? If you’re a frequent traveler or knit in the car, choose shatterproof options designed specifically for travel rather than breakable ceramic.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yarn Bowls
What is a yarn bowl?
A yarn bowl is a bowl that keeps your yarn contained while you knit or crochet. They’re sometimes referred to as “knitting bowls” or “yarn holders.”
If you work with yarn, you’ve probably dealt with a rebellious ball bouncing across the floor, falling off the table, collecting pet hair, or unraveling when pulling tension. A yarn bowl keeps your yarn clean, contained, and feeding smoothly so you can say goodbye to yarn chaos!
What's the Difference Between a Yarn Bowl and a Regular Bowl?
Yarn bowls have this neat little swirl at the top that goes along the side. It’s there to hold your yarn while you’re working on your project. Some yarn bowls even have a hole or two for extra security. You can use either option to keep your yarn in place, but this is the main difference between a yarn bowl and a regular bowl.
If you were to put your yarn in a regular bowl, the ball of yarn would just bounce around and probably fall out. That’s because the yarn gets pulled along the top of the bowl. But with a yarn bowl, the yarn comes out through the side, keeping the ball of yarn nice and contained.
Furthermore, the bowl is typically wider at the bottom than it is at the top to help keep the yarn towards the bottom of the bowl.
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Daniela Kretchmer
Daniela is a lifelong crafter who loves to share her passion for crafting. Through classes or learning on her own, she likes to say she'll do pretty much any craft aside from scrapbooking. Her current personal obsessions include garden crafts, felting, and spinning yarn.
