Stop Tossing Paper Towel Tubes: Use Yarn To Make Colorful Office Storage

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Paper towel rolls are one of those household items we rarely give a second thought to until we run out. Yet there are so many overlooked ways to use paper towels at home, and the cardboard tube that holds the paper can be just as useful. Case in point: YouTuber Merry Craft shared a great and creative way to upcycle a paper towel tube into a stylish storage container for your office desk or shelf to keep your desk more organized and clutter-free.

To make it, she uses a hot glue gun to decorate the paper towel tube with a classic basket-weave technique, also known as the over-under technique. With that said, if you've never woven anything or crocheted before, be ready for a light challenge with this project. It's only a few steps, but it will require some delicate finger work and precision. Overall, this DIY is one that's definitely worth the effort, though, especially if you've been looking for a creative, easy way to add storage to your home office without spending much money.

To try it out, you'll also need a 5-by-5-inch piece of cardboard, which will serve as the base for the container. For the yarn, wool or acrylic yarn can be found at craft stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby, or online at Amazon, like this 12-color Red Heart Craft Kit, which is regularly priced at $21.99 — the demonstrator uses four colors. If you don't have a hot glue gun, you can get a mini one for this DIY. For example, this Arrow mini glue gun from The Home Depot is $6.97.

Start with a clean, dry paper towel tube, and use scissors to cut it to about 5 inches long, or about the size of a toilet paper roll tube. This size will give you a compact container that's still tall enough to hold pens, highlighters, and other everyday desk tools upright. The next step is to add your base; simply place a line of glue along the bottom of the tube and then attach the cardboard piece. 

Once the glue dries, use your scissors to trim away the excess cardboard so the base sits flush with the tube. Next, measure and cut roughly 36 pieces of yarn (either all one color or it could be like the craft, which uses three colors, so 12 pieces each), each the length of the tube plus 1 inch. Flip the tube upside down and then, grouping three strands of yarn together, hot glue them around the top of the base, roughly an inch from the edges. Repeat this around the rim in evenly spaced clusters until you've covered the entire top edge. Now, create your cross thread by cutting four new yarn pieces (note, this can be a different color to create a pattern) that are each about 11 inches long. 

Secure the ends of these new threads to the top side of the base with glue and begin weaving them horizontally around the tube, going over a group of three yarn pieces at a time, then under the next three pieces, in a basket-weave pattern. Once you reach your starting point, cut the excess threads and add a bead of glue to secure it. Repeat this process as you work your way down to the bottom of the tube. Wrap things up by tying a a bow around the tube, then toss in your desktop essentials for storage.

As great as this hack looks, it is not entirely without its downsides. The biggest thing to take into account is the durability of the holder. If you're using the storage container every day, the hot glue may not hold up over time. And though the wound yarn will definitely help, it still may be worth either adding extra glue or creating the base out of at least two or three pieces of cardboard.

This design will also have weight limits, given that the paper towel tube itself isn't the sturdiest storage item; it's better suited for lightweight items like pens and pencils, not necessarily scissors or hole punchers. And of course, you'll want to keep it away from any moisture, such as drinks with condensation.

On to the upgrades; one of the simplest is to the pattern. For example, instead of going with the over-and-under technique, consider stacking solid horizontal bands of color — like stripes on a flag — for a more modern, chic look. This pattern will also be much easier to create. Also, as noted, with one 11-inch tube, you can make two storage containers; consider DIYing multiple containers in different colors (or with labels) to create a coordinated organization system for your office desk.