One of the things I love most about crochet is that it is an extremely versatile craft. Using small steel hooks and very fine thread, it is possible to make items that mimic lace — and for some people, doilies are the definition of crochet — or, using much larger hooks and bulkier yarn, it is possible to craft a throw rug from discarded clothes.

One of my favorite home projects has been making shelf liners. I despise the adhesive paper used to line shelves. I never get it on exactly straight in the initial application and, as a result, have annoying bumps that never get smoothed out. If by some chance I inadvertently install the paper properly, it eventually gets dirty and needs to be pulled out leaving a sticky residue behind.

While non-adhesive shelf liners don’t have the gluey disadvantages of their adhesive counterparts, I seem to have a singular talent for not cutting the liner exactly to size, and while, these liners are easier to clean and not quite as awful as the adhesive shelf liner paper, I have found that crocheted shelf liners are vastly superior.

If you want to make your own shelf liners, I recommend a worsted weight acrylic yarn, like Red Heart Super Saver, Caron Simply Soft, or Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice as the yarns are easily washed and comes in a wide array of colors. Depending on the stitch and yarn you use, a 4.00 mm to 5.00 mm. hook should do the trick. It can also be helpful to make a paper template of the shelf or drawer in question so that you can measure the piece you are making against the template as you work. Shelf lining projects are also a good place to perfect new crochet stitches and techniques.

Here are some of the liners I have made for my kitchen drawers and shelves: