Three Knitting projects to tackle your yarn stash

Let’s face it, knitting takes balls, if you're a knitter, you’ve got a stash. No, not the trendy kind like a beard or a pile of hidden chocolate—I'm talking about your out-of-control, leftover yarn stash. Those bits and bobs of yarn you swore you'd use up someday? Yeah, it's time to face the pile of fiber shame and actually do something with it. Don’t worry, we've got your back with some fun (and slightly ridiculous) projects that’ll help you turn those stray skeins into something *marginally* useful - or heck, at least a handmade Christmas present for a second cousin. 

 

1.  The Never-Ending Scrap Blanket

Got a mess of random yarn? Just knit a blanket and call it a day. No one’s going to notice that one stripe is wool and the next is acrylic... or that the colors clash in ways that could be considered offensive. They’ll just be impressed if you finish the thing.

Project Ideas:

• Granny Stripe Blanket: Go wild—just knit stripes until you run out of yarn. There’s no logic here, just the thrill of using up whatever’s in your stash.
• Mitered Square Blanket: Little squares of random colors, stitched together into something vaguely blanket-shaped. It’ll be quirky, let’s put it that way.

This project can take approximately a lifetime, but at least you’ll feel productive. Perfect for those of us who collect yarn like we’re preparing for the apocalypse.

Need some inspiration?

We are really feeling this 'Scrappiest Happiest Knit Blanket' from Momma in a Stitch.   It uses worsted weight yarn in seven different colors, so its sure to use up a good bit of your yarn hoard. 

 

2.  The ‘I Don’t Have Time for This’ Striped Scarf

Scarves: the ultimate “I need something easy, but I also don’t want to think about it” project. Striped scarves are like the junk drawer of knitting—you throw all your leftover yarn into them, and somehow it just works.

Project Ideas:

• Garter Stitch Scarf: You knit a row, you change color, repeat until you can’t stand it anymore. Boom—instant scarf.
• Tube Cowl: Knit in the round so you don’t have to deal with ugly edges or color changes. It’s a big tube. What more do you need?

This is the kind of project you finish when you’re watching TV and not paying attention (but you are wearing your 'Too Much Yarn -Said No One Ever' sweatshirt). 

Yarn Suggestions: Scrap yarn, leftover yarn, yarn you forgot you bought and has been sitting in your car trunk for three months, It all works. Just throw it together and call it art.

Need some inspiration?

You can find some awesome free pattens on Ravely.  One such patten is this 'You Pick Two' cowl pattern by Eleni Johnson, which will use up two skeins, so you can stop feeling guilty about whatever it is you originally bought that yarn for. 

 

3. Patchwork Pillow: Because You Definitely Need More Throw Pillows

You probably have too many pillows already, but here’s the thing—you also have too much yarn. We can only solve one of these problems today.  Go ahead and knit a patchwork pillow; you’ll have another pillow to throw on the couch, and you’ll use up that embarrassing amount of yarn that’s been collecting dust.

Project Ideas:

• Knit Squares Pillow: Knit random squares and stitch them together. Bonus points if it doesn’t actually match anything in your house.
• Striped Pillow: If you’re feeling fancy, make the whole pillow cover in one piece. Or just knit it in strips. No judgment here.

This is a project where no one can tell if you did it wrong. It’s a pillow, not a PhD dissertation.  (Speaking of PhDs' our Crafty PHD: Projects Half Done T-Shirt would be the perfect pairing for an lazy fall afternoon of knitting). 

Yarn Suggestions: Whatever you have. Don’t overthink it—it’s literally just going to sit on the couch.

Need some inspiration?

This Scrappy Pillow with Tassels over on the Joann's website is so cute and uses ten different colors so it's a real stash buster. 

 

Time to wrap this up...

You've got work to do. From scrappy blankets to quirky pillows, there’s no shortage of ways to clear out those leftover skeins and scraps. Sure, some projects might end up a little...'weird', but that’s the fun of it. Now, grab that yarn mountain and start knitting. You’ve got plenty of projects to tackle—and no, buying more yarn before finishing your stash is *not* an option. Well, unless it’s on sale. Then we’ll talk.