Afghan From Left Over Yarn
Make a beautiful knitted or crocheted throw from nothing
Make an afghan or throw from yarn you have left over from other projects and it's like getting it for free. It's amazingly beautiful and easy to knit or crochet, too.
Any time seems to be the perfect time to start a "left overs" afghan.
This is a project you can work a little at a time, when you need to relax or have a moment to spare. It will use up the odds and ends and bits and pieces of yarn left over from other projects - you won't have to buy new yarn or follow a precise pattern. You can knit or crochet, whichever you prefer. I'll give the instructions for knitting, but crocheters can easily apply this to their craft.
I knitted this the size of a baby afghan, but you might decide to use it as an adult size afghan, or even a bedspread. The idea is simple, and deceivingly beautiful when finished.
Gather up all your left over yarn, the more variety, the better. The yarn doesn't have to be the same weight and many random colors only make it more impressive. You need to make sure the yarn you use takes the same kind of care. Yarn that's machine washable in hot water doesn't work well with yarn that must be hand washed only in cold water, so as you sort through your yarn, choose the type you'll use with care. The charm of this afghan is the variety of color and texture, though, so don't worry about sorting color combinations out. (Of course you can, if you want to!)
You can use worsted weight, sport weight and anything in between, just don't mix very bulky yarn with fingering weight. If you come up short on variety, consider this an ongoing project that you can work on throughout the year. Use up yarn from other projects as you go, or look for someone to trade with or beg from! Don't fall into the trap of buying yarn for it, as the idea is to do it for and from 'nothing'.
First, figure your gauge with the weight of yarn you have the most of. This won't be an exact gauge overall, but it will give you an idea of how many stitches you'll need to cast on for the size of afghan/blanket you'd like to make.
To figure your gauge, knit a swatch about 20 stitches by 20 rows and measure the center 10 stitches. However many stitches will fit inside one inch is your gauge. For instance, if there are 5 stitches in an inch of knitted material, the gauge is 5 st = 1 inch, so if you want the afghan to be forty inches wide, multiply 5 by 40 and you'll have the number of stitches to cast on. For most afghans, this gauge isn't critical, but take the time to find it to avoid surprises later on.
Now the fun begins. Its your choice of garter (knit each row) or stockinette (knit one row, purl one row). (Single crochet works best here) If you knit, be sure to make the first and last 4 or 5 stitches of every row in garter stitch to keep the piece from curling. Each row should be a different yarn. Tie each new piece on the edge with a square knot, leaving at least a three inch tail from each piece. (This will be the fringe when you are finished.)
Simply finish each row, tie another color/type of yarn on, and knit another row. I liked the interest of the quick color changes done in garter stitch, but you may want to experiment. When the afghan gets as big as you want it, simply bind off, and call it good!
Comb or brush the fringed edges and trim evenly. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the look and feel of this afghan.
