Using Up Your Yarn Stash
Ideas for Ways to Use the Yarn in Your Stash
All knitters and crocheters have a stash of yarn – the only difference between them is one of scale.
Some have cupboards bursting because they buy yarn when the price is reduced and it’s too much of a bargain to resist. Others simply have their leftovers; the odd balls and half-balls that weren’t quite needed to complete a project.
However you came by your stash, and whatever its size, every now and again it’s useful to work on one or two projects to use it up and prevent it from taking over your home.
Small projects
These are perfect for quick completion, and can help you show your generous side.
Hats/gloves/scarves – Start knitting early for Christmas, and your gifts can cost you nothing except your time. These are great for using up one or two skeins of yarn.
Baby clothes – Again, these are good for using up small amounts of yarn, and don’t have to be in pastel colours; babies (and their parents) love brights too. Natural fibres are best for baby clothes.
Household items – Leftover cotton can be used for dishcloths. Textured yarns make great cushion covers, and pretty oddments can be used for very small items, such as napkin rings. The good old-fashioned tea cosy uses only a ball or two of yarn, but can make a very welcome gift.
Charity knits – if you run out of friends and family to give these small items to, then your local charity shop will always be glad of them, and your work can contribute to a good cause. Ideas for charity knitting can be found here.
Medium projects
Clothing - Combine elements of your stash to create interesting and original garments. Ensure that the yarns are all of the same type, thickness and weight (unless you’re using their difference as a design feature) and then make your favourite sweater. Blocks of colour work well, as do stripes. If you find that you are over-run with (for example) double knitting yarn in various shades of blue, then use the darkest at the bottom, and work your way up getting lighter as you go, to give your garment a “dip-dyed” effect.
Large projects
Throws, Afghans and Blankets – These are the best stash-eaters. You can try out new stitch patterns and techniques as you construct your squares (or other shapes). If you find that your blocks come to slightly different sizes, simply knit or crochet small “filler” panels to put into the gaps, creating an extra dimension to your design. Then just sew or crochet the blocks together and snuggle up under them on a cold winter’s evening, while you plan your next trip to the yarn store.
So, no matter how much yarn you have, there is always something that can be done with it. Either make a new item to a classic, well-loved pattern, or search for something new to make. Sites such as Knitting pattern central and Crochet pattern central are full of free patterns and ideas for eating into your yarn stash.
