Another Way to Use Up All Your Sock Yarn Scraps

I feel like I’ve been writing a lot lately about projects that are made to use up all your scraps, or that could be adapted to use scraps, because they call for mini skeins and the like.

I have been saying this for years, but I really am trying to use as much of my stash as I can, for economic purposes as much as I just like the idea of using what I have. I like the creative challenge of making a project work with the yarn I already have on hand.

If you happen to have a lot of odd balls in the sock/fingering weight category that at least somewhat coordinate in colors, the All Used Up Shawl might be just the project you need to clear out your stash.

This pattern, designed by Julia-Maria Hegenbart, uses two strands of yarn held together to make a DK weight. Change colors whenever you need to in order to use up all your yarn bits.

The body of the shawl is worked in garter stitch with a deep edging that uses slipped stitches for dramatic effect. It’s an asymmetrical triangle and you can make it any size you like to use whatever scraps you need.

In addition to the shawl itself, you can get a pattern for a coordinating shawl cuff free with the purchase of the shawl pattern, which is available on Ravelry.

This pattern looks so squishy and easy and like it would use a lot of yarn.

This is one where you should definitely look through the finished projects on Ravelry as you are deciding how you want to approach this one. I love the tonal quality of the original, but there are others that use more solid stripes, color blocking, a couple of colors throughout or a wild mix that truly looks like using up oddballs. And they all look great! What kind of magic is that?

[Photo: Julia-Maria Hegenbart]

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You probably know by now if you’re a regular reader (and if you’re not, welcome!) that I love a knitting pattern that’s a little silly or a little different from the usual. Classic patterns are great, too, but sometimes you just want to make something with a bit of whimsy. And when it’s super functional, too, that’s even better.

That’s the case with the Bananen-Socken pattern from Susanne Shahin. These banana socks are one of those patterns no one seems to be totally sure where it came from, and this free pattern on Ravelry explains how she makes them based on how she learned it.

It’s a sock that’s curved and when not on a foot it looks rather like a banana. There’s no heel, and you can use whatever number of stitches you need to make it fit your foot. If you’ve knit enough socks to know how many stitches you like you can just use that number, or the pattern notes include sizing charts to help. (It needs to be multiples of 2 for the ribbing.)

After working a traditional cuff, the body is made with ribbing on the back and welts (or what the pattern calls horizontal ribbing) on the front, which is what gives it the curved shape. There’s no heel, but there is toe shaping, but for the leg and the foot you just keep working the same pattern as long as you like.

I’m a little skeptical about how these socks will feel with ribbing on the bottom of the foot, but I’m definitely intrigued and will probably give them a try.

The pattern notes are available on Ravelry in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish. If you head to the pattern page you can see a photo of what it looks like on a foot, and it just looks like a normal sock.

Have you ever knit banana socks or do you want to now? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

[Photo: Susanne Shahin]

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