Knitting

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Bust Your Stash in the New Year

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striped dog stash busting knitting patternsOne of my perpetual New Year’s resolutions has to do with winnowing down my yarn stash, both through getting rid of things that I don’t love or can’t imagine actually using, and through actually knitting with the yarn that I have.

Stash-busting projects are great because they allow you to use a lot of yarn — often a lot of yarn you might only have one ball of, or a partial ball, or a mini skein — in a project that still ends up looking harmonious and planned.

I have two stash-busting blankets on the needles (they’re kind of perpetual projects, too), but these ultimate stash-busting projects collected by Love Knitting are pretty great, too.

That dog! The cowl! The hat and pillows that could be worked in even more/crazier stripes. This is a great list.

Have any favorite stash-busting projects? I’d love to hear about them!

[Photo: Penny Connor via Love Knitting.]

Looking to buy your Yarn online? Check out these online yarn specials.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Check out these books dedicated to Knitted Cowl Patterns still looking for more cowl patterns? Check these out on Etsy.

Comments

  2. I really like to save old pillows and use up those small amounts of yarn to make striped (or patterned pillows for throw pillows on the couch or just load up the bed with them. When I buy new bed pillows or just get tired of the ones in the living room, I just make new covers with the bits of yarn that have accumulated. Of course they look great with granny squares too, but those multi-colored stripes are hard to resist.

Have you read?

Knit a Sweet Blanket with a Pocket for Treasures

When my daughter was in early elementary school we were at Joann together (RIP) and she picked out some variegated pink and white blanket yarn for me to knit a blanket for her bed. Now probably 10 years later, it’s one of her favorite possessions. I note this because the blankets we give to little ones might seem simple on the surface, like something they need to keep warm, but they can turn into so much more. 

Take the Pocketful of Love Blanket from Purl Soho. On the surface this is a pretty but also easy to knit blanket for a little one. It’s worked in garter stitch stripes using sport weight yarn (the sample is a superwash wool, but this would also be nice in cotton or a blend) and available in a crib or small throw size. Though of course because it’s garter stitch, it’s pretty easy to make it any size you want. 

But what makes this blanket extra special is the little details. The slip stitch selvedges and I-cord bind off give it a crisp look that’s perfect with the garter stitch of the body. 

And then there’s the pocket. 

This is a big pocket. At 10 inches wide and 12.25 inches tall (that’s 25.4 by 31 cm) for the crib size and 12.75 by 14.25 inches (32.4 by 36 cm) for the throw, you can easily fit a favorite stuffed animal, toy or book into the pocket. 

I love how even though it uses the same striped garter stitch pattern as the blanket, it’s stitched down so the stripes run the opposite way (horizontal when the blanket stripes are vertical), though of course you can match stripes if you’d rather.

I think this blanket has the potential to be greatly loved by the little one its given to, and by the knitter look for an easy, pretty baby blanket with a little extra useful twist. 

Grab the free pattern from Purl Soho. 

[Photo: Purl Soho]