Get a Jump on Stash Busting with the Cecilia Collection

I like stash busting all the time, but I especially seem to think about stash busting at the beginning of a new year. Using what you have is a great new year’s resolution, and a great habit to keep throughout the year.

If you’re ready to be inspired to use every little bit of leftover yarn you’ve got in your house, allow me to introduce you to Audrey Borrego and her Cecilia collection.

These five patterns — for a cowl, scarf, mitts, hat and socks — are all free on Ravelry and all use fingering weight yarn, so they’re perfect for using up the leftovers from your knit socks and shawls. (You could also do the scarf and cowl with heavier yarn if that’s where your leftovers are.)

I first saw the Cecilia Cowl (pattern on Ravelry here) and fell in love with how colorful and fun it is. Each section of the pattern is worked in different colors so you can use all your little bits (or odd balls you don’t want to make into socks) on one project. Or you can use two colors throughout. It’s also fun that it has a twist built in, though I think that could be optional.

You can also make the pattern twice the length by repeating all the patterns. Colorwork is charted and only uses two colors per round.

But then I realized there was a whole set of patterns and that got me even more excited. Because maybe you don’t need another cowl (raises hand) but you can talk yourself into another scarf (pattern here). This one is a tube scarf worked in the round, and again you can use two or many colors.

Or if you don’t have as many odd balls to go through as I do, or you just want a smaller project, you can try the hat, mitts or socks. The hat is shown using four colors, while the mitts use three and the socks just two, though of course you can add more if you like.

You can mix and match the designs among the projects so you make a set that’s more matchy if you want, or go wild with a bunch of different patterns and colors.

You can find all the patterns on Ravelry linked above.

[Photos: Audrey Borrego]

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

Have you read?