Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Giveaway: Under 100 Knit Collection

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under 100 knit collection

Congratulations, Rita Z!

Everyone had such a great response to the yarn leftovers post the other day (thanks for that, really!) that we thought it would be fun to revisit a leftovers-using book that was also really popular the last time we gave it away.

The Under 100 Knit Collection from Knit Picks is a great group of 30 projects, all of which use 100 grams of yarn or less. There are accessories, cowls, projects for the hands and feet, hats and neckwear, and they are great for using up that one special ball — or bits of a few balls — that you have lying around.

The book itself is really pretty and well-done, the projects are lovely and you’re sure to find something here that you want to knit, or at the very least get your wheels turning about doing some serious stash-using, one little ball at a time.

I would swear that I still have a paper copy of this one lying around somewhere, but I can’t for the life of me find it, so the winner will get her or his choice of a paper copy or the PDF edition. (I’d say this will mean delivery will take a little longer than normal, but as anyone who’s won anything knows, it always takes a long time. I’m going to try to catch up this week, I promise.)

If you’d like a chance to win, leave a comment on this post before the end of the day Sunday, March 29, telling me about the one ball of yarn in your stash you’d most like to use. I have a ton of them but right now I’ve got my eye on a Knit Picks Palette in Rouge (think lipstick pink) that I think I’ll be needing to cast on really soon.

Thanks for visiting, commenting and sharing, and good luck!

Comments

  1. I’ve got a ball of recycled silk that is orangey in colour & looks so pretty in the skein that I’m reluctant to use it ..but I must, as that is why I bought it, to use it!

  2. That book is just what I was looking for. I have a mohair blend that wants to made into something but it is just over 100 yards.

  4. I have almost 2 full skeins of 2 different colors of a baby yarn, Bernat’s sweet stripes, that I don’t think they make anymore. I knitted a sweater and pants set originally and way over estimated the amount. Love to find a way to use it as it is very pretty.

  5. I have a ball that is hand dyed and I honestly can’t remember what it’s made of right now but it’s the one I want to use most and would love to win this book. Thanks.

  8. I stumbled upon the Yarnover Truck in Pasadena one day and couldn’t resist buying two HEAVILY DISCOUNTED 50g skeins of Ewe Ewe superwash merino yarn. Spring break is almost over and I still haven’t decided what to make with this beautiful yarn!

  9. I have this beautiful little ball of silk that I fell in love with and bought about a year ago… It’s so tiny though, i’ve never been sure of what to do with it. I’d love to knit that 🙂

  10. I have a very pretty skein of blue acrylic worsted. Not terribly much yardage, so needs a small project. Can’t wait to see what it ends up being.

  11. Hi there, have a few babies coming for some coworkers so I think I will break out the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino for something sweet.

  12. I have a few skeins (in different colors, of course) of a Knit Picks sock yarn (I want to say Stroll, but I’d have to check) for which I’d like to find projects. I made one pair of socks & I’m done with them! 🙂

  14. l have some blue hand dyed yarn that l don’t know what to do with, this book looks absolutely fabulous, just what l need for this and many other of the leftover yarns l have! l would love this Under 100 knit collection book.

  15. Hi. A friend brought me a ball of beautiful tweed from England. It is a ball of 50 gr in pale blue and I don’t know what to knit. Hope to win this book. Thanks

  16. My kiwi Zealana yarn in Sunshine because I love yellows and especially that yarn name 🙂

  17. I have one ball of KAUNI in rainbow color that I’ve always wanted to turn into one colorful shawl or scarf… Has been my “next project” for over a year now 🙂

  18. I have a gorgeous gradient skein in shades of grey and blue that I would love to find a use for……and I’m always collecting odds and ends of yarn!

  19. I have a bunch of half-skeins and quarter skeins of sock yarn that are leftover that want to get used up.. I imagine I *could* make baby or kid socks…

  20. I have some really pretty spring green I’d like to use in something. Help me choose!

  21. I have several odds and ends that need using but I do have a single skin of Ella Rae lace merino that I have no clue what to do with. I’m real interested in the patterns in the Under 100 book – I bet I could find something good in there to use up my singles.

  22. I have a skein of baby alpaca & silk I spun up in a fingering weight 3 ply, and dyed a nice dusty rose color. I have been trying to find a nice small project for it…bet there is one in this book that would be perfect!

  23. I like in a small town. I have no LYS, and I’m stiff when it comes to buying online.
    Last summer, I took a trip into the city to visit my older sister. She took me to an absolutely lovely yarn store, where I purchased two skeins of superwash merino in a gorgeous blue color.
    After half a year, I finally stopped being afraid of messing up, and used one full ball and a small portion of the other (to make mittens and a hat), but I have no idea what to do with the remaining yarn.

  25. I would love to win this book! I have some lovely bits of 100% cotton in lavender that I’d love to find a great small project for, and since I’m still a new knitter I’m always looking for a bit of instant gratification. The sense of accomplishment keeps the desire to learn new skills from waning!

  26. I have one ball of KnitPicks Stroll Lullaby Hand-Painted that is just calling for me to use – would love to win the book & use it!

  27. I have a skein of Knitpicks Felici “Blackberry Jam” that i want to make ME a pr of fingerless mitts with.

  28. I have a lot of fingering weight sock yarn. I want to design a pair of really crazy socks.

  29. I’d love to get around to knitting myself a pair of socks! I have a beautiful knitMona skein I think would be great to use!

  31. I have many, but a special one is a skein of Tao by Colinette. It was given to me by a dear friend some years ago, and I’ve yet to find the perfect project for it.

  32. I have some palette yarn in cosmopolitan that I’d love to turn into an accessory to add a pop of color to outfits. 😀

  33. I’ve been following the knit picks dishcloths patterns…and just bought my first skein of dishcloth cotton to make my first one……so many patterns to choose…but I’m sure there’s one for a beginner dishclother……..

  35. I have lots of singles, but there’s a dark green/gray sock yarn that came from a swap. It’s calling my name!

  37. Ooh, there’s a lovely skein of Knit Picks Shadow Lace in Garnet Heather that I’ve been hanging onto waiting for the perfect project! It’s great and while I’d love to whip it out and use it immediately, I’m waiting for that one special project to cast on it. Y’know what the say, the longer the waiting, the sweeter the knit! [Or kiss… but I prefer knit 😉 ]

  38. I’ve got a ball of sugarcane I’d like to make a cowl or something with. 🙂 winning the book would be a great birthday gift (the 29th)

  40. I have a skein of blue-faced leicester, and another of cormo, that need a special pattern to display their loveliness.

  42. I would like to use the skein of wool worsted in a magenta color that I have leftover.

  45. I have lots of single skeins of some of my favorite indy dyers. I’d love to use some of these patterns for some of my Plucky Knitter Primo Fingering and Worsted. I also have 2 really gorgeous Wollmeise Pure skeins – one a blue-purple and the other a red-purple that are waiting for the right pattern.

  46. I have a beautiful skein of Phydeaux yarn, DK weight, that I got for Christmas that I really need to knit! It’s variegated blues and greens.

  47. I recently used up a lot of scrap yarn making hats for a homeless shelter so I don’t really have aNY today. However, I would love to get some more ideas. I have a thing against having a lot of small balls of yarn

  49. I am always looking for ways to use smaller skeins of yarn, I have so many beautiful yarns that are under 100 grams (most of it from Knit Picks my favorite place to shop online) that a book like this would probably help me get them off the shelves and onto the needles.

  50. I have a drawer full of yarn this book would be great for — then I can buy more yarn…

Have you read?

10 Knitted Christmas Bauble Patterns for a Tree Full of Handmade Charm

There’s always room for one more Christmas decoration, especially when it uses yarn you already own. That’s my reasoning, anyway. Those little leftover balls that aren’t quite enough for a hat suddenly look much more promising when you start thinking about knitted baubles.

I love the idea of adding a few handmade ornaments to the tree each year. They don’t all have to match, either. A traditional colourwork ball beside a slightly cheeky Christmas pudding feels far more interesting than a tree where everything arrived in the same box.

These knitted Christmas bauble patterns include flat-knit designs, festive characters and detailed colourwork ornaments. Most are free, with a paid collection included for anyone who wants plenty of designs to work through. Some suit newer knitters; others are small projects for practising skills you already know.

Christmas Baubles Knitted Flat

The free Christmas Baubles—Knit Flat pattern from Tat’sgrans Treasures is worth a look if knitting tiny rounds doesn’t appeal. It includes three sizes and charted words such as Peace, Hope, Love and Joy, worked using intarsia. The flat construction is approachable, although the lettering adds a challenge beyond basic stocking stitch. I’d choose this for meaningful gift ornaments, particularly when one of those words suits the person receiving it.

Christmas Pudding Bauble

The free Christmas Pudding Bauble by Amanda Berry has all the appeal of a festive pudding without anyone debating whether they actually like eating it. Knitted flat in DK yarn, it combines shaping, colourwork and seaming, with a little holly topper to finish. It’s best for confident beginners with some experience rather than someone learning their first knit stitch. At approximately 6 cm tall, it would make a lovely tree decoration or an extra treat tied onto a wrapped present.

Rudolf & Friends Character Baubles

The free Rudolf & Friends Ornaments by Claire Fairall bring a playful touch to a handmade Christmas tree. These character baubles are knitted flat, and the instructions include illustrations for assembly and embroidery. Hobbii lists the pattern as suitable for beginners, making it a useful option for knitters who would rather practise finishing details than stranded colourwork. The finished ornaments measure approximately 8 × 6 cm and would also look cheerful tucked into a handmade wreath.

Cute Christmas Baubles With Little Faces

The free Cute Christmas Baubles from Marianna’s Lazy Daisy Days turn small amounts of DK yarn into cheerful character decorations. Worked flat and seamed, they use simple shaping, stuffing and added facial details to create their personality. They suit knitters comfortable with knit, purl, increases and decreases who enjoy a little assembly afterwards. I rather like Marianna’s idea of using them on the Christmas dinner table before adding hanging loops for the tree.

Rudolph’s Nose Christmas Bauble

The free Rudolph’s Nose Bauble from DROPS Design is a useful choice when you want a traditional ball-shaped ornament. Designed in DROPS Flora, it uses knitting in the round with increases and decreases to create the shape. Choose this if you’re comfortable handling a small circumference and want a project focused on construction. I’d make a few in coordinating colours to bring a little consistency to an otherwise wonderfully mismatched handmade tree.

Merry Mints Bauble

The free Merry Mints Bauble from DROPS Design offers another festive option, this time designed in DROPS Cotton Merino. The instructions include working back-and-forth rows and shaping, so it’s worth considering if you prefer that approach to tiny rounds. Read through the construction before starting and pay attention to the instructions for working yarn overs to avoid unwanted holes. This would be a nice project for a knitter who enjoys seeing a shaped decoration emerge from a small piece of knitting.

Caorann Fair Isle Christmas Bauble

The free Caorann Christmas Bauble by Sarah Berry brings delicate Fair Isle detail to a small ornament. It uses fingering-weight yarn and 2.5 mm needles, with instructions sized for an approximately 60 mm bauble insert. Worked in the round, the design includes both written and charted directions for its repeated segments. I’d save this one for knitters with some colourwork experience who want to make a particularly special keepsake.

A Dated 2026 Christmas Bauble

The free 2026 Christmas Bauble by Smaatterier combines the year with two traditional Selbu rose motifs. It’s knitted in the round using stranded colourwork across the middle, with either fibre filling or a suitably sized plastic bauble inside. The charted design is listed as intermediate and finishes at approximately 6.5 cm tall. This is a lovely choice for marking a first Christmas in a new home, a family milestone or simply another year of making things by hand.

Colourful Christmas Balls From Two Strands

The free Christmas Balls by Mary Ann Stephens are full of colourwork detail, with optional touches such as duplicate stitch and nupps. The designer also discusses I-cord hanging loops, which give the ornaments a pleasingly substantial finish. These are better suited to knitters comfortable following charts and managing several colours than complete beginners. Follow the updated download directions in the post to find the patterns on the designer’s current website.

ARNE & CARLOS Christmas Ball Collection

The paid Twenty-four Christmas Balls 2024 collection by ARNE & CARLOS includes a basic ball pattern and 24 different motif charts. The ornaments are worked in the round using stranded colourwork, with a linked tutorial to help you follow the process. Although the designer lists the collection as beginner level, I’d be comfortable knitting in the round and making increases and decreases before starting. This is the pick for someone who wants a whole collection of coordinated ornaments rather than just one small project.

Choosing Yarn for Knitted Baubles

Small decorations are tempting stash projects, but check the yarn weight before diving into that leftover basket. A thicker yarn can make a much larger bauble, while changing the yarn in a fitted cover may stop it fitting the recommended insert.

For colourwork, choose shades with enough contrast for the motif to show. Two lovely colours can look surprisingly similar once they’re knitted together, especially on something this small.

Smooth yarn also makes it easier to see your stitches. Save the fluffy, sparkly and slightly mysterious leftovers for a pattern where you’re confident they’ll work.

Getting a Nicely Rounded Finish

If your pattern uses stuffing, add it gradually and spread it evenly. You’re aiming for a rounded ornament without stretching the stitches so far apart that the filling shows through. For designs worked over an insert, check the diameter and follow the instructions for when to put it inside.

Give the finishing a little time, too. A neat seam, securely woven ends and a tidy hanging loop help a small decoration feel properly finished.

I’d start with a pair for the tree and one to give away. Of course, once you’ve laid out all those yarn colours, “just three” may become a rather flexible arrangement.