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

  2. I have a luscious skein of Fiesta’s La Boheme “Starburst” that is crying out to me to use in a summer weight shawl for that special event. Think I’d better start looking for the perfect pattern. Maybe it’s in “Under 100 Knit Collection.”

  3. I have a single ball of Silky Alpaca Lace from Classic Elite Yarns. Is red ( I think the color is called Garnet) and beautiful. 440 yards. This time I want to make a chic shawlette for me.

  5. My first Three Irish Girls yarn purchase! A gorgeous skein of Irish Sea – needs a special project! Thanks for the opportunity! Adrienne

  6. I have a ball of Knit Picks Chroma Fingering weight that I’d like to use for one of the projects in this book.

  7. I have piece of woven silk tussah suiting that unravels to a beautiful, lustrous worsted weight yarn (variegated cocoa). I’ve been unravelling it bit by bit (in case I decide to sew something with it) but it’s so wonderful to knit with, I may just scavenge it all for yarn. 🙂

    I came up with this idea a couple of years ago when I made a fringed blanket for my aunt from a piece I had in another colour way (variegated butterscotch). The strands were so beautiful, I couldn’t even think of discarding them. I finally knotted and balled the pieces. I’ve been knitting a narrow version of Summit (from Knitty), but i ran short so I need to a) settle for a shortened scarf, b) frog and start a narrower one, or c) find another pattern. Maybe this book could inspire me further. Thanks!

  9. I have a skein of mustard yellow woolen spun yarn from Keene Farms in New Hampshire that I’d love to use for a warm winter accessory.

  10. Haha I can’t even tell you how many minis and single balls of palette I have. A book like this would be a lifesaver.

  11. I have all types of leftover yarn that I generally make chemo caps with. I would love to use some gorgeous pink and purple variegated yarn to make other things to donate.

  12. I am a production hand knit sock knitter. I average 6 dozen pairs a year for the past 5 years. Towards December, when I have completed my “requirement for the year” I will make a couple of pairs of socks for me. I have about 75 grams left of an annoymous yarn (could be on-line) that I have used with another yarn to make a perfect pair of sock. I have been holding on to the remainder of the yarn to make another perfect pair of socks. The colour is no longer available. ‘

  13. The yarn I would most like to find a use for is a skein of dk merino wool yarn from knit picks that is left over from when I made a sweater for my husband (first sweater ever made)!

  14. I have about 25 yards of a discontinued, multi-colored novelty yarn, one that’s nubby but not fuzzy. I’ve thought about making small flowers, but am open to other ideas too.

  15. I want to finally use the ball of chroma worsted i have in lollipop. It is my happy yarn, something I hold on a gloomy day, but I’d rather wear it! <3

  16. I have a few skeins of Knit Picks Palette in Sky I’ve got my eye on. I’ve never really knit with blue before. I need to give it a go.

  17. I don’t have just one left over ball to use – I have a whole BASKET of small skeins that I won in the Rose City Yarn crawl. All weights, lots of different colors, and NOTHING goes together…

  19. I gave up knitting due to arthritis and gave away all my books etc, am now going to have another go, I know I can beat this dirty disease but need to build up by book stash

  20. I’ve got some wool fingering in plum that I was given from a local farm that I need to make into something special.

  23. I would love to win this for my grandma! She has a stash that I know she has been wanting to bust. I even have some very pretty multicolors I would love to let her use.

  24. I have a ball of Knit Picks Bare Stroll Sport that a friend hand-dyed; I’d love to find something special to do with it!

  25. I would love to use up any of my large collection of partial skeins of lamb’s pride bulky! Already have a collection of several felted knitting bags.

  26. I have a skein of Stroll sock yarn in tonal aqua (Frozen) that I’d love to find a suitable project for!

  27. I have a skein of alpaca with beads spun in that I got in Colorado. So lush just waiting for the right small project!!

  28. I’ve got a teeny ball of handspun leftover from a Big Bang Theory spin-a-long in Leonard that definitely needs its own project 🙂

  31. I have a spectrum of lace weight hand-dyed skeins that I’m dying to tear into. I bought them because I love rainbows, but I haven’t yet found a good enough project for them.

  32. I have a beautiful denim-colored sock yarn that I would love to use. I just can’t let it go to waste.

  35. I have 2 hanks from Skeino in beautiful blues and greens that I want to use. I just can’t decide what they should be.

  36. I have lots of leftover Palette yarn – I’d love to find some fun projects to be able to use it up.

  37. I have some Knit Picks Hawthorne Sport- Vancouver and I really want to use it because it such a pretty color. But i want to save it for a special project, since right now I am a beginner knitter.

  38. I’ve got a Huckleberry Knits MCN light fingering in lovely purples that I’m trying to find the ideal shawl/cowl pattern for.

  39. Awhile back I won a skein of yarn made out of corn. I would love to find a special project to use it up!

  40. I have a skein of Cascade 220 in a lovely dark orange that I am looking forward to knitting. It’s been a very painful year. Our baby boy died unexpectedly at 10 days of age. I have found knitting to be therapeutic for me. Also, it’s my birthday today! I love cleaning up bits of yarn in creative ways and I would love to win this 🙂

  43. I have 2 skeins of hand spun alpaca from Maine. One is camel and one is a rich dark brown brown.

  44. I’ve got a skein of Noro Silk Garden that’s been in my stash forever – I’d love to find a small project to use it up.

  46. I have a wide assortment of mystery yarns my mother passed on to me – I don’t even know what half of them are, but there are some soft, fuzzy kinds that I want to use up.

  47. I have several balls of Spud and Chloe sock yarn and some Aracauna linen. I have been hanging on to them for a special project that has yet to be found. Trish King Fayetteville Arkansas

  49. Just one ball? I know the black withhold thread hand spun alpaca from a fiber fest really needs to be knit. That’s one!

  50. I have some lovely light green bamboo yard I’m wanting to knit up in something cute for one of my grandkids.

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.