How to Reuse Ripped Out Yarn

I think every knitter form time to time starts a project (and maybe even finishes a project) only to determine it’s just not right. Maybe the garment doesn’t fit, or you don’t like it as much as you thought you would, or you just are sure you’re never going to finish knitting it.

It totally happens, but if you still like the yarn, how can you reuse it?

I will admit to having ripped out projects and immediately (or some time later) knitting with the yarn again while it’s still all wavy from having been knit before. But I also know that’s not the best way to do it.

Yarn gets wavy because it’s held under tension in the knit fabric, and that funky fiber might make the project you want to knit with it look a little weird. It might change your tension or make the stitches wavy in a way that’s not super attractive. Some people find it harder to knit with the second time around, too.

The good new is, while it’s not a quick process, it’s pretty easy to reset the yarn so it’s like new when you want to knit with it again. I found this post from My Crochetory that explains how to do it.

It’s basically working backwards by turning the yarn back into a hank (or into a hank for the first time) and then relaxing the fibers by washing and drying them. The most important thing is to make sure you do this gently so you don’t felt the yarn to itself if you’re working with natural fibers.

She’s got lots of great tips and illustrations of the process over there, so be sure to check it out for all the details.

Have you ever knit with reused yarn? Do you do this process or just knit with the yarn as is? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

[Photo: My Crochetory.]

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

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