Knitting

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Knitting Patterns – Stash-Busting Hats

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Today I thought we’d look at a slightly smaller project than scarves and afghans to focus our stash-busting efforts on: hats. Hats are one accessory that you can make really wild (well, scarves, too, I suppose) and throw lots of different colors together to make something really fun to knit and to wear.

Of course you can throw stripes on any basic hat pattern (I have a kid’s version I did with a bunch of sample balls and an adult’s version done in a particular sequence of stripes) but if you need more visual inspiration here are some more projects to check out. stash busting

Lots of basics on the same theme of using big stripes, often broken up with purl ridges, such as the Stash Hat by Christina McNamee, Casey Braden’s Stash Buster, A Colorful Hat for Baby by Amanda Cathleen Morgan and the Scrap-happy Celebration Hat (also kid sized) by Cosette Cornelius-Bates.

Christy Wasson’s Striped & Slouchy Hat and the Destashification Slouch Hat show how simple stripes work in stockinette, and Melody Lisa’s Scrappy Gnome hat brings pixie pride to any member of the family.

The Slip-Stitch Hat by Renee Rico is offered in three different sizes so you can bust stash for every member of your family.

If you have extra bits of sock yarn and don’t want to use them to knit socks, check out Kelly McClure’s cute Sockhead Hat.

Don’t forget that you can use stash on stranded knitting projects, too, like Sheila MacDonald’s Inga Hat or the Scrappy Gems Fair Isle Hat by Tina Edgar. And then there’s Lee Meredith’s Vortex; originally worked in Noro, it would be lovely as a stash buster, too.

Do you have a favorite stash-busting hat pattern? I’d love it if you’d share! Check out this stash-busting knitting book on Amazon.

Looking for more Knitted Beanie patterns? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

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.

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Comments

  1. Sarah, thanks for these patterns! Just started working on a scrap bustin’ scarf and a hat would make a new ensemble for me!

    This is a really fun series!

Have you read?

Add a Little Lace to Your Knitting Patterns

If you’re new to lace knitting or just aren’t sure how to incorporate the technique into garments, check out these tops and sweaters that use lace as a decorative element.

The easiest lace out there is eyelets, and you can practice them plenty with this eyelet covered sweater from Knitcro Addict. It uses light/DK weight yarn and is worked in four pieces knit flat. It’s intended to be a little cropped and a little oversized, and includes sizes XS to XXL in the pattern.

If you’re in parts of the world where it’s getting colder as you read this, the Nora sweater from Bummbul might be a good choice. This is actually a great one for learning lace because it’s worked in super bulky yarn, which makes it easier to see what you’re doing and makes the lace super graphic. This one just comes in one size, with a 42 inch (106) cm bust, but that could fit a variety of people depending on how much ease you like.

Minimi Knit Design has a cute allover lace cardigan worked in one piece from the bottom up. It’s worked in lace weight mohair held double, which maybe isn’t the best for those new to lace (because it can be hard to rip out) but it sure is pretty. Sizes range to fit from 30 to 66 inches/76 to 168 cm bust measurements.

If you’d rather not have lace all over your sweater, you can knit the Lumi sweater from Originally Lovely, which has a chevron lace pattern on the yoke and is otherwise worked in reverse stockinette stitch. (It’s worked inside out so you don’t have to purl every stitch.) The pattern has 9 sizes from XS to 5XL and uses worsted weight yarn.

Or try the super romantic sookie blouse from Trust the mojo (available on Ravelry). This sweet top is started working flat from the bottom up and has a V-neck and I-cord edgings. The sleeves are worked separately in the round, and the pieces are all joined together to work in one piece to finish off the top. It comes in eight sizes and is available in English and French.

You can also pair lacy sleeves with an otherwise plain top, like on the Starflower Wrap from Annelise Driscoll Gingrow. This intermediate pattern makes a wrap sweater with generous lacy sleeves and a double wrap belt. The pattern has nine sizes, from XS to 5XL, and is available for free from Hobbi.