Stitch Up a Colorful, Stash Busting Headband

August 25, 2023 by Sarah White

I recently rearranged my yarn stash so that most of it is arranged by color, and it’s inspired me to take a new look at what I have, and to realize that I have a lot of odd balls and little bits leftover from other projects.

I intend to do some big stash busting projects, too, but right now I’m focusing more on little projects that can be done with those little balls, like headbands and earwarmers. These sorts of projects are great for using stash, and they make great gifts, too, and it’s never too early to start thinking about that, right?

The Striation Headband from Lee Meredith for Knit Picks is a great option for using up leftover bits of sock yarn. You can knit it with a single skein if you like, or pull out all the little leftover bits to make a colorful and cozy headband.

Because we all know a pair of socks never quite uses the whole skein, right? I have so many little tiny balls of sock yarn leftovers, and this would be a super fun way to use them.

The pattern is worked in garter stitch, so all you have to do to make it look harmonious is use the same color for at least two rows (one ridge of garter stitch) and alternate colors after working two rows. Always change colors at the end of a row and always on the right side and it’s sure to look great.

Or if you have a skein of self-striping yarn that you don’t know what to do with, just work it by itself and this project will still be super cute and done in a flash.

You could even try the same method with leftovers of different yarn weights, but maybe cast on fewer stitches for a heavier weight yarn so the project doesn’t get too wide.

You can grab the free pattern from Knit Picks.

[Photo: Knit Picks]

Looking for more Knitted Headband Patterns? Check these patterns out on Etsy. Headbands are a great gift idea as they knit up fast and are well received by friends and family. Everyone loves wearing Knit headbands right? Check out this free knitted Autumn Ear Warmer headband on our sister site.

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Classic Dishcloth Knitting Patterns

Fall will be here before we know it, and that means there are holidays coming right behind where we might be entertaining at home. It’s always fun to have a hand knit touch in your home for other people to see, and if you’re going to be in the kitchen all day you might as well have some nice knit dish cloths to use.

I love this little plaid hand towel from Darling Jadore. Use a little bit of leftover cotton yarn from another project for the plaid portion. It looks like the horizontal stripes are worked as you knit and the vertical stripes are done with duplicate stitch, making this a quick and easy project even newer knitters can make.

Combine garter stitch and an easy eyelet pattern worked sideways to make the Annette Dish Towel from Cluck Cluck Boots, which is meant to be reminiscent of flour sack towels. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can work it in one color or two (or even three!).

Add a little more texture with this set of kitchen towels from Whileberry Creative. They’re mostly worked in garter stitch with borders in easy knit/purl patterns, and you can work them in sport or worsted weight yarn.

Two of Wands Shop has another cute allover knit and purl pattern they call the Seersucker Textured Tea Towel. It’s an easy repeating pattern worked in worsted weight yarn, and there’s a chart in the pattern you can use, but don’t have to, if you want to practice knitting from a chart.

The Classic Cloth dish towel from Handmade Home by Connie is another one that can use a little leftover yarn in a contrasting color, or you could color block it our use stripes throughout the pattern. This one uses worsted weight yarn and another easy repeating knit purl stitch pattern.

If you like to hang your towel on the oven handle or elsewhere but it’s always falling off, try the Stay Put kitchen towel from Fancy Step Knits. This project is worked in garter stitch and includes a hole partway through so you can pull the towel through itself over a rod or handle. Stripes are optional but a nice addition.