Use Your Stash on a Sweater That’s All Stripes

I was thinking this morning about a long-neglected ebook project I’ve started and stopped working on a multitude of times over the past 10 years or so that’s all about using your stash. It occurred to me that maybe more than specific projects that use leftovers (because who knows what kind of yarn or how much of it each person has, or what they might like to make with it) it might be better to provide stash-busting strategies.

And one of the best stash-busting strategies I know is adding stripes to a project.

The All Stripes Sweater from Sylvia Watts-Cherry takes “just add a stripe” to the extreme, making a sweater with stripes of varying widths broken up by a strip of garter stitch when the colors change. This drop shoulder sweater is worked from the bottom up in the round and has a crew neck and a relaxed fit. It looks like it might be reversible, too.

The pattern is available in nine sizes, with chest measurements ranging from 37.5 inches to 70.5 inches, with a suggested positive ease of 5.5 to 9 inches.

While the pattern has a stripe structure for you to follow and calls for six colors of yarn, of course you can add in more and not repeat colors, or make up your own sequence. I like that this picture shows several different color schemes so you can get an idea of how the sweater might look using yarn from your stash.

In addition to having striping options, you also have different options for the weight of yarn you use. The pattern is available (all links ahead are from Ravelry) using super bulky, worsted weight or DK yarn specifications, so you can either buy yarn or use your stash you already have to make a sweater of the weight you prefer.

[Photo: Sylvia Watts-Cherry]

Double knitting is a lot of fun to do, but if you’re new to the process it can be intimidating to start with a big project. That’s why I have a little set of double knit coasters on my website that takes you through the basics, but these double knit hot pads are also a great option when you’re learning double knitting or just looking for a small project.

My love of quilt themed projects is well documented, so you can imagine how I feel about the Folksy Hot Pads from Shelli Can (Ravelry). These quilt block inspired hot pads use DK weight yarn and there are two pattern options and three size options for you to choose from.

Nifty Knitter Designs has a ton of double knit potholder patterns, but I wanted to highlight this one with a maple leaf since we’re headed into fall where I live as I write this. This would be a great one to use on your Thanksgiving table or all through the season. It calls for worsted weight yarn.

Interestingly, a lot of the potholder knitting patterns I found have animals on them, which is fun. Indian Love by Sonja Neukomm features an elephant decorated with flowers and is available on Ravelry. this one calls for sport weight yarn and the pattern is in English and German. The pattern also includes a lotus flower design so you can knit both.

Cat’s all Folks by Susan U is a free pattern on Ravelry with a checkerboard cat design. This one is so cute and looks like a lot of fun to knit in sport weight yarn.

As knitters we love our sheep, and there’s also a sheep themed double knit potholder from AMHIYU. This design calls for worsted weight yarn and looks great in black and white, but you can use any colors you like.

Finally, there’s this lovely set of five double knit potholder patterns from Knitting Knicely. You’ll find a squirrel, rabbit, deer, bear catching a fish and a fox in this set. These call for super fine yarn which allows them to have more detail.

Ready to take on a bigger project? Check out more double knitting patterns.

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