Every knitter I know has yarn bits n’ bobs. You know, little leftover balls from the numerous projects you have knit up over the years. I have gone into my B & B containers a few different times, looking for the leftovers of some yarn that I need for darning or mending purposes. I’m always glad to find it. I figured a long time ago that these colorful balls should be out on display. I like keeping them in glass containers. (I think this came from Home Goods, a couple of years ago.)
Big bowls – wooden, ceramic, metal – are another good storage idea, and it’s easy to have one or more of these sitting out on display. (Although then you have to dust them. Another reason to like glass containers with lids.)
I think many people have all of their B & B’s stuffed into bags and plastic containers as well.
And others of you don’t let them sit around at all because you’re using them up in your Sock Blankies, or you have bought this great pattern of Wendy’s and you’ve turned them into other useful things.
Here’s the contest question of the month (and we’ll randomly draw winners next week for Loopy Ewe Gift Certificates): What do you do with your leftover yarn bits? Leave your answer in the comments and we’ll let you know who won, next week!
Thinking about holiday gifts already? I’ll have some knitting ideas for you next week. But for the people in your life that don’t get the knitting (or when you want to give a “just because” gift in September, for instance), how about these amazing cookies in a cute bag? You can even download the gift tags from the post. This is my new favorite blog and it just so happens to be written by one of my very favorite friends, Monica. In some of her recent posts, I also learned that Hydrogen Peroxide is the perfect cleaner (tried it on my bathroooms over the weekend), learned that there was a much easier way to make iced tea (and the flavors – oh, my!), decided that I needed to make up a big batch of pesto, and … well, you can check it out yourself to see what you learn. 🙂 It’s really a “yummy” website with great recipes and ideas.
Sheri who’dhavemoreyarnbitsifshe’dfinishmoreprojects
insteadofcontinuallystartingnewones,FPS
My extras live in a plastic tub in my closet, nothing fancy. The dog likes to play with yarn, so it can not be left sitting out. . .
I rewind the leftovers and put them in a special box that holds only my B&Bs, that I then use to make mini socks when I teach that class or keep around for darning purposes.
Extras are living in a sad little bag, destined maybe for a a fishie blanket, a sock blankie, and children’s socks. Unfortunately, I definitely don’t know enough kids for these…
I make socks for my kids or their dollies 🙂
Right now most of them are in a knitting bag, with the rest stored in bits and pieces with the other yarn, IE, randomly.
But I love the idea of glass display bottles for them. I’m totally stealing that idea.
I make shawls where every row is made from a different yarn. Helps to use up the little bits.
I’m thinking about a starting a sock blanket… but I’ve never thought of displaying them… I LOVE it!
I’m making a sock yarn blanket, but in the meantime I’m using a 2 gallon old-fashioned glass lemonade dispenser with a leaky spigot. Now my kids like to tease that we have “yarn lemonade!”
I’m ultimately going to knit the Cozy Quilt-Patterned Throw from an old Better Homes & Gardens book; it uses one strand of lightweight yarn along with one strand of ecru for a nifty effect. I’m also thinking about some kind of scrap yarn sweater, since a lot of my yarn scraps are coordinating colors.
I have a jar just like that, lol!
I am making a sock yarn blankie, cause that’s what I make the most of, socks, so that’s what’s leftover 🙂
put them in a plastic bag!
Mine are currently in a plastic bin, but I need to find something to do with them! I DID trade some for patterns…and that was awesome! I’m going to check out the ideas above – thanks for the ideas!
Hi – I like to use my left over yarn to create more stripey socks. I use a plain
color and alternate rows with the left over sock yarn. It’s like getting an extra
pair of socks for free. Barb
I use my B & B’s to knit up covers for glass Christmas ornaments. I can try out new pattern stitches, and can give them as gifts. Sometimes I knit one up to give along with a new pair of socks as Christmas gifts. Folks really seem to get a kick out of them!
If I don’t have enough for an ornament cover, I give them to my friend who quilts. She likes the textures and colors, and adds them as embellishments to her quilting projects.
Finally, if I’m down to bare nubblies of yarn, I stash them in pretty jars to use as knitting decorations around the house.
Mine are in a project bag. I’m still trying to decide what to do with them. Some of them have enough yarn leftover that I could do something really small with them but I have no idea what just yet.
I’m afraid there’s no more logic to storing leftovers than there is to the rest of my stash. They just seem to get tucked away helter skelter, sometimes with other bits and bobs, sometimes alone, sometimes with a recipe for chocolate chip muffins or an old belt buckle.
I donate them to the Goodwill – I figure someone can use them. Thanks for the contest – Hope I’m not too late.
I like the idea of making bags out of my wool yarn scraps. I’ve made one so far that I used other yarns in too. It turned out great once I felted it.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/kwinrc/hobo-bag
I keep them in SEVERAL baskets.
I bag my leftovers by weight and then use them for “experiments” in designing or felted bags or hats.
I bag them and THINK about log cabin squares. ;D
So far I have just been hanging on to the extra yarn and then using it when the right time comes. Not enough right times have come though!
mine are patiently waiting in my yarn box to become something grand, started a log cabin out of the ww scraps, not too excited about that. Might have to do a sock yarn blanket, maybe for my new baby due May 3?