Good afternoon! I have just completed my 4th FO and have several yards of Lopi, a little Homespun, and quite a lot of some black and gold Vanna’s Choice. What do you all do with your left-over yarn??? I can already tell that I am going to be one who knits every spare second I get. I have projects planned all the way through next Christmas, LOL! I foresee a lot of left-over yarn in my future, but not really sure what to do with it. What I don’t want is some stash of tiny yarn balls that just sit around :shrug: What do you all do???
Well, it kinda depends on how little is little, and if any of the colors/textures will blend together.
You can always make little drawstring bags for goodies, cell phone cozies, coasters…or make a little blanket or something by combining the leftovers.
There are several options some of which depend on how much you have left.
- Save the scraps to stuff a small toy
- Make squares (multi color or plain) for a blanket
- Make 7x9 rectangles for Warm Up America charity
- ???
- Throw them away
Or send them to school with a sprout. Art teachers love scraps of yarn for crafts and such.
I have sent you a pm.
Sandra
Wind it into little balls and put it in a glass jar or vase. Instant decoration!
I save mine and use it in other projects or save until I do need it. I would never think about throwing it out!
Many folks in our area donate leftover yarns to our Senior Center.
Works great for all concerned!
Dot
also if they are truly just little bit scrap pieces, saving them up for the spring and then throwing them out for the birds works too. they use them to make up their nests.
TY all so much for the ideas! I an so new to knitting and really didn’t know what I was “supposed” to do with leftover yarn. ALL of the ideas are good ones. I think I’ll save them in Mason Jars, like one person posted, then use what I can where I can - especially like the idea of making rectangles for charity with my larger left-overs.
This site is so awesome!!!
I’m a teacher (Elementary classroom and an art teacher- just depends on which job I can find available) and I second the-
Send it to a school for an art teacher- or even a classroom teacher. What schools would usually do is… just put ‘free things’ in the teacher’s lounge and then those that want it- can take it.
Art teachers can use almost anything in various projects.
I also saved my small pieces left over from sewing knitted projects together and then I took them to school and this past spring, my 3rd graders put them out under trees. Then, we went back 3 days later to count the left-over yarn scraps. My students loved doing this activity. Some children even started doing the project at home. We live in a huge city and I think that the birds need all the help that they can to make a warm nest. 
I also just knitted some 4" squares for a donated project- it takes very little yarn to knit small squares. If you did that from all your scraps- you’d have a memory blankie. OR like others suggested- Warm up America squares… (they don’t all have to be one color squares either- you could do the log cabin style of knitted squares w/ all your scraps) You could do a hat of many colors and donate that. There is also a project for knitted squares on the ‘knitting for charity’ forum here in KH. Check it out.
i saved my tiny scraps not knowing why and now im makeing barbie clothes with them, just another thing tiny bits of yarn is good for.
:noway: GASP!!!
Throw yarn out?! Never! Heresy!
If I have any scrap that is about a foot long or larger I incorporate it into a funky multi-colored scrap yarn hat! They’re great to knit for a friend or for charity.
Also, here is an awesome project for small amounts of yarn: http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/minisweater.shtm
Or maybe you can knit bookmarks or headbands, too?
I love the idea of putting the yarn in a pretty jar until you can use it. I’m going to do that myself. That way I can look at it every day and smile.
Rebecca
Laurie, ask your kids if they can do something with the yarn bits. Or use them to teach them to knit. Those fingerless mits/arm warmers are all the rage right now and those little bits could probably make great colorful arm warmers!
I was going to mention the squares for charity, too! Also, if you have enough, you could make a pet blanket or a randomly striped small afghan or scarf.
I’m always needing a little scrap of a totally different color yarn than what I’m knitting with to create stitch markers. I just make little string loops and use those as my markers. They’re flexible so they move nicely with my work and don’t hurt my hands as I work around them once I pass them up and I can see where the markers are coming up on the next row.
I once saw this shawl that was made out of different scraps of yarn and it was gorgeous
I save my little scraps for stuffing when I make dolls or teddy’s or something.
I saw the title of this thread and I swear my heart stopped for a second!
Worse comes to worse…I let my four year old practice cutting or “knitting like mommy” on my little tiny bits of yarn. But throw it away? Only when it’s too small to do ANYTHING with.
I am knitting snowmen for my girls for Xmas…and the small scraps are good for the hat and scraves…also I make Barbie, bears and baby doll clothes…or rugs, pillows, and afghans for Barbie. I too like the yarn in the jar…I have a few old ones that would look neat in, and can use as deco for my sewing room…