10 Ways to Use Up Your Scrap Yarn

Just about everyone who knits has some scrap yarn. It's kind of inevitable. So, eventually, you're going to have some kind of collection of scraps. Maybe you have a small collection. Maybe you have a big collection.

The big thing these days is making a sock yarn blanket. And I admit, it's a great way to use up scrap yarn, especially fingering weight yarn. I've cast on one for myself. But maybe you don't want to knit a blanket. Then this is just for you!

Here are 10 ways to use your scraps without knitting a blanket:

1. Tiny things

Small things can be a great way to use up assorted scraps, and they can even have a purpose. Like this Advent Garland of little mittens. Or little stockings. It's never too soon to start knitting for the holidays.

2. Stripes

A striped hat. A striped scarf. Or socks. Or more socks. Stripes are a great way to use up bits of different yarn in an intentional way.

3. Pouches

I love little pouches, and even not so little pouches. Fancy pouches, and plain pouches.

4. Knitted Jewelry

There are lots of jewelry options that don't use very much yarn, including necklaces, bracelets, brooches and even ponytail holders.

5. Baby Things

Since babies tend to be small, they don't need much yarn to cover them. Knit some booties, some stinkin' cute overalls, or even a stripey sweater.

6. Legwarmers

How can you not love stripey legwarmers? Seriously. Too stinkin' cute.

7. Housekeeping

Things for housekeeping, such as dishcloths, scrubbies, rubber glove toppers. Even dryer balls.

8. Animals

There are a world of little knitted animals out there. Like owls, mice, sheep,

9. Cozies

Not just coffee cup cozies. There are clock cozies, Plant cozies. Even cozies for your yarn.

10. Pet Projects

Knit your pup a bone. Or a sweater. If you really want to make your cat regret it knows you, knit it a mane.

4 Ways to Join New Yarn

When we first learn to knit, we learn how to join a new ball of yarn to our knitting, so we can keep knitting!. For a lot of us, the way we learned to join yarn is the way we always use, whether it's the best application or not. Below are a few of my favorite ways to join new yarn to my existing project. These are methods I've tried and used in various projects. I've included a link to a video for each method, and what I think are the advantages and disadvantages of using each method.

Do you have a favorite way of joining new yarn?
 

Overlap

Advantages: quick, easy and simple

Disadvantages: may show slightly, there are ends to weave in

Stitch a few stitches with the old yarn and the new yarn held together. Drop the old yarn, and continue knitting with the new yarn. This video gives a clear description.

Russian join

Advantages: No ends to weave in, practically invisible, very secure

Disadvantages: Takes a little practice and a tapestry needle

Join the ends of your working yarn and new yarn with this knot-less and almost invisible join. This video shows you how.

Magic Knot

Advantages: Easy once you know how, no ends to weave in, secure

Disadvantages: Not great for plain stockinette

Join new and old yarn with an actual knot! This straightforward video shows how to do it.

Splice

Advantages: practically invisible, no ends to weave in

Disadvantages: can be a little tricky and messy, not suitable for superwash yarns

Basically, you felt your yarn ends together and keep on knitting! This videogives a good look.

Knitting Ergonomics

After my bout with wrist tendonitis, I got to thinking about my knitting ergonomics.  After all, I really don't want this to happen again!

I've found a couple of blog posts from other knitters about knitting ergonomics, here and here.
I thought this post on Knitting Daily had a lot of good tips, including the long comments section.  Lots of people chimed in.

I know the things that worked best for me were simply to rest my hand, use ice packs several times a day, and gentle stretches until it started feeling better.  Then I began doing some simple exercises to strengthen and repair (from this video), which I now do to both hands, because I don't want to be sitting around unable to use my hands for a couple of weeks ever. again.  That is torture.

Remember, take breaks and stretch those hands!

No Slip Knot Needed

I'm not sure where I saw this or who it was, but I've been casting on without a slip knot for a long time.  After seeing a few people cast on and always making a slip knot before they begin, even for Long-Tail Cast On, I thought this might be a good tip to pass along.  (I'm all for things that simplify rather than complicate!)

Whenever I start the long-tail cast on, I just "start".  Below is my beginning position:

The needle is in my right hand and the yarn is in "slingshot" position in my left hand, with the tail over my thumb and the working yarn over my index finger, as normally held.

Reach up under the strand of yarn between the two fingers and pull the yarn over the needle.  It's not wrapping the needle, just laying over the top.

Now, begin your cast-on motions : around and under the thumb yarn and over and around the index finger yarn.  Tighten the yarn on the needles.

You now have your first two stitches on the needle, with no slip knot!