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wildhorsefarmer
Permanent Resident
USA
1022 Posts |
 Posted - 08/23/2002 : 06:42:01 AM
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Hi all,
I have been trying to think of ways to use all the pretty little left-over balls of sock yarns (and more) that I am amassing.Didn't want to make socks this time since I can't use as much in one project.
I recently knit a fun shawl using Koigu (not left-over). It was a good pattern for me- mindless knitting (stockinette)for the entire body, so it was great for summer car travels, and then some thinking-person's-knitting to wake me back up when it came to the lace edging.
Best of all, it was a free pattern on Nancy Bush's web site.
Anyway, after knitting the first shawl for my mother (Queen of purple), my sister was begging for a shawl. Not wanting to buy more yarn at this point, I rooted through my left-over stash. Ended up using lots of fingering weight sock yarns (doubled), bits of eyelash, mohair, and worsted long left-over from sweaters.
End result is a bit flamboyant, but perfect for my sister.
If you want to see..
I have the photos in Picture Trail in my album called, "Knitting ,other than socks"
Lisa in Oklahoma
New Kool-Aid dyed sock design-Berry Basket Socks
http://www.wildhorsefarmdesigns.com
Photos of socks I have knit..
http://www.picturetrail.com/wildhorsefarmer |
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AJ Wisch
Chatty Knitter
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2002 : 10:17:31 AM
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I'm working on the Folk Art Rug from IK Fall 2002, but am using my own leftover yarns, and I am going to make it six feet across. Not using sock yarns, but I am using everything else in my stash, mostly doubled. It will be warm and colorful and cheap and washable. Yay!
AJ
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fmarrs
Guardian angel
USA
9776 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2002 : 12:18:47 PM
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I use a lot of leftovers in hats and mittens and scarfs. One way to tame the "flamboyance" is to knit with more than one strand of yarn, I usually use one color throughout the piece for one strand and then add leftovers for various color parts. This gives some consistency to the coloring so that hats and mittens go together enough to be worn.
Fran
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Pen
Warming Up
USA
58 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2002 : 12:30:04 PM
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Fran...Just LOVE that idea!!! Thanks!!! :)quote:
I use a lot of leftovers in hats and mittens and scarfs. One way to tame the "flamboyance" is to knit with more than one strand of yarn, I usually use one color throughout the piece for one strand and then add leftovers for various color parts. This gives some consistency to the coloring so that hats and mittens go together enough to be worn.
Fran
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liebekatja
Chatty Knitter
USA
262 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2002 : 4:09:33 PM
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I also use most of my leftovers in mittens, scarves, and hats. I usually pick two or three colors and do stripes, or do a main color with contrasting stripes in a very basic pattern. I also once knit a pair of mittens with one solid spruce color and then lots of random one row stripes in all my other yarns and colors. They turned out really pretty and not too wild at all. Also, since I usually knit for the same 3 people over and over again, I can incorporate their leftover colors into new items and at least they all match each other. (Does that make any sense?)
And then I always have my Berlin afghan to use all the rest of the yarn nibber nabbers, and since it's supposed to be an afghan portrait of a city (and I make it up as I go), the crazier the better.
Katie
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fmarrs
Guardian angel
USA
9776 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2002 : 1:21:44 PM
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I usually prepare my yarn leftovers before knitting. I roll then into one ball, tying them together and continuing to roll until the ball is large enough to use. Since I get about 36 stitches to the yard, I keep this in mind when cutting the leftovers to length. When I'm really lazy, I'll use my yarn winder and wind the scrap ball together with the solid color ball before knitting.
Fran
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Melanie
New Pal
Australia
36 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2002 : 5:23:47 PM
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What's the address for Nancy Bush's web site? Can't find it on my search engine. Love all these ideas!
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Melanie
New Pal
Australia
36 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2002 : 5:39:37 PM
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What's the address for Nancy Bush's web site? Can't find it on my search engine. Love all these ideas!
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Ditzy Girl
Permanent Resident
USA
4711 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2002 : 5:45:22 PM
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To everyone who replied thanks so much for the great ideas. Fran, I especially like the idea of 2 threads one just background color mixed with all the other colors and AJ I have been looking at the rug myself. How is it going, is it fun or what?
ZOLA |
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AJ Wisch
Chatty Knitter
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2002 : 11:36:12 AM
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Zola,
Yes, the rug is fun. I keep it in a basket here by my computer and work on it when I am online. You don't have to concentrate once you get past the middle blocks. I am just working garter stitch with 2 yarns(different) for a while on a side, then binding off that side, turn with last stitch left, then picking up and knitting all along the next side, knitting there til I get tired of it, then binding off, turning, and so it goes. The rug is getting pretty large already, and I have ordered a 60" circular from elann.com so that I can keep making it bigger and bigger. Its very colorful and feels great on your feet. We have all used brick floors in our new house, so will want rugs in the bedroom at least, in winter. I also weave rag rugs, but this is really engaging me right now.
AJ
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Ludlovian
New Pal
United Kingdom
2 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2002 : 3:23:50 PM
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[quote]
I also use most of my leftovers in mittens, scarves, and hats.
I do too, but I have been making them in intrelac patterns recently, using maybe six different leftovers - say three blues and three greens - and changing colour for each row of diamonds. I also use a fine knitting machine colour as a base, adding different toning colours to it. Two or four row stripes with a contrasting colour to give a marled effect can look very good on the reverse side.
Caroline
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wildhorsefarmer
Permanent Resident
USA
1022 Posts |
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schoolmama
Permanent Resident
USA
2309 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2002 : 07:54:56 AM
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I love that shawl. The one for your sister would go perfect in my 21 yr. old son's room when he lived here! It was "amphibian green" and it looks like your border green might match it pretty well...hee,hee. I could have made him a rug or something to match...But I printed the pattern. I don't have quite enough scraps yet, but someday I will. I like the purple one, too, as dd and I love purple. We are going to have purples, blues and pinks we could put together eventually. Barb
"OF ALL THE THINGS I HAVE LOST, I MISS MY MIND THE MOST!" |
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AJ Wisch
Chatty Knitter
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2002 : 08:02:48 AM
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Ahhh, now we're entering the phase where you can't wait to finish your projects that yarn was 'specially for, so you can incorporate the leftovers into something else. Beware, you may never return to one yarn per project again! Seriously, isn't it fun? As a scrap quilter, I automatically started buying yarns with an eye to the leftovers also, when I started knitting again.
AJ
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Hello Knitty
Permanent Resident
1069 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2002 : 11:31:45 AM
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I've given some tiny odd balls to my wee friends' pre school to use at craft time. They glue yarn onto their drawings or incorporate them into other projects. And if you have lots of National Geographics lurking, donate them too. The animal pictures get used for decorating the walls!
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Ditzy Girl
Permanent Resident
USA
4711 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2002 : 6:01:57 PM
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A.J., I am also a scrap quilter, I think that is why I love working with lots of different colors in my knitting. Once I realized that with scrap quilts I can buy 1/8 to 1/2 yard of lots I have never looked back. Now with the rug, I can do the same thing with my knitting and not worry about the leftover yarn. I can start the rug and just keep going. I bet you you could just knit multi colored squares, as large or small as you like, sew together and then make the rug as big as you wanted without having all the weight in your lap. Boy, who would have thought. This is a great topic.
ZOLA |
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fmarrs
Guardian angel
USA
9776 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2002 : 8:40:29 PM
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okay, I confess. I've actually gone to the yarn shop and picked up one of every color of yarn for instant leftovers. I've also gone on ebay and purchased odd lots of mixed up yarns for just such projects. The last time I gave Eric (one of my grandsons) a pair of black gloves, he asked me if I had run out of yarn because he wanted colors worked in.
Whew confession is good for the soul isn't it.
Fran
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wildhorsefarmer
Permanent Resident
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2002 : 03:25:06 AM
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Hi All,
I am putting together left-overs for another shawl. I had a new hank of a really pretty yarn with gold metallic flecks woven in the strand. Since it was not left-over, I just knit a pair of socks from it to get the left-overs. How about that one?! Knit the yarn to have some left!
Also, now I am looking at single hanks when swapping with people. Before, I only wanted enough of the same color to make a pair of socks.
I did buy yarn for the trim- Debbie Bliss' Cashmerino. Always wanted to use it for something but wasn't ready to make a solid colored sweater since I am enjoying hand-painted variagated yarns so much in my projects.
Lisa
New Kool-Aid dyed sock design-Berry Basket Socks
http://www.wildhorsefarmdesigns.com
Photos of socks I have knit..
http://www.picturetrail.com/wildhorsefarmer |
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AJ Wisch
Chatty Knitter
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2002 : 08:20:16 AM
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Zola, For me the whole idea is to eliminate the sewing together. I would much rather pick up and knit along the edge of the previous piece than sew them together later. Although, I HAVE singe-crocheted squares together on top for a decorative seam. But I rather like the weight of the rug n my lap. So far, anyway.
Fran, here's a little more confession. When I go to my closest LYS, I pick up all their $2 a skein singles that I find even remotely interesting. I get to try all kinds of stuff without pain, AND I never run out of yarn that qualifies as trim, scraps, or leftovers. I buy a whole lot more yarn that way than I do as x number of skeins for one project.
AJ
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Barbara Ann
New Pal
44 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2002 : 2:47:41 PM
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AJ,
I have a friend who is a new knitter looking for fun things to do. She also lives partime in an old farmhouse in Vt. so warm things for the floor are a good thing. Wondered if the rug idea might not be a good one for her. She doesn't have much of a stash yet but I sure do.
Is this rug one that your making up or can it and its pattern be viewed online or in a book or magazine.
Thanks,
Barbara
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AJ Wisch
Chatty Knitter
USA
296 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2002 : 3:08:46 PM
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Barbara Ann,
I started with the Folk Art Rug from Interweave Knits Fall 2002, but only did the center design according to their directions. When the pattern called for you to put the stitches on 5 or 6 24" circulars, I started just garter stitching 3 or 4 " on one side, then binding off to the last stitches, turning the corner, and then picking up and knitting stitches all along that side for 3-4", repeat, repeat. I use doubled yarn (different ones) and switch colors whenever I run out or get tired of the one I'm using. I have it in my lap right now, and have been working on it whenever I am here online. Its fun. If your friend isn't up to the center design, the same thing could be done just by knitting a rectangle and then going from there.
AJ
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