• Creative reuse - Crochet - Hats and scarves - leftover yarn

    Bespoke winter gear

    July 30, 2026 - By 

    Too often, I have leftover small balls of yarn that I want to use without buying more of the same yarn if it doesn’t have a dye lot. Instead, I have been making an effort to create unique looks with stripes or gradient colors that coordinate and aren’t too garish. Taking marled or color striping yarn and combining it with a solid – oatmeal/aran, gray, or other neutral is one way of doing things, but taking similar yarns with subtle shade variations can create an appealing set and also use up yarn.

    The lack of stores that carry washable, budget-friendly yarns you can try in person has made me more creative about trying new ones. Several months ago, I got a few different yarns at a yarn swap during World Wide Knit in Public Day. I was happy to score a ball of yarn that I wanted to try, but didn’t want to pay $10 shipping for yarn that I might or might not like. Now that I’ve tried it, I found that an online shop that I purchase from frequently, which has free shipping with a threshold that I would meet from other purchases carries the yarn.

    There are still containers of larger remainders – half skeins and balls as well as a basket with assorted colors of tiny balls – in my stash that I can’t bring myself to toss. Though I haven’t been on a yarn buying hiatus, I have become more intentional about what I want to buy, try and give away. There is a lot of yarn that I don’t want to go to waste which I am making into eye-catching one of a kind sets!

    Drumroll, please… I have completed 72 sets this year. That’s right six dozen and my goal is 85 for 2026! I might need to change the goal or start on some other projects. Stay tuned…

    Happy crocheting!

  • Crochet

    Lost at yarn chicken

    October 10, 2023 - By 

    A little of this and a little of that… that phrase can be associated with recipes, or crafting.

    In my case, I’ve been matching up different oddballs to branch out from using a color with a neutral but by putting two colors together or two neutrals together. To kick off fall, I just started playing with color, which was also several rounds of yarn chicken since I had a limited amount of yarn to work with for the projects.

    There are things I could have done to get an estimate of how much yarn I had, but weighing or measuring seemed too much like right. Instead, I tried to wing it. For three of four projects that worked exceptionally well. However in the fourth, when I thought I had enough to make a hat, I lost at yarn chicken. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any yarn of the same color, since the two yarns are ones I don’t generally buy, and they were 3 weight, and I usually work with 4 weight.

    Once I ran out of yarn, I looked in my stash to see if there was something complimentary that could be used to complete the hat. I found a little of a darker brown yarn than I used and some multicolored yarn that were the closest contenders. I opted for the multi colored yarn to add a subtle shift for the brim.

    Plan your project and purchase enough yarn. This is what I do when I plan a project ahead of time. Now with my burgeoning stash of leftover odds and ends, I take my chances and see what happens. Basically, I’m making it up as I go along. Using up leftovers keeps the craft fun, though this method can be a little nerve-wracking or anxiety filled for the more timid. For me, it’s exciting to see what will happen or if I need to adapt the pattern as I go. Another bonus is that this method of using an unknown amount of leftover yarn definitely generates one of a kind, unique items.

    Take a chance and play a little yarn chicken… it’s not for the timid. Just remember, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but you have to play to win.

    Happy crocheting!

  • Crochet

    International Crochet Day

    September 12, 2023 - By 

    It seems fitting that International Crochet Day and Mindfulness Day are on the same day – September 12, both are meant to offer relaxation. This is definitely a necessity for those who need to be quiet, and calm given that September 11 is still a difficult day for many in recent American history.

    I’ve been purging items from the craft room to make more room for other yarns – so it’s been a colorful summer – combining lots of oddballs with my favorite neutrals or even combining coordinating colors together. After playing ‘Yarn chicken” too many times, I discovered that I need to select the right stitch for a scarf because some use more yarn than others and wouldn’t make the scarf wide or long enough. Crochet is an evolving craft, and everything doesn’t always turn out well. I have had multiple starts on projects or just abandon something altogether because it’s not right. Giving up is a step that we sometimes overlook. Just because there is something that you want to try, it may not be the right yarn, pattern, or skill level at the time. Never give up, I was discussing a particular yarn the other day with a friend who is a knitter, and she likes it. I don’t – she likes it because it is slippery and glides easily off of her knitting needles, I dislike it for that reason. I’ve tried it and other manufacturer’s varieties and disliked all of the slippery yarns equally. There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s not for me and crocheting is a relaxing pastime – slippery yarn makes crocheting a chore. The remaining yarn will go to the donation bin, instead of using the last bit in other projects. [One down, dozens to go!]

    A few hats were donated to a local project for refugees, including one child’s hat that I never found a specific group to give it to before now.

    Here’s a short compilation of completed projects. We are in the last days of summer, but the crocheting continued through the warm months.

    September 12 is also National Day of Encouragement in the US – so I’m encouraging you to find something you like to do, for your own well-being!

    Happy crocheting!

  • Crochet

    Gliding into 2023

    January 2, 2023 - By 

    Before we get too far into the New Year, I need to share my totals for 2022:

          • 115 hat and scarf sets
          • 12 red scarves
          • 36 hats

    plus… a few things made for family and friends.!

     

     

     

    My crochet goals for the 2022 were 25 hats, 100 hat and scarf sets, and 12 red scarves. It may seem like I’m bragging but I’m proud of myself for what I made in 2022.

    Maybe my 2023 crochet goals will remain the same?

    • 12 Red scarves
    • 100 sets
    • 25 hats

    There are a few other non-crocheting projects that I want to work on, so to give me some breathing room… And a chance to live, experiment and play, I’m keeping my goals the same.

    Unfinished: 

    I still didn’t finish the scrapghan that I made the yarn balls for, and I’ve been stashing leftover Puzzle yarn and Mandala Ombre to make a couple of fun throws or lap robes.

    For Christmas I got a lot of Puzzle yarn and I know I’ll have some leftover from sets so throws may be on the docket for this year.

    All I know for sure is that I crochet practically every day, some more days than others and I find it enjoyable. That’s the sentiment I want to carry throughout this new year!

    Happy crocheting!

    Happy 2023!