Every knitter accumulates leftover yarn from projects. It would be a shame to waste beautiful, high-quality wool and other fibers. Over the years, these leftover balls and scraps grow into sizable stashes, especially when you inherit yarn from other knitters. So some knitters like me turn to scrap-yarn knitting. It's a fun, creative, and liberating process. You can let go of the rules and play, using only the most basic of patterns.
Here's my first project, a scrap-yarn cardigan, circa 2009.
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| Same sweater different scarf, as shown with my friend Becky. |
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| The 1985 book that riveted me. It was in the window of Homespun Boutique on the Ithaca Commons. |
From the richly textured stitches forming that sweater, I moved on to more color play after learning new techniques from Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably when they visited Cornell and led a weekend workshop. Kaffe's work caught my eye in the early 1980s, and the story of how this Big Sur, California, kid learned to knit from a woman he met on a train in Wales charmed me. Then, Brandon Mably warmed by heart after spending three hours with him in a studio class.
Inspired, I created this blanket with more yarn from my attic stash.
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| The central panel borrows a striping pattern from a Kaffe Fassett scarf pattern. I added my own border designs. |
It was so satisfying I knew I wanted to try again. The cool hues in my stash were depleted but I was left with an amazing array of hotter hues, though perhaps not enough for the large shawl or afghan I was starting to envision. Visually I've always loved geometric pattern combined with organic shapes and flow, and I had a large supply of black and white wool, along with treys.
That approach, combined with materials I had on hand, gave rise to my Sunny Days Shawl.
Katie fell in love with it :) And, since the blanket includes yarn from three generations of knitters (my grandmother, my mother, and me) it is an heirloom that touches four generations.
Knitting with yarn that's on hand can yield can great results, and it's not hard to get started. Here's what I recommend:
- Sort your yarn into similar weights (DK, bulky, sock etc..)
- Sort again into palettes, whether by warm and cool hues, neutrals, or just colorways that please you
- Decide how large a piece you would like to create and whether you need to purchase a few skeins of yarn to add more color or structure.
- Stick to stockinette stitch, which is easy and fast
- Learn the basics of intarsia, for weaving together yarns.
What's next for me? I notice that my stash of both sock yarn leftovers and exotic fibers and mohairs is growing, so stay tuned!
wow, Intarsia? don't know that word. Have never heard the na,me of the technique and have know idea how to do - why I've avoid color knitting. That said, I do make horizontal strip sock with left over sock yard. I have a pair that I wear. Will take a pic and post.
ReplyDeleteI made another pari of scrap socks for Bill for Christmas and I am currently working on another pair. Originally to be all new yarn but the when I balled up the hunk of yarn that Web's said would be enough, didn't look like it to me; so I am now using scrap yarn for the heel and toe end to make sure I have enough new yarn for the pattern on the leg. Photo go to FB. i'm working on the heel for the first sock now.
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