January is Now Scrap Yarn Month!
This January, we at Laine are celebrating the art of scrap yarn knitting!
Scrap yarns are hard to avoid. No matter how much you optimise, there is usually at least a small scrap left over from each project – sometimes more if you miscalculate the amount of yarn needed. That’s why we also need inspiration for knitting with leftover yarns. To help with this task, we are launching Laine’s first official Scrap Yarn Month!
For many people, January is a time for new beginnings and good resolutions. The scrap yarn theme goes perfectly with that – it is economical and ecological and clears space in your stash!
You can participate in our Scrap Yarn Month Knit-Along on our social media. Start any new scrap yarn project in January and post a picture of your finished or unfinished knit by the end of the month, using the hashtag #lainescrapyarnmonth. If you want, you can also post a picture of the yarns you plan to use before you begin – it’s super inspiring to see what kind of treasures they turn into!
One of the participants will win our 52 Weeks of Accessories book coming out in February: it also includes many patterns perfect for scrap yarns.
To celebrate the theme, we have selected ten knitting patterns from Laine’s publications that are perfect for utilising scrap yarns. Prepare to be inspired!
1. Viimein by Veera Jussila (from 52 Weeks of Easy Knits)
The cover knit of our 52 Weeks of Easy Knits book is designed to be knitted with scrap yarns, making it the ultimate stash-buster! Viimein is a boxy sweater with a slightly cropped hem.
2. Heartful by Pauliina Kuunsola (from A Little Book of Moon-Inspired Shawls)
This asymmetric triangle shawl is worked in garter stitch, and the yarn ends from changing the colours are left to hang on the right side of the fabric. The yarn changes are not predetermined, so the pattern is suitable for all lengths of scraps.
3. Judit Gummlich – Fern (from Embroidery on Knits)
Wool embroidery has become hugely popular lately, and it is also a perfect way to utilise leftover yarns. Judit Gummlich’s debut book is full of inspirational embroidery templates, such as Fern, shown here.
4. Susan Crawford – Weatherhouse (from Echoes – 24 Modern Knits Inspired by Iconic Women)
Weatherhouse is a simple triangular shawl featuring a bold, striped pattern and multi-coloured tassels. The shawl uses only 25 g of each shade, making it a great way of using up small amounts of yarn and playing with colours.
5. Cinthia Vallet – Billie (from Mouche & Friends)
The lovely animal toys by Cinthia Vallet are great stash-busters, too: you never need more than 50 g of fingering-weight yarn for one animal, often much less. For toy-making, it’s not strictly essential to achieve specific measurements, which makes it possible to use other yarn weights as well.
6. Ronja Hakalehto – Puhuri (from Laine 19)
Knitwear designers have been very fond of silk/mohair yarns in the last few years – that’s why we bet that many of you also have a lot of those scraps in your stash! The Puhuri hat is knitted with wool and silk/mohair held together, and the triple-folded brim is sure to keep your ears warm.
7. Sarianna Lehtonen – Rut (from the upcoming 52 Weeks of Accessories)
This is another wonderful silk/mohair project: Rut is a simple and fun scrunchie that you will finish in one night, and it just requires a few grams of yarn.
8. Aleks Byrd – Habemik (from 52 Weeks of Socks vol II)
You don’t always need to knit the entire project with scrap yarns. They can be used to spice up a pattern, like in the Estonian knitted fringe of the Habemik socks.
9. Naomi Endicott – Winkle (from Knits from the LYS: A Collection by Espace Tricot)
Choosing colour combinations is one of the most rewarding aspects of knitting. Have fun with your stash when planning these quick and versatile mittens!
10. Mary Jane Mucklestone – Ling V-neck (from Grand Shetland Adventure Knits)
Scrap yarn knitting doesn’t mean just small and super colourful projects. For example, the body of this beautiful sweater can be worked with new yarns, and you can use leftovers in the colourwork pattern around the v-neck.
Find more info about the knit-along on our Instagram: