Don’t play Yarn Chicken with the second mitten

Every knitter knows that feeling… 

Starting the second mitten. Will there be enough yarn?

You’re happily knitting along with a small ball of leftover yarn… watching the ball get smaller and smaller, while trying to convince yourself there’s probably enough left to get to the bind-off. It’s the classic game knitters know as Yarn Chicken—and sometimes [unfortunatly], the yarn wins. Sometimes you lose by just a few yards. 

And, when you’re knitting mittens, there’s nothing more frustrating than completing one mitten only to discover you’re a few rounds short of finishing its mate. 

Just enough yarn to make the mitten hands. What to do for the thumbs?

My Mitten Project 

In March, I began knitting children’s mittens for a charity project. With a box of left-over skeins, there was plenty of yarn to finish several pair. Lately, however, I’ve been working with smaller and smaller amounts of yarn. I’ve also unravelled some knit swatches to repurpose that yarn, too. Those small bits offer opportunities for colorwork cuffs, stripes, a simple fair isle pattern, or a contrasting thumb.

Knit swatches are unravelled and the yarn repurposed for mittens.

However, with some of these smaller amounts, I felt in my gut the age-old question: “will there be enough yarn to finish that second mitten?” I knew then that I needed a better strategy rather than stressing about how I would have to “ad lib” a design to finish a cohesive-looking pair. After all, this mitten project is supposed to be a stress-free zone! 

The solution to winning at Yarn Chicken

Simple: each mitten needs its own ball of yarn! Working with two balls with the same amount of yarn circumvents the yarn chicken game. So now, when I look at those smaller yarn cakes or half-used skeins, I unwind the yarn and butterfly or wind it into two balls of equal length. 

Rewinding small amounts of yarn into two separate balls.

One ball is used for the first mitten, and the second ball is saved for its mate. If I use up the yarn on the first mitten to achieve a particular design, I make note of the row/round count so I know exactly how to knit the second mitten. No losing at Yarn Chicken for me! 

A four-yarn pair of mittens.
The self-patterning yarn was salvaged from a swatch (see swatch photo above).

Playing with color

The best part of this mitten project is playing with color. Every pair is unique. A cuff from one leftover skein, the hand from another, and perhaps a contrasting thumb create cheerful combinations I probably would never have planned if I’d started with full skeins. 

It’s especially satisfying to transform leftovers into something both practical and beautiful. Every little ball has potential, and every finished pair represents warmth, kindness, and the simple pleasure of making by hand. Those once-forgotten orphan yarns are becoming bright, one-of-a-kind mittens that I hope their recipient will enjoy wearing. 

Used to the very end! Only 30” of yarn remaining.
The colorwork pattern at the top of the mitten was an added bonus.

The mitten goal

Although I’ve already exceeded the number of mittens I hoped to donate this year, I find myself reaching for those little leftover balls again and again—enjoying the challenge of creating fresh color combinations.

The remaining length of the green yarn was used at the base of the thumb.
The green contrasting yarn completed the thumb.

How many pair of mittens can come from yarn that might otherwise have remained in the leftover yarn box? I’m at 33 pair and still counting. 

And, I’ve learned there’s an easy way to win at Yarn Chicken, even before the game begins: 

1.  divide the yarn first, 
2.  knit with confidence, and
3.  enjoy the making process! 

I don’t stress about playing Yarn Chicken for the second mitten.

Scrappy knit placemats, third Make Nine 2024 finish

Who loves a good stash-buster project? Me, me, me!

I like using up scraps and leftovers—fabric, yarn, orphan socks, old linens, whatever—to make something useful out of materials that would be otherwise disposed. I like the creative problem-solving challenge of taking random pieces, and combining them to create a cohesive whole. These colorful, scrappy placemats fulfill my Make Nine 2024 yarn project prompt.

Scrappy yarn placemats. 14" x 18"

A yarn stash buster

I've included a yarn project in my Make Nine challenge now and again. I get a hankering for knitting or crochet when the weather gets cold at the end of the year... which coincides with setting goals for a new Make Nine. A yarn prompt made it into Make Nine 2024 after being absent in 2023. 

For this prompt, I prefer a simple pattern that is easy to pick up and lay down without the stress of remembering where in a pattern I left off. This project also turned out to be another stash buster.

Using leftover cotton yarn balls. Mixing the colors.

Leftover balls of cotton yarn and a few small balls of unidentifiable, abandoned yarns that were a worsted weight were gathered. Even a couple of knit swatches were frogged so the yarn could be recycled for this project.

Yarn swatches were unravelled and up-cycled for this stash buster. 

The linen stitch, a perfect stitch for colorwork knitting

The linen stitch is my go-to colorwork pattern. It's an easy two-row repeat. It makes a nice, firm fabric with an interesting texture. And it offers lots of opportunity for playing with color as it employs an alternating slip stitch (which causes the color of the previous row to interact with the color of the working row). I use the linen stitch for the majority of my knitted dishcloths, too.

Colorwork with the linen stitch.

The new placements were put to use this past weekend.

Breakfast in th camper on knitted placemats.

Third Make Nine 2024 finish

This is my third finish for Make Nine 2024. This is the 4th month of the year and 6 more makes to go. Making good progress!

Make Nine 2024 tracker. Yarn Project prompt.

The Inclinations Shawl—a Make Nine finish

 My Inclinations Shawl, a stash buster yarn project for Make Nine 2023, is finished (and not without a few froggings)!

Make Nine 2023 finish: yarn stash buster project, the Inclinations Shawl.

This is my second Make Nine 2023 finish, and fulfills the stash buster prompt. You can't go wrong with a stash buster project that also has stripes. It's always an exciting knit!

Inclinations Shawl, a stash buster project. 68" x 42.5"

2-row stripes with variegated yarns

At first, I thought I'd use a monochromatic blue yarn [Classic Shades from Universal Yarn] and interject brighter, more colorful stripes using Poems [Universal Yarn]. However, the more the variegated colors of Poems interacted, I became fond of the colorplay effects achieved within the single skeins.

Starting the Inclinations Shawl.

So, after the Classic Shades skein was used up, I busted through various skeins of Poems and let the colors in this variegated yarn play on its own terms across the rows. This is how the center glow was achieved with the lighter colored skeins of Poems.

Inclinations Shawl showing the lighter colors in the center.

I busted through 10 skeins of yarn from the stash. A nice dent, I'd say.

Over 10 skeins of yarn used.

When the remainder of the 10th skein of Poems was all brown and all the same value, I stopped knitting. By this time, I had 174 stitches on the needle and the shawl was well over 75" on the diagonal side. The last color change was a stripe of bright magenta... and ending on a bright note was my signal to wrap it up.

Striped, I-cord bind-off.

In the pattern, there were several options for a bind-off.  I chose the 2-yarn, striped I-cord version. The bind-off took quie a long time, but well worth the investment. 

Project Stats

Here are the specs for my Inclinations Shawl:

• Over 10 skeins of worsted weight yarn: 9+ skeins of Poems [100% wool, 109 yd, 50g]; and 1 skein of Classic Shades [30% wool, 70% dralon, 197 yd, 100 g]
• finished size: 68" x 42.5" with a hypotenuse of 78" (unblocked)
• size 5 needle
• 174 stitches at the bind-off
• 262 rows.

Frogging did occur!

I had a difficult time figuring out how to fix errors with the half Fisherman's rib stitch. The floats that are created when you knit the stitch below made it confusing for me. I tried a couple of times if I caught an error in one row beneath, but going down several rows was chaos.

Trying to fix mistakes several rows below was not successful.

Frogging did occur. Twice. With about 3 - 4 inches of knitting each time—at the wider side of the shawl. Not fun, but a cleaner result once it was re-knit. Luckily, the "stickiness" of the wool yarn helped preserve the live stitches so it was easier to get them back on the needle after ripping out the rows.

Frogged!

Make Nine 2023 progress: 2 of 9

This is my second Make Nine project for this year. It was finished 3 days prior to the start of The 100 Day Project in which I am participating. 

Make Nine 2023 worksheet: stash buster prompt fulfilled.

My Inclinations Shawl.

I've used this shawl several times already. It's warm yet light weight, squishy and snuggly. I love the color changes and I'm happy to have created something new with stash and leftover yarns.

The Inclinations Shawl: a great start to Make Nine 2023

A "yarn stash" project looks to be my Make Nine stash-buster project this year. Last week, I started knitting the Inclinations Shawl.

Starting the Inclinations Shawl for Make Nine 2023. 

Why I like the Inclinations Shawl for a stash buster knit

I was researching a portable project that was mindful and relaxing. It needed to be something interesting, but not involving a lot of complex brain power—like having to follow a pattern line by line and row by row. The Inclinations Shawl by Andrea Mowry, Drea Renee Knits, was the solution.

The Inclinations Shawl from the Drea Renee Knits web page.

This knit is "perfect in every way" for a portable project that uses leftovers—a stash buster. It's a project that's easy to pick up or put down and work when you have a few minutes here or there. (I actually knit a few rows while waiting in the parking lot for my carry-out this week.) 

This shawl's attributes include:

• colorwork,
• I-cord edges,
• a half Fisherman's rib stitch that elevates the knitting beyond garter stitch,
• an asymmetrical triangular shape,
• a non-critical gauge,
• colorwork that can be customized,
• flexible sizing—make it smaller or larger, as desired (or bind off when you're out of yarn),
• an easy-to-remember pattern in which you can "read the knitting."

With luck, I had several single and partial balls of variegated yarn in my stash that were the same weight and compatible fiber content that could be used—and used up!

This project ticks all the boxes for a Make Nine stash-buster!

Using leftover yarns from the stash

I'm using leftover and partial skeins of worsted weight Poems [100% wool] and Classic Shades [70% / 30% dralon/wool] from Universal Yarn. I've made projects with these variegated yarns in the past and the yarns are easy to work with and feel good in your hands. 

With several lonesome skeins of different colorways, it will be interesting to watch the interchange between the colors as the knitting progresses. I'm anxious to finish off the first skein and join another colorway.

Day 8 progress on the Inclinations Shawl stash buster project.

A plan for a quick finish

As January and February still have colder temps in store for us, I'm planning a fast finish for this shawl—so I can wrap up in this soft, wooly, squishy accessory. 

You know it's cold when there is a 2 or 3 kitty pile-up in the kitty beds.
Stan Leigh and Sox are snuggling together.

An added perk to using these yarns is there will be no tails to weave in. Because of the wool fiber content, the yarn tails can be felted together (or "spit spliced," as knitters affectionately call it) when joining a new skein. Splice... spit... felt... keep on knitting.

What could be faster... and easier??

Linen stitch dishcloths: a color study and portable stash buster

I diligently strive to meet the daily goal of my 2022 Create Daily tracker—doing something creative in stitch or mixed media every day. Portable projects that can accompany me on the road make achieving this goal possible. Over the last 3 months, knitted dishcloths have become my standard take-along stitch project... and they've been an intriguing study in color as well!

Three knitted dishcloths in linen stitch.

Attributes of the linen stitch 

Most of my knitted dishcloths are knit in linen stitch. Below is a photo showing 9 of them. The stitch pattern's attributes are reasons why I like this pattern for this project:

• the linen stitch pattern is easy to remember;
• the slip stitch in the sequence makes a tighter fabric structure that is conducive for using this knitted fabric in water... to wash dishes;
• it adapts well to using multiple colors of yarn;

And for the color study:

• the slip stitches cause different colors of yarn to interact with each other in a single row.

Linen stitch dishcloths using variou yarn color combinations.

A fun stash buster project

Using up partial skeins and leftover yarns works well for these small pieces. 

Cotton yarn stash.

The smaller yarn lengths allow experimenting with various color combinations on one dishcloth or perhaps on only a few rows. Because the slip stitch brings one color up (from the row below) into another, interesting things happen with color.

Color play with linen stitch.

Depending on the lengths of the yarn leftovers, I'll work with two or three solid colors, two variegated yarns, a solid and a variegated, or use one main yarn and work stripes with limited yards of other colors. It's fun to watch the textures emerge as the yarn slips through your fingers.

The linen stitch also offers interesting color play—and a knubby texture—on the back side of the work.

Linen stitch back side.

Other slip stitch patterns

The knitted dishcloths project was prompted by the Modern Daily Dishcloth Knit-along this summer. Other slip stitch patterns I've used for dishcloths are the brick stitch and Three-and-One Tweed. I've made 12 additional dishcloths since fulfilling the Slow Stitching prompt for Make Nine 2022 in early September.

Brick stitch (left) and Three-and-One Tweed (right) stitch patterns.

My most recent dishcloth used up a leftover ball of the turquoise yarn. Talk about playing "yarn chicken!" The last row was completed with only a few inches of yarn remaining.

Three-in-One Tweed dishcloth: one variegated yarn and one solid.

The edges of the dishcloths are crocheted—usually with two rows of single crochet.

Knitted dishcloths—a portable colorwork project.

As the yarn stash dwindles, the dishcloth stack continues to grow...

Improv knitting for my Make Nine stash-buster wrap

It's looking promising for a 9-for-9 completion rate for Make Nine 2020. This post documents the completion of my eighth finish—a yarn stash-buster knitting project. This is my Improv Garter Stitch wrap.

Knit wrap in garter stitch.

This making process spanned nearly the full year. It was started in January with a rough sketch and the "weave in the ends" step happened November 22, 2020. 

Garter Stitch wrap. Knit improvisationally with random stripes.
Finished size: 59" x 24"

Project parameters

For this Make Nine project, I wanted an easy, relaxing knit. Something that I could pick up at any time and just enjoy the knitting process—no challenging pattern to follow, no stitch counting, no repeated motifs to track. 

I chose "good ol' garter stitch." Garter stitch makes a stable, reversible fabric with no fuss. To use up stash leftover bits and balls of yarn, I incorporated randomly-placed stripes—to add interest to the design and the knitting. Below is a sketch/road map I did to determine an approximate size. After swatching (4 stitches per inch on size 5 needles), I had an idea for the number of stitches to cast on.

Wrap diagram.

To allow for the stripes to go in different directions, I used the log cabin technique to pick up stitches and knit in another direction. A little bit "Mondrian" with the dark outlines and boxes of color and a nod to a Hudson Bay blanket's stripes.

Here is the remainder of the ball when I decided to call it "finished."

The bind-off with just a wee bit of yarn remaining.

Make Nine 2020 stash-buster knit wrap.

Project stats

Yarn: Fibra Natura Heaven [Universal Yarn] from my yarn stash. Main color: chili pepper. 
Fiber Content: 50% Merino wool/50% silk. It has a light, springy feel but is quite warm.
Gauge: 4 sts/in on size 5 circular needle
Finished size: 24" x 59"; which was pretty close to the diagram.

Stan Leigh wanted to check it out while I was photographing.

I've been wearing this wrap a lot since it's been finished. I like the color, the weight and feel, and overall I'm very pleased with the end result. 

The silk fiber content makes this wrap light weight and drapey, but the wool makes it warm. Turns out it was a great yarn choice for a wrap!

Improv knit wrap is complete.

I'm sure another knit project will be on my Make Nine project list next year.

Make it faux

Have you ever knitted with a self-patterning yarn? It's so "faux" much fun! The "Twi-Fall" cap by Jennifer Stover (patten found on Ravelry) is a 2-evening knit (or one, if you keep at it).

"Twi-Fall" cap by Jennifer Stover in Classic Worsted Tapestry.

Using Classic Worsted Tapestry [Universal Yarn] in color: Party Time, this cap knits up in a pseudo Fair Isle pattern without the colorwork fuss… no floats, no charts, and only one strand. How easy is that???

A diagonal rib band is interesting yet is as easy as k2, p2.

You'll have to read how Jennifer came up with this diagonal rib pattern (ever try knitting in the dark during a double feature?). Cool effect and actually pretty easy. After analyzing the 4-row pattern, it's basically k2, p2 over an odd number of stitches. Note: Just ignore the beg of round marker as you come around each round and keep going with k2, p2... the two inch band will be finished in no time.

Add caption

Here's what this self-patterning yarn offers at the crown of the cap—a somewhat Impressionistic-style stripe-in-the-round. I'm also curious to see what this yarn will do on Tetiana Otruta's Star Noro Hat. I have about a half of the Party Time ball left… I may try it. Faux, faux, faux!

Poetry in Motion vest, a cavalcade of color

Poetry in Motion vest by Deby Lake for Universal Yarn.

It's hard to put down a soft, fluffy yarn with a sumptuous color palette and so many possibilities! While working with Poems Chunky yarn in my Short Row knitting workshop, I couldn't help but delve into another project with this lovely, chunky weight yarn.

(Heads up, knitters! This pattern is a FREE download!)

This is the Poetry in Motion vest, designed by Deby Lake for Universal Yarn. It is knit in one piece and the construction doesn't interrupt the rhythm you get into while knitting the eaily-memorized slip stitch pattern. It allows you to enjoy the anticipation of the next color that will flow from the ball of yarn, up through your fingers and onto your needles.

Poetry in Motion vest (back view).

Construction is simple: starting at the vest's lower back hem, you knit up to the neck and continue over each shoulder to knit the left and right fronts.

Finishing is minimal: the sides are the only seams. (How easy is that??) The armhole trims and a ribbed collar are knitted additions.

Poetry in Motion vest.

I used Ultraviolet for CC1 and Reverie (with leftover bits from Sunken Treasure) as the CC2 color. Because of this color combination, I can wear mine with 5 different tops—each a different color. Any of Poems Chunky's beautiful colorways should knit up just as captivating. (See the Old World Plum/Mantra combo on the pattern (left).) With the long color change of this yarn, you might even be able to use all the same color but start at different places in the balls. Swatch it and see!

With this chunky yarn, the project is quick to knit. The stitch pattern is interesting but easy to remember. You could spotlight a particular color or value by choosing a specific color sequence when knitting the collar. Or, with this 100% wool single, employ the wet splice joining method and create your own color sequence. (My workshop attendees had blast with this technique!)

So many possibilities! Relax and enjoy the color parade! 
And, let me know if you try this project.

Ruffles, Diamonds and other yarn creations

We had lots of fun and laughter at my demonstration on self-ruffling yarn. This scarf is a quick, one ball project that doesn't require a lot of concentration—except for keeping those 8 or 9 stitches on the needles. We used Spectra by Universal Yarn for this fun project. Two of my students model their creations.

Left: Marie used Spectra Volcanic.
Right: Irene models Spectra Larkspur Glen.

One of the Diamond Girls, Sue, completed her mitered diamond vest, the project she chose in my Mitered Diamond Adventure workshop. She added a knitted band along the collar and sleeve edges of her piece. A hook and eye closure completed the look. It turned out fabulous!

Vest from my Mitered Diamond Adventure knitting workshop. 

My Knitting in the Round students are looking fashionable in their completed Retro Cloches with a knitted  flower embellishments. 

Student projects from Knitting in the Round class.

Here are other yarny creations that my students have completed. We love Show and Tell at classes and workshops. Enjoy!

Left: Linda accented a red Retro Cloche from Knitting in the Round with black trim.
She also knit a coordinating red scarf to go with it.
Right: Sharon used a zigzag lace pattern for this cute hat.

My talented students have other needle art skills as well. This is a crocheted baby blanket. Lovely!

A beautiful baby blanket crocheted by Marie.

We even knit for our 4-legged furry friends. Here are two doggie sweaters, knit by Jane, that any fashion-forward dog would be proud to wear.

Jane's colorwork dog sweater. Notice the pocket on the top of this sweater.

A sporty striped dog sweater for the same lucky little dog.