Techniques- The scrap down

This is not really a technique, more of a personal mini crusade to free the neglected mini balls of yarn that lurk abandoned in the corners of stash boxes all over the World.

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I finished a project at the start of the week (more on that tomorrow), and was left with a familiar sight to all knitters- a walnut sized ball of yarn, maybe 10g at the most. Usually I would pack it neatly back in plastic and tuck it into my stash tub. To be ignored for the rest of ever.

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As I am making an effort to cut down on my stash I decided that mini balls are not allowed back into the box, projects must be found!

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A quick search on Ravelry showed loads of patterns, from my little leftover ball I made these three:

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The top is a 5 stitch band of seed stitch, a button hole at one end and a button at the other and tada! A bracelet.

The middle is a three strand cable bracelet, pattern here.

The bottom is a beer/coffee cozy bracelet- you wear it as a cuff and can wrap at around a hot coffee/cold beer to keep your hand comfy while you drink, then back on the wrist. Pattern here.

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They are a great way to use up pretty yarns, and to show off favourite buttons (I particularly like wooden ones, and these were a bargain). I wouldn't usually have all three on at once though.
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Other small projects I have found include headbands. hairbands, a huge range of bracelets, bangles and wristbands, more cup cozies and flowers to use for decoration.

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As well as using up those yarn nuggets, and thus freeing up stash space they are quick to make. And having a stock of them makes for great emergency presents/forward planning. Although to be honest I like these three so much I am keeping them, in fact I may like them more than the main project!