FO Friday- Forest cuff

I have been trying to finish up WIPS. My plan to avoid them and work on small stash projects only at weekends seems to have failed. I just can't sit still with nothing to do in the evenings!

This is one of those little projects that really should take an evening or two, but it got pushed into a bag when I needed to check the pattern and ignored for a few weeks. I finally finished it as part of the Playful Day Ravelry group stash busting challenge.

Pattern: Pretty twisted by Cat Wong

Yarn: Dream in color smooshy in Jungle

Needle: 2.25mm

Mods: Worked medium length but large width to make a wider cuff.

This is a great pattern, it uses just a little yarn and a couple of buttons to make a gorgeous cuff.  It is great for stash busting and would make a perfect present.

The pattern is easy to follow (Knitty patterns usually are) and has a couple of variations to make different cuffs. Although I am not keen on repeating patterns I think I might make some more of these, either as gifts or for me.

The yarn was leftover from making socks. I received it in the Playful Day swap so it seemed appropriate to use it for some of the stash busting challenge. It is smooth and heavenly. I love getting yarns that are hard to find in the UK.

The buttons have been lurking in my stash for a while. I don't get that excited about most buttons, apart from wooden ones. The fact they are leaf shaped just seals the deal.

Not much more to say on it really, just yay all round!

I have been working on a longer term WIP, finishing up a cardigan that has been on the needles for ages. It is at the point where there is not much left to do, so of course I get bored and want to start something new. I have been bribing myself with super quick knits to do sections (that is sad right, bribing myself to work on my hobbies?!). It is going to be the focus of my Easter knitting, so I am hoping I will have it ready to show you by next week. Fingers crossed.

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.

s

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.

s

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!

s

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

s

s

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.

s
s
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.
s

s

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.

s

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!