One Skein Knitting Patterns
Have a luxury yarn you love but could only afford to get one skein? Or have a skein leftover from another project? Or are on tight schedule or budget for your next project? Try these projects that take just one skein or ball of the recommended yarn.
Note that it is a good idea to read the yarn requirements carefully if you are not using the recommended yarn. And swatch! Results with different yarns and different sizes may require more than one skein.
To get the knitting patterns, scroll down the page to the individual pattern you want and click on the link to that pattern.
These patterns are not my designs but links to other designers who have generously shared their patterns. If you have questions about how to knit a specific pattern, please contact the designer directly.
All links on this site are for informational purposes, but please note that some links are to affiliate sellers that pay me a small commission on purchases.
Free Knitting Patterns
2 Row Repeat Big Rib Cowl
This large twisted cowl features a 2 row repeat fishermen rib stitch and is knit with one skein of the recommended yarn. Quick knit in super bulky yarn. Designed by Caron Design Team. Great with multi-colored yarn
Butterfly Beret
Ingrid Fallon designed this hat for Red Heart that uses one skein of Red Heart Boutique Midnight. Great for multi-color yarn!
Greater Than One, Two, Three
This slipped stitch pattern herringbone cowl uses just 190 – 200 yards (174 – 183 m) of fingering yarn. Three versions – two Moebius and one regular circular cowl. Designed by Amy Williams to showcase multicolored, specifically Noro, yarn.
Sagebrush
Hanna Breetz designed this lace shrug that uses just 250 – 280 yards (229 – 256 m) of worsted yarn.
Ribbed Ear Warmer
Kate Morgan’s headband features ribbing and faux cables in a pattern that takes less than half a skein of the recommended yarn. Pictured project by crazyartfarm
One Ball Three Hour Cowl
Nancy Queen at Nobleknits designed this basketweave cowl to be knit in the round in three hours. Other knitters who worked on the pattern did not report their times.
© neuroscientist
Shrug This
This shrug design by Toni Kayser Weiner is featured in One-Skein Wonders: 101 Yarn-Shop Favorites and is worked seamlessly from the top down. Takes 153 yards (140 m). I would recommend you read the project notes of other knitters and do a swatch. Many have said the shrug came out too small for them.
Her Bobble Hat
Cathy Payson designed this cute hat with optional pompom for Red Heart that takes one skein of yarn.
Glitz at the Ritz Shawl
Helen Stewart’s lovely lace shawlette is designed specifically to be knitted from just one skein of sock weight yarn. Add beads for extra glamour.
One Ball Lace Cowl
Nancy J. Thomas designed this easy lace cowl that’s a quick knit with one skein of multi-color chunky yarn.
by lunona
Newborn Baby Blanket
Easy baby blanket by Altadena Green uses just one skein of recommended yarn. Use more to make larger size. Size around 50 by 50 cm
Bamboo Stitch Wristers
I love the bamboo stitch — it’s so easy and pretty. Lorna Miser designed these fingerless mitts that only take one ball of yarn. Great with multi-color yarn!
© lmknits
Noro Spiral One-skein Hat
Designed by Manuèle Ducret. Available in English, Spanish and German
Light and Up Shawl
Caroline Wiens designed this easy to knit shawl with eyelets. The shawl is made of one skein of fingering weight yarn on larger size needles. It’s great for variegated yarn! Uses 400 – 440 yards (366 – 402 m) of fingering yarn.
Lacy Market Bag
Kristin Omdahl designed this tote for Red Heart that helps save the environment and yarn! Uses about 307 yds/ 281 m
One Skein, One Night, Seed Stitch Tall Cowl
Diana Levine designed this easy cowl pattern with plenty of photos. This link is to the web archive page since it appears that her blog is no longer available.
Vite Cowl
Designed by Kristi Johnson, this is a one-skein project knit in super bulky yarn. The leaf lacy motif reflects the name Vite (grapevine in Italian). Uses 121 yards (111 m) of yarn.
Patterns for Purchase
Morgentau Shawl
This lovely lace shawlette takes just one skein of fingering / sock yarn but the pattern includes options for making a larger version, using different weights of yarn, and adding beads. Great for multi-color yarn
One Skein Wonders
Judith Durant has created a series of books with projects that use just one skein of yarn. Some of the patterns are in this post.
- See all the books at Alibris. Many are available for less than a dollar!
- 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders
- One-Skein Wonders: 101 Yarn-Shop Favorites
- One-Skein Wonders for Babies: 101 Knitting Projects for Infants & Toddlers
- Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders: 101 Patterns That Go Way Beyond Socks!
- Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders
- Lace One Skein Wonders: 101 Projects Celebrating the Possibilities of Lace
Lace Fingerless Gloves
These elegant gloves only use one ball of worsted weight yarn.
3 Beginner Baby Hats With 1 Skein
Knit all three hats with 1 skein each of Bernat® Giggles™ using U.S. size 7/4.5mm double-point and 16″ circular needles. Finished sizes: 14 (16, 18)”.
Coneflower Scarf
This one ball scarf by KnitChicGrace uses drop stitches to create a lacy floral design. Can easily be customized to make a shawl.
Darting Diagonals Fingerless Gloves
Knit on straight needles and seamed, this is one skein project.
Falling Leaves Beret
This lace hat by ApiaryKnits is a perfect one skein project, because it takes approximately 175 yards of worsted weight yarn.
Latest from Interweave
In Print or Digital Editions. Click on pics to see patterns and info. 
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Terry Matz
Terry is a knitting late-bloomer, learning to knit as an adult from Internet tutorials, because she wanted a craft that was useful, fun, and portable. Knitting hats for cancer patients inspired her to design her own patterns—available for free at her blog, intheloopknitting.com. Terry met her husband Ken at a science fiction convention and moved to the Kansas City area to be with him more than 30 years ago. Terry supports her yarn stash by creating websites and other digital media. Terry firmly believes in Knitting in Public—it's a great conversation starter!