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. Updated 1/16/2022
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 Patterns
Hidden Gusset
Fingerless mitts or gloves with simple yet elegant cable design suitable for women and men alike. Uses one skein 180 - 240 yards (165 - 219 m) of Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Mone Dräger for Knitty.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- See more 1 Skein Mitts Knitting Patterns
- Consider supporting Knitty on Patreon
7 am Legwarmers
Quick and easy pattern. Uses one skein of worsted yearn for size S and M legwarmers, but for L you’ll need two skeins. Designed by Paula Niskasaari for Knitty.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the recommended Manos del Uruguay Alegría Grande yarn at Amazon
- See more Leg Warmer Knitting Patterns
Camille Beanie
Slouchy hat knit with a 4 row repeat Cable Lace and a 4 row repeat Cable Rib stitch. Uses one skein (150 yards) of the recommended yarn. Sport weight yarn. Designed by Berroco Design Team.
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.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended Noro Shiraito yarn on Amazon
- See more Colorful Cowl Knitting Patterns
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
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. Pictured project by neuroscientist
More Free Patterns
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.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get the recommended beads on Etsy
- Get more Lace Shawl Knitting Patterns
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.
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. Pictured project by lunona
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the recommended yarn on Etsy
- See more Easy Baby Blanket Knitting Patterns
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!
One Ball Shawl
Make this elegant leaf lace shawl with just one ball of Shimmer yarn!
Noro Spiral One-skein Hat
Designed by Manuèle Ducret. Available in English, Spanish and German. Pictured project by lmknits
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.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get bulky yarn for this project on Etsy
- See more Cowl Knitting Patterns
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.
Patterns for Purchase
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 Amazon
- 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
One Skein Chalice Scarf
A very pretty lace pattern that only uses basic decreases and yarn overs evolves nicely as it runs the length of the scarf. Uses one skein, 230 yards (210 m), of the recommended lace yarn. Designed by SweaterBabe.
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
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)”.
Falling Leaves Beret
This lace hat by ApiaryKnits is a perfect one skein project, because it takes approximately 175 yards of worsted weight yarn.
