These sweater, poncho, and other clothing projects are great ideas to use up your leftover and stash yarn. Many of the patterns are free. Updated 12/2/22
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
Watercolor Poncho
Ruana style poncho features an open front and sides, trendy stripes, an oversized tassel belt, knit it garter stitch with verticle ridges. Designed for 7 colors, this is great for mini skeins or stashbusting. Designed by Knitting with Chopsticks. Aran weight yarn. Web version is free. PDF is available for purchase.
Mimas Sweater
Short-sleeved sweater with color blocking and intarsia diamonds. Sizes 34 (37¾, 41¾, 45¾)in. Designed for at least 3 colors, it's great for stashbusting and leftover yarn. Designed by Ana Sanchez for Artesano. Fingering weight yarn.
Baw Baw Sweater
Long sleeved tunic length pullover with a flattering flared body. Knit seamlessly from the top down in all knit stitches. Designed to be knit with 2 strands of sock yarn held together it's perfect for stashbusting. But it could also be adapted to one strand of worsted weight. Designed by Sandra Levey
Color Waves Tank Top
Sleeveless lace tank top featuring ripples, zigzags, slip stitch patterns, and more to create a fun design. Sizes 1X, L, M, S. Designed for at least 8 colors, it's great for stashbusting and leftover yarn. Designed by Lion Brand. Worsted weight yarn.
Less is More Cardigan
Top down cardigan sweater knit in stripes of small amounts of yarn so it's great for leftover yarn or mini-skeins. Sizes S to 3X. Designed by Amy King of Knitty. DK weight yarn.
Modular Pullover
Sweater knit with striped garter stitch squares. Sizes 1X, L, M, S. Designed for at least 5 colors, it's great for stashbusting and leftover yarn. Designed by Mari Lynn Patrick for Lion Brand. Worsted weight yarn.
Scrappy Duster
Long sleeved cardigan knit with garter stitch in simple rectangular shapes and tons of spare scrap yarn! The color-change tie offs at the end of the rows are integrated into the funky side fringe, eliminating the need to weave in ends. Size is customizable. Designed by Regina Weiss of Morale Fiber.
Colorblock Slipover
Sleeveless sweater or vest knit sideways with 8 different colors. Great for stashbusting. Sizes XS/S, M/L, 1X/2X. Designed by Irina Poludnenko for Lion Brand. Super Bulky weight yarn.
Day Shift Sweater
Striped pullover is designed to be knit with mini-skeins or leftover yarn. It can be knit flat or in the round. Sizes Bust 34 (38, 41, 46, 52, 59, 63) inches. Designed by Stacy Collingham. Fingering weight yarn.
Lancaster Pullover
Sampler sweater knit with 7 different stitches that are a 2 or 4 row repeat of cables, twisted stitches, and textured stitches. Great for stashbusting. Sizes XS/S, M/L, 1X/2X. Designed by Irina Poludnenko for Lion Brand. Worsted weight yarn.
Quilted Cardigan
Cocoon cardigan shrug constructed by making a square using the Ten Stitch Blanket method, folding it in half and seaming up the sides, then adding the sleeves. Designed to use up scrap or lefotver yarn, it's a great stashbuster. Sizes is customizable. Designed by Katrina Walser for Knitty. Worsted weight yarn.
Deep V-Neck Pullover
Tunic length pullover sweater with marled stockinette designed for 7 different colorways so it's great for mini skeins or stashbusting. Sizes XS/S (M/L, 1X/2X). Designed by Teresa Chorzepa for Lion Brand. DK weight yarn - 2 strands held together.
Remnants Shrug
Available again.This shrug is knit as a flat rectangle and then seamed to form sleeves and lace edging is added on sleeves and collar. Use leftover stash and scrap fingering yarn in stripes to get the multicolor look in the picture. Designed by Andre Sue
More Free Patterns
Colorwork Poncho And Fingerless Gloves
Poncho and matching fingerless mitts knit with a 14 row 10 stitch repeat flower stranded pattern. Designed for 8 colors, it's great for stashbusting and leftover yarn. Designed by Irina Poludnenko for Lion Brand. DK weight yarn.
Georgine Cardigan
Long-sleeved cardigan sweater trimmed with stripes of what looks like daisy or flower stitch. The trim is great way to use up scrap or lefotver yarn. Sizes S (M) L (XL) XXL. Designed by Karen S. Lauger for Filcolana. Fingering weight yarn.
Broken Stripe Cardigan
Cardigan knit in an all over brocade stitch with geometric patchwork. Great for stashbusting. Sizes S–L (1X/2X). Designed by Nicky Epstein for Lion Brand. Worsted weight yarn.
Le Pouf Sweater
Simple top down stockinette cropped pullover sweater with a faded marl look designed for at least 5 different colorways so it's great for mini skeins or stashbusting. Sizes XS to 5X. Designed by Beata Jezek for Hedgehog Fibres. Fingering weight yarn - 2 strands held together.
Boat Neck Shell
Striped sleeveless top with 2 striping options designed for at least 6 different colors so it's great for mini skeins or stashbusting. Sizes XS to 5X. Designed by Caron. Worsted weight yarn.
Color Block Tank
Flattering sleeveless top designed for at least 5 different colors so it's great for mini skeins or stashbusting. Sizes XS to 5X. Designed by Caron. Worsted weight yarn.
Doreen Striped Pullover
Easy oversized sweater knit flat. Sizes S (M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X). Designed for 5 colors, there are plenty of options to incorporate more and use up your stash and leftover yarn. DK weight yarn. Designed by Lisa Carnahan for Lion Brand.
2 ways to get the pattern
- Get the free WEB VERSION knitting pattern at Joann
- Get the free PDF VERSION knitting pattern and kit at Lion Brand - pattern link is below kit information
- Get the recommended Touch of Merino Yarn at Joann
Petra Sweater
Cropped slightly oversized pullover sweater with 3/4 sleeves knit with 5 different yarn of different textures, colors, and even weights. Sizes (S) M (L) XL (XXL). Designed by Sanne Bjerregaard of Ficolana. Aran weight yarn (for lighter weights, knit with multiple strands held together). Available in English, Danish, and German, Italian.
Saige Hooded Cardigan
Child's poncho style sweater with hood. The 5 colors of sock yarn in the sample create a patchwork look. You can use more colors or even leftover yarn, so it's great for stashbusting. Sizes Toddler/Child 1, 2, 4, 6. Designed by Berroco Design Team. Fingering weight yarn.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the recommended Berroco Sox yarn at Amazon
- See more Baby and Child Hoodie Knitting Patterns
Dusty Party Dress
Fun child's dress with stripes, flowers, and checkerboard designs. Designed for at least 5 colors, it's great for stashbusting. Sizes Age 2- 11 yrs. Designed by Paintbox Yarns. DK weight yarn.
Zig Zag Dress
Irina Poludnenko designed this lace dress with a skirt that is knit in the round with chevron lace. Sizes S/M, L/1X. Aran weight yarn. Great for stash or multi-color yarn! Pictured project by kristyglass
Color Swatch Sweater
Color blocked pullover sweater knit flat. Great for mini skeins or stashbusting. Sizes XS/S, M, L, XL, 2/3XL, 4/5XL. Designed by Yarnspirations Design Studio. Bulky weight yarn.
Mixed Media Poncho
This poncho is a work of art with colorful stitch patterns and stripes.
Patterns for Purchase
Scrappy Happy Tank
Sleeveless tank top designed to use up scraps of leftover yarn. Sizes 34 (36, 38, 40, 42, 44) inches. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Amanda Hester Smith.
Tilly Vest
Sleeveless top or vest that's a quick and fun to knit. Use up all your scrap yarn for this pattern! Sizes 2XS-5XL. Takes around a day to make. This pattern can be knit in the round, and flat with straight needles (both versions are available in pattern!) Designed by KnitStitchRepeatShop.
VanCampen Cardigan
Color-blocked cardigan knit in garter stitch with a shawl collar. Designed for 4 colors, it's great for stashbusting. Sizes Chest: 37 (40, 44, 48, 52, 56)". Sport weight yarn. Designed by Sandi Prosser.
Stashbuster Sweater
Oversized pullover sweater worked in varying stripes so it's great for leftover stash yarn, though the pattern includes instructions on how to recreate the pictured sweater. Sizes To fit bust, 32/34, 36/38, 40/42, 44/46, 48/50 inches. The main yarn weight is worsted but you can sneak in oddments of DK and aran. Designed by Rosee Woodland.
Saturn Sweater
Cropped jumper designed to be knitted using up leftover yarn ends (or any kind of DK yarn you like!). Contains all the detailed instructions you need on how to achieve the marbled colour effect. This is a straightforward pattern that would be suitable for beginners and advanced knitters alike. Designed by Charlie Millar who also sells the finished sweaters.
Izmir Pullover
Textured women’s sweater featuring stripes of different slipped stitch patterns. Worked in the round from the top down. Designed for three colors of fingering or sport-weight yarn, you could also use more colors, so it's great for stashbusting. Sizes: XS (S) M (L) XL (2X) 3X (4X). Designed by Irina Anikeeva.
Weekend Pullover Sweater
Short cropped sweater with long balloon sleeves, rib cuffs, and a V neck collar. Designed for 6 colors so it's great for stashbusting. Sizes: XS (S) M (L) XL (2X) 3X (4X). DK weight yarn. Designed by Neringa Ruke.
Tiny Dancer Sweater
Pullover designed to help you use up a skein or two of variegated sock yarn, knit with slipped stitch colorwork so you only ever use 1 color on any row, and slip a stitch here and there to make it look like stranded colorwork. Sizes: Finished Bust Measurements: 33 ½(36 ½, 38 ¾, 42 ½, 45 ¼, 48, 51 ¼, 54 ¾, 57 ¼, 60, 62 ¾, 66 ¾)”. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Mary Annarella.
Swinging on the Gate Sweater
Pullover with separate cowl knit in 2 row repeat linen stitch on the bias to form a large plaid design. Sizes to fit bust S: 82-89 cm / 32-35 in; M: 90-97 cm / 35.5-38 in; L: 98-107 cm / 38.5-42 in; XL: 108-119 cm / 42.5-47 in; XXL: 120-131 cm / 47-51.5 in. Great for stash and scrap yarn! DK weight yarn. Designed by Susanne Daum
Ninilchik Swoncho
Pullover poncho sweater with sleeves and an icelandic stranded colorwork on yoke. DK weight yarn. Designed by Caitlin Hunter. 2 sizes, fits XS-M, L-3X
Postcards Tee
The masterful placement of the blocks in this top is what makes the finished look really pop — plus the unique use of complementary colors and textural yarn. S (M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL)
Mezzo Cardigan
This cocoon style cardigan features offset stripe motif and marled color scheme created by holding two strands together. Knit flat in two pieces and seamed. 4 sizes. Designed by Alexis Winslow
