Free quick projects designed to use up those leftover bits of yarn. Many use less than 25 yards! Updated 2/4/24
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.
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Free Patterns
Sweaters for Purse Size Tissue Packets
Knit flat as a rectangle, folded, and seamed. Only takes about 60 yards of fingering weight yarn so it's great use for scrap sock yarn. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed by kmkat. Pictured projects by mooncalf and stitchingnut.
Cochlear Implant for Toys
The Cochlear Implant is a device that helps to provide a sense of sound to a person who has severe hearing loss. This toy accessory for dolls, plushies, or other toys is an easy way to add inclusivity and diversity to play. This pattern includes 3 sizes of implant. Great use for scrap DK yarn. Designed by Victoria Brown.
Checkered Pan Handle Cozies
Protect your hands from hot skillet handles and use up scrap yarn with these covers by Stephanie Sun.
Rosebud Cord Keeper
What a clever charming way to keep your earbud or charger cords from tangling! This knit flower has a pipecleaner in the i-cord stem so you can wrap it around your cords neat and pretty! Great use for scrap DK or worsted yarn. Designed by Erin Kate Archer. Because the active web page is missing the photos, I'm linking to the archive page with the photos.
Drip Catcher
"To Catch A Drip" is an easy versatile cozy soaks up drips teapot spouts and bottles before they can get on your clothes or furniture. It also is a great cozy for teapot lid handles and to protect your thumb while you sew or craft. Great use for scrap worsted yarn. Designed by Whims C3.
Facial Scrubbies
Less than 10 yards of cotton yarn creates these cute and useful face scrubbers. Designed by Knits by West. Great for gift baskets!
Kitchen Towel Holder
Easy waffle stitch towel holder uses a clever construction to hold the towels. Just wrap the flat knit piece around a handle, pull the i-cord loop through a “buttonhole” and hang your towel through the loop. Uses just 5 – 10 yards (5 – 9 m) so it’s perfect for scrap yarn. Designed by Marcia J. Prill. Pictured project by kpet
Ice Cream Cozy
The Gelato Hug pattern keeps your hands warm while enjoying ice cream. It features decreases to make a nice flat bottom surface. Great for stash and scrap yarn! The pattern is designed for a 4 oz container but I think it could easily be adapted to larger sizes. Designed by Stacey Lee
Mandala
This mandala is knitted back and forth, then joined and blocked to shape. It’s knitted with scraps of 4 ply yarn and measures about 26 cm / 10 “ across. A felt backing gives it more weight so that it can be used as a mat.. Designed by Frankie Brown
Earbud Covers
Knit soft colorful cozies to replace earbud covers. Uses just 15 yards of scrap sock fingering yarn. Designed by MJ Saunders
Mug or Teacup Handle Sweater
Knit a flat rectangle of 10 to 20 yards, add buttons to fasten around a handle, and you have an easy cozy to keep your fingers comfortable when handling hot cups. Designed by DaniDo Crafty. Pictured project by KatieDaugherty
- Get the free knitting pattern at the Internet archive
- See the Ravelry page
- Get a Take Life One Cup at a Time mug
- See more Craft Tool Knitting Patterns
Traffic Cones
These traffic cone softies are a great use for scrap yarn – especially orange – and can be used as human or cat toys. Designed by Sarah Jenkins. Pictured projects by Csorrels805 and MrsZoom. Rated easy by Ravelrers.
EZ as pi Headphone Covers
Transform your hard or worn out headphones with scraps of your favorite sock yarn knit into soft colorful cozies. Designed by Jocelyn Blair. Pictured projects by elizanca who made modifications and aKnitOnTheSide
Modern Quilt Wrap
This wrap/oversized scarf is created with the mitered-square method of color knitting, as effortless as working in stripes, but the results are far more impressive. Great use for stash or scrap yarn! Designed by Mags Kandis. Pictured projects by karinhoja and summerinatlanta.
Wine Glass Slip-on Coaster
This little cozy slips on the bottom of a glass or goblet and allows you to put a wine glass anywhere you are while protecting furniture from rings. Uses just 30 yards of yarn so it’s great for scrap yarn. Designed by Terry Morris. Pair a set with wine glasses or wine for a great gift!
More Free Patterns
Badge Holder Cozy
So you have to wear a badge? You don’t have to make it boring. This stockinette cover is knit in the round from center out to fit standard-sized retractable reel ID badge holder. It’s the perfect way to show off a leftover bit of pretty sock or lace weight yarn and to display your love of knitting at work. Designed by E.B. Fouts-Palmer. Pictured projects by ekellyo and sarahmags who added a decorative button.
- Get the free knitting pattern for fingering weight version
- Get the free knitting pattern for lace weight version
- Get retractable reel badge holder at Amazon
Protect-Your-Floor Socks
Jodi Lewanda came up with these clever furniture leg socks for Red Heart. Cute, practical, and a great use for scrap yarn!
Wrist Tool Belt for Knitters
Turn your scrap yarn into something you can use for your knitting – a bracelet that holds the knitting tools you most frequently need to get at such as stitch markers, cable needles, crochet hook. Make it in any stitch pattern and any width you like. Fasten with a button or use a stretchy knit to slip on and off. Designed by Judy Vallas. Pictured project by laraghdaniel who used less than 50 yards of yarn.
Shadow Magic Pillow
This cushion cover is created from mitered magic squares with their own shadow so that the colors seem to float above the surface. Designed by Frankie Brown. Less than 10g of each of the bright colors is used to knit a cushion so this is a good project for using up small amounts of yarn.
Lip Balm Holder
This Chapstick cozy is knit with ribbing to hold your lip balm or lipstick snugly. Loop can attach to key ring, lanyard, and more. Only uses 10 yards of scrap yarn. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Dawn L.E. Riden. Pictured project by atbixby
Fantasy Flower Napkin Rings
Easy knitting pattern by Scarlet Taylor from Red Heart. Each flower is knit in 3 sets of 4 petals. Great stash buster!
Clock Cozy
This Colorful Clockwork Cozy by Retrobaby is very easy. She knit a strip in garter stitch and fastened the ends together, crocheted a neat edge for the front (though you could knit a selvedge), then gathered the back edge with thread to hold it around the clock edge. Use your imagination and your scrap yarn to create a unique piece of home decor. MrsKnitsalot used a zigzag chevron lace pattern on her clock. Marijke11 adapted the pattern to cover the edge of patio table (no project notes unfortunately!).
Easy Outline Shawl
This easy rectangular wrap or scarf was designed specifically to use up scraps of sock yarn or mini skeins. It’s length, width, and color scheme are easily customizable. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Beata Jezek for Hedgehog Fibres. Pictured project by Splendorfalls
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the recommended Hedgehog Fibres Yarn on Etsy
- See more Scrap Yarn Shawl Knitting Patterns
Sweater Key Chain Covers
This set of miniature sweaters will keep your keys from scratching up your purse contents, designed by Berroco.
Lacy Candle Holders
These pretty cozies for glass candle jars are perfect for scrap lace yarn.Two sizes. Designed by by Rae Blackledge for Willow Yarns.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
Get more knitting patterns by Rae Blackledge- Get glass candle holders on Amazon
Earbud Pouch
Mary Keenan designed this pouch that keeps earbuds safe and untangled and looks great too! Knit in the round, you can make this in the time it takes to watch a movie. Great use for leftover yarn and multi-color yarn!
Scrap Bag
This tote is knit in slip stitch colorwork with short lengths of scrap yarn of different colors so it’s the perfect stash buster for small amounts of yarn. Insert plastic canvas in the front back and base to give it sturdiness. The finished bag is 28 cm wide, 27 cm tall and 8 cm deep. Designed by Frankie Brown.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- Get plastic canvas on Amazon
- See more Yarn Project Tote Knitting Patterns
Plant Cozies
These fair isle covers in three sizes are perfect for dressing up pots. Perfect for housewarming, hostess, get well, and teacher gifts. Each cozy uses small amounts of each color of yarn so it’s a great project for scraps and oddments. Designed by SpillyJane for Knit Picks.
Flip Flop Straps
Don’t like the plastic straps on your flip flops? Replace them with the soft knit straps of this Flippy Floppies pattern. Perfect for scrap yarn because it uses less than 25 yards. Designed by SnowBlue. With a pictured project by paintingitblue
Mini Key Ring Purses
Kathy Sasser designed these cute key ring fobs for Red Heart. Perfect for scrap yarn and multi-color yarn!
Pan Handle Cozies
Easy quick pattern for insulating covers to protect hands from hot handles. Three designs. Great for scrap yarn and quick housewarming gift! Designed by Sharon Fuller
Key Cozies
These tiny key sweaters are great for identifying your keys, keeping them warm in winter, using up stash yarn and learning Magic Loop techniques. Designed by Liat Gat who has included an instructional video.
Luggage Finders
You’ll always be able to find your suitcase when you give it the personal touch of knitted tags designed by Kathy Sasser for Skacel.
Patterns for Purchase
Dolly Pencil Toppers
10 doll pencil toppers quick and easy to knit with your small lengths of brightly coloured yarn. Knit flat on two needles. Makes a perfect party prize, favour bag filler, fund raisers at charity events, and are very popular with customers at craft fairs and bazaars. DK weight yarn. Designed by Dollytime.
Coral Reef Cowl
A great stash buster, this shoulder cozy cowl is knit using slip stitches, with only one colour worked at a time, with a picot edge. Designed for mini skeins, it's also a great way too use up fingering weight scraps. Designed by Bea Naretto.
Butterfly Wreath
Wreath decorated with 3D butterflies and flowers. Featuring five popular British butterflies (pictured from top to bottom): Orange-Tip, Common Blue, Cabbage White, Holly Blue, and Yellow Brimstone. Perfect for spring or summer decor. Designed by Amanda Berry. DK weight yarn. Great use for scrap yarn!
Sherbert Bear
This colorful bear is knit with easy intarsia patchwork that makes it great for scrap yarn. 20 cm tall. Designed by Sachiyo Ishii. The file needs to be unzipped after download.
Happy Scrappy Shawl
Triangle shaped shawl with stripes of leftover scrap and stash yarn and finished with fringe. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by All Knit Up Designs. Great use for scrap yarn!
Wee House Brooch and Key Ring
Small house knitted on straight needles with sewn on embellishments. Customize for great housewarming gift. Approximately 4.5cm (2ins) x 3.5cm (1.5 ins). DK weight yarn. Designed by handknittedthings. Great use for scrap yarn!
- See more pics and get the knitting pattern on Etsy
- Get the Heart Shaped Key Rings like those pictured at Amazon
- Get Home Sweet Home ribbon like those pictured at Etsy
- See more House Themed Knitting Patterns
Wrapped Up Baby and Baby Bear in blanket and basket
The baby in both patterns are the same size so they are interchangable with the basket and blanket. Knit flat on straight needles. The babies are about 9cm (3 1/2″) long and 7cm (3″) wide. The basket measures about 13cm (5″) long and 9cm (3 1/2″) wide. Designed by Kookla Creations who allows the selling of finished items. Great use for scrap yarn!
Polygon Blanket
This afghan is made of individual garter stitch hexagons that are knit individually and assembled. Great stash buster and portable project! Blanket as shown: 29 1/2″W x 37 1/2″L
Googlers
This finger / hand puppet toy is knit with about 10 1/2 m (11 1/2) yards of yarn. Perfect for scrap yarn! They also only take about 30-40 minutes to make so they are the perfect last minute gift or stocking stuffer. Knit flat on straight needles. About 6 1/2cm (2 1/2″) tall. Designed by Kookla Creations who allows the selling of finished items.
Happy Go Scrappy Socks
This sock pattern is designed to use up all those leftovers from previous socks. Great use for scrap and stash yarn! Designed by Anita Grahn. Available in English, Danish or Swedish
50 Yards of Fun: Knitting Toys from Scrap Yarn
More than 30 irresistible toys by Rebecca Danger that use only about 50 yards of yarn and can be used for ornaments, gifts, mobiles, and baby toys.
Razor Cover
This razor cover is designed to protect from razor cuts when your razor is packed in your luggage, gym bag, or purse. It easily slips on and off your razor head. And slipping it on when the razor is wet serves to block the cover to the razor shape. This knitting pattern is seamless and works up very quickly. Great for scrap yarn and last minute gifts.
Cord Organizer
This nifty little knitting pattern turns the chaotic tangle of your headphones and other household cords into perfectly organized bundles of cuteness! 2 sizes. Uses only 30 – 35 yards (27 – 32 m) so it’s great for scrap yarn. Great quick gift. Designed by Valya Boutenko
Patchwork Bolster Pillows
A pattern to make five different types of bolster cushions. Great use for scrap and stash yarn!
