Love sock yarn but not knitting socks? Here are knitting patterns for shawls, hats, mitts, and more using one skein of sock yarn. Most patterns are free. Updated 5/17/23
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.
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Free Patterns
Hanga Shrug
Cable and lace shrug knit with one skein of sock yarn. Body is knit flat and ribbed border is picked up. Sizes S-M-L-XL-XXL-XXXL. Designed by Adrien Antal. Uses 350 - 383 yards (320 - 350 m) of Fingering weight yarn.
Cable Braids Headband
Cabled headband easily customized to make wider or thinner. Designed by Hana Paimen. Uses 164 - 219 yards (150 - 200 m) of Fingering weight yarn.
Ice Dancing Mitts
Fingerless mitts with cable and lace details that showcase variegated yarn. Designed by Nicky Winterton. Uses less than one skein 197 - 219 yards (180 - 200 m) of Fingering weight yarn.
Maile Baby Sweater
Baby cardigan with leaf lace at shoulders and eyelet flowers at hem. Designed by Nikki Van De Car. Size Newborn to 3 Months. Uses 300 yards (274 m) of Fingering weight yarn.
Sallah Cowl
Knit in a 4 row repeat on the bias in a simple twisted rib is designed for that one skein of wonderfully hand-dyed and variegated sock yarn. Designed by Bristol Ivy. Uses 1350 - 450 yards (320 - 411 m) of Fingering weight yarn.
Sockhead Slouch Hat
This slouchy, comfy beanie is the perfect project for that one skein of sock yarn that is way too special to put on your feet. Easy hat knit with a wide ribbed brim and stockinette crown. Sizes baby, child, teen, adult small, medium, large, extra-large. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Amy Odin. Uses 155 - 415 yards (142 - 379 m) of Fingering weight yarn. Pictured projects by designer and SourCherries
Emma Asked Baby Cardigan
Baby sweater knit with a skein of sock yarn. Worked top down in stockinette and garter with a slipped stitch detail on buttonband. Designed by Amy Odin. Uses 328 - 383 yards (300 - 350 m) of Fingering weight yarn. Pictured projects by elys717 and saskyumchar
Cache Cache Cowl
Cabled slip stitch cowl that's perfect for that one skein of multi-colored yarn. The cache cache stitch prevents pooling and showcases variegated yarn colors. Written instructions or chart. Designed by Kiki Kawaii. Fingering weight yarn.
One Skein Copilot Cowl
This easy cowlfeatures a mesh lace separated by garter stitch sections. Designed to use one skein of that special fingering weight (4ply) yarn, it can be adjusted in both length and width. Rated very easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Dominique Trad
Easy Crest of a Wave Baktus
Reversible scarf or shawlette knit in garter stitch with the lacework edge included in the main body pattern, not knitted on as an additional edging. Uses one skein of fingering weight yarn. Rated easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Jan Henley. Great with multi-colored yarn. Pictured projects by the designer and KimDM
More Free Patterns
4 Row 4 Stitch Repeat Racimo Cowl
This easy cowl is knit flat with an all-over Quilted Cross Stitch and seamed. Uses one skein (445 yards) of the recommended yarn. Designed by Sarah Solomon for Manos del Uruguay. Fingering weight. Great for showcasing variegated yarn.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the recommended Manos del Uruguay AlegrÃa yarn at Amazon
Celebration Wristlets
Fingerless mitts combining ribbing and lace in a swirling design. Fingering yarn. Designed by Myriam Dostert. Looks great in variegated yarn.
U-Turn Slippers
Colorful slippers knit flat in one piece using a circular needle and an ingenious construction to create the a U shape around the tip of your foot. Looks best when using variegated yarn, e.g. self-striping sock yarn. Designed by Sybil R. Fingering weight yarn.
Easy Slipped Stitch Scarf
Triangular shaped scarf or shawlette knit with a slip stitch that showcases variegated yarn. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Kristen Finlay. Pictured project by the designer and autumngeisha.
U-Turn Hat Knit Flat
This hat is knitted flat from side to side WITHOUT short rows. Perfect for showcasing variegated yarn – especially for that stash sock yarn. Designed by Sybil R for fingering yarn.
Wrapover Onesie
Baby onesie knit in a 2 row repeat modified broken rib stitch with a wrap over front and buttoned crotch for easy dressing. Size 0-3 months. Designed by Nina Figenschau. Fingering weight. Available in English and Norwegian
- Get the free knitting pattern – scroll down the page for English version
- See the Ravelry page
- See more 2 Row Repeat Knitting 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.
Rosebud
Seamless, one-piece baby cardigan knitted top down, in garter stitch with a ruffle at the hem. Changes in needle size create the graceful shape. Sizes 3, 6, 12, 18 months. Designed by The Noble Thread. Fingering weight yarn.
Stormy Sky Shawl
Designed for that one skein of special yarn! This asymmetrical shawl alternates sections of dropped stitches, eyelet lace, and garter stitch to showcase multi-colored yarn in skewed triangle. Easy to memorize. Designed by Life Is Cozy.Pictured project by River Poet who used one skein of Malabrigo yarn (420 yards) for the project.
- Get the free knitting pattern
- See the Ravelry page
- Get the Malabrigo Yarn Mechita used in the pictured project on Amazon
Grandifolia Fingerless Mitts
Handwarmers featuring leaf lace on the top and at the cuff. 3 sizes. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Vickie Hartog. Pictured projects by the designer and DKlee who added beads and changed the cuff to ribbing.
Easy Tiny Tassels Scarf
Garter stitch triangle scarf embellished with micro tassels. Uses one skein of fingering weight yarn. Rated very easy by Ravelrers. Designed by Karin Fernandes. Great with multi-colored yarn.
Patterns for Purchase
Ruffle Keyhole Scarf
Cozy neck warmer with ruffled ends, knit with super squishy in 1x1 ribbing, with a keyhole loop to keep the scarf around your neck. Uses less than one skein of sock fingering weight yarn. Designed by Emily Johannes
Crosswise Cadence Fingerless Mitts
No longer free. This delightful and unusual slip stitch pattern is ideal to showcase one skein of variegated yarn, or any fingering weight yarn. Twisted rib cuffs complement the slip stitch design. Sizes S, M and L. Designed by Amy Odin. 175 - 250 yards (160 - 229 m) of Fingering weight yarn.
Slightly Slanted Fingerless Mitts
Fingerless mitts knit in one piece with construction to create bias section that looks great in self-striping yarn. Looks like it uses one skein of sock fingering weight yarn. Designed by Sybil Ra
Hotyka Shawl
NO LONGER FREE! Asymmetric triangular lace shawl knit with alternating sections of garter stitch and a 10 row lace. Designed by Klára Nagy. Uses one skein, 402 m / 440 yards of Fingering weight yarn.
Lace Eyelet Cowl
Trianglular bandanna style cowl with eyelet and lace sections bordered with garter stitch. Looks lovely knit with either a solid or variegated fingering weight yarn. Uses less than one skein, 240 - 260 yards (219 - 238 m) of fingering weight yarn. Designed by Stefanie Canich
Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders: 101 Patterns That Go Way Beyond Socks!
Sock yarn isn’t just for socks anymore! Veteran knitter Judith Durant presents 101 original projects that can be created from just a single skein of sock yarn, including adorable baby clothes, warm hats, beautiful scarves, and even a dog sweater. A quick and creative way to use up leftovers, many of these projects knit up in less than three hours.
With the Tide One Skein Shawl
This asymmetrical crescent shawl begins with 3 stitches in one corner and increases every row until the shawl is complete. Easy to knit; this combination of garter stitch and lace creates cascading ripples that flow delicately into a feminine edge. This can be a perfect one skein project, but with more than one skein there are opportunities for alternate endings and for contrasting colours. Designed by PloomeFiberArts
Lacy Leaf Pixie Baby Bonnet
Pattern Includes Sizes: Newborn through 3-10 Years. Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Melody’s Makings
Twiggy Skinny Triangle Scarf
This scarf is designed to have less bulk around the shoulders, a lower drape around the neck and long ends for a fabulous dangle than a traditional shawl scarf. This scarf is slightly asymmetrical and will not be a perfect triangle. Designed by ohmay who also sells finished scarves. Fingering weight yarn.
My Wavelength One Skein Shawl
A beautiful asymmetric triangle shawl which is worked from side to side. The delicate geometric eyelet and garter stripe pattern would look fabulous in a plain colour or perfect for showcasing a variegated or speckled yarn. The sample is made using just one skein of 4ply/fingering sock yarn, but you can experiment with this pattern using different yarn weights and needle sizes and maybe stripes of colour to really make this piece your own. Designed by LisasAttik
