Free knitting patterns for hats, scarves, cowls, mitts, and more designed to use up leftover and scrap yarn. Updated 1/13/25
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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
Striped Delight Scarf
Fun reversible scarf with slipped stitch striped pattern on one side and regular stripes on the reverse. Use up all your leftover Fingering yarn for a colorful scarf or use just two colors for a subtler look. Designed by Marii LaFreniere.
Tyler's Beanie
Striped hat designed to use up your leftover yarns since you only need half a skein for the main color, 12 yards each of 5 colors, and 3 yards each of 4 colors. Designed by Lori Cerny.
Color Wash Shawl
Easy stash buster shawlette knit sideways with alternating stripes of garter stitch and stockinette in contrasting colors. Sample was knit with 7 colors of Bulky weight yarn, but you can use as many colors as you want. Designed by Taiga Hilliard Designs.
Party Flag Socks
These colorful top-down socks feature a geometric design inspired by banners and pennants. Cuff, afterthought heel, and toe are knit in contrasting colors. 4 sizes. Designed for 5 colors, it's perfect for leftover sock yarn. Designed by Allison Lutes.
Color Chart Mitts
Fingerless mitts with 4 wide stripes with contrasting color borders. A beautiful use for leftover Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Heidi Alander. Pictured project by vimmla. Available in English and Finnish
Rings of Rings Cowl
Striped infinity cowl knit in a tube, all knit stitches. I love the contrast between wide and narrow stripes. Designed for miniskeins, it's also a great use for leftover Fingering weight yarn. I do love the colors of this version, so I'd opt for the kit. Designed by Lisa R. Myers.
Tapestry Scarf or Wrap
Wrap in two sizes with slip stitch vertical stripes knit with only one color per row. Designed for five colors, it's a great stash buster for leftover Fingering weight yarn. Designed by Purl Soho. A kit is also available.
More Free Patterns
Candy Dish Cowl
Sampler infinity cowl with a mixture of easy stitches and textures that make it the perfect project for stash diving leftover Sport weight yarn. 2 sizes, though I imagine you could easily customize. Designed by Plucky Knitter Design.
Striped Beanie
No purling! Easy hat in all knit stitches with stripes created randomly by using up your leftover stash yarns. DK weight yarn. Designed by schneckenstrick designs.
Fleming Bluff Shawl
Easy crescent shaped shawl knit in garter stitch with eyelets. Stripes are created by using up your leftover stash yarns so they are random in size. Written using DK weight yarn, but you can use any weight of yarn. Designed by Taiga Hilliard Designs.
A New Day Fingerless Arm Warmers
Easy zigzag striped fingerless mitts knit with a 2 round repeat. 2 sizes. Designed for 5 colors, it's an easy stash buster for Fingering weight yarn.. Designed by Linda Voss Plummer .
Anja Shawl
Triangular stash buster shawl designed for scraps of left-over yarn. Knit in in garter stitch with no purling, and no weaving in ends because the ends become the fringe. Designed for left-over sock yarn, it can also be adapted to any weight yarn and any size. Designed by Stefanie Bold.
Weekend Shorty Socks
Quick fun way to use up leftover sock yarn, these ankle socks come in sizes from Toddler to XL adult and feature as many as 6 contrast colors plus the main color. Cuff down heel flap socks. Fingering weight of yarn. Designed by Summer Lee.
Alpinia Hat
Easy stash buster hat knit in the round with striped color blocks in mostly knit stitch. Fingering weight of yarn. Designed by Traci Scott. It is worth looking at the Ravelry projects to see the variety of color schemes knitters have used.
Make Ends Meet Cowl
Stash buster kerchief style cowl designed with stripes of your leftover fingering weight yarns. 3 sizes. Instructions are also included for a straight bottom. Fingering weight of yarn. Designed by Annie Baker Designs.
53 Row Hat
Easy stash buster hat knit in the round with striped color blocks in mostly knit stitch. Quick knit in Bulky weight of yarn. Designed by Madelyn Santa.
Patterns for Purchase
Slippt Set
Matching hat, cowl, and fingerless mitts knit with an easy slipped stitch colorwork pattern. Instructions for a variety of weights of yarn from Fingering to Bulky. A great way to use up leftover yarn in your stash! Designed by KirstenMicheleKnits
Wayfarer Mitts
Fingerless mitts inspired by the beauty of the canyons in the Western US with a rocky landscape rising to meet the sky. Designed for 7 colors each so it's perfect for stash and leftover sock yarn. Designed by EricaHeusserDesigns.
Summerland Sock Set
Five sock patterns using simple colorwork and striping, using as many as 10 colors each so it's perfect for stash and leftover yarn. Designed by Summerleedesignco
Brioche Shell Shawl
Half pi shawl, knitted from top down, in at least 4 colors so it's a great colorful stash buster. Designed by schneckenstrick designs. Fingering weight yarn.
Rustic Lace Hat
Hat in sizes for the whole family knit in three colors with a lace body and ribbed brim so it's a great stash buster. Sizes Newborn to Adult. Worsted weight yarn. Designed by Patternery.
Mini Solutions Cowl
Asymmetrical cowl, knit on the bias to form a triangle front. Designed to use up all the leftover yarn from your projects. DK weight yarn. Designed by Kelene Kinnersly.
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.