"What can you do with that?" Yarn Scrap

Sample of yarn scrap bracelets.

     A question people often ask me is "What can you do with that?" as I or they hold up a small ball of yarn or even just a short strand of yarn.  "Oh, there is plenty you can do with that, don't throw it away!" I reply.  I am a big fan of reusing and recycling. One of the items you can make with scrap yarn is bracelets, and that is exactly what I did for my Christmas in July Arts and Crafts Show freebie!  It was an excellent way to use my yarn scraps.

    I keep a plastic storage bag and a box close by my work table to organize my scraps.  

When I am working on an item and have a long tail or short strand of yarn left over, I put it in the plastic bag for later.  The shorter strands of yarn I mostly use for tying a tag to an item.  The longer strands or small balls of yarn go in the box.  These I use for a variety of things.  This time around I used them to crochet and embellish bracelets.  This is also a great way to try out new stitches and color combinations.  Some stitches I used were: surface crochet (seen in the photo as the green in the green and black bracelet), slip stitch, single crochet, and cross stitch.  The color combinations could come from nature, such as tan and blue of the ocean; holiday or school colors.  Sometimes the colors I choose at random and think well these won't go together. However, in the finished item they look great!  Small projects are a great way to let your creativity run wild.

So what else can I do with that yarn scrap you ask? 

There are several things you can do with left over yarn.

1. Use it as a stitch marker. Just simply pull it though the stitch from the middle of the scrap so it ends up folded in half, which makes it thicker and less likely to fall out of place. Just be sure to use a contrasting color.

2. Depending on the length of the scrap you could use it for embellishments such as tassels and pom-poms. I have even seen crochet buttons.

3. Use it to tie on a tag; either a gift tag, organizing label tag or you name it.

4. Tie strand ends together and braid, for a fun bookmark or bracelet. Maybe you could even make a friendship bracelet. 

5. I am personally thinking about stuffing a pillow with yarn scraps. It might end up being a floor pillow or a dog bed!

6. Save them for yarn art. Take a piece of cardboard and "paint" with yarn scraps by gluing then in whatever design you choose.

7. Making your own hooked rug yarn. Yes, it takes some patience. I made my own triangle pattern hooked rug (Well really it was more of a pillow than rug size.) to match my bedspread when I was young.

8. Crochet a 2-3 row granny square and stitch together for a headband or other small item such as a baby doll blanket or drawstring bag.

9. Take that recycled container from blah to cool. Do like in number 6, only on a cardboard box, toilet paper roll or whatever!

10. Make a yarn doll.  It is kind of like making tassels, but in the end it has arms and legs too.

11. Crochet an ornament for every season.

12. String the ornament on ... yup a piece of yarn to create a holiday garland.

13. Make a small bracelet and ta-da, you have a napkin ring holder.

Tomato Ties

14. Use them to tie up tomato plants to a stake.

     So have fun with your yarn scraps, don't throw them in the trash!

Have you made use of your yarn scraps in a different way? Share in the comments.

Shop LiLphanie's Line for fun holiday hats and accessories.