Wednesday 11 January 2012

Scraps...

Over the last two years, Matt and I have been working on many many projects. The problem with having two people crocheting a lot, is that you end up with a big collection of left-over yarn! A couple of days ago we had a big sort out of all our yarn and found out how much this actually was. After emptying out all the places where we store our yarn we found out that it's enough to fill up a big garbage bag! But is a garbage bag really the right place for all this forgotten yarn? It's a bit sad to just throw it all away, but then again, what can you make from these tiny little amounts of yarn?



I started to see a little project in this bunch of happy colors! A blanket! I started to experiment a little with some different squares and even tried to knit one! My knitting is terribly slow however and I was sure I would give up on the blanket after 1 day, so I just went back to the very basics: A simple and plain granny square consisting of 3 rounds.

I showed my project to Matt after I'd made about 4 squares, and he came up with the idea that we could both work on this blanket at the same time! I was thrilled by this, since we never work on something together. Every crocheter has their own tension, and the stitches might come out a little different, but with a blanket like this, it doesn't matter! That's the fun of it! Granny squares can adjust quite a lot because of the spaces in between the stitches. You can use a lot of different types of yarn, thick or thin, acrylic or natural fibers. Of course you have to watch out a tiny little bit, no crazy bulky yarn, and no lace weight yarn, but other than that, pretty much any yarn will do!


We chose to join all the squares as we go, which makes it a very easy project to work on! And did I mention how fast it goes when you work on it together? We join one square after the other, and sometimes even have to wait for each other to finish the joining. In 2 days we managed to make 63 squares! I'm really excited about how colourful it's turning out and I really enjoy going through all the scraps and bits of yarn, because a lot of them bring back memories of other projects we've worked on!

It's also a great project to work on besides your other projects. It doesn't take long to add a couple of squares every day or every week. And as long as you use one colour per square, you don't have so much ends to sew in!


Having a crazy bunch of left-over yarn suddenly doesn't seem like such a bad thing anymore. I think we've found a good solution for it!

What do you do with your left over yarn?

Dennis xxx
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27 comments:

  1. What a great idea! I love how it's looking. I wish I had someone to crochet a blanket with. That sounds like so much fun.

    Happy Crocheting :)

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  2. Awww... what a lovely post..and what a lovely blanket you are making! If you have any cotton hanging around there maybe you could make a square each for the Beautiful Blogger Blanket of 2012! (details at mine)... then you might WIN another blanket and you would have one each! :)x

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  3. That is so awesome! What a great idea! I wish I had someone to work on a blanket with. :)

    xx MaDonna
    MeMaDonna.com

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  4. I have a lot of left over yarn. I'm thinking of knitting a pair of socks with all the sock wool.
    I made a ripple blanket too, and because there was still left over of the left over, I have started a second ripple blanket with the same material. However it looks completely different even with the same pattern but a different repetition of colours. :-)
    It would be a shame to throw away so much yarn. At least one should donate it, give it to a thrift store or a knitting group that knits for charity.

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  5. This looks gorgeous! 63 squares in two days is amazing, how exciting to be working together on one blanket! My leftover yarn is hidden away and nearly forgottten, I'm afraid. Occasionally some is rescued for amigurumi... This is a brilliant idea, will keep it in mind! x

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  6. I have a blanket like this. I made it from left over stylecraft when I made a ripple. It was only meant to be small but I liked it so much that I wanted it really big. So I ended up buying more yarn! My squares are 5 rounds though and I sewed them together because I wanted the neater and flatter edge you get without any ridges. It took ages but I liked doing it.

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  7. It looks great and what a sweet idea. It will always be special to both of you too. Both of you make really nice things.

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  8. Guys that is G.O.R.G.A.G.E.O.U.S!!!!!!
    I ♥ the fact that you made it together and it is held together with memories for you both!!!!
    Any scraps of yarn I have tend to stored for the 'beekeepers quilt' on Rav.
    I bet youve already seen it but if not the pattern is FAB!!!
    Best wishes to all
    Issyx

    http://hookytime.blogspot.com/

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  9. What a beautiful blanket and what fun to do it together! I've used my scraps,doe,a,couple of crochet waves blankets but still have tons of little balls of yarn left. Maybe I'll have to make one like you have. Thanks for the inspiration"

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  10. Amazing guys! The blanket looks really 'gezellig'! You must have loads of fun working on this blanket! When it is big enough you can both join the squares at the same time! :o) lol!

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  11. Great idea and it looks great too!

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  12. Hopped over to your blog from the Ravelry group We Love Lucy. I'm trying to use up my stash of left overs as well. I'm working on an afghan, just using each colour till it runs out. I also just started a granny shawl (based on a half granny square) but realized it won't use much stash as the sides get longer and longer. I need to find another stash idea for the smaller bits of yarn. I love your idea of each square being the same colour.

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  13. Gorgeous, and I love that you're working on it together. I was going to comment and say do granny daughters! I love having leftovers. (Especially when you can score bitty balls at the thrift store to add to blankets like this.)

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  14. I can't throw away small bits of yarn either.
    What a great idea to work on it together. Looks fabby.

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  15. Ooh, this will be such a beautiful and special blanket :)
    xx

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  16. Lovely to find you guys through Instagram. Love the design of your blog, so fresh and light, perfect! And yes, this is a great way to use left over yarn. I did the same thing last Fall and it is so much joy to mix and match the colors with these little squares! Enjoy,

    love
    Maaike

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  17. What a great way of using up all those little bits of yarn and such a lovely idea to work on the blanket together. xx

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  18. I love this idea! Weaving the ends is yucky, but this gorgeous of a blanket is worth it!

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  19. What a great idea! I'm trying to destash at the moment, and I will definately use this idea to get rid of my smaller balls of yarn.

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  20. LOVE LOVE LOVE this sweet idea ♥
    xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  21. Looks great, guys! And inspirational too 'cause now I want to gather all my bits and bobs of yarn and start my own together-ghan.

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  22. Hi there, l use a lot of my scrappy bits in Ripples..Just crochet all of one colour, add the next & so on..Doesnt matter where the scrap wool joins, just sew in ends as you go or when you finish..It always looks so good when finished.. Best Wishes, Hahnsmum..

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  23. Love your idea and going to give it a try... in the past I have simply randomly joined what I have left and made what I call a scrap-ghan!!!! Love them to toss around for the visiting kids or my puppy to lounge on at the foot of my bed :)

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  24. This idea is FAB! I'm looking at my scraps basket in a whole new way now. Thanks for the great idea! :)

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  25. I love the idea of doing a blanket with someone else! The problem for me would be to find a friend and we'd have to crochet 2 so we each ended up with one. I guess an alternative would be to arrange a blanket custody plan?!

    Have linked your blog on mine, I just stumbled across it and I love it. I don't usually make my links that fast!

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  26. I have been working on a contemporary granny ripple afghans for my various nieces and nephews. The scraps of all have gone to a bigger version of the same pattern for myself so I can remember all the wonderful colors. I also use a binder to keep track of dates started/ended, type of yarn, colors, and sample pieces of yarn to keep track of all my completed projects. I found your blog on thelittleroomofrachell's blog. I really want to know what the pattern for the octagonal granny square blanket is. Love the blog!

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  27. Haven't done anything with my scrap yarn.. yet. I inherited a lot from my grandmother's stash that my mom has put up, and some of my mom's stash, as well as some here and there that I've bought. I feel like I can't stay on just one, so this is giving me something else to do at the same time... and using up extra yarn! :) I think you guys are my new favorite crochet blog!

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