Last week’s post got me to thinking about more stash-busting projects. Patterns that would make great holiday knitting with the added bonus of using up small amounts of yarn. I took a trip through ravelry and came back with these great patterns.  Some of them old favourites, some of them new (at least to me!):

Fetching (L, courtesy of Knitty) and Emerald Fingerless Mittens

Fingerless Mitts

CanCans by Erica Lomax

Upp by Védís Jónsdóttir (from Einband, available from Schoolhouse Press)

Fetching and Dashing by Cheryl Niamath

Purl Beret (L, courtesy of the purl bee) and #24 Lace Beret (courtesy of Vogue Knitting, Holiday 2009)

Hats

#24 Lace Beret by Kate Gagnon Osborn

Purl Beret by The Purl Bee

Ripley by Ysolda Teague

Herringbone Cowl (courtesy of Lauren Osborne, Hungry Knitter)

Cowls

Herringbone Cowl by Lauren Osborne

sev[en]circle by Kirsten Johnstone (free ravelry download, login required)

Cabled Cowl by by Olga Buraya-Kefelian

mara (courtesy of madelinetosh)

Shawls and Other Shoulder Warmers

DROPS 108-53 by DROPS design

shadow[]box by Alison Brookbanks

mara by Madelinetosh

Otto (actually, I like to call her Churchill)

Toys

Otto by Ysolda Teague (or any of Ysolda’s toy patterns, really)

Pile-able Pups by Anna Hrachovec

Rotary Dial Telephone by Katie Park

My bear knit for the Mother Bear Project

Charity Knitting

Good for stash-busting anytime of year, but especially now in colder climates like mine…

afghans for Afghans sends handknit and crocheted blankets, sweaters, vests, hats, mittens and socks to the people of Afghanistan.

Blankets for Canada creates blankets for Canadians in need.

Mother Bear Project sends handknit or crocheted bears to children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Photo from Selvedge Issue 27

I thought my subscription to Selvedge had run out, so I had a happy surprise when I received Issue 27 yesterday! The theme of the issue is frugality, which doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun. You can’t go anywhere or read anything these days without being bombarded with economic doom and gloom. It did get me to thinking though – about the handmade tradition and how its resourcefulness is made to weather just this kind of situation. About ways not just to ‘make do and mend’ but to create lovely things without spending as much money as I might like to! Here are some ways that I plan to ‘make do’ in the upcoming months:

1. Reclaim

Whether reclaiming yarn from thrift store sweaters or recycling yarn from pervious projects, this is a budget-friendly way to get yarn. Here’s a helpful tutorial that I will be trying out soon… I have an alpaca/wool sweater that would be more useful wound into fresh skeins!

2. Reciprocity

The best way I can think of to reduce my yarn stash is to make clothes, toys or blankets for donation. The Mother Bear Project is my personal favourite. I have one finished preemie blanket and another in progress for Project Linus. They are crazily multicoloured but I’ll still post them before I send them off! afghans for Afghans is another organization I’d like to contribute to one day soon. They send hand-knit and crocheted blankets, sweaters, hats, mittens and socks to the people of Afghanistan.

3. Just one skein (okay, not an ‘r’)

Knitting small projects can be enormously satisfying. You can buy luxurious yarn, complete a project and not feel too terrible about the money you spent. I’m a huge fan of Ysolda Teague’s Whimsical Little Knits collection – as my tiny shoes can attest! There are so many wonderful designs – I’m struggling to pace myself! Another good resource for small projects is One Skein.

I’ve finally packaged up my first contribution to the Mother Bear Project – a non-profit that distributes knit and crocheted bears to children affected by HIV/AIDS. I don’t remember where I first heard about the organization, but Knitting for Peace included an interview with founder/ director Amy.

This is the second toy I’ve made and this pattern is great for knitters of all levels. It’s pretty straight-forward for beginners and there’s room for experimentation with different stitch patterns and colour work for more advanced knitters. I’m going to get more into intarsia on the next one!!! There’s something about making cute things that I find so satisfying. I don’t know if I’ll bust into arigumi anytime soon though!