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.

Designer Ysolda Teague has come out with a second self-published book of patterns – Whimsical Little Knits 2. New patterns are being released weekly and the printed version is coming out in November. I’m a big fan of Ysolda’s patterns – I couldn’t wait to make Smith the hedgehog. Her toy patterns are always so fun to make. Seamless and sweet!

This is my first project using my own handspun. A friend gave me a huge bag of miscellaneous fibre from a farm in Durham. Most of it is the rich, natural brown that I used for the spikes on Smith. It was some of the first fibre I spun with my wheel and the variations actually work well for this type of project. I love the warmth of the natural brown, and it knit up really well. So soft, despite the bits of grass that were in the fibre! I think I’ll spin up the rest for a blanket.

[Ravelled]

My dear friend Phil sent me the book Softies for my birthday. It includes designs for many, many cute toys to sew, knit or crochet. The book came with a request to please make one for him, whichever one I think suits him best. I settled on the Arno Cat by Suzie Fry almost immediately. The Arno screams “Phil!” with its playful expression and kind, shiny eyes. I’m also pretty sure it can make a mean potato gnocchi, just like the real Phil.

I picked up the fabric at last year’s Not Just a Yardage Sale at the Textile Museum of Canada. Jane might have been just a wee bit troubled when I fell head over heels for two Brunschwig & Fils Forefathers fat quarters. I had no idea what to do with them, until now – John Adams on the frontside, J. Madison on the back.

This is Churchill. She’s named after Churchill, Manitoba, which is famous for its polar bears. I knit her from Ysolda Teague’s Otto pattern. I thought she’d turn out smaller, a lot smaller actually. We’ll see if she still makes it to Peterborough in this box!

I intended to finish her two weeks ago, so she’ll make a belated 90th birthday present for Helen. I think it’s a fairly new thing, but Helen finds comfort in teddy bears. I hope Churchill provides good company.

Spring has finally come to Toronto (we did have a dusting of snow last week but I’m optimistic)! The tulips at the flower shop down the street were calling to me on Good Friday. The warmth and colour seemed too good to be true after a very grey winter.

This is Jack. A merino wool albino rabbit with really long legs. She was knit from Ysolda Teague’s pattern Sophie. I think she and Peanut make quite a nice couple.

I don’t know who she’ll go to yet, but I’m sure she’ll make a nice plaything for some little person. In the meantime, I like having her around to help celebrate Easter!

I used up the last of my Misti Alpaca handpainted suri and silk for this lovely knit from Ysolda Teague’s Whimsical Little Knits collection. The Tiny Shoes are tiny indeed. I think this Mary Jane style will be very cute on. There is something so satisfying about making such small, sweet shoes.

I finished them off with mother of pearl buttons from Etsy. Every time I knit with this yarn I love it more. Baby alpaca suri and silk!!! It’s absolutely beautiful.

My original intention was to give this elephant away. I don’t think I can do it. It’s just too cute. It’s knit from Ysolda’s Elijah pattern and is worked in one piece by picking up stitches for his (or her) appendages. I think this elephant is definitely a Peanut. It has been suggested before, for Big Teddy Bear, but it’s sticking this time!

Peanut’s eyes are embroidered French knots. This video tutorial was really helpful – I haven’t done much embroidery so I needed the guidance. As it turns out, French knots are easy!

My first attempt at amigurumi is finished, well almost. I still have to pick up some ribbon for around his neck. I used some mystery yarn for his head and paws and Fibra Natura’s Mermaid from The Purple Purl for his body. Mermaid is an interesting yarn – a mix of cotton, superwash merino wool, silk and seacell. Seacell is a cellulose fibre made with seaweed – I’ve never worked with it before but definitely will again. It’s really fine and not too slippery.

I have to say this project has me thinking a lot more about crochet. After a 10-year break from it I think I may be back on. It’s definitely fun and faster than knitting for projects like this. Oh, and I have to recommend the Etsy seller I bought the eyes from. They’re hand-painted, non-toxic and all that good stuff.

It has happened. I might have sworn it wouldn’t but it has. The joys of amigurumi have taken over. I picked up a copy of Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts: Amigurumi last week and was entertained for the better part of 48 hours by the cuteness of it all. All of these sweet crocheted animals with oversized heads. I started on the big teddy bear right away. You can see the beginning of its massive head above.

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!

This bear is for little Jindra. It, or he, or she was a labour of love. I’m hoping that Jindra won’t want to take off and put on the lamb suit. I’m hoping he’ll just leave it on. Hiding the weird neck work I did.

Ugh. I just found this very helpful assembly post. Why didn’t I look for this before I butchered the neck. I ended up making a second gusset and attaching it to the neck opening.

I really like this book though – Debbie Bliss’ The Baby Knits Book. Really sweet and cozy things. And knitting with her cashmerino aran is really lovely.