Leftover Best Race January to March 2022: weigh your leftovers now, use them up, and win

Continue writing here:
Leftover Best Race January to March 2022, Part 2.



Dear users, dear designers,.
Arni asked for this thread, so let’s get started.
Anyone who would like to join in should please photograph and weigh his/her leftover yarn, and then use it up. Giving it away and throwing it out count too.

On March 31, we will determine the winner of the leftover race.

Does the winner have to be completely free of leftovers, or is using up 2/3 of the leftovers enough?

Is January through March too long?

Hi Josefa. You’re quick! Thanks so much. I think getting rid of 2/3 of the leftover yarn is enough, and I think January through March is a good timeframe, too. (Although new leftover yarn might accumulate during that time 😆)

I’ll get started then


Left: Catania and similar yarns, 715 g
Right: assorted leftovers, 295 g

I can keep you updated on what I’m using up over the next 3 months, once the projects are finished. Then I can always show you pictures.

Unfortunately, I can’t give you exact quantities of my leftover yarn, since it’s scattered throughout the house across 3 floors. I’m sure I have a few kilograms of leftover yarn of all kinds. 

I’m in the same boat as Petra—my scraps are scattered everywhere. Let’s see what I can make of them. Right now, I’m knitting a jacket out of various balls of leftover yarn. Does that count too?

Yesterday I downloaded a new pattern for my leftover yarn: a baby picture book. It’ll probably use up a few scraps. I’ve already finished the first page. 🙂



That’s a really nice idea—I’m going to gather everything up right away and take some pictures. Let’s see how much I end up with....

So, here is my leftover yarn—a medium-sized folding box full, about 1,600 grams:

Hi Veronika: Well then, go ahead and get started. I’m curious to see what you’ll whip up.

Hi Häkelhakenhamburg: Your favorites look great. I’d also thought about using the African Flower to make a top for the Schlagermove. But for now, it’s time to work on the baby book. The second page is done. I’ve already joined the two pieces together. 

You all have such great ideas for your scraps. 

The baby book is a great idea. Sandra, are you making the pages thicker and stuffing them?

Häkelhakenhamburg your little animals are super cute. I’ll have to look online to see how that’s done. Very interesting. 

I think your photos are great.



Page 3 is done 😄

Is this for Anton? I thought he’d be too big for this?

Yes, it is. No, this is for a baby on the way, and it’s a nice way to use up small leftover yarn.

Is Anton getting a sister or brother?

No.... definitely not. 😀😀😀.

An acquaintance of mine is having a baby

That’s so sweet of you to make a baby book for her.

I always think homemade gifts are the best, and I really enjoy making them—plus, it helps use up the leftover yarn. 

That’s great. Will you share a picture of the finished book?

So we’re heading toward Easter. (I didn’t dare post this last year 😊)
This way, you can also use leftover yarn to make Easter eggs. 

The eggs are great.

Are there plastic eggs inside them?

Okay, side 4 is finished and already crocheted together with side 3 🙂.

This is going to be so cute!
I’ve already decided on a few projects—now I just need to start crocheting.

Inside the eggs are plastic or polystyrene eggs.😉

Hi Haekelhakenhamburg: Your eggs are very pretty—something a little different! My egg blanks are already looking forward to a flowery dress!

A question for everyone: How broadly do you define the term “leftovers”? Do whole skeins left over from a project count too? Since I make a lot of small things, I always end up with a lot of partially used skeins, and there’s no way I can use them all up that quickly—but I’m sticking with it. For the snowflakes, I only used a few pastel colors, and the same goes for the tea lights. Now I guess I’ll have to pick out something in bolder colors…

Well, I’ve actually only counted the started skeins as scraps and am now trying to use up as much as possible. That little book is a great way to do that... or these awesome eggs 🙂

If I have a single ball left over from a larger project, I count that as a scrap too. I also have some where only a tiny bit is missing, so the leftover weighs 48 grams or so—which is practically the same thing.

I think everyone defines “scraps” differently. 😃

Here’s my 5th page

Sandra, your book is going to be great. Is the book filled with stuffing to make it sturdier, or do you just join two pages together?

For me, I distinguish between leftovers and leftover yarn. Whole balls of yarn left over are a leftover. But when I use leftover yarn, it is always partially used balls of yarn. 

Yesterday I knitted a hat using three partially used balls of one yarn. Together, they weighed more than 50 grams. But to me, it’s a leftover-yarn hat. 




For this headband, there was more than a whole ball left over from the cowl. In that case, I no longer call it a leftover.

I’ve started too, and if the weather stays like this, the first piece will be finished quickly—you can’t even step outside for a minute because of the pouring, nonstop rain.

Funny. It just rained here yesterday. Today, finally, sunshine again☀ but it’s bitterly cold ❄🍃

Who has used up some scraps this week and would like to weigh them?

So, I’ve weighed mine. My cotton yarn leftovers total 605g. I started with 715g.

I’ve now finished the 6th page, too 😀.
Petra: Actually, I just crochet the pages together. But the first page has a crinkle cloth inside, and this page has a squeaker.


Now it’s time for a break from the book. My yarn for my pillow has arrived, so I’m going to keep working on that for now

I've crocheted up the first 72 g of leftover yarn; it turned into a Buchling (by Natschi):

You guys are really hard-working.

Hi,
I just gathered my leftover yarn and took the opportunity to sort it by color (3-ply / 4-ply)

I ended up with 1600g 😲

So far, I’ve always used small leftovers to make C2C coasters 😉

I’ve already been busy using up leftovers in Nov./Dec. (I had lots of shades of brown)

Next up, I’m going to make this one:
https://www.crazypatterns.net/de/items/44902/kunterbuntes-jubilaeum-rainbow-snakes
And wow, that’s going to be big — it’ll use up a lot of leftover yarn!

The snakes look great.

Hi Veronika,
I think the snakes are great, too.
Unfortunately, I’m not very good at the “fine details” required for amigurumi 🙁

Then this is probably just the thing for you; at that size, even the “fine details” are comfortably sized.

How is your leftover yarn coming along?

Unchanged. I was working on a pillow last week. But starting tomorrow, I’ll continue with the book.

Veronika: How far along are you with the snake?

Susanne, your blanket looks great

Good morning!
She’s growing and using up lots of leftover yarn in the process:

Oh yes, I can well imagine that it uses up a lot of leftover yarn. It’s already looking great.

So, I finished page 7 today. This book is great for using up small amounts of leftover yarn. 

I found this bag of leftover yarn. I’m working on it right now. I’ve weighed it. So far, I’ve made 1 headband and 2 pairs of baby booties. The third pair is in the works. Once I’m done, I’ll post pictures and numbers. 

Sandra, your ball is going to be great. You’re making lots of motifs that the baby will be able to recognize with their first words. I need to look online for ideas about what to do and how, etc. I like the crinkly side. I also know them with tactile elements. 

 Okay, page 8 is done too. Tomorrow I’ll crochet pages 7 and 8 together, and I’ll add a rattle piece. 



Okay, page 9 is done. 😃

Now there’s just one more to go, and then I’ll already have ideas for the next leftover project 

I’ve reached the tip of the snake’s tail. And so I can crochet comfortably by candlelight, I now have light-up crochet hooks:

That crochet hook is awesome. I’m going to Google it right away 😃.

You’re so quick. 

Don’t be fooled—I’m not that fast. I just have a lot of time on my hands now that our old life has been virtually brought to a standstill by my husband’s illness and the pandemic.

How is your leftover yarn coming along?

Great! The snake is finished and has gobbled up 226 g. I didn’t sew it together and stuff it with wire, since it will probably live on as a children’s toy.

The snake looks great. I probably would have made it without wire, too.

My last page is finished. 


Tomorrow I’ll crochet another cord to bind the book together, and then I’ll weigh my leftover yarn, too.  

Wow, that snake is great. I could also imagine it as a window decoration. With flowers and the head in between...

Sandra, I’m looking forward to your book. It’s definitely going to be a one-of-a-kind gift. 

So, the book is finished. It used up 171g. Now I have 544g left. 

 
The next project will be an Easter basket, although the snake is also calling out to me. 

The book turned out really nice! Great idea on how it’s bound together!

The book is sooooo cute! Awesome!
The snake wasn’t that bad—of course it’s long, but it actually worked out fine. I’ll definitely make another one someday.

Great book

Thanks. Yeah, I really like the book, too.... but now I’m in a bad mood. I want to crochet an Easter basket. 


I thought that two partly used green balls of yarn (they’re slightly different shades) would be enough... No such luck. I guess I misjudged that 🥴

It’ll probably end up a bit more colorful toward the back.... Carrot orange or something like that

Will you be buying any yarn?
Carrot orange would be a good fit. How about some chick yellow or lamb white to go with it?

No. I’m still using leftover yarn. I just decided on a beige one. Hopefully it’ll be enough, and I’ll add a brown bunny or something to the edge. We’ll see. I don’t have a pattern and I’m just going with the flow. 😃

But now I’m off to bed.

Good night

Good night

Good morning, Sandra—I’m head over heels in love with this book. It’s great. A friend’s baby is due in June. I need to start gathering ideas and thinking things through. 

My scraps are on hold for now—I have a crochet commission (and could really use a creative full moon phase for it *laughs*)—but I’ll pick this back up afterward.

Did you use up a lot of leftover yarn in January?

I’ve managed to use up another 12 g:

So, here’s what I have to offer

from the bag I showed earlier. In total, it was 105 grams.

Now some of these scraps are visibly dwindling and are only enough for tiny little projects. I gave a 44-gram skein of gray to my neighbor—she desperately needed a little mouse.
And I made a small wallet.
Unfortunately, I didn’t measure it beforehand; my frame is a bit too wide, but a slimmer wallet always works well these days. *lol*

You’ve all created some great things. I just weighed mine.  

My leftover cotton yarn is now at 453g. After the book, I was at 544g.
The leftovers in various yarn types started at 295g, and now I’m down to 215g.

My Easter basket is going to be a total yarn mix 😃. I’m really curious to see how it looks when it’s finished. But that’ll take a while yet

How are your leftover yarns coming along?

Somehow, I’ve managed to accumulate a few more scraps 🙄
but I did quickly turn one of them into a birthday gift

It’s a placemat that turned out too big 🙄

Susanne, I also like to just lay doilies like that on the table. Maybe with a vase containing a single rose. Did you add a backing to the filet work? It’s not very visible against the dark background. I really like the design. 

Dear Sandra!
The baby book is amazing. Which pattern did you use?
Best regards, Sibylle

I knitted a little bunny from a few leftover bits of my yarn

It swallowed up 30 grams. I knitted with two strands held together. 

Here, I managed to use up another 18 g; the pattern was originally from a magazine.

It’s great to see you all working so hard.

Double thread—I could’ve thought of that myself; then I’d have used up even more yarn right away! *g*

@Veronika-t15 How did you make the legs so that your bird stays standing? I could totally imagine it in bright colors, too.

These are pipe cleaners doubled up and then wrapped with yarn.

Right now, I’m not using up any small bits of leftover yarn and don’t have anything to show, but I’ll keep checking back here.

I have to praise you all. You’ve made such wonderful pieces with your leftover yarn. It’s almost impossible to decide which one is the prettiest.

I’m curious to see what else you come up with.

Now I finally know what to do with that weird dark gray yarn (and another 64 g gone....)

Veronika: The Grim Reaper turned out great. And I really like your raven, too. Is that already Halloween decoration? 

Petra: Your bunny turned out cute—I’m sure a little one will be thrilled with it. 

Sibylle: Unfortunately, the pattern from the book is no longer active here

Susanne: That nautical throw would be right up my alley.

I finally had a day today where I managed to crochet a bit more. I’ve set the Easter basket aside for now. Now I’m crocheting a firefighter’s axe for a Carnival costume. 

Halloween... that gives me an idea—I hadn’t even thought of that yet. I’ve already given the raven away, so I’ll have to make another one.


The next scraps are gone. The firefighter’s axe for the kindergarten carnival

A doll’s hat for preschool made from scraps. 24 grams lighter

Petra: The hat looks great. The kids will definitely love it.

I’ve used up my next batch of scraps, and now I have enough accessories ready for Anton’s costume. 

I also managed to finish a net:

The next scraps are gone. Cutlery pouches for Easter.

That’s such a cute idea!

I’ve managed to use up another 22 g—an armadillo:

😃 That’s so cute

I just made some jellyfish—it’s quick, and they’re cute as bag charms or keychains—but they don’t use up much leftover yarn. A jellyfish weighs between 8 and 9 grams, so I’d have to go into mass production.

How are things looking with your leftover yarn? I’m feeling a bit stuck right now—all these little bits and pieces aren’t really making a dent in the pile. I could use something like that snake project again… I’m going to browse some patterns.

I managed to make 2 coasters; I didn’t have enough yarn for more. For 6 matching ones, I would have needed about 120–130 g—though, of course, you can also make kittens in different colors.

veronika-115: Yes, unfortunately, the “little projects” only use up a few scraps! As soon as I’m done with my gifts for my grandchildren, I want to start on the Easter gifts and hope that my stash will get a little smaller in the process!

Hi,
I haven’t really made much progress either (I finished another UFO, tried out various patterns for future projects...)
I’ve crocheted a few hexagons the size of coasters (we’ll see—maybe they’ll turn into a tablecloth if the colors work out halfway decently). At least I’ve already crocheted 4 granny squares from scraps for the CAL.

I’d also planned to make the table runner with the Easter bunny motif—crochet pattern—many variations possible (crazypatterns.net) from scraps, but I’ve only managed one bunny so far 😔

Then I started a table runner using filet crochet yarn from the swap package 😇
And somehow, I’ve already accumulated new scraps again (from the finished Frankie blanket) 🤔
I guess I’ve kind of lost track of things 🙄

If I’d thought of stuffing while shopping today, the snake (as a draft stopper) would’ve been a good idea too 🤔

I managed to use up another 59 g:

Now I’ve been given another fun project: to crochet those snail ribbons from leftover yarn, like the ones they have at the Waldorf kindergarten. Great—that way I can use up a lot of even small scraps again.

Hi Veronika,
what are “snail ribbons”? 🤔
I’ve got plenty of leftover yarn to use up, too. 😇

These are crocheted strips about 3 cm wide, approx. 120 cm long, which children can use to practice winding up and also play with in other ways.
Here is a description:
***Snail ribbons come from the Waldorf concept and are incredibly versatile. They
are crocheted ribbons, colorful or solid-colored, which the children can wind up into
a “snail.” This activity is often accompanied
by a song about a snail.***

Great 👍—thanks for the info

Continue writing here:
Leftover Yarn Race January to March 2022, Part 2.