3 Ways to Use Scrap Yarn

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3 Ways to Use Scrap Yarn

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Looking for a way to use up leftover yarn from past projects? Try your hand at these three creative ways to get making with scrap yarn. Choose from keyrings, macrame hoops and hair ties.

These ideas will make great gifts or lovely accessories for yourself! Plus, they'll help you clear out your yarn stash.

Projects and instructions by Lindsey from @lottieandalbert.

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How to make

1 - Wrapped loop Key Ring

You might have seen wrapped loops like these before as part of weaves, but we think they are beautiful in their own right too. Quick and satisfying to make, they can be used as bag charms, on key rings or curtain tie backs, or even as fancy napkin rings. Warning: once you learn the gathering knot from this tutorial, you may want to wrap everything in beautiful yarn!

You Will Need

1 x 30cm length of 10mm Cotton cord or rope

12 x 30cm lengths of mixed chunky yarns held together

5-6 x 75cm lengths colours of cotton DK

1 x 3m length of cotton DK

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Step 1

Cut your rope or 12 strands of chunky yarn to 30cm for your core. If using chunky yarn, tie the strands loosely together with a short strands of DK yarn, to hold them as a bundle.

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Step 2

Wrap your core with the DK cotton by making gathering knots. To make a gathering knot, first decide how long you want the wrapped section to be, then unwind a length of DK yarn a little over twice this length, do not cut yarn from ball. Fold the yarn in half to make a loop, and lay it on top of the core where you want the wrapped section to be.

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Step 3

With the loop on the left and the tail end of the yarn on the right, start wrapping your yarn firmly and neatly over the top of both the core and the loop from right to left, but leave the tail end of the yarn and the top of the loop peeping out from the wrapped section. When you reach the end closest to the loop, cut the yarn from the ball.

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Step 4

Insert the cut yarn into the loop, from front to back. Now, pull gently on the tail end on the right-hand side that is peeping out of the wrapped section.

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Step 5

The loop will now disappear inside the wrapped section, securing the tail end as it does. Pull gently on both tail ends to secure, then trim them down to the edge of the wrapped section. Gathering knot formed.

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Step 6

Repeat these gathering knots along the middle 10cm of your core. For the colourful multi-strand core, I used one solid gathering knot in a neutral colour. For the plain core, I used 10 gathering knots in 5 different colours, each 2cm wide.

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Step 7

When the middle 10cm of your core is wrapped, curve the ends of your core round to meet each other. If you would like to add a metal split ring for a key ring, do this now before securing in a loop. Make one final gathering knot around both ends of the core, just at the base of the wrapped middle.

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Step 8

To neaten up your wrapped loops, brush out the unwrapped core using a metal bristle brush, such as a pet-grooming brush. Trim the ends of the core.

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Macrame Hoops

These impactful macrame makes require just yarn, a wooden hoop and two types of knot. They are great starter projects if you are just getting into macrame, or a quick win if you are looking to create a pop of colour for your home décor! This step-by-step guide will teach you the lark's head knot and the double half hitch knot.

You Will Need

Wooden hoop – I used the inside of an embroidery hoop

Hoop A 15cm

Hoop B 20cm

Chunky weight yarn

Hoop A 225m of 1 colour

Hoop B 150m each of 2 colours

Knots used

Lark's head knot

Double half hitch knot

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Step 1

If using an embroidery hoop, remove the outside ring.
For Hoop A, cut 15 x 150cm lengths of chunky weight yarn.
For Hoop B, cut 10 x 150m lengths of chunky weight yarn in two colours.
Attach the cut lengths to the hoops using a lark’s head knot. To make the knot, fold each length of yarn in half to create a loop at the midpoint. Pass the knot under and back over the top of the hoop, then bring the tail ends of the two strands of yarn through the loop from back to front. Pull firmly to secure, lark’s head knot formed.

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Step 2

For Hoop A, attach all 15 strands to the top of the hoop using larks head knots. For Hoop B, attach all 20 strands to the top of the hoop using larks head knots, in blocks of colour.

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Step 3

For Hoop A, divide all the strands in half and find the centre two strands, cross them over in the middle, then pass them underneath the hoop at the bottom centre, pulling the strands taught as you do so.

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Step 4

Attach each strand to the base of the hoop using a double half hitch knot. To form this knot, start with the strand underneath the hoop, then wrap the strand from the front up and over to the back again, working to the left.

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Step 5

Wrap the strand from the front up and over to the back a second time, but this time on the right-hand side. When you bring the strand down behind the hoop, pull the tail end of the strand through the loop just formed. Pull firmly to tighten. Double half hitch knot formed.

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Step 6

Repeat this double half hitch knot for the other strand. Then repeat the process: find the next two strands out from the middle at the top of the hoop. Cross them over at the front, then pass the strands underneath the bottom of the hoop, pulling taught as you do so. Attach each strand to the base of the hoop using a double half hitch knot. Always attach them on the outside of the previous 2 knots formed, working out from the centre.

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Step 7

For Hoop B, divide all the strands in half and find the centre two strands, cross them over at the very top of the hoop, then pass them underneath the hoop at the bottom, pulling the strands taught as you do so. Attach these two strands to the base of the hoop using a double half hitch knot as before, but instead of attaching them to the centre of the hoop, attach each strand directly below the outermost lark’s head knot in the opposite colour at the top of the hoop.

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Step 8

Repeat this process: find the next two strands out from the middle at the top of the hoop and cross them over at the front. Pass the strands underneath the bottom of the hoop, pulling taught as you do so. Then attach each strand to the base of the hoop using a double half hitch knot. Place each new knot directly inside the previous knot, working towards the centre.

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Step 9

Your last two double half hitch knots should meet in the middle at the bottom of the hoop.

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Step 10

For Hoop A and Hoop B, hang your hoops on a wall and trim the tail ends of all strands to neaten, or trim into a curve or point if you prefer.

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Hair Tie

Looking for a last-minute present or something to make and sell at a craft fair? This stripey hair tie is quick, fun, and perfect for using up those DK scraps. Use as few or as many colours as you like depending on your scraps, the colour changes are indicated in the pattern, but you can make the whole hair tie in 1 colour, or 7 rainbow colours, it's up to you!

You Will Need

DK weight scrap yarn – 4 x 25g

5mm hook

Elastic hair bobble

Abbreviations – UK terms

ch chain

dc double crochet (US single crochet)

htr half treble crochet (US half double crochet)

INC increase, by working 2 htr into one stitch

DEC decrease, by working 2 htr together: yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all loops.

st(s) stitch(es)

Tips

· Ch2 at start of each row (starting chain) does not count as a stitch).

· Change colour by yarning over the final part of the half treble crochet of the stitch before with a new colour.

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Pattern

Hair bobble

Attach yarn to hook with slip knot and then dc around the hair bobble, until it is full. If your hair band is already the colour you want it to be, you can skip this step.

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Bow

Ch 3

Row 1 starting in 3rd ch from hook, 1htr, turn. (1st)

Row 2 ch2, (3htr), turn. (3sts)

Row 3 ch2, INC x 3, change colour, turn. (6sts)

Row 4 ch2, *1htr, INC; rep from * 3 times, turn. (9sts)

Row 5 ch2, 9htr, change colour, turn. (9sts) Crochet hair tie 3

Row 6 ch2, *INC, 2htr; rep from * 3 times, turn. (12sts)

Row 7 ch2, 12htr, change colour, turn. (12sts) Crochet hair tie 4

Row 8 ch2, *3htr, INC; rep from * 3 times, turn. (15sts)

Row 9 ch2, 15htr, change colour, turn. (15sts) Crochet hair tie 5

Row 10 ch2, 15htr, turn. (15sts)

Row 11 ch2, *DEC, 3htr; rep from * 3 times, colour change, turn. (12sts)

Row 12 ch2, 12htr, turn. (12sts)

Row 13 ch2, *2htr, DEC; rep from * 3 times, colour change, turn. (9sts)

Row 14 ch2, 9htr, turn. (9sts)

Row 15 ch2, *DEC, 1htr; rep from * 3 times, colour change, turn. (6sts)

Row 16 ch2, 6htr, turn. (6sts)

Row 17 ch2, DEC x 3, turn. (3sts)

Rows 18-27 ch2, 3htr, turn. (3sts) Crochet hair tie 6

Row 28 ch2, INC x 3, turn. (6sts)

Row 29 ch2, 6htr, colour change, turn. (6sts)

Row 30-43 repeat rows 4-17. Crochet hair tie 7

Row 44 work 3htr together. (1st) Crochet hair tie 8

Fasten off with a ss and weave in ends.

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Make up

Insert the Bow into the Hair Bobble. Tie a knot in the middle of rows 18-27 to attach bow to hair bobble.

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