3 Ways to Use Scrap Yarn

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

OR

12 x 30cm lengths of mixed chunky yarns held together

5-6 x 75cm lengths colours of cotton DK

OR

1 x 3m length of cotton DK

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

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.

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.

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.

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