Stashing the Bits and Pieces II (The Sequel)

I showed my solution for storing small balls of yarn bits in a previous blog post. But what about the really tiny bits?You know... the tails and ends a meter or so long? Or even shorter? Don't tell me you throw them away! I won't hear of it!  There are tons of projects you can do with bits and scraps, and it might also save you when an older project needs a quick repair and you have actually kept a few tails of the yarn.

Projects/uses for little tails:
1) use yarn to attach tags to your work if you sell it
2) make a scrappy steps project
3) make something small (headband, bowtie, face scrubbie) - links to some patterns for the "small stuff"
4) if you still don't have enough of one colour make something with lots of stripes or patches
5) tie ends together and make a "Scrapghan" or other simple project!

There are LOTS of ways to use those little bits... and here is a great way to store them, without getting tangled, until you need them:

1. Save some plastic pull tabs from cartons of milk or juice.
2. Loosely loop a scrap of yarn by folding it several times. In half, half again, etc. until it is about 6" long.
3. Slide the looped yarn through the loop of the tab.
4. Tie the yarn on itself in a loose knot around the tap loop.
5. You can write on the tab with a permanent marker if you wish. I sometimes add a number for the weight of the yarn, i.e. 2 for fine, 3 for light worsted, 4 for worsted, 5 for bulky.
6. Toss in a bag or basket in your yarn stash for later use.

Happy Stashing and Scrapping!

Cheers,
BusyLizzy

Stashing the Bits and Pieces

How do you deal with those little bits of yarn that you just can't bear to toss? Yarn bobbins (pictured above) are one option. I find they leave a straggly end that can tangle while stored. They are also a bit fussy to wind, and even fussier to unwind when they are used in a project. Time for a new solution!

Look how neat these little bundles are, and no stragglers! All you need is some soft hair elastics. These are about an inch in diameter but will stretch quite a lot, and won't tangle or fray the yarn, because they are made of a stretchy terry-cloth like material. You can find them by the dozens at discount stores. 

Here is how I did it!  

`1. Tie one end of your yarn to the elastic. Keep it fairly loose.

2. Wind the yarn around your finger (not too tight) creating a centre-pull ball.

3. Remove the ball from your finger carefully.

4. Loop the elastic over the ball, securing the loose end and keeping the centre-pull end ready to use! 

Ta-da! Happy stashing...