Mini skeins are popular among knitters and crocheters for good reason: they allow you to add color to your projects without having to buy a full-size skein of yarn when you only need a small amount of yarn in a contrasting color. Many people also love using them to add a pop of color to the heel, cuff, or toe of their socks.
Since it's December, many yarn lovers all over the world excitedly take part in opening yarn advent calendars (or countdown boxes, as some may call them). These advent or countdown boxes typically have twelve to twenty-four mini skeins, and some even have small notions like stitch markers or even a full-size skein or two.
If you’re taking part in one this year or if you have a collection of mini skeins lying around and need some inspiration on how to use them, here are three projects you can cast on to use up those special mini skeins.
The Tutti Frutti Cowl, by Meret Bützberger, is a beautiful double-knit cowl with a simple yet impressive stitch pattern that gives you a chance to play around with different colors, making it perfect for those mini skeins you’ve been collecting.
Not a big fan of double knitting? You can also knit this cowl in stranded colorwork. There are two sizes that you can choose from, so pick your colors and cast on. You’ll be reaching for this cowl all winter long.
If you’re not familiar with double knitting, check out our article about double knitting to learn what it is, how to do it, and to decide if double knitting is something you’d like to try.
If you’re looking for a shawl pattern to knit with your mini skeins, look no further than the Color Craze Shawl by Tamy Gore. This shawl invites you to have fun and embrace all things colorful.
Choose your favorite colors and get lost in this dreamy pattern. There are relaxing sections of garter stitch and eyelets, plus some brioche to keep it interesting, as well as those colorful stripes that will make this a fun project from start to finish.
The Passiflora Wrap by Ambah O'Brien is a bright and colorful wrap designed to use a twelve or twenty-four mini skein set, and with many different options to customize it, you can truly make it one-of-a-kind.
Use only mini skeins to knit a gradient fade, or choose a main color and alternate between that and your mini skeins to knit a beautiful striped wrap. Alternatively, instead of using a mini-skein set, you could use leftover yarn from past projects.
The wrap is knit in simple garter stitch with eyelets, and thanks to the shaping and color changes, this pattern will keep you hooked as you shift from color to color.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to knitting a project with mini skeins! No matter what you make, it’s bound to be a fun project that will leave you wanting to add many more mini skeins to your stash.
