Free Scrap Yarn Patterns for Crochet

The granny square is one of the most popular scrap yarn projects; you can crochet each round using a different yarn.

I crocheted my sample square using a rainbow of scrap yarn colors, but you could use any random colors for the outlines -- they don't have to form a perfect rainbow. It would be lovely to try this pattern using only fall colors, for example.

See Also: Free crochet granny square patterns; we've posted a wide variety of different patterns for granny squares, and with a little creativity, just about any of them could be made using scrap yarn.

Again, don't feel compelled to make this project exactly as shown; feel free to use random colors of scrap yarn to crochet the stripes on this square.

This square features interesting color blocks. Despite the colorful appearance, you're only ever working with one color at a time; after your chain is completed, you work almost the entire design in single crochet. Easy!

Multicolored Crochet Flower: (Pictured at left) You can use short pieces of scrap yarn to crochet the innermost rounds of this flower.

Small Flat Flower Applique: This is a small, easy flower pattern. The flower has six petals that are slightly rounded, and the flower is crocheted in one color. It's only two rounds -- quick and simple!

If you have a substantial collection of scrap yarn, crocheted flowers are generally a great way to use it up. You might want to check out the following links to find even more great flower patterns:

• Crochet flower photos -- browse through a picture gallery showing lots of different flowers you can make using the free crochet patterns and instructions on our website.
• Easy crochet flower patterns

If you have massive amounts of scrap yarn in your stash, you could use it to make a scrapghan out of hexagons. If you don't have all that much scrap yarn, try combining the scraps with purchased yarns to get a bit more mileage out of your yarn budget. Or you could aim for making a smaller project -- perhaps a pillow.

In general, crocheted headbands don't use much yarn, so many of them make good scrap yarn projects. This particular headband is especially thrifty; it has a narrow width and plenty of wide open spaces, and it doesn't require a lot of yarn -- or much time -- to make.

Keep in mind that you don't need to work from a crochet pattern; freeform crochet is one of the best ways I can think of to use up scrap yarn.

The hat pictured at left is a great example of a freeform scrap yarn project. I used up little bits of blue scrap yarn along with a brand new skein of the green yarn to crochet and knit the hat using freeform techniques.

Erica Jackofsky gives you complete instructions for how to crochet a shawl using scrap yarn. Each shawl you crochet using this pattern is sure to be a colorful, one-of-a-kind original!

• See also: free crochet patterns for shawls, wraps and ponchos

If you're into designing your own crochet projects, it's good to know a variety of different crochet stitches. There are certain stitches that work really well for using up scrap yarn. Here are links to a couple of them:

• Lacy interrupted v-stitch (pictured)



• Surface crochet slip stitches -- This stitch technique is absolutely perfect for using up little bits and pieces of yarn that would otherwise go to waste. It's an easy way to add bits of color to your projects. I use it often to dress up crocheted flowers and dishcloths, but I think you'll find zillions of uses for it once you start thinking of all the possibilities!