Fastest way to use a lot of yarn in a useful way?

Question

I went through this giant yarn phase and I have a huge drawer full of them. I'm not very good at knitting, all I can make is scarves, and I have about a billion of those. What's something useful that uses a lot of yarn? instructions if it's difficult, please. (I have crochet needles, too, if that helps) Thanks!!

Answer 1

Crochet hats, scarves and small purses to put into Shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse for children in third world countries.

Answer 2

You can use 4 strands of yarn at the same time and make a large, simple project that will use a lot of yarn and work up quickly. The yarns do not have to match (use worsted, eyelet, fancy, sock weight mixed) Choose 4 colors of yarn that work well together, and thread them through a small plastic ring or washer (about 1/2" size). You can get them at Walmart. Keep the ring near the skeins of yarn in your workbasket so the strands of yarn will be "as one" when you knit. Cast on any number of stitches...lots for a shawl or about 20 for a purse depending on how thick your yarn is. You can make a simple purse by knitting a long rectangle (14" x 10"), basic knit/ purl stitch, then cast off and fold the top part down to make a flap. With multiple yarns mistakes are not as visible! Sew the sides together and add a button to close the flap. Crochet a long shoulder strap, again using multiple strands of yarn. If you use 100% wool yarn, make it 1/3 larger than you want and shrink it for a great look. (commonly called "felting") Google and join "Ravelry"...it's an amazing site with tons of patterns and eye candy for knit & crochet.

Answer 3

Guideposts magazine has a Knit for Kids project where they provide the pattern (it's very simple) and instructions, and you knit the sweaters for them to send to children all over the world.  You have to mail the finished items to New York, I think.  You can Google Guideposts, and then when you're in their site, look for the knitting project.  I think it's called Knit for Kids.

There are many other organizations that have folks knit items to be donated.  Even your local hospital's maternity section may accept donations of new knitted blankets to be given to new moms who have no blanket for the baby.  (There are more of those than you think, no matter where you live.)  If you like, I can email you instructions on how to knit a blanket.  You'll need to tell me either what size your yarn is or what size needles you usually use with it.  Please tell me if you're using US needles or metric ones.

I think there is also a site with patterns for knitting items for our soldiers who are serving in war zones.  You'd need to use Google to find it, because I have only a vague recollection.  I was looking for something else and saw it in passing.

Answer 4

You could knit granny squares then sew them together to make a rug. I done that when I gave up smoking. The same with crochet. They look good.

Answer 5

Give them away!  Groups who knit and crochet hats and sweaters for preemies and orphans are always looking for donations.  :)

Answer 6

I just gave away a huge stash left over from donations from family and friends who know I knit.

I posted a free ad on Craigslist.

Answer 7

If you can make scarves, then you should be able to make one really, really big scarf... and use it as a Blanket!