So for Monica and all the others with a similar problem, I present:
101 ideas for Using Up Scraps of Sock Yarn
A Four Yarn Spiral sock in progress.

2-- Collect 400 or more gm. Using 4 or more strands per round, Knit a spiral shawl--if you are lucky, maybe you can find 3 others, just as obsessed, and do it together.
3--Join ends together into a single strand, and knit a multi colored shawl or blanket.
4--Collect enough to make a pair of gloves. It’s unlikely that working with random bits, you’ll amass a collection as pretty as the colors used to make these gloves, but you can see how small bits can be brought together to make whole


6-- Make a pair of Turkish style socks, (striped patterned work--this photo is from Anne Zilboorgs book Simple Socks.) by the time you have collected enough yarn to make a pair of socks like these, you’ll also have enough skill! This out of print book is treasure-and worth every penny it cost.
7-- Combined small bits with a 50 to 60 gm ball of yarn and work cuff and leg in an intarsia patterns or other patters (see Lucy Neatby again!)or or Nanette Blanchard-- working flat, and seamed or seamlessly by making one of the yarn crosses your seam (working in rows, in the round)

8-- Combine small bits and a 50 gm ball of yarn and make contrasting cuffs, heels and toes, either in a single contrasting color, or in fair isle, or in a combination.
The socks to right have cuffs and heels from Paton's Kroy, the body of the sock is Lion Brand Magic stripes.
Buy an I-cord machine like this:

Note: an machine like this can enable many obsessive behaviors.
9--Make lengths of I-cord (70 to 90 inches) 6 to 12 in total. Group them (2 to 4 in each group) bind together (leaving 6 inch tail) and make groups of 2 to 4 strands. Braid. Bind off when there is about 6 inches remaining make 2 shorter lengths, (12 to 15 inches) cover binding and tie in bow. (Braided scarf)
10--Make lengths of I-cord (70 to 90 inches) 6 to 12 in total. Lay them parallel and join together--use a back stitch or even machine stitching them together.
Join strands together at intervals, with pompoms, or knitted embellishments--Do this on both sides.
Finish by joining together in a similar style at the other end for a striped scarf.
11--Make lengths of I-cord (70 to 90 inches) 40 or more in total. Lay them parallel and join together--use a back stitch, embroidery or even machine stitching them together.
Join strands together at intervals, with flat(ish) knitted embellishments, or decorative embroidery -Use sock yarn for embroidered details --Do this on one side only.
Finish by joining together in a similar style at the other end for a blanket or rug.
12-- Make lengths of I-cord and use as shoe laces --be obsessive and change laces in your sneaker/shoes on a daily basis to match your socks. (Note: this is borderline insanity)
13--Make miles of I-cord (surprisingly quickly with a machine) and use I-cord as yarn to knit scarves, or hats. (This idea could really 13 to 20 or so, since there are lots of things you could knit using I-cord “yarn” -including machine washable, wool area rugs!) (Yarn Harlot (I think it was YH) recently posted about someone doing just this recently)
14--Make or various lengths of I-cord --from several inches to miles, and form into rings or other shapes, to make scarves or garments (see Lucy Neatby’s Trade Winds for ideasi.e. here Chain Mail/Amore scarf)
15--Make miles of I-cord, Coil and sew into a rug (NOTE: this qualifies as a form of insanity)
16-- Make miles of I-cord, braid 3 or 4 strands together to made a thick braid, coil, and sew these coils into a rug. (slightly less insane.)
17-- Using a modular knitting technique,, knit yarn into afghans or clothing.(see April 13th entry, It's Blaannkieeee Fridaay!)
18--Make pompoms--small ones. Use tail of the pompom and sew/tie together to make a pompom hat.
19--Make pompoms--medium sized ones. Use tail of the pompom to sew/tie together to make a pompom scarf or vest.
20--Make pompoms--large ones. Use tail of the pompom and sew/tie together to make a pompom blanket or rug. You can also sew onto an old sheet, for a slightly more substantial blanket.
21--Cut yarn into small lengths, (wind it round a CD jewel case, cut loops open, then in half, scatter round open greenscapes. Birds and small mammals will collect and use to line their nests.
Ideas 22 to 101:
Recognize you have a serious obsession about scraps of yarn, and seek mental health treatment. (Drugs are advised!)
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Meanwhile, I have finished the first bath mat (OK, I still have to trim the fringe to make it all even. But the knitting and other finishing is all done.)

And I have started a second.
Mostly a Ombre of blues, yellow's and white (Bernat crafters cotton, a 14oz skein), with yellow, (Lily's Sugar and Cream) and 2 shades of blue (Lion Brand Kitchen cotton) stripes intersperced. (As you see, I have dark blue light blue and yellow towels (and lots of white ones too) to match this bathmat.
This is a process I call “repositioning”. I move yarn from the ‘stash’ pile and make it into something that I can call “bath linens”. I don’t really have mores space, I just have changed the piles round.
6 comments:
I recently tried the Magic Ball technique with a bunch of my sock yarn leftovers. It made the most awful sock you'd ever seen! Or perhaps I'm just too much of a knitting control freak to let randomness decide what colors to put next to each other. :)
Anyway, I love all your info posts. Keep 'em coming!
I love (Beatrice's) i-cord knitter. I might need to get one for myself!
I was getting worried around idea number 15. Glad to see ideas 22 - 101. haha.
Thanks for the ideas. I love the concept of multi yarn socks. Learning gloves is next, after I finish obsessing over socks that is.
Reading this post made me so happy. It is good to meet someone who can turn complete obession in a productive direction (I am still working on that myself (not the obsession part, the productivce part)). Thanks!
LOL reg ideas 22 - 101! You had me worried at first! ;-)
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