Chromatic 2: The Rainbow Version

Project leftovers can be overwhelming. I tend to refer to them as scraps, but that implies a small amount. Sometimes the leftover amount is too small to repeat a project, yet too great to truly relegate to the category of Scrap.

The photo below is all leftover fingering weight wool yarn. These are no mere scraps. Most of it is from knitting socks, although some of it is commercial or handspun yarn from other projects. They are a mix of solid, variegated, and self-striping yarns that can be difficult to combine into a new project.

This photo was taken AFTER I knit my latest project.

I wanted to make something from my leftover sock weight yarn, but after knitting two pairs of socks back-to-back I wasn’t in the mood to knit another pair. It’s too warm here for mittens or gloves, and I have more than enough scarves and hats for the brief period when I can justify wearing them.

I grouped and regrouped colors until I realized I had a rainbow of solids and enough light colors to make another Chromatic. I knit this sweater pattern by Tin Can Knits early last summer and was happy with both the experience and the result. Why not make another?

The yarns I used this time are:

• Orange, Yellow, Blue – Cascade Yarns® Cascade 220® Fingering in colorways 7824 Orange, 7827 Goldenrod, and 9573 In The Navy
• Red – Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Tart
• Green – Dream in Color Smooshy in Happy Forest
• Purple – Malabrigo Sock Yarn in 808 Violeta Africana
• Ivory – Red Heart Heart & Sole with Aloe in E745 Ivory
• Light Beige – I don’t remember what this yarn is. It was once a shawl that met an untimely end in the drier.
• Beige – Handspun yarn made from 50% camel down and 50% alpaca

The first time around, I was also working with leftover fingering weight wool yarn. I cut it close on yardage with that version based on the colors I chose, so that top is a little smaller than I’d prefer. Once again, I used needles one size larger than the pattern calls for — US-6 (4 mm) and US-4 (3.5 mm) — but this time I knit size L.

Trying to look casual and avoid touching the pollen-laden rail at the same time.

I added six MC/CC pattern repeats to the length of the body, which increased the length by about three inches (7.6 cm). I also knit the sleeves about two inches (5 cm) longer than called for in the pattern instructions. I’m happy with the sweater sized as it is, although I don’t think that much extra length was absolutely necessary. If I make the sweater again, I think I’ll aim for three additional body repeats and one extra inch (2.5 cm) in the sleeves, then adjust as needed to fit with the color scheme.

The MC is ivory at the top, light beige in the middle, and beige at the very bottom.

I used up the orange, blue, ivory and beige yarns in this Chromatic, and now I’m trying to figure out what my next fingering weight wool yarn project should be. Sure, I could buy a few skeins to improve my color combination options — but it already seems to be multiplying faster than I can knit it. Dare I run the risk of encouraging it by purposely adding to its numbers?

What are your favorite ways to use up more-than-scrap quantities of leftover yarn?