Ellen Gormley - One Skein Crochet

I have lonely skeins, and you probably do, too! Theres no need to feel guilty about it. I have a strategy for solving this, and those lonesome hanks will blossom with their singular potential.

Like many crocheters, Im often drawn to luscious multicolored sock yarns, super chunky solids, and soft wools. The colors are amazing, and they look so fantastic on the hank. But as I admire the yarn in the store, I wonder, What to do with it? How much should I buy when I dont have a specific project in mind? So, unable to resist, I buy just one skein. And now I have one single, gorgeous skein and no plan. The poor thing sits like a velveteen rabbit in my stash bin, unrecognized for its amazing possibilities!

Do you recognize yourself in this story, too? Your particulars might be slightly different. Maybe you have one skein left over from an epic project, but no receipt to take it back to the store. Or perhaps a non-stitcher gave you one ball as a thoughtful gift, with no clue that having only one is very limiting. You dont know what to do with these singles. Theyre too good to give away. But what project can you make with just one skein?!

Well, I have a planlots of plans, in fact! To begin with, I have a number of methods for squeezing out every last yard and maximizing just one skein into a completed projectfor example, integrating the edging while stitching, working two pieces at the same time (I call this the Dynamic Duo strategy), and Divide and Conquer (which means splitting the ball evenly in two). This book teaches you ten strategies, and a few of them can even be applied to larger hanks so that you can happily stitch in pattern until the yarn runs out! Crocheting a rectangle until all the yarn is used is a viable plan, but the strategies in this book help you make something creative and functional that is also beautiful and an efficient use of yarn. Every project in this book is specially designed to push the limit of one skein so that theres little to no yarn left over. The Bruges Wedge Cowl, the Corner Garden Shawlette, and the Tumbling Motifs Scarf are all projects that can easily turn into bigger projects if you have more yarn.

All 15 projects let you use up one entire skein of yarn and not waste it. No more lonely skeins! No more orphan hanks! And not only thatwith just one skein, your project can probably be made in just a few days or less. Youll make great headway blowing through your stash in short ordergifts galore!

And if you feel inspired to design your own one-skein masterpiece, this book contains tips to help you stitch your vision into reality. So go stash diving (or shop with freedom and happiness) and see what you can make today. Then post your finished projects on Instagram with the hashtag #oneskeincrochet.

chapter 1

getting started

This book is different from other one-skein books because all the projects were designed to maximize full balls of yarn without waste. Its not a competition to create multiple tiny projects using the least amount of yarn. Instead the projects show you how to make the most exciting, interesting, and substantial projects possible from just one ball. So if youve got a stash of lone skeins (and what yarn junkie doesnt?) this is your opportunity to make a significant dent in itand no more leftovers!

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

To use yarns efficiently with beautiful results, you can approach this book in two ways. Either follow the instructions for the fifteen projects as specified and blissfully stitch along, or throw caution to the wind and design your own patterns using the ten strategies I describe for maximizing yarn.

You can even do both, taking advantage of the book to the fullest by combining both approaches. For example, you might take the shape and strategy of the Coral Reef Scarf but add your own favorite stitch pattern and use a different edging to create something completely new and original.

The 15 projects in this book fully use a single skein of yarn. Some are perfect for small amounts of yarn and some for larger. If you happen to have one of the yarns used in this book, jackpot! You can now complete one project with a single skein. If you want to buy a skein to make one of the projects, know that just one will yield a complete project. So affordable! You might splurge a little on luxury yarn, since youll know your total cost right from the start!

To use yarn from your stash, determine how much yardage youve got, as well as its yarn weightnot the weight of the ball. (If the label is missing and you need help figuring out how much there is, see Measuring Yardage on Unlabeled Skeins. To determine the yarn weight, compare your yarn to figure 1.) Once you know your yardage and yarn weight, look at the table called Project Yardage and Weights, at far right, to see which project is most similar in length and weight to your yarn. (Theyre listed from shortest to longest.) Thats the project you should make. Just make sure you have the same yardageor a little moreand the same weight as the yarn specified in the pattern.

If your stash yarn is a different weight than the specified project yarn, but you think it would still look great in the project you want to make, if it has the right drape, and if you have a reasonable amount of yardage, give it a try anyway.

Every ball, hank, or skein comes in a different yardage. Theres no standard for an amount of yardage for yarn across brands. Because of that, you cant assume that a ball of Brand A has the same number of yards (meters) as a ball of Brand B. You cant substitute by the weight of the skein, either. For example, if a skein of Brand A yarn weighs 1.75 oz (50 g) and Brand B weighs 1.75 oz (50 g), they dont necessarily have the same yardage because they may be different yarn weights. (Thats not the same as ball weight. I know this is confusingsee Weighty Matters, below.) Its like peopletwo people with a height difference of one foot (30.5 cm) can both weigh 175 pounds (79.3 kg). Similarly, a ball of chunky weight yarn can weigh 3 oz (85 g) but measure only 175 yards (160 m), while a ball of worsted weight yarn that also weighs 3 oz (85 g) comes on a skein containing 315 yards (288 m). The balls weigh the same because the yarns are different weightsone is thicker than the other.