15 Stash-Busting Knit and Crochet Patterns for Winter 2025
This year I’ve been on a mission to work through my yarn stash.
This post includes knitting and crochet patterns that I’ve have found through searching Ravelry. I hope they inspire you to dive into your stash and cast-on something new for the up coming chilly season (if you’re in the northern hemisphere!). As it is close to winter, and therefore Christmas, some of the patterns I’ve shared here may also make great handmade gifts!
All the patterns I’m sharing in this blog post, I have also saved into a Ravelry winter stash-busting patterns bundle. I’ll continue to add to them as I find more patterns.
If you would prefer something more visual, I also published a winter pattern round-up video on my Youtube channel, which you can find it right below this text!
Interested in more stash-busting pattern round-ups? Check out these other blog posts:
Leftover yarn and stash-down ideas, that aren’t crochet or knitting
For the full list of leftover yarn blogs, checkout this link: leftover yarn series.
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Keep scrolling for more patterns…..
This post contains both knitting and crochet patterns. I grouped the 15 patterns into four broad categories:
Socks
Accessories
Blankets
Sweaters and Cardigans
How do I pick the patterns to include?
When searching through Ravelry I was looking for items that are made with heavier weight yarn, such as worsted and patterns for items that are traditionally worn and used in the winter, such as hats and blankets! When it comes to garments, I always ensure the pattern has been graded to be size inclusive.
To make sure they are also going to be great for diving into your stash, I select patterns that are either one skein projects, or have splashes of colour or stripes, that will enable us to use pieces of leftover yarn, or those special skeins.
I’ve included the pricing for each pattern, but for consistency I have converted all pricing to Canadian dollars, and done some rounding for ease.
Ok enough preamble, on to category number 1 - Socks!
From top to bottom, left to right: Wallflower hat by Tori Yu, Patchwork house socks by autumngeisha, Scraptastic cowl by Ambah O’Brein, Winter Blossom Blanket by CJ Designs, Mix It Up stash sweater by Shaina Bilow, Sailor Slippers by Annie Germain, Waiting for Winter mittens by Susan B Anderson and Mosaic jumper by Nomad Stitches.
Socks
Patchwork house socks - autumngeisha - knitting - free!
Starting off strong with the perfect, colourful stash-busting project. I like the mitred squares, very impactful! These socks are a modular construction with an afterthought heel. It’s actually only available in a couple of sizes, but my suspicion is that you could probably adapt it by increasing or decreasing the width of the plain garter stitch across the bottom of the foot. Some experience sock knitting may be required!
Scrapsody socks - Winter’s Weather Knits - knitting - $10 CAD
Knit with Aran weight, these are oversized slouchy socks. As the name suggests, they’ve been designed for stash-busting so you can combine yarns to create this marled effect. Only designed to three sizes, but I think this is due to them being intentionally oversized. They are knit with a 5mm (US 8) needle - which is such a big difference from the 2.25mm needles usually work with for socks!
Sailor slippers - Annie Germain- knitting - $14 CAD
Not exactly socks, but close enough! Perfect for when you need your feet to be extra toasty indoors. Designed in 10 adult sizes with super bulky yarn. The final stage includes washing and felting, so the yarn you use would need to be 100% wool and non-superwash.. This is a project I think would be pretty quick to make and therefore potential gifts knit too.
Accessories
Patchwork - Aimée Gille - knitting - $15 CAD
This pattern, at the time of publishing this blog, had just been released. I saw it on instagram and knew I had to include it here. It’s perfect for scarps and mini skeins. In her particular sample I love the pop of neon squares against the grey. But this can be very adaptable to your particular colour preference.
Scraptastic cowl - Ambah O’Brein - knitting - $9 CAD
Worsted weight yarn, again designed for stash busting, so you could hold strands together to get to worsted weight. Another great gift prospect too!
Colourful scarf or cowl - Just be happy crochet - crochet - $7 CAD
Tapestry crochet, which is a technqiue I haven’t tried yet. This pattern is modifiable in size with the option to keep it as a scarf or join together once finished to make a cowl. I think it’s a really pretty design, crocheted with worsted weight yarn. It would be a great colourful accessory to your outfit.
Waiting for winter mittens - Susan B. Anderson - knitting - $5.86 CAD
Knit with worsted weight wool, this patterns provides instructions for both full mittens and fingerless mittens. It’s graded from S-XXL adult sizes, but there is a link in the Ravelry description for a children’s version too. I picked these as a good one skein project, might even be a good gift idea…I’m clearly going to say that alot!
Wallflower hat - Tori Yu - knitting - $10 CAD
This stranded colourwork hat, knit with two colours, is written to both child and adult sizes. This hat is knit with fingering weight yarn, so maybe better for cooler, but not freezing temps! From the information given in the Ravelry description, I’m pretty confident you would need less than a skein of each colour in order to make this hat, so great for leftovers.
Keep scrolling for Home Decor…..
From top to bottom, left to right:
Home Decor
Stash-busting blanket - Rich Textures crochet - crochet - $5 CAD (free on blog post and video tutorial)
Another purpose designed stash-busting project. This designer has made the patchwork style blanket with aran weight. However, you could use a lighter weight, but would maybe would have to change hook size and the number of squares you need to make to get the right dimensions.
Winter blossom blanket - CJ Design blog - crochet - $8 CAD (free verison also available)
This crochet blanket has more of a “classic” crochet style to it i.e. granny squares! It’s crocheted with super bulky weight yarn and designed to 4 different sizes of blanket. It looks like it would be fairly simple and I was drawn to this one in particular because of the colour tones, which i find very calming and cozy.
Fleece and Harmony mystery blanket 2024 - knitting - $20 CAD
I picked this one because I saw it had a seal (or perhaps sealion?) on it, and those are my favourite animal so I was drawn to click! Then I saw that the design was inspired by Prince Edward Island, which is a place in Canada that I’ve only been to once, but really loved. It’s a very beautiful part of Canada, I highly recommend visiting. Fleece and Harmony is a yarn dyer from there. Obviously all the colourwork is why i have picked it as a stash-busting project.
Sweaters and Cardigans
Mix It Up Stash sweater - Shaina Bilow - knitting - $12 CAD
This cardigan is intentionally designed for stash-busting, so it’s already a playful design, but on top of that, this designer has mixed up different pattern stitches which I think would make it a very engaging project. It’s constructed in 3 separate pieces, and you can combine different weights of yarn, so absolutely perfect for those of us looking fo bust our yarn stash!
HexaGranny Cardigan - Tony Lipsey TL Yarn crafts - crochet - $14 CAD
A classic crochet granny stitch cardigan, that is size inclusive with instructions to make it customizable to exactly your measurements Not only that, but you can also customize the yarn options from DK to bulky. I think this would be a great one for beginner crocheters looking to make a garment for the colder weather.
Mosaic jumper - Nomad Stitches - Crochet - $18 CAD
This jumper uses mosaic crochet, which is another crochet technique that I haven’t actually tried, but I love the intricate detail of this jumper. The designer has used fingering and lace yarn held together, to make a sport weight, so you could use any sport weight yarn you have in your stash as an alternative. As you can see, lots of colour so plenty of opportunity to play around with what you have in your stash,
Call of Wild Pullover - Patrick Griffith - knitting - $15 CAD
This is a DK weight, unisex sweater, made with a circular yolk construction. I was reading that this pattern designer, Patrick Griffith only started knitting last year, 2024 and this is his first design already out there. I’m impressed! I love the colourblocking on this and the subtle mountain design in the yoke made with twisted stitches.
I hope you enjoyed this round-up of winter stash-busting patterns. I’d love to know: what’s your favourite stash-busting project, or what yarn leftovers are you trying to use up right now? Drop a comment below and let’s chat.
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Check out my other leftover yarn pattern round-up blog posts here: https://wanderandcreatewithemma.com/blogs?tag=leftover%20yarn
All the patterns mentioned in this blog, are also linked to on my Ravelry ‘Winter stash-busting’ board.
I hope that helps you and sparks some inspiration to dive into your yarn stash and get making. If you’re also aiming to work through your stash this year, you might be keen to subscribe to my newsletter to see how Im getting on and for more leftover yarn project content!
What’s on your project list this year? Share any ideas you have in the comments!