8 Creative Ideas for Crafting Yarn

Since ancient times, knitting yarn has nurtured our creative culture by attending afternoon knitting groups with grandmothers, mothers and daughters.

Pottery in museums from 5,000 B.C. displays women yarning from a spindle. How creative they were back then is not clear, but today, there are many fun ways of applying yarn. Most of the uses are easy and hardly take any time at all.

If you have any balls of yarn lying around your home, you might desire to pick one up the ball and start creating once you learn these easy and cute ways of yarning.

I have been a sucker for hedgehogs since reading the Outlander series. They are so adorable and natural-looking. Julie Williams of Little Cotton Rabbits shares her pattern with Etsy.

Julie says it is a quick and easy pattern to follow. She will send you the design by email. You have to use leftover yarn unless you want to find a prettier color at the yarn store. The hedgehog can be a toy or something more practical, like a pincushion.

Pom-pom bunnies are one of those traditional yarn crafts that go way back to great-great-grandmothers’ time. They are so cuddly and a great way to practice your pom-pom-making skills. Ikat Bag offers a simple tutorial on making these using the thickest yarn you can find. It’s best to use natural bunny colors unless you want to add magic to your creation with pinks and blues.

The bunnies will seem real to some kids, and you don’t have to worry about cleaning up after them or feeding them.

This bird is so cute. If you have several leftover balls of yarn or bundles, this is your project. The idea comes from Craft Bits.

You will need 3-4 different yarn colors, scissors, cardstock paper, craft glue, copper wire, black beads, a needle, and dark thread to make the cute bird. You follow their instructions, and you have an adorable gift or ornament.

Taking the time to knit this cute miniature elephant for a little girl or boy is worth it because they are easy to make. Craftsy offers easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions.

The knitting pattern turns out a baby elephant with chubby cheeks and belly all in one piece.

Ice cream cones are such a creative idea. I can see kids playing with them and tossing them across the room. I Like Lemons offers a free pattern for each yummy craft, and they are zero in calories.

I remember making these when I was a teenager. They were so simple to make but valuable because I had so many plants in my room. The plant hangers I created made it easy for me to get more plants for my office. They hung from my ceiling like stalactites dripping down in multi-colored yarn and holding life to the ever beauty of my sanctuary.

I fell in love with CraftBits Knit Mikey The Monkey. The craft is not as easy as the others, but Mikey is adorable. Any child deserves to cuddle with him during the day or night. Your monkey doesn't have to be grey and white. You can pick contrasting colors like pink and white or blue and grey.

I found the Porg pattern on In the Loop Knitting website, which has several Star Wars theme patterns. The design is so simple and easy. When you're done knitting, the little guy is comfy and soft.

These are fun and creatives ways you can be creative with yarn. They are simple patterns that take no time at all. Whether you go to the yarn shop or have some lying around the house, you can spend a quiet afternoon making these delights.