Stash Busting Your Novelty Yarns with Knit + Crochet Sunflowers

If you are a yarn shopper, you have them.... those odd skeins of yarn that you just couldn't leave behind. Lots of times, it's hard to find a project for them.You purchase just a little bit because you can't resist the color. I've got an idea for you. Break out the little bits and start making some sunflowers this summer. 

For my new book 50 Sunflowers to Knit, Crochet and Felt, I had the pleasure of using some beautiful hand-dyed yarn from my friend Gail Callahan, The Kangaroo Dyer. In the knit sunflower below, you can see a fine sock yarn that was in perfect sunflower shades. I doubled it for the center of this flower. The pom poms were made of odds and ends of a worsted weight wool. The petals were made of Northfield from Valley Yarns. 

For this knit sunflower, I used Gail's sock weight doubled again to make the multi-colored fringe on the center of the sunflower.

I can't believe how much this flower looks like a real sunflower. It was the multi-colored yarn that really made it.

Perhaps you have some "furry fringy yarn" hanging around from the heyday of scarf knitting. I used Brazilia from SMC Select for this crocheted sunflower. 

 

Once again, it really does look like a "teddy bear sunflower, doesn't it? I couldn't get the real dark gold shade but texturally, it is right on.

For this crocheted sunflower, I used Lion Brand's Fun Fur for the fringy part of the outside of the center. It's a quick way to add a bit of texture.

And because I couldn't resist, I knit a Wooley Bear Caterpillar out of the same Fun Fur. Pretty cute if I do say so myself!

These little projects are perfect for summertime knitting when you don't want to haul around a big project. They are quick and fun to make and are perfect gifts. Or plunk one on your sunhat or beach bag. 

You can purchase my 50 Sunflowers to Knit, Crochet, and Felt on my new website. Here's the page. Have a great weekend everyone!