45+ Free Crochet Scrap Yarn Projects for Beginners

This blanket is made using the corner-to-corner (C2C) technique and is a great way to use up tons of scrap yarn in one project! Plus, if you make a magic yarn ball, you won’t even have to worry about weaving in ends when you’re finished. This colorful blanket is a fun way to display little pieces of all of the projects you’ve been working on.

Designer: My Poppet Makes

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Granny squares are easy for beginners to make, and they’re a fun and relaxing way to use whatever colors you have lying around. The beauty of this blanket is that you can make as many granny squares as you like (and you can even make them as big as you like!) to form your blanket. Once you’re done, assemble using the mattress seam or the flat slip stitch seam.

Designer: Sarah Maker

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Heartland

This wavy blanket pattern is made by alternating single crochets, double crochets, and treble crochets. You can make it with either two strands of DK yarn held together or with one strand of worsted-weight yarn. This design is made in easy repeated rows, so it’s great for relaxing and getting lost in your work! 

Designer: Look At What I Made

Yarn weight: DK

Suggested yarn: Stylecraft Special DK

This easy, ripped blanket is an elegant way to welcome a new baby. It works up quickly and makes a great last-minute gift using scrap yarn! This snuggly blanket measures approximately 30” x 36”.

Designer: Sarah Maker

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Mandala Ombre

This cheery blanket has lots of texture and is a fun way to spruce up a solid couch or armchair. It would also make a fun baby playmat! It’s easy to adjust the size of this blanket to make it as large or small as you like.

Designer: Annie Design Crochet

Yarn weight: Fingering

Suggested yarn: Scheepjes Catona

This chunky, modern blanket is simple and relaxing to crochet, and it makes a great winter project for those long, cozy evenings. This squishy blanket looks beautiful in many colors or just a few colors, so feel free to use whatever you have on hand. It measures approximately 48” x 54” when finished, but is easy to adjust. 

Designer: Sarah Maker

Yarn weight: Super bulky

Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick

This block blanket is a great pattern for crochet beginners making a first blanket. Because it’s made in individual, small blocks, it may feel less overwhelming than a large, one-piece blanket pattern. This blanket uses striking, contrasting colors to seam your blocks together, so you don’t have to worry about hiding the seams!

Designer: Knitting with Chopsticks

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Made using the larksfoot stitch, this blanket looks beautiful from every angle! You can make this afghan as a large blanket, or, if you’re not sure you have enough scrap yarn, make it a smaller lapghan.

Designer: Crochet 365 Knit Too

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

If you’re looking for a blanket design that’s packed full of different colors, textures, stitches, and designs, this sampler blanket is the one! The finished blanket measures 75” x 77”. You won’t get bored crocheting this fun pattern! 

Designer: Haak Maar Raak

Yarn weight: DK

Suggested yarn: Scheepjes Colour Crafter

This cheerful blanket pattern is worked in the round using the herringbone half double crochet. It creates a squishy, textured blanket that’s perfect for cuddling under with a cup of tea on a cold day. This afghan measures 47” x 53”.

Designer: Left in Knots

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Caron Cakes

This vintage-style afghan is made using the corner-to-corner (C2C) technique. Its eye-catching, diagonal design is quick to make and perfect for using up lots of colors. When finished, it measures approximately 50” x 54”.

Designer: Maria’s Blue Crayon

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

This striped sweater tank is easy to make and is excellent for breezy summer days. It’s an excellent sweater pattern for beginners, and is available in 6 different sizes, from XS to 2X. It’s worked from the top down.

Designer: Two Brothers Blankets

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Knit Picks Brava Worsted

This crop top is so customizable and the perfect way to show off your unique style! Pair it with high-rise jeans or shorts and head out the door. It can be made in any size and includes lots of tips for adjusting the pattern to crochet it perfectly for you! 

Designer: Hay Hay Crochet

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

This chunky sweater works up quickly and is a cozy way to welcome fall! It’s available in 8 women’s sizes and has tons of fun stitches and texture. This pattern is best for intermediate crocheters.

Designer: Jimmy Beans Wool

Yarn weight: Bulky

Suggested yarn: Scheepjes Chunky Monkey Anti-Pilling

Show off your love for granny squares with this vintage sweater! This pattern is super forgiving and fun to make - perfect for intuitive crocheters. Go with all the colors or just a few - it’s all up to your personal style!

Designer: Zeens and Roger

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Paintbox Worsted Superwash

This slouchy sweater looks snug and cozy (and it is cozy!), but it’s also light and breezy since it’s made with lightweight yarn - perfect for those in-between days! It’s worked in flat panels from the bottom up and is available in 7 sizes, from XS to 3XL.

Designer: Sewrilla

Yarn weight: Fingering

Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Mandala String

This pretty v-neck sweater is chunky and cozy but looks put together with a pair of jeans. It’s made by crocheting with two strands of yarn held together. Grab a warm drink and curl up with this relaxing pattern! 

Designer: Dora Does

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

With its gentle “V” and carefree tassels, this scarf drapes beautifully and is a stylish way to spruce up a plain shirt and jeans. It creates a lacy-looking pattern that’s blended with strips of color. This scarf is a great way to clean out your fall yarn closet before the winter projects hit! 

Designer: Canoe Mtn Designs

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice

This wide scarf is made with large granny squares. If you want to adjust the size of your scarf, simply make your squares smaller or larger, or create more or less of them! This pattern is a great stash-busting project for beginners.

Designer: Lucy Kate Crochet

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Keep your neck warm with this long and colorful winter scarf! Part of the scarf is made with a four-row repeat, and the other part with 8-row blocks of repeated color. You could totally make this scarf super fun and carefree or super sophisticated depending on your color choices! 

Designer: Stitching Together

Yarn weight: DK

Suggested yarn: Cotton to the Core

Love Tunisian crochet? This simple cowl is a low-commitment, enjoyable project to make while using up some scrap yarn at the same time! It’s worked flat and then seamed.

Designer: Hooked Hazel

Yarn weight: DK

Suggested yarn: City Tweed DK

This geometric pattern is a great way to practice crochet colorwork! Slip it over your head and keep the chilly winds out. This fun and modern design is best for advanced beginners. 

Designer: Another Mum Fights the Dust

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Loops and Threads Impeccable

Colors and textures galore! Have fun planning out this beanie and matching the best shades with the best textures to fit your style for this cute design. This snug beanie would make an excellent gift.

Designer: CAAB Crochet

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Soft

Wrap up in this colorful yet elegant shawl. This cozy piece is great for wrapping up while you snuggle in with your favorite movie, but it can also be paired with a nice pair of jeans and worn to the office!

Designer: Made Peachy

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

This squishy rug is made by holding five strands of yarn at a time. It’s ultra soft for sinking your feet into at the end of the day, and it uses up tons of scrap yarn, too! It’s easy to adjust the size of this pattern - so make it for your kitchen sink, bathroom, or bedside!

Designer: Stitches ‘n Scraps

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Don’t throw away your old jeans! This upcycled pattern is made with worn-out denim and bursts of bright cotton colors. It includes detailed instructions for working with denim, so don’t worry if you’ve never done it before! 

Designer: My Poppet

Yarn weight: Worsted 

Suggested yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton

This pretty and decorative rug includes instructions for making either a circular or rectangular shape. It creates a clean-looking, modern design that you can use to spruce up any corner of your home! This pattern would also be a great housewarming gift.

Designer: Katy Petersen

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Brava Worsted

This cup cosy is a quick project that makes an excellent gift or craft show item! These are perfect for drinking your coffee in style and staying eco-friendly at the same time. Protect your hands with this fun, stash-busting idea!

Designer: The Crochet Fix

Yarn weight: DK

Suggested yarn: Stylecraft Special DK

Keep your sunglasses safe with this chic pouch! This trendy, cotton bag is perfect for beach days or to throw in your purse or bag. It’s finished off with a drawstring to keep your glasses safely inside.

Designer: Sweet Bee Crochet

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Dishie Cotton

You don’t need to do any sewing to make this fun, rag rug-inspired bag! This easy, flat-bottom bag measures 12″ wide x 10″ tall x 2″ deep. Check out the video tutorial if you need help! 

Designer: Winding Road Crochet

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart With Love

This bag uses the simple moss stitch to create a really beautiful bag with integrative colors. Even better, you can create this pretty look using scrap yarns! This bag would be perfect for carrying books or toys.

Designer: Madison Hansen

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Big Twist Value Solids

These pretty and tiny baskets are perfect for setting on your nightstand, dresser, or near the entryway to your house to collect small items and keep things organized. Use them for coins, jewelry, or crafting tools like stitch markers, pins, and thread. They don’t require much yarn, so you can make plenty of them using just your extra scraps!

Designer: Sweet Bee Crochet

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

This basket pattern is made by holding two strands of worsted-weight yarn together. Each one measures about 4.5” tall by 4.5” wide. These cute baskets are ideal for holding crochet hooks, pencils, or whatever other small items you find strewn about.

Designer: Oombawka Design Crochet

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Use the moss stitch to make this modern zipper pouch that’s so very practical! This zippered design would be great for crochet hooks or for keeping pens and pencils together at school or at the office. It’s an easy pattern that even beginners can make! 

Designer: Ned & Mimi

Yarn weight: DK

Suggested yarn: Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK

This basket is so customizable, and you can make it with whatever scraps you have on hand! You could use this to carry around your belongings, or keep it at home to store kids' toys, or even put a potted plant inside. It’s made with several strands of yarn held together (depending on the yarn weight you use) and is very forgiving.

Designer: My Poppet Makes

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

Did you know that macrame-style hangers can be made with crochet too? This pattern fits a 5” pot plant and is a great way to decorate without taking up any space on your shelves or counters. This pattern is best for the confident beginner.

Designer: Sarah Maker

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Dishie Cotton

These double-thick potholders are quick and easy to make, and they’re a simple way to spruce up your kitchen space. Made with cotton yarn, they’re durable for protecting your hands and surfaces from hot dishes. A set of these would make a great housewarming gift! 

Designer: Sarah Maker

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Lily Sugar ‘n Cream

These reusable scrubbies are the perfect way to add an eco-friendly touch of beauty to your skincare routine. They’re made with the puff stitch, so they’re textured enough to scrub the makeup off, but still gentle on sensitive facial skin. Once you get in the groove, you can make one of these scrubbies in 20 minutes or less! 

Designer: Sarah Maker

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Lily Sugar ‘n Cream

Perfect for beach days or a can of cold lemonade on the deck, these cozies are a great way to welcome summer days! They’re crocheted in the round using the moss stitch to form a beautiful texture that’s also easy to grip. Grab your scraps and whip up a set!

Designer: Sarah Maker

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Lily Sugar ‘n Cream

These colorful coasters look great with any mix of colors! This quick and easy pattern uses simple stitches and is great for beginners. Each coaster measures 4” in diameter.

Designer: Hooked on Patterns

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: DROPS Paris

These stylish scrunchies are quick to make and so very practical! Keep one in your purse, one in your car, and one in your bathroom so they’re always handy to grab. This pattern uses a minimal amount of yarn, so grab whatever scraps you have on hand and get started! 

Designer: Sarah Maker

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Lily Sugar ‘n Cream

These adorable bows are so cute for children or adults! They’re made with two simple rectangles and a little bit of simple sewing for the assembly. Stick one on with a bobby pin and you’re ready to go! 

Designer: Harvesting Hart

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver

These easy crocheted hearts are so quick to make and perfect for decorating your home for Valentine's Day. They come in three different sizes and are ideal for stringing on garlands or sprinkling around on open shelves. Or, add one to a gift for your own handmade touch! 

Designer: Sarah Maker

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Mandala Ombre

Granny squares are fun to make, simple for beginners, and so versatile! You can make blankets, pillows, potholders, bags, and so many other projects using granny squares! These simple step-by-step, pictured instructions will have you whipping out squares in no time.

Designer: Sarah Maker

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes

Bring the sunshine in with this sunflower granny square! This classic pattern creates a 5” square and is best for comfortable beginners or intermediates. A few of these squares would be so cute for a cheerful blanket or for a granny square pillow cover! 

Designer: Sarah Maker

Yarn weight: Worsted

Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Heartland