All the patterns for the festival of Lights CAL are released but the CAL is never really over as long as someone is making it. However, when you have finished the blanket, you might wonder what to do with the remaining yarn. Here are a few ideas for you.
I am going to list all the ideas very briefly up top here. For more details on any of the ideas scroll down or click on the link or picture and it will take you right to the details for that idea on this page.
Ideas Using the FOL Pattern
More Ideas from my Other Patterns
More Ideas from my Friends in the Scheepjes Designer Collective
Ideas Using the FOL Pattern
We can make things with the blanket pattern.
Expand your Blanket
Before the CAL even started, some people were discussing making the blanket bigger. I have finally made the much-requested coloring sheets for the expanded blanket ideas. All 5 are in the same PDF below, just print the one that you want. If you have an organicon kit with a lot of leftover yarn you can probably make the “2-kit, border design” with the one kit.
- link to bonus blog post (lists ideas for expansions)
Festival of Lights Pillow
I have also provided a coloring sheet for this pillow as well as another slightly larger design with just triangles and squares.
More Ideas from my Other Patterns
These are some of my other patterns that I think would work well for with the leftovers. I have even tried some of them out to make sure they work.
Chasing Starlight
I am very pleased with my “Chasing a Starlight” pattern, this pattern is a motif-based crochet pattern with a unique construction technique involving a join-as-you-go method. Once you have learned the technique, I think that it is a simple yet satisfying pattern to make. The pattern is written for a wrap but very easily can be resized as a pillow. I would imagine it would work as a scarf or cowl too.
I used 141g in total of the left-over colors from the Festival of Lights CAL Organicon kit, about 6-8g per color. I only made one side and sewed it too premade cushion cover, but you would probably have enough left over to make both sides or 2 cushions at least.
Barely-a-Pattern Super Scrappy Knit Hat (FREE pattern)
This is a pattern for a really basic 1×1 ribbed knit hat with an optional pompom. This is designed to use leftover metropolis yarn from a Festival of Lights CAL Metropolis color pack. I am using the yarn held two strands together and I did a Russian join to make this work with a lot of very small amounts of yarn remaining (between 1-3g per color). This pattern is really adjustable so it can be made in many sizes with most yarns, you just need to make a small gauge swatch and make an easy calculation.
The one slightly unique bit about this hat is in the decrease. I really wanted the decrease to be a non-prominente feature of the hat and after trying several different ideas I turned the hat inside out and found that the reverse looked just how I wanted. So, this hat is knit inside out and when you are done you turn it right side out to finish.
- Link to the Free pattern on my Blog: Barely-a-Pattern Super Scrappy Knit Hat
Flowers
These flowers are actually an example of trying to do a little too much and running out of time. I had a plan to use them on a hat, but I just ran out of time.
The leaves and 6-sided flowers are from my Toffee Garden Cowl pattern.
I have a free pattern for the 5-sided flowers here: Simple Free Flower pattern.
And on some of them I added some embroidery details. I really like Sarah’s Hand Embroidery Tutorials for embroidery stitch ideas, the stitches are neatly categorized and have well photographed tutorials.
Toffee Garden Cowl (leaves and 6-sided flowers)
Squiggle Squares
Squiggle squares is a pattern for a purse or pillow, but it also makes a great little pouch that could be used to hold crochet tools or other accessories and would make a lovely gift.
Snowflakes
I love designing snowflakes. Most I design in thread, but I love how they look with a yarn like Organicon too. My set from 2024 was specifically designed to be a nice size for a tree when made with yarn.
I also have nearly 100 snowflake patterns now. Some would be on the larger size when made with yarn but that could be a lot of fun too. Just imagine a rainbow of giant snowflakes hanging from the ceiling… hmmm. I might have to do that sometime; my kids would love it.
- Blog post for Snowfall 2023 CAL: a Rainbow
- Snowfall 2023 CAL: a Rainbow on Ravelry
- Snowfall 2023 CAL: a Rainbow on Etsy
- Complete list of all my snowflake patterns
Beautiful Circles Mandala
The Beautiful Circle is a blanket pattern, but it is composed of 2 different circle patterns ending at different points to make 5 different motifs that could also be made as mandalas.
More Ideas from my Friends in the Scheepjes Designer Collective
These are patterns that I think would work well with the leftovers that were designed by my Friends in the Scheepjes Designer Collective.
Chandraki Peacock Feather Motif, Bookmark and Book Wrap
by Christa Veenstra (The Curio Crafts Room)
The “Chandraki” Peacock Feather Motif, Bookmark and (Note)Book or Box Wrap, looks fabulous in all kinds of colour combinations and would make lovely gifts. They could also be used to make garlands or to decorate cards, box lids, cushions, notebook covers or laptop / tablet sleeves to name but a few possibilities.
Tea Light Holder Paon
by Christa Veenstra (The Curio Crafts Room)
This lovely Tealight Holder looks fabulous in all kinds of color combinations. You can make it in a single colour or use different colors for each round.
Burma Peacock Feather Bookmark
by Christa Veenstra (The Curio Crafts Room)
The possibilities for this motif are endless. You could make garlands, wall hangings or embellish box lids, cards, hats, bags or key chains. Just enjoy playing around with them!
Not a Christmas, One Evening Mystery, & Gift Mystery Make-a-longs
by Tatsiana (Lilla Bjorn Crochet)
Tatsiana (Lilla Bjorn Crochet) has several collections of small patterns that are perfect for using up scraps, learning new techniques, and make wonderful gifts.
- Link to Not a Christmas make-a-long on Ravelry
- Link to One Evening Mystery MAL on Ravelry
- Link to Gift Mystery Make-a-long on Ravelry
Bonus Scarf from Astrid’s Svalbard blanket
by Astrid’s Interlocking Crochet
Astrid’s Svalbard blanket is a gorgeous design that also used the metropolis color pack and comes with a bonus scarf pattern. This bonus pattern is a great way to use up your leftovers.
Adorable Amigurumi
by Sarah Dee
These Amigurumi are just too cute! I think a colorful Pixie the Chubby Bird would be just adorable or an Orion the Zebra with rainbow stripes.
Happy Crafting!
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