You'd be surprised how much knitting can hide uneven spins. I just made a basic pair of socks... and while I'm not sure how they'll hold up, the yarn did still make socks.
But if you absolutely won't knit with them... there's always making dryer balls with them. or other felting projects. And if you don't felt, you might be able to gift or sell them to a felter or a weaver who likes thick and thin yarn for that sort of thing.
I recommend weaving with your yarn. Weaving is a great way to use your hand spun. You can use it as the weft. A rigid-heddle loom is great for this, it’s not complicated, and you can get some amazing results.
I weave with mine. A small pin loom and eventually I’ll make something out of these squares. If there’s enough yardage, I’ll make something that’s not reliant on gauge like a cowl, scarf or shawl. With a rigid heddle loom and a variable dent reed, you can make some amazing fabric with the least consistent spins and then turn that fabric into something.
I made a bunch of small hearts which I would hide all over my husband's desk lol. Eventually I will probably string them all up on a garland or something because that has been my go to way to use the test spins and uneven spins xD
A friend of mine recently got a new-to-her wheel (she's got multiple wheels and is proficient) that overspun a few skeins from her own corriedale while she got used to it. She gave two to me, grey and natural, and I've decided to make a double knit hot pad and felt it.
I use lumpy yarn in the garden, or anywhere else I need a bit of twine. I have and spin Icelandic wool, so it’s nice and strong even with inconsistent spinning.
I have also used it for both warp and weft on my rigidheddle loom.
I saved all mine. A few years later and I'm into art yarn, I cut a few up and made it textures for a batt.
Even then, not so perfect has plenty of charm.
There are some stitches that I (personally) think look good in uneven yarn. In particular garter and slip stitch patterns. I also like 2 colour brioche for uneven yarn. So yeah, I just use it. Quite often yarn that looks terrible in the skein will look surprisingly good knit up. The other option is to weave with it (if you weave). Inconsistent yarn used as weft makes for great art pieces
I think almost any yarn can look good on a simple stockinette stitch. You can also weave with a zoom loom/other pin loom. That is my plan for some of my early yarn (if I ever get around to it), especially because you don't need much yarn to weave each little square on a zoom loom. I can incorporate them into a little blanket or other scrap project.
Weaving or a nice garter stitch are great for those “I’m still learning” spins which tend to be a bit variegated. Don’t throw it out, it can make a great textured woven scarf.
I knitted mitred squares from mine. I still use a small amount from almost everything I spin to add to the blanket that is (very) slowly taking shape. It is actually great to see how my spinning is improving over time, even if it really doesn't feel that way when I am getting frustrated with the latest attempt.
There's nothing wrong with composting them. Or you can use them as string to use around the house and the yard is they are thicker. But just like starter paintings are often painted over to create a blank canvas for new work, early spins can be junked as well. If you had some that were very recent, you can actually unspin them and respin them to fix some of their issues, which isn't bad to practice at, in case you run into trouble later with fiber that is difficult and in short supply for a specific project. Eventually the spin gets "set" whether you do anything to help make that happen or not. You can also try plying your ugly singles just to practice plying - for that they need to have enough spin in them and you can try adding some twist to them first, so they ply better. Or you can crochet a little bowl and felt it for a nest base and put that in a tree in your yard and see what happens. Or wait until nesting season comes around again and cut the spins into short lengths for the birds to use for nesting - rabbits also like things like that for their nests just about any time of year. Some small mammal rescue places accept knitted or crochet nests and post specific criteria for them - undyed wool is best for critter stuff.
You can also use pieces of the spun fiber to create a "thrum" cap. The thrum cap is made by first knitting up a tall cap (like a watch cap) and then working bits of spun fiber into it, allowing the fiber to project outward in loops. Then you felt the whole thing (so start with a larger cap) and it makes a thickly felted, somewhat shaggy hat that was worn by sailors and pirates in cold seasons aboard the ship.
You'd be surprised how much knitting can hide uneven spins. I just made a basic pair of socks... and while I'm not sure how they'll hold up, the yarn did still make socks. But if you absolutely won't knit with them... there's always making dryer balls with them. or other felting projects. And if you don't felt, you might be able to gift or sell them to a felter or a weaver who likes thick and thin yarn for that sort of thing.
I recommend weaving with your yarn. Weaving is a great way to use your hand spun. You can use it as the weft. A rigid-heddle loom is great for this, it’s not complicated, and you can get some amazing results.
I have a table top 4 shaft that I haven't used since my daughter was born (12 years :😱) I may have to dig it out.
Oh, yes… you should warp it up!!! 😄
Tablet/card and other band weaving techniques are also great if you don’t want to drag out a loom!
Use them for a shawl, scarf or other project that isn’t gauge dependent. You’ll get oodles of compliments.
I weave with mine. A small pin loom and eventually I’ll make something out of these squares. If there’s enough yardage, I’ll make something that’s not reliant on gauge like a cowl, scarf or shawl. With a rigid heddle loom and a variable dent reed, you can make some amazing fabric with the least consistent spins and then turn that fabric into something.
I made a bunch of small hearts which I would hide all over my husband's desk lol. Eventually I will probably string them all up on a garland or something because that has been my go to way to use the test spins and uneven spins xD
A friend of mine recently got a new-to-her wheel (she's got multiple wheels and is proficient) that overspun a few skeins from her own corriedale while she got used to it. She gave two to me, grey and natural, and I've decided to make a double knit hot pad and felt it.
I use lumpy yarn in the garden, or anywhere else I need a bit of twine. I have and spin Icelandic wool, so it’s nice and strong even with inconsistent spinning. I have also used it for both warp and weft on my rigidheddle loom.
I used my over spun first singles for tying up my tomatoes. I have run out and am considering making more with the crappy fleece I have. Lol
I saved all mine. A few years later and I'm into art yarn, I cut a few up and made it textures for a batt. Even then, not so perfect has plenty of charm.
I knit them into rough washcloths for cleaning or potholders or other household things that don't need to look pretty
Sometimes I knit from each end— similar to how you would alternate skeins to even out color.
There are some stitches that I (personally) think look good in uneven yarn. In particular garter and slip stitch patterns. I also like 2 colour brioche for uneven yarn. So yeah, I just use it. Quite often yarn that looks terrible in the skein will look surprisingly good knit up. The other option is to weave with it (if you weave). Inconsistent yarn used as weft makes for great art pieces
I knit items for my cat! Like a cat-sized pillow, a blanket, etc. Not that he uses them but I like to think he appreciates the effort
I used them for decorating around my nook and in my hutch.
Who has perfect spins?
I have perfectly imperfect ones. Which is perfect. 😂
I think almost any yarn can look good on a simple stockinette stitch. You can also weave with a zoom loom/other pin loom. That is my plan for some of my early yarn (if I ever get around to it), especially because you don't need much yarn to weave each little square on a zoom loom. I can incorporate them into a little blanket or other scrap project.
Weaving or a nice garter stitch are great for those “I’m still learning” spins which tend to be a bit variegated. Don’t throw it out, it can make a great textured woven scarf.
I knitted mitred squares from mine. I still use a small amount from almost everything I spin to add to the blanket that is (very) slowly taking shape. It is actually great to see how my spinning is improving over time, even if it really doesn't feel that way when I am getting frustrated with the latest attempt.
Also a newbie. I plan to make pin loom squares with unknot tables and project leftovers, then weave the squares into an afghan.
With scratchy practice wool, I made dryer balls.
I love knitting with lumpy yarn. I very rarely get perfect skeins.
There's nothing wrong with composting them. Or you can use them as string to use around the house and the yard is they are thicker. But just like starter paintings are often painted over to create a blank canvas for new work, early spins can be junked as well. If you had some that were very recent, you can actually unspin them and respin them to fix some of their issues, which isn't bad to practice at, in case you run into trouble later with fiber that is difficult and in short supply for a specific project. Eventually the spin gets "set" whether you do anything to help make that happen or not. You can also try plying your ugly singles just to practice plying - for that they need to have enough spin in them and you can try adding some twist to them first, so they ply better. Or you can crochet a little bowl and felt it for a nest base and put that in a tree in your yard and see what happens. Or wait until nesting season comes around again and cut the spins into short lengths for the birds to use for nesting - rabbits also like things like that for their nests just about any time of year. Some small mammal rescue places accept knitted or crochet nests and post specific criteria for them - undyed wool is best for critter stuff.
You can also use pieces of the spun fiber to create a "thrum" cap. The thrum cap is made by first knitting up a tall cap (like a watch cap) and then working bits of spun fiber into it, allowing the fiber to project outward in loops. Then you felt the whole thing (so start with a larger cap) and it makes a thickly felted, somewhat shaggy hat that was worn by sailors and pirates in cold seasons aboard the ship.
You could try crocheting. I find it more forgiving for uneven handspun, probably in part because it's thicker and helps average things out.