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Learn to Make the Great Stash Busting Free Patter: AKA Ugly Yarn Bowl

Stash Buster Yarn Bowl crochet pattern by DivineDebris.com
Stash Buster Yarn Bowl crochet pattern by DivineDebris.com

Confession time, I have so much yarn. Ok, that’s not a very good confession, given my blog’s theme, but I really do have so much yarn and lately I’ve noticed, much of it is in small miscellaneous balls. It’s not a bad thing, I make patterns that feature color changes that you could use partial skeins for and I have one coming up for Happily Hooked Magazine that is all about stash busting… alas, I still have quite the stash. So, while trying my very best to straighten and make some sense of this mess of a yarn collection I have, I decided to get creative. Enter, the Stash Busting Bowl aka The Ugly Yarn Bowl.
First I wanted to make a basket but then I changed my mind, I wanted something wider on top and didn’t really care about handles. Second, I wanted to use a lot of yarn and make these very sturdy. For this pattern I have here I used three strands, which ate up a lot of miscellaneous yarn (8 oz total! Score on the stash busting). You could totally use one skein of yarn, one strand, and a smaller hook to make the bowl but I wanted to make a thick, large bowl so I went with 3. The notes has some info on how to adjust the pattern as you’d like.

You can purchase an ad-free downloadable pdf of this pattern for in my Ravelry shop.

Materials:

  • US L (8.oo mm) crochet hook
  • Worsted/ medium/ #4 yarn
  • Tapestry/ yarn needle
Ravelry link

Gauge:

  • 9 rows x 9 sc = 4″ x 4″

Terms/ stitches used:

Notes:

  • This pattern is worked in the round, with a slip st into the first st following the last st.
  • The ch 1 at the beginning of the rows does not count as a stitch.
  • You can add to these as you’d like, this pattern follows a basic formula of: row 1 is 10 and then increase for your desired amount of rows. Once the bottom is as large as you’d like, do two rows of single crochet into each st. Then do two more increase rows, first row 2 sc into every 5th st and the second row 2 sc into every 6th. Then do as many rows as you’d like to get the height you’d like. Finish off with a reverse single crochet all the way around. Simple!
  • This bowl ended up being 8 oz/ 422 yards for me, so talk about a stash buster!
  • If you do the whole bowl here in one color, or complementary colors, I’m sure it’d be super pretty… I wasn’t going for pretty, I was useful and stash busting!
  • You can easily add handles to this pattern and make it a basket instead of a bowl.
Stash Buster Yarn Bowl crochet pattern by DivineDebris.com
Stash Buster Yarn Bowl crochet pattern by DivineDebris.com

Finished measurements:

  • Height: 5.5″ – 6″
  • Diameter: 18″

Pattern Instructions

Row 1: Ch 5, slip st into the first ch to form a ring. Ch 1, sc 10 times into the ring, slip st into the first sc to secure  – 10 scs
Row 2: Ch 1, sc once into the same st as join, sc twice into the next st, *sc once into the next st, sc twice into the next st,* repeat from * to * 3 more times, slip st into the first sc to secure – 15 scs
Row 3: Ch 1, sc once into the same st as join, sc once into the next st, sc twice into the next st, *sc once into the 2 next sts, sc twice into the next st,* repeat from * to * 3 more times, slip st into the first sc to secure – 20 scs
Row 4: Ch 1, sc once into the same st as join, sc once into the next 2 sts, sc twice into the next st, *sc once into the 3 next sts, sc twice into the next st,* repeat from * to * 3 more times, slip st into the first sc to secure – 25 scs
Row 5: Ch 1, sc once into the same st as join, sc once into the next 3 sts, sc twice into the next st, *sc once into the 4 next sts, sc twice into the next st,* repeat from * to * 3 more times, slip st into the first sc to secure – 30 scs
Row 6: Ch 1, sc once into the same st as join, sc once into the next 4 sts, sc twice into the next st, *sc once into the 5 next sts, sc twice into the next st,* repeat from * to * 3 more times, slip st into the first sc to secure – 35 scs
Row 7: Ch 1, sc once into the same st as join, sc once into the next 5 sts, sc twice into the next st, *sc once into the 6 next sts, sc twice into the next st,* repeat from * to * 3 more times, slip st into the first sc to secure – 40 scs
Row 8: Ch 1, sc once into the same st as join, sc once into the next 6 sts, sc twice into the next st, *sc once into the 7 next sts, sc twice into the next st,* repeat from * to * 3 more times, slip st into the first sc to secure – 45 scs
Row 9: Ch 1, sc once into the same st as join, sc once into the next 7 sts, sc twice into the next st, *sc once into the 8 next sts, sc twice into the next st,* repeat from * to * 3 more times, slip st into the first sc to secure – 50 scs
Row 10: Ch 1, sc once into the same st as join, sc once into the next 8 sts, sc twice into the next st, *sc once into the 9 next sts, sc twice into the next st,* repeat from * to * 3 more times, slip st into the first sc to secure – 55 scs
Row 11: Ch 1, sc once into the same st as join, sc once into the next 9 sts, sc twice into the next st, *sc once into the 10 next sts, sc twice into the next st,* repeat from * to * 3 more times, slip st into the first sc to secure – 60 scs
Rows 12 – 13: Ch 1, sc into the same st as join, sc into the next 59 sts, slip st into the first st to secure – 60 scs
Row 14: Ch 1, sc into the same st as join and into the next 3 sts, sc twice into the next st, *sc once into the next 4 sts, sc twice into the next st,* repeat from * to * 10 more times, slip st into the first st to secure – 72 scs
Row 15: Ch 1, sc into the same st as join and into the next 4 sts, sc twice into the next st, *sc once into the next 5 sts, sc twice into the next st,* repeat from * to * 10 more times, slip st into the first st to secure – 84
Rows 16 – 22: Ch 1, sc into the same st as join and into the next 83 sts, slip st into the first st to secure – 84 scs
Row 23: Ch 1, rsc into the next 84 sts, slip st into the first st to secure – 84 rscs
Fasten off. Weave in all your ends!

Stash Buster Yarn Bowl crochet pattern by DivineDebris.com
Stash Buster Yarn Bowl crochet pattern by DivineDebris.com

I made a second bowl (pictured above), with a smaller base (I stopped increasing the base at row 9) and higher sides but it still follows the same formula as I noted in the notes above. This one I really went crazy with the stash busting. I just used scraps of yarn that I had, by picking up new yarn when another would run out and scing over the ends. I wouldn’t recommend this technique when you’re working on a hat or scarf, something that might get tugged on and have the ends fall out, I’m not too worried about it with this bowl. I do love how fast this works up, though, when you’re using the 3 strands of yarn, it goes quick, quick, quick! Took me no time to make these two bowls in one night. Although, I would suggest breaks and stretching because it does give my wrists a work out!

Ariel Hat crochet pattern by DivineDebris.com
Ariel Hat crochet pattern by DivineDebris.com

In other news, I was finally able to release my Ariel Hat myself. I had been an exclusive design for The Pattern Pack since October, under the name Bewitching Hat. I really love this hat and I’m so glad I’m able to share it with everyone, in TPP and myself. 😀 The Hat, and all the other items in the Ariel line, are on sale for 50% off now through December 14th.

This post is linked to Oombawka Design’s Link and Share Wednesday #122, Fiber Tuesday #39, and the Linkly Ladies Community Link Party #29.

DONNA VON WINKLE

Sunday 11th of June 2023

thank you for the pattern itsniet.........

Leslie Johnson

Sunday 5th of May 2019

I love scrap yarn creations! They are all originals.

Joy

Tuesday 15th of November 2016

Hi.. I usually knit rather than crochet but the bowl really took my fancy. I was browsing looking for a ceramic yarn bowl (to hold yarn while you knit/crochet) but google led me here and while it is a YARN bowl rather than a bowl for holding yarn I have improvised and made a little hole half way up for the yarn to feed through so that I can use it for this purpose. This is my first crochet project for many years and I found it delightful and quick to make following your clear instructions. Thank you so much for sharing. Regards Joy x

Sarah Muddiman

Saturday 12th of December 2015

Its puts to mind those rag rugs my mama used to make and have in the kitchen growing up. I love the idea behind this for sure because I have a whole box full of partials and bits and pieces. Thank you so much!

Carol D

Friday 11th of December 2015

I've been looking for appropriate place to comment on Dec. 9 Newsletter..... Because I want to THANK YOU SINCERELY for your gift! of which I have taken advantage....I've been looking for a cowl that would catch my eye...and I found it in the Bonny cowl... with my "fixed income" (retired) it is hard sometimes to budget for things like patterns - or yarn - so when I can take advantage of your kindness, I want you to know it is truly appreciated! Thank you and May God bless you and your family during this Beautiful Christmas Season!