14 Enticing Projects to Make with Wool

For many of us spinners, the majority of our fiber stash is composed of wool. Strong and durable, wool is also well known for its insulation properties, keeping us cool in the summer and warm in the wintertime. The variety of wool that’s available allows us to create anything from luxurious lace using superfine Merino to rugs that will last using exceptionally strong Spelsau.

Need some new ideas for what to make with all that wool? Find 14 must-make projects in our new collection, The Wonders of Wool eBook—available to All Access subscribers. You’ll also find helpful articles that explore wool, including a feature that explains how fulling works to create a denser, more durable cloth. Or the article that helps us understand why some yarn is prickly. And then there’s my favorite—the account of how one author tracked down an order of sheep-raising Benedictine nuns at a monastery on Shawl Island, Washington.

Projects include hats and mittens, pillows and blankets, scarves, shawls, and more—perfect for using your handspun wool, whether you’re a knitter, weaver, or needleworker.

Here are a few of my favorites.

What to Knit?

Photo by Gale Zucker

Brooklyn Mitts, by Olga Putano
These stylish fingerless mitts are a good way to try your hand at two-color brioche knitting—a stitch that’s quite elastic—and I love that the main color in the cuffs becomes the background as contrasting colors are added in the body of the mitts.

Photo by Gale Zucker

Woolgrowers Hat & Cowl, by Sarah Pope
A knitted cowl is at the top of my to-do list this winter and I’ve been holding back a couple of special skeins of silk/wool blend in a dark brick red that would be perfect to showcase the geometric surface design in this hat and cowl set.

Photo by Matt Graves

A Flock of Sheep, by Nancy Bush
C’mon! What’s not to love about this flock of little sheep friends? Cute enough on their own, but their “clothing” is the icing on the cake, which Nancy based on traditional Estonian patterns. Make one for your desk, or make a dozen to hand out as gifts.

Weave with Wool

Photo by Matt Graves

Bauhaus Pillow, by Jennifer Chapman
Though I’m not a weaver (yet!), my daughter and I are starting to dabble with the pin loom, and this reversible pillow seems approachable. Plus, as a former art major, I love that this is a great example of a Bauhaus design, which emphasizes the union of fine art and function.

Photo by Matt Graves

Blanket of Dreams, by Malynda Allen
At any one time, I’m able to find at least five to six layers of blankets on my teenager’s bed. The blanket hog in my family would go crazy over this checkered blanket in her favorite colors.

Photo by Matt Graves

O’ So Beautiful Scarf, by Merriel Miller
This designer combined superfine Merino in vanilla and French blue—one of my favorites—to create a gorgeous scarf with lovely texture and organic shapes. I imagine pairing this with an off-white top and a favorite pair of worn jeans or khakis.

Learn more about the eBook’s weaving projects at Handwoven.

Embellish and More

Photo by Matt Graves

Jacobean Crewelwork Project Bag, by Deanna Hall West
Put your needlework skills to work on this Jacobean crewel bag, which would be perfect for holding a spindle or other tools for on-the-go projects. I especially love the ombre effect in the large flower design.

Photo by George Boe

Fingerwoven Bracelet, by Carol James
This will be a quick and easy project for my daughter and I to make over her winter break from school. The instructions include easy-to-follow photos, showing how to use a pair of chopsticks (in lieu of a loom), held in place with painter’s tape. Easy peasy!

Check out all the fun woolly projects in The Wonders of Wool.

Debbie Blair is the associate editor of Spin Off magazine. A lifelong crafter and avid reader, she finds her happy place reading and relaxing next to a mountain stream.