61 Yarn Crafts without Knitting or Crochet
These easy yarn crafts are perfect for adults and kids alike!
If you're wondering what to make with yarn but you aren't big into knitting or crochet, you've come to the right place! Discover the best yarn crafts without knitting or crochet.
Perhaps you ARE an avid knitter or crocheter, but you can't find the right scrap yarn projects to use up that last bit of a skein. These easy yarn crafts are perfect for leftovers!
Our collection is broken into crafts for adults and for kids. Discover top tips from our bloggers on crafting with yarn, and learn about the different types of yarn, too!
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Bonus: are you a visual learner? One of the easiest yarn crafts for beginners would be making a pom pom! Learn how to make the Fuzzy DIY Pom Pom in the video tutorial here.
Table of Contents
Yarn Crafts for Adults
Get ready to make your favorite new home decor, kitchen project, laundry craft, or something else! The yarn crafts for adults listed below will make your home a happier place. Did you know you could make dryer balls from your leftover yarn? How about dolling up some DIY kitchen utensils? The yarn craft ideas listed below are truly fantastic.
Photo Credit: Jess Coppom from makeanddocrew.com
These beautiful decorations were originally made by Mexican Indians to represent the eye of an all-seeing God. This version is a more advanced version of the simple technique many of us learned at summer camp.
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Nothing brightens a day quite like beautiful flowers, and now you can create your own flower crown to wear anytime.
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Transform old baskets that you have at home (or can find at a thrift store) into Modern Embroidered Baskets with a little yarn and creativity.
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Create soft and fluffy pompoms in a modern colorscape, then join them together to create this fabulous wreath! Pay guests a warm welcome by placing your finished masterpiece on the front door.
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Using various trims, a stick, and yarns you can create a wonderful boho wall decor piece that fits for any color scheme you have in your house by just changing the colors of the yarns and trims.
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Yarn is practical for making dryer balls to keep those clothes from clumping in the dryer.
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A few strands from that bulky skein make all the difference when embellishing wall hangings.
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Learn how to warp this basket loom and create your own, circular weaving design. It’s a great way to use up scraps of pretty yarns, ribbons, and more.
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Learn how to make balloon lanterns using just a few basic materials you probably already have at home! Wrap little balloons in yarn, apply glue, and implement a few other tips and tricks to create the neatest yarn balloon lanterns.
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A simple tassel makes all the difference when you're trying to find those keys in your purse.
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A few strands of yarn are essential to create bright hangers for your seasonal flowers.
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Pick up some letters from your local craft store for the holidays or any occasion and embellish them with your favorite color yarn.
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If you're looking for some cute ways to make plain kitchen utensils super cute, color block the handles for a neat effect.
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Learn how to make a dreamcatcher with beads by following this stellar video tutorial. This boho dreamcatcher is a beautiful and impressive craft to make!
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Plastic canvas is another wonderful type of craft for using those skeins from your stash.
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God's eyes are fabulous projects for summer camp and also in general for decorating those walls.
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How cool are these? Wrap a balloon with string and add fabric stiffener, then pop the balloon for a fabulous look.
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Infuse your keychain style with chic and stylish Bohemian pizzazz with this tassel keychain tutorial. Using twisted silk woven in a mesmerizing tassel pattern, this is easily the most gorgeous of DIY keychain ideas you’ll find on the web.
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Use a plastic canvas base along with raffia yarn to create a fabulous table setting.
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Who would have known you could wrap flower pots for a really gorgeous and natural look.
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Feel free to be creative and use any hoop or round mat that might work! This is a great scrap yarn project, too.
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Follow this pom pom rug DIY to make your own floor decor! This awesome daisy is a pom pom rug design that can also be turned into a bright and fun wall hanging.
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Scrap projects are the best! Use up your old yarn for various crafts and small knitting or crochet projects with our collection of53 Scrap Yarn Projects
Easy Yarn Crafts for Kids
Knitting and crochet can be challenging for kids depending on the age of the child and the intricacy of the pattern. But kids can still work with yarn! These easy yarn crafts for kids are perfect for a range of ages, and they are so much fun. Kids can make a wearable project like the Raffia DIY Headband, fun trinkets, and more. These yarn craft projects are so much fun and kids will love to make them!
Make these darling, yet inexpensive friendship bracelets with yarn. They are the perfect gift for your bestie.
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This tutorial is a bit like string art or nail art without the nails. This would be a fun birthday party craft, summer camp project, or even something peaceful to do with some music in the background on an otherwise quiet day.
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Isn't this a sweet idea? This cute desk accessory would look fabulous at home or at school.
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This craft is a CLASSIC! Teach the kids about upcycling and have them make these sweet pencil cups.
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Your kids will love this new spin on a paper plate watermelon craft, using colored yarn! The cool part about this activity is that it provides a great opportunity for kids to practice their fine motor skills.
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Create an entire artistic scene with this adorable tutorial! 3D elements really take this sweet canvas to the next level.
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You can't make a giraffe without his mane! Learn how to make this finishing detail with this toilet paper roll craft.
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This summer camp inspired craft made with just a couple of items is a fun way to add color to your home and to use up scraps of yarn in the process.
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Sometimes it's hard to look at an unfinished piece of wood and imagine what you can make with it. This tutorial helps you visualize a variety of ways to decorate plain wooden crosses.
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Painted rocks have been everywhere lately – one of the biggest crafting trends of the past few years! Here are some of the things I learned along the way, my failures, and my best results: Cactus Painted Rocks with Yarn Pots!
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All you need is some paper, yarn, and adhesive! Let the kids pick out the yarn and paper color of their little chicks
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String Art Projects
String art is one of the things to do with yarn and fingers that we thought warranted its own section. Most of the projects below are string art for beginners, but you'll find a few more challenging projects within this section as well. If you've wanted to give string art patterns a shot for a while now but haven't taken the plunge, now is the time!
Photo Credit: Tanner Bell and Courtney Chambers from alittlecraftinyourday.com
Are arrows your "thing"? This is a great, basic shape for your first string art project.
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This sweet project shouldn't take you too long, and the results are just beautiful.
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How cute is this pumpkin?? This is an adorable little wall plaque you can put out every October.
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String art isn't just for wall decor! You can make a bold statement with this jewelry making tutorial.
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Maybe you're looking to make an abstract yet orderly design. Grab your favorite colors and create a sweet design with this project.
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This is a super easy and fun way to dress up a plaid wood picture frame from the craft store!
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If Anthropologie is one of your favorite stores but the prices are not your favorite, learn how to make this knockoff.
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How adorable are these ornaments! I love the Christmas tree, and you can even get the look of peppermint with this project.
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Create an awesomely filled-in design when you densely weave this project. The finished results are so elegant!
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This awesomely spooky design is easier to make than you think, and it's some of the classiest Halloween decor we've seen.
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If you're having a rustic chic wedding, why not make some of these pretty string art numbers?
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I love this beautiful way to bring a bit of nature into your crafting! Bright yarn contrasts so nicely with natural wood twigs.
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This jumbo Advent calendar is amazingly impressive and fun as you and your family count down the days until Christmas!
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Best tips for string art:
-Outline your design in pencil, cut a stencil out by printing out a design or using a die cutting machine.
-Be sure to wrap your string around each nail multiple times.
Best string:
-Embroidery thread hands down. It's a perfect size and the multiple threads make it look fuller.
Tanner Bell, alittlecraftinyourday.com
Types of Yarn
There are many different types of yarn you can craft with! Here is a short overview of those yarn qualities you will be interacting with most often:
Fiber: Acrylic is the most common type of yarn. It is inexpensive and great for beginner crafters! Other popular fibers are plant fibers like cotton and animal fibers like wool and silk.
Weight: Yarn weights range from very fine lace to thick, bulky yarns. Worsted is the most popular yarn weight. Learn about the different weights, how to pair them with the correct needle or hook size, and more with this handy yarn weight chart from our friends at the Craft Yarn Council.
Colors: The beauty of the yarn aisle in craft stores is unparalleled. From solid neutral colors to vivid variegated yarns and more, there are a slew of colors to choose from. Choosing colors is the part that's the most fun!
Learn more about different yarns in our article, Types of Yarn for Knitting or Crochet.
"I think we shouldn't be afraid to mix different weights and fiber types when working with yarn because doing so can create the most unexpected and lovely results. For example, my pom pom rug was made entirely out of yarn from my stash and I really enjoy how all the different yarns add a bit of variety and texture even though the color palette is quite basic." -Jess Coppom, makeanddocrew.com
Are all yarns safe?
This is an important question to address! The short answer is that the vast majority of yarns are safe for kids and adults alike, but there are a few issues to keep in mind.
Wool Sensitivites: Did you know that wool allergies are actually allergies to lanolin, or the oil in a sheep's fleece? (You can learn more about wool allergies at loveknitting.com.) While true wool allergies are rare, many people are sensitive to wool. If you or your child has a wool allergy, making a yarn craft with wool could become uncomfortable. It may be safer to stick with cotton yarn, a wool blend, or acrylic yarn instead.
Acrylic Yarn: By and large, acrylic is the most popular yarn for crafting, and it is mostly safe, but what you want to be aware of is its flammable nature. Acrylic yarn is essentially woven synthetic plastic fibers, meaning it is flammable. It will melt under an iron, in the presence of fire, and more. Even when washing projects made with acrylic yarn, you want to be sure to dry them on a low heat setting. If you make a wall hanging out of acrylic yarn, it would be safest not to hang this over the fireplace.
How to Knit for Beginners
I know, I know. This is an article about yarn crafts without knitting or crochet. It's possible that you're here not because you don't want to knit but because you don't know how to. We have a plethora of knitting resources here on FaveCrafts and over at our sister site, AllFreeKnitting. Learn all of the basics, from casting on to the knit stitch, purling, and binding off.
Find our ultimate collection of more helpful tutorials for beginner knitters as well as great project ideas in our top collection,45 Quick and Easy Free Knitting Patterns and Beginner Help
How to Crochet for Beginners
If you love yarn and want to take your skills to the next level, learn how to crochet! Below you'll find a collection of great beginner crochet videos as well as our top crochet collections for great beginner crochet project ideas.
Even though you're here to make projects with yarn without crochet, you might want to take up one of these skills sometime! Learn how to crochet with the helpful video tutorials in our collection,11 Crochet Stitch Videos
Up Next:
50+ Felt Crafts for Beginners
What is your favorite type of yarn?
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princess6860504
Nov 21, 2018
Being a crocheter myself, I had never thought about all these yarn crafts that could be done without use of a hook or needles. It is an impressive list to say the least. My favorites are the wrapped planters, the fluffy pom pom rug, and the yarn globes that you make with balloons as the mold!
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