Opal Mini Ball Projects

We've sold Opal mini balls for a while now.

They're 10g balls of the very popular self-patterning sock yarn. Each ball has 42m of yarn and they are super cute and colourful. They don't have shade numbers and I can't pick the colours so it's always a surprise when they arrive.

In the Pittenweem shop I often get asked what they are used for... well...

The obvious answer is socks - although you do need more than one ball for even a baby pair. But you do get a fab 'frankensock' effect when you mix all the different patterns together.

This sock uses 60g of sock yarn - so 6 mini balls. I split each ball in two, so that I would get a pair of socks that look similar, but also so I could pack as many colours and patterns into one sock.

I used a simple pattern, a free one we have in the shop. There are also lots of patterns available online. My current favourite one is by Meaghan Schmaltz and is available on Ravelry.

But as I often say... sock yarn is not just for socks! It also works really well for smaller projects (so the coloured patterns come together) and for holding multiple strands together for yarn blending.

So another great project for the mini-balls is our Simple Cowl pattern.

Originally done using one self patterning sock yarn and a solid colour of Socks Yeah 4ply, the cowl pattern is very versatile and is quite striking in mismatched stripes.

The cowl above uses 5 mini balls. I just knitted one ball after the other to give big blocky stripes. I did try and choose colours that were different to give a nice contrast. But you could choose similar shades for a more muted stripe effect.

Obviously you don't have to knit each ball in turn... you could stripe them together.

You can use this kit as a countdown to a special day.

Or as motivation to get you through your gift knitting list.

Or as a cheeky palate cleanser during a large never ending project.

Or just because it's cute mini balls and lots of fun.

Each project bag is handmade by Doris & Hazel and is filled with 20 mini balls. Each is unique and non repeatable.

You can dip your hand into the bag each day to pull out a surprise mini ball of yarn. Pick a project and knit each ball daily - creating unique and surprising colour combos.

Or you can empty out the bag and choose specific colours for a project... using similar shades, or clashing colours or even try and find a gradient effect.

It's suitable for beginners, although it does not teach you how to knit.

It does feature only knitting 'in the round' patterns but the yarn and general principle will work for crochet patterns. And of course you can do your own thing.

It is great fun. But if you like things to match and you don't like random, it might not be for you.

You can see our current selection of bags here... the yarn is a surprise!

Oh. This would make a great short advent calendar and a great Christmas gift, but it's not just for Christmas. It will be available all year round. That's the aim. But as the bags are handmade and the yarn handpicked there may be short periods where it is not available!

See the Mini Ball Bag yarn kit here.

shades used in these projects may not be in the Mini Ball Bag yarn kit