Re-using knitting yarn

[CallipyJean]

I am a not-quite-novice knitter, and am trying to get back into it. I have found a half-knitted scarf of which I love the yarn - and wanted to unravel it and reuse the yarn to knit a couple of cushion covers

I have done the calculated dimensions and there is definitely enough yarn; is there anything I need to think about? Will the stitches lie flat? The cushion cover pattern has a moss stitch edge all round but a plain stocking stitch panel, and I wondered if it might show that the yarn was curly iyswim

Does anyone have any advice for me please?

I would - because it's what my granny did when reusing yarn - wind it across the back of a chair quite tight and leave it for 24 hours before rolling into balls.

I think that pulls the wonky out but I've no idea.

Oh yes @grandmaintraining that’s a good idea - thank you

I think it may feel weird having that wiggly texture to knit all the time. But I’m determined not to waste materials!

I would wet and dry the yarn as described here https://mycrochetory.com/how-to-reuse-frogged-yarn/ It will be tricky to work with otherwise.

You need to skein it and wash it, or at least dip it in water. Then hang the skeins out to dry. My DM used to tie a couple of big spoons to the bottom of the skeins to stretch them out and stop them getting tangled up.

In typical frugal fashion, she would knit my brother and I jumpers in the same wool but in contrasting colours. When we outgrew them she would unpick them and one of us would get a stripey jumper.

Yes I think granny wetted it and skeined it over the back of the dining chairs.

Thank you everyone - it sound like stretching and wetting it are the key things, so I’ll do that!

@NeverTrustAPoliceman I love the idea of the stripy jumper to reuse the two. It’s the sort of thing my granny would have done to clothe five children all in quick succession

Very experienced knitter here. I've never done anything other than just wind into balls and re-knit. No messing about with washing or damping or waiting.

I remember my gran gently steaming skeins of yarn to straighten them out.

Moderately experienced knitter. I've also only ever wound the yarn back into balls.

(Loving the idea off po's striped jumpers!)

I agree. I've knitted and ripped out many things and never had to reskein and wash the yarn. I simply wind the yarn into balls as I'm unravelling and it is fine to knit from that ball.

Winding it into a ball adds a little tension which will straighten it out. No need to faff

Our grans used to do all sorts of convoluted long-winded domestic chores because they were the 'right' thing to do.

Just rewind and go! Be modern and free!

It's only half made so presumably unwashed and unworn so no need to fanny around just frog it and rewind into a new ball.