If you find yourself with a sweater or two (or twenty) that you know you'll never wear again, here are some ways to make the most of your excess goods. Your sweaters might shrink or go out of style, but these crafts will save them from becoming casualties. Collectively, they might even inspire some spring cleaning!

19 Candle Holders

Sleeves work especially well for this. You can even coordinate a sweater's color with your home decor in order to make your existing candles match or complement your home.

18 Hand Warmers

This is another great use for sleeves. I had a cashmere sweater I really loved the feel of, and now I can indulge my tactile sense despites not needing the warmth. Now what to do with the rest of all that glorious cashmere? Read on to find out!

17 Dog Sweaters

Pets are expensive enough. Who wants to spend extra money on custom dog sweaters (however cute they may be)? I hope my dog loves cashmere as much as I do. This site offers a great pattern that can be used on any sized sweater.

16 Leg Warmers

Even if, like me, you're a hopeless seamstress, you can make these cozy leg warmers! All you need is your sweater and fabric glue. First, cut the sleeves to your desired length. Next, glue along the seams. Let  the glue dry for a day, and turn the leg warmers inside out!

15 Donations

It is a sobering reality that over eighty percent of the world's population lives below the U.S. poverty line. Donating them – especially children's sweaters that your family has outgrown – is never a poor use.

14 Fragrance Sachets

For this, you can use pre-made fragrance sachets, potpourri, or aroma beads. Sew little bags using the sweater fabric, or just cut the fabric and gather it at the top with some ribbon or twine.

13 Dog Booties

If you live in a cold area, you can attach vinyl material for non-slip soles, as shown in the pattern available here. If you live in an especially hot area, boots are a great idea to protect your dog's paws from the heat (in which case a lighter material is more suitable).

12 Fire Starters

Use sweaters as tinder to start a fire! To build a fire, put the kindling on the bottom, then put fabric pieces on top as tinder. Once it catches fire, add bulkier logs, and build a tepee. Invites some friends over for a bonfire party. No one ever needs to know the source of your pioneering capabilities! You won't need the sweater anyway, right?

11 Mittens

This is a great idea for old sweaters whose patterns you especially like. This tutorial offers great, simple instructions that will result in truly warm, winter-worthy mittens.

10 Regift

"Regift: (verb) To give an unwanted gift to someone else; to give as a gift something one previously received as a gift." - Webster's New Millennium Dictionary of English

One person's trash is another's treasure, am I right? Just don't do this to someone who is aware of the sweater's existence!

9 Pencil Skirt

You can turn the pencil skirt into a comfortable garment with an old cozy sweater and an elastic waistband. This video includes instructions for a skirt with a professional finish.

8 Thermal Embellishments

You can embellish a basic long underwear top with material from an old sweater. Simply cut a rectangle, wrap it around the end of the sleeve, turn the sleeve inside out, and sew the two ends of the rectangle together and both through the thermal sleeve.

7 Tree Decorations

This is a really unique way to decorate your yard for a holiday or birthday party. The possibilities are as endless as, dare I say, the trees in the forest?

6 Headbands

This is a great idea for the necks of turtlenecks. This video provides instruction on a super-easy, no-sew version. You can also make a knotted version (shown here) with these instructions. Either way, you're spared the hassle and hazards of a sewing machine.

5 Fabric Ribbon

This is a unique and very simple spin on basic gift-wrapping. Just cut strips of a sweater along the longest stream, and then use it as ribbon for wrapping gifts or for hanging ornaments creatively!

4 Wine Bottle Gift Bags

Because sparkly gift bags are tacky, and brown bags totally drab! I recommend this instruction for a bag that will redeem even the cheapest wine gifted.

3 Pillow Cases

Still have some leftover cashmere? This is a great way to spread the cashmere love! This artist used wool, and made a fabric pattern, which can easily be imitated with a single sweater with separate stitch types.

2 Handbags

As shown in this tutorial, very little fabric is wasted for this project – Even the sleeves are used for the straps!

1 Unforgiving Costumes

Blind dates can be very awkward, and so if you're keen on playing matchmaker with a few of your friends, here's a suggestion: take two sweaters (bonus if they match), sew them together, and host an ugly sweater themed singles party. Then, as a game, strategically assign two guests to wear the sweater. It'll make for some laughs and hilarious photo ops, all the while giving the two individuals you have matched a chance to get to know each other! If you explain that you sewed each by hand, your guests will be hard pressed to refuse!