"Billie Jean" wristbands
This is about the easiest and quickest thing you can knit. Everyone from tennis players to breakdancers to rock stars are wearing them, and they're a great project for reducing your yarn stash. A cross between an arm-warmer and a bracelet, these are good for wiping your brow, cushioning your wrists while typing, stopping drafts from creeping up your sleeves, and of course, simply accessorizing. Wear them alone, in pairs, or several all the way up to your elbow.

What you need:
&#8226 4 3.75mm double-pointed needles
&#8226 a small amount of sport weight yarn in 2 colours

Sizes:
Small (Medium, Large)
The entire project isn't much bigger than a gauge swatch, so if it doesn't work out, just make another.

Directions:
With colour A, cast on 32 (34, 36) stitches evenly distributed over 3 needles. Join in the round and work 3 rows of k2p2 (k1p1, k2p2) ribbing.
Knit 2 more rows in colour A.
Tie on colour B and knit 3 rows, leaving the end of colour A hanging.
Pick up colour A again and knit 3 rows.
Pick up colour B and knit 3 rows, then break the end and tie off.
Pick up colour A, knit 3 rows, then work 2 rows of ribbing as before.
Bind off loosely* in the rib pattern. Work the ends in, and you're done.

* If you don't bind off loosely, you'll have trouble getting it over your hand.

Variations:
&#8226 Use fingering weight yarn with 2 strands held together. Try using 2 slightly different colours held together, like olive green and lime green for a camouflage effect.
&#8226 You can also use worsted weight yarn, but switch to 4mm needles and make a size smaller.
&#8226 If you're not comfortable knitting in the round on double-pointed needles, knit it flat on straight needles and sew up the side with a tapestry needle when you're done.

You can find Toronto designer Catherine Stinson's work at her web site, deadpan.ca