A Scrappy Shawl Knitting Pattern to Use All Your Odd Balls

Since I’ve been writing a lot about using your yarn stash and leftovers from other projects a lot lately (see projects with two strands held together, patterns for leftovers, projects using minis, to name a few) the algorithms that be keep showing me more of that kind of content. And I can’t imagine I’m the only one with excess yarn on their hands (don’t call it too much), so I keep wanting to share them, too.

So it is with the Scrappy Knit Shawl from Morale Fiber. This one turned up after I was looking for stash-busting shawls for a forthcoming post, but I felt like it was worth mentioning because it’s such an easy and effective technique.

This is a triangular garter stitch shawl, easy as can be, meant to use up leftovers small and large. Start with your smallest balls while the rows are tiny, and use bigger balls as the shawl gets bigger. You can even incorporate the yarn ends into the fringe on the sides, and/or add it separately.

The fun thing about a project like this is you can make it with whatever weight of yarn you happen to have the most of, or you can hold two strands of a lighter-weight yarn together to make it closer to the weight of your other yarns. Gauge isn’t important and it won’t matter if a couple of rows look a little fatter or thinner than the others (and it’s actually a cool effect when this happens).

You can also make it whatever size you like. I love this big version, which measures 95 inches (241 cm) across and 20 inches (50.8 cm) long, but you could make a little shawl, a kerchief, or a blanket-sized shawl, whatever strikes you and depending on how much yarn you have. And the scrappier it looks the better!

Grab the free pattern from Morale Fiber.

[Photo: Morale Fiber]

Next Pattern:

I love a little cowl because it’s perfect to tuck into your coat when the weather is cold, but you can also wear it when it’s not as cold because it doesn’t make you as warm as a big scarf wrapped around your neck.

They’re also faster to knit than a big long scarf or shawl, and they make great gifts for anyone on your list. They can also be a way to learn new skills, like with my mosaic knit cowl if you haven’t done mosaic knitting before. Let’s check out some more great small cowl knitting patterns you can whip up as last-minute holiday gifts or a way to treat yourself.

If you’re looking for a perfectly simple cowl knitting pattern for beginners, Luxe Knittery has what you need. Their one skein knitting pattern is mostly stockinette stitch, with a cute picot border on one end and a I-cord bind off on the other. It calls for worsted weight yarn (though they also have a sport weight version) and there are links to video tutorials for the special skills needed for the edges.

Stitch up simple warmth in a hurry with the super bulky Sunrise Cowl form Wooly Bear Knits. This is a great one to use leftover yarn to make an ombre effect, of you can stitch it in stripes or a solid color if you’d rather. Either way it will stitch up in no time and be super warm and cozy!

Add a little more colorwork that’s still really easy with the Over the Rainbow knit cowl from Spruce Hill Knits. This free pattern calls for five colors of yarn but it would also be fun to do with a variegated yarn as the contrasting colors (which would give a similar look as my cowl linked above, just with a different motif). This pattern calls for DK or light worsted yarn and is so cheery it would be perfect for gray winter days.

The Odds and Ends Cowl from Kathryn Ashley-Wright offers a lot of options for using what you have. There are fingering/sport weight and DK/worsted weight options, and you can use as few as two or as many as nine colors depending on what you have on hand. You can grab this one on Ravelry.

For allover colorwork, try the Horae Cowl from VSR Design. It uses two colors of fingering weight yarn, so it will take longer to knit than some of these other options but it will keep you cozy without being too heavy. There’s also a matching tam pattern.

Add a little whimsy with the Road Runner Cowl pattern from Jennifer Berg, which you can find on Ravelry. It uses DK weight yarn in two colors and features a large bird on the body of the cowl.

And lest you think all small cowls have to be tubes, Cloud Drift from Gudrun Johnston turns a small cowl into a kerchief cowl with a fun colorwork design. It uses fingering and lace weight yarns held together (a wool and a mohair/silk blend) to work at a DK gauge and make an accessory that’s light as a cloud. It’s also worked flat and seamed at the back for easy wearing. Find it on Ravelry.

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

Leave a Reply