Color Blocked Pocket Scarf Knitting Pattern

I love a good scarf. I have knit so many scarves (and cowls, and shawls) through the years I could probably wear a different one every day for a month. But there’s always room for more scarves, if you ask me. They make great gifts, or they’re an easy way to jazz up your own outfits when you hit that part of winter where even your favorite handknits are starting to feel a little drab.

This free scarf knitting pattern from The Underground Crafts amps up the fun by including color blocking. Half of the scarf is worked in one color and half in another. Which you can probably guess I’m going to say makes it perfect for using those odd balls in your stash that you aren’t sure what to do with.

It’s also a pocket scarf, which uses a bit more yarn but adds so much to the coziness of the scarf. It’s so great to be able to wrap a scarf around your neck and have a place to put your hands when you go on walks in the fall and winter. You can also put a little pack of tissues or other essentials in your pockets while you’re on the go.

The pattern also mentions this, but my first thought was that the pockets could be the alternate color, too. So in this case, the gray pocket on the peach half of the scarf and vice-versa. Just a way to add a little more whimsy! Or you could even use a third color for the pockets if you’re making this a stash busting project.

However you choose to make it, this pocket scarf is a quick and easy knit worked in cozy super bulky yarn. You can get the free pattern from The Underground Crafter.

[Photo: The Underground Crafter]

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Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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