Knitting

Free Patterns, Tutorials and Project Ideas

Cute Kerchief Knitting Patterns

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A lot of people ask (me, and the Internet, more generally) what you can knit when the weather gets warm. I guess that’s because most people start knitting scarves, hats and mitts, and maybe have the goal of knitting a sweater, but they don’t see the possibilities for knitting things they’ll be able to use when it’s warmer outside.

Of course there are a lot of different options (washcloths, market bags, headbands to name a few) but one that’s been on my mind lately is kerchiefs.

These little triangles of knitting are great to wear as little scarves or to hold your hair back. They might give you a little warmth for cool mornings, but they aren’t so stifling you can’t wear them when it’s warm out.

Some of them you could even fashion into a wearable for your dog, if you’re into that.

The pattern that got me thinking about kerchiefs was Mollie Conrad’s Walnut (available on Ravelry), which is a lacy little scarf worked with two strands of fingering weight or a DK weight yarn by itself. It’s worked from right to left and includes an integrated I-cord edge. This one also includes fun skills like knit 3 together and a centered double decrease.

If you’re looking for something a little easier, this plain and pretty little triangle from Darling J’Adore on Etsy is a great option. It’s perfect for beginners because it’s just a simple stockinette triangle, and it’s a fast little project that only uses about 100 yards of sock yarn.

Add a little bit of texture with a simple repeating knit and purl pattern like on this scarf from Whole Cloth Patterns. It’s knit from the top down to the point and uses fingering weight yarn and a fun diamond design.

The Triangular Miter Kerchief from Lion Brand Yarn throws in another fun technique of working decreases at the center as you would for a mitered square. It also calls for using two colorways of yarn and alternating every two rows to give a pretty watercolor look. You can get the free pattern from Lion Brand.

Indre Ju on Etsy has another cute little triangle that uses eyelets to make it more breathable for summer weather. This one calls for a light weight yarn and particularly a cotton/bamboo blend to keep it cool.

Or try the Borrowed Light scarf from Dutiers Patterns. This one has an allover lace pattern and comes in three sizes depending on the size of your neck and how you plan to wear it. It calls for fingering or sport weight yarn.

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Classic Dishcloth Knitting Patterns

Fall will be here before we know it, and that means there are holidays coming right behind where we might be entertaining at home. It’s always fun to have a hand knit touch in your home for other people to see, and if you’re going to be in the kitchen all day you might as well have some nice knit dish cloths to use. 

I love this little plaid hand towel from Darling Jadore. Use a little bit of leftover cotton yarn from another project for the plaid portion. It looks like the horizontal stripes are worked as you knit and the vertical stripes are done with duplicate stitch, making this a quick and easy project even newer knitters can make. 

Combine garter stitch and an easy eyelet pattern worked sideways to make the Annette Dish Towel from Cluck Cluck Boots, which is meant to be reminiscent of flour sack towels. It calls for DK weight yarn and you can work it in one color or two (or even three!). 

Add a little more texture with this set of kitchen towels from Whileberry Creative. They’re mostly worked in garter stitch with borders in easy knit/purl patterns, and you can work them in sport or worsted weight yarn. 

Two of Wands Shop has another cute allover knit and purl pattern they call the Seersucker Textured Tea Towel. It’s an easy repeating pattern worked in worsted weight yarn, and there’s a chart in the pattern you can use, but don’t have to, if you want to practice knitting from a chart. 

The Classic Cloth dish towel from Handmade Home by Connie is another one that can use a little leftover yarn in a contrasting color, or you could color block it our use stripes throughout the pattern. This one uses worsted weight yarn and another easy repeating knit purl stitch pattern. 

If you like to hang your towel on the oven handle or elsewhere but it’s always falling off, try the Stay Put kitchen towel from Fancy Step Knits. This project is worked in garter stitch and includes a hole partway through so you can pull the towel through itself over a rod or handle. Stripes are optional but a nice addition.